Episodes

  • A Frankenstein Tale: Dissecting the films of Paul Verhoven

    A Frankenstein Tale: Dissecting the films of Paul Verhoven
    May 5 2020
    The latest episode of Campion Conversations dives into three of the films in idiosyncratic director Paul Verhoeven's canon: Robocop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers.  Do these shlocky sci-fi action romps really explore themes from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Plato's Republic?  Would You Like To Know More?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    53 mins
  • How well do you know your Greek myths?

    How well do you know your Greek myths?
    Apr 21 2020
    Everyone has heard of at least one Greek myth, even if they're not aware of it. Whether it's Perseus slaying the snake-haired Gorgon Medusa or Theseus pursued by the Minotaur in the Labyrinth or Icarus attempting to fly, Greek myths are part of our cultural fabric. But if you want to actually familiarise yourself with these tales of old, where do you start? Classics lecturer Thomas Flynn discusses this question with literature lecturer and host Dr Colin Dray in this episode of Campion Conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    17 mins
  • Star Wars: A New Era

    Star Wars: A New Era
    Mar 31 2020
    With the recent Star Wars trilogy wrapping up and the release of The Mandalorian, the franchise seems to be getting a makeover under Disney. This episode of  Campion Conversations takes a frank look at Star Wars under Disney's mantle. What did they get wrong? What worked well? Why was there so much angst over the final trilogy and what is the big deal about The Mandalorian? We answer all these questions and more in your latest edition of Campion Conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Diagnosing Doctor Who

    Diagnosing Doctor Who
    Mar 17 2020
    What defines Doctor Who? What has shaped its storytelling? And what has its legacy been upon genre narratives and television at large? Dr Colin Dray and Dr Jeremy Bell discuss the franchise that has spanned more than half a century with over a dozen iterations of the title character in this episode of Campion Conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    56 mins
  • Talking Tolkien

    Talking Tolkien
    Dec 10 2019
    In this miniature episode of Campion Conversations, literature lecturer Dr Colin Dray and classics lecturer Thomas Flynn discuss some lesser-known works by the father of modern fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien.These texts are particularly useful for those interested in learning more about the liberal arts (as well as Tolkien fans).

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    18 mins
  • Back to the Future: Prophecy or Fantasy?

    Back to the Future: Prophecy or Fantasy?
    Nov 14 2019
    Campion takes on the classic trilogy that many of us grew up watching in this episode of Campion Conversations.Host Dr Colin Dray and co discuss their love for the trilogy and examine it in light of the burgeoning potential of science in the 1980s, while considering other questions like:Is the plot plausible?Does the time-travel timeline hold up?Which film is the strongest of the three? Which is the weakest?We discuss all this and more! Listen and enjoy.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Seinfeld: A Podcast about Nothing

    Seinfeld: A Podcast about Nothing
    Sep 3 2019
    The four quirky anti-heroes who starred in one of the most defining television shows of the '90s take centre stage in this episode of Campion Conversations.What is Seinfeld actually about? Is it a show about nothing, as it meta-textually suggests in Season 4? Are the characters simply just high-functioning sociopaths? And does the humour still hold up 20 years on?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Reading John Henry Newman

    Reading John Henry Newman
    Aug 15 2019
    Cardinal John Henry Newman died 129 years ago on 11 August 1890. A renowned writer, the (soon-to-be-canonised) prelate wrote numerous books, essays and letters throughout his life both as an Anglican and, later, a Catholic. Perhaps the most famous of these was his autobiographic Apologia. In this episode of Campion Conversations, our lecturers discuss Newman, his defining work and how best to read it.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    17 mins