S3E1 - Juneteenth Movies

The Pointless Century

Episode Notes

S3 E1: Juneteenth Movies

Rachel reminds us to include conversations about both Juneteenth and the Tulsa Massacre; Madalyn tells us about her pilgrimage through the South; Anna derides a long, open-mouthed nap; Frank harps on the limitations of individualism; we all agree that these films add something to Americans’ understanding of history, but each of them has their limitations. Jasper the tailless cat contributes some meowing and collar noises.

Amistad. Dir. Stephen Spielberg. Writ. David Franzoni. Perf. Djimon Honsou, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman, Pete Postlethwaite. Dreamworks / HBO / Amblin, 1997.

12 Years a Slave. Dir. Steve McQueen. Writ. John Ridley, Solomon Northup. Perf. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt. New Regency / River Road / Plan B, 2013.

Selma. Dir. Ava Duvernay. Writ. Paul Webb. Perf. David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey. Pathé / Harpo / Plan B, 2014.

Harriet. Dir. Kasi Lemmons. Writ. Gregory Allen Howard, Kasi Lemmons. Perf. Cynthia Erivo, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Odom Jr. Martin Chase / New Balloon / Perfect World, 2019.

The Pointless Crew: Frank Fucile (he/him/his) – Lit & Theory, Film & Media, Genre, Enviro & Tech Studies // Madalyn McCabe (she/her/hers) – Co-Producer, US Civil Rights Hist, European Studies // Rachel Hamele (she/her/hers) – History, Humanities, Queer Studies, Fandoms // Anna Wendorff (she/her/hers) – Communications, Rhetorics of Sci & Tech, Feminism

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MUSIC: Bad Brains – “F.V.K.” (ROIR, 1982) Gil Scott-Heron – “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” (RCA, 1971)

ART: Paul Nash, We Are Making a New World. Oil on canvas, 1918. Imperial War Museum.

Film still from Harriet feat. Cynthia Erivo (Perfect World, 2019)

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