How has culture changed in your lifetime?

I’m seeing an unintentional theme in several things I’ve read and heard over the last few days: change.  We all manage it differently, and we certainly all have memories of various changes.

When I was a child, when someone was humiliated (whether intentionally, or by mission of action), that event would eventually fade from memory.  Today, smartphones, social media, and 24/7 access to the worldwide web change all this.  When I came home from school, I felt safe from anyone I perceived as a bully.  Today, they have the ability almost reach through the computer monitor and torment their targets at any time of day.

When I was growing up, Motley Crue, Slayer, Venom, W.A.S.P.,  and Celtic Frost were considered by many to be the devil’s music.  Today, bands like Belphegor, Gorgoroth, Immortal, Dark Funeral, Vital Remains, and Sinister consider themselves to be the instruments of Satan (figuratively, 90% of the time, but, still – big difference).

I remember the Cosby Show as groundbreaking – showing an upscale African-American family on primetime television was, at the time, a big deal.  Today, we have an African-American president.  I honestly did not believe I would live to see that (although I often hoped that I would).  Although racism is alive and more well than I would like today, we’re further along than before.

I recall a 60 Minutes expose’ on Dungeons & Dragons in the early 1980’s – this was the scourge that would tear America’s children apart.  Today, those young RPG players are now passing their storytelling craft and imagination onto their kids (some people find D&D very sexy, apparently).

There are but a few examples.  Our society has been through quite a bit in my lifetime, and I know we have a lot of room to grow.  For better or for worse, what have you seen, and what would you like to see?

Why Anita Sarkeesian Should Make Her Own Video Game (And Why She Won’t)

If you ever want to get the Internet’s blood boiling, there’s no better surefire way than going on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, or any gaming message board and uttering these two words: Anita Sarkeesian. Over the past year, Ms. Sarkeesian, founder and producer of the YouTube channel Feminist Frequency, home of the web series “Tropes vs. Women” and Continue reading

Adventure Time with Graham, Sam, and Jenny, Episode 1, part 2

In Part 2 of episode one Graham, Sam, and Jenny discuss the origins of Princess Bubblegum, the evilness of Peppermint Butler, Finn’s potential Oedipal complex and So Much More! You won’t regret it.

Adventure Time with Graham, Sam, and Jenny (pt 1)

In the first ever installment of our Adventure Time podcasts, we discuss the Great Mushroom War and some of the important episodes offering clues about the truth behind Ooo and some of the shows major characters. Email us with suggestions for future podcasts at leftofthedial@thatruled.com, or head over to our page on the TR forums. Hope to hear from you soon and thanks for listening. You’re awesome.

Top 10 Episodes of Community (in my opinion)

Even though the current state of TV isn’t perfect by any means, I would consider the mid and late 2000’s to be the dawn of a new golden age. Even though we still have to deal with Two and a Half Men, Glee, Honey Boo Boo, The Real Housewives and other such ilk, this is also the era of some of the best shows in decades. (Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Dexter, The Office, Louie, Mad Men, Sherlock, Downton Abbey, the list goes on.) Thankfully more and more shows are putting a bigger emphasis on better writing than ever before, but while I love serious shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad as much as the next guy, sometimes all I want is a show that can make me both think and laugh, preferably at the same time. (Or at least something to tide me over when South Park is between seasons.) In 2009, NBC gave us what the doctor ordered with Community. Continue reading

Left of the Dial: Neutral Milk Hotel

I’ve been writing these music articles sporadically for about a year and a half and have shed some light on some rather interesting artists. I’ve gushed over an obscure 60’s folk singer, a forgotten 80’s relic, and a guy who made a career by mashing pieces of different pop songs together. Some of them have held influence in their own rights, but when you look at today’s musical landscape, specifically in the realms of indie rock, there is one band whose influence is undeniable. That band is Neutral Milk Hotel. Continue reading

Left of the Dial: Girl Talk

Welcome to Left of the Dial, I bring you the music because the radio won’t. Do you love music? I mean really love music? So much so that you have a hard time deciding what to listen to? Well now you can listen to all your favorite genres at once through the magic of the mash-up, particularly by the grand wizard of mash-ups: Girl Talk! Continue reading