Host Christopher Funderburg is joined by Martin Kessler to finally settle the debate of "what is art?" and "what is trash?" in cinema! Using the similarities between a Tales from the Crypt episode and a Patricia Highsmith short story as a jumping off point, the duo digs into the differences between artists and artisans, art and entertainment, high and low, product and artwork - not as a value judgement distinction but as a way of exploring the meaning of the categories into which films and literature are shifted.

Superhero movies, John Carpenter, Thomas Mann, Robocop, Jaws, and Godard - what does it mean to differentiate between Art and Trash? Who's to say if Tarkovsky is better than William Castle? And why would you react negatively to drawing (or not drawing) a distinction between them? Join us for this open-minded, good-natured discussion of a highly fraught subject!

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Intro music: Unleash the Bastards / “Tea for Two” Outro music: Marcus Pinn / “Vegas"

Broadcast on:

14 Mar 2023