Unreliable Narrators is a podcast where we discuss media, literature, and the arts and how they relate to Christ, the self, and the world.
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In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss themes of suffering, loss, and death in Lulu Wang's 2019 film The Farewell. What are the differences between the western and eastern perspectives on death? What does it mean for the collective to carry the burden of suffering for the individual? And how much longer can Sophie keep coming up with excuses t…
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S3E9 - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
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In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner", the mariner shoots an albatross...and must spend the rest of his life paying penance for his sin. What on earth does this albatross represent? Civilization? Tradition? Christendom? Or is it, as Coleridge would probably insist, just an albatross? In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss …
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S3E8 - The Persistence of Memory
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Sophie and Raymond are rejoined by special guest Anna Mason as they tackle the topic of surrealism through the lens of Salvador Dali's famous painting "The Persistence of Memory." Was Dali actually a surrealist? Why do all the clerks and navvies in the railway trains look so sad and tired? And is not being sick really the most poetical thing in the…
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S3E7 - The Magic Shop (1903) by H.G. Wells
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In H.G. Wells' classic short story, a father and his son Gip wander into an antique shop run by a curious man who claims to be a magician. But the father feels something is not right. This magician seems he can make anything disappear...even Gip! In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss science, magic, hypnotism, and what it means to have childl…
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S3E6 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
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Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? Sophie and Raymond do! In this VERY BELATED Christmas episode (listen, nobody ever said we were reliable), your hosts discuss the 1965 short film, A Charlie Brown Christmas. What makes Charlie Brown a hero for the masses? What is the difference between a real tree and a poor tree? Can Sophie…
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S3E5 - West Side Story
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Raymond may be doubtful about the reality of love at first sight, but it's nonetheless a story that has captured the imagination of people for generations. In this episode, Sophie and Raymond dive into a diverse discussion about the roots of rivalry, racism, and romance in Steven Sondheim's retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Support us on…
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According to Catholic tradition, Saint Anthony of Padua was the patron saint of lost or misplaced articles. In this episode, Raymond shares a poem that takes a lighthearted spin on that idea, read recently a certain person's wedding.
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S3E4 - The Wind Rises
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The wind is rising!...We must try to live! In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the 2014 Studio Ghibli film The Wind Rises. Are artists and engineers really the same? Does the beauty of art justify the horrors of war? And most importantly, would you rather live in a world with pyramids or a world without them? All this and more in our latest…
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S3E3 - Barbie (2023)
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She's everything. He's just Ken. Let's talk about that. In this episode, Sophie and Raymond don pink (metaphorically) to discuss feminism, fantasy, and family in The Barbie Movie. Why does Ken steal the show halfway through? Does Barbie's quest to become a human have surprising theological implications? Can Greta Gerwig's summer blockbuster really …
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One of the biggest complaints about modern video games is that they are too violent. But Toby Fox stabs this cliché right in the ribs in Undertale, a game where you actually have the choice to kill…or show mercy. Is pacifism really a possible way of life in our violent world? How are we called as Christians to think about pacifism? How does Toby Fo…
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S3E1 - Pixar's "Bao"
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The Unreliable Narrators are back! Today, Sophie and Raymond discuss about a recent Pixar short film in which a mother makes a dumpling that unexpectedly come to life. Among other themes, we discuss the character archetype of the "devouring mother," the relation between food, memory, and forgiveness, and...ancient Mesopotamian myths?? Find out how …
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S2E16 - Fullmetal Alchemist
1:13:27
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"This is my body, which is broken for you." What is the Law of Equivalent Exchange? Can you really buy redemption with suffering? What is the price of a human soul...and why is it Edward Elric's right arm? All this and more on our SEASON FINALE. In our next episode, we'll be discussing the 2018 Pixar animated short Bao. Support us on Patreon! https…
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Kim Namjoon, lead singer of BTS, pens this heartfelt lyric in the song Always: "If I met God, I would tell him that life is a cup of coffee I never ordered." Is this merely a cheesy line from a melodramatic boyband singer or an epithet of such feeling and profundity to equal Shakespeare and King Solomon? For the Unreliable Narrators, maybe it's a l…
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S2E14 - Perfect Imperfection: The Art of Healing
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There is a crack in everything...that's how the light gets in. Or is it out? In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the visual art piece "Perfect Imperfection: The Art of Healing," by Billie Bond. Along the way, we run into our old friends Milton, Dostoevsky, Lewis, Homer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and...Stephen Schwartz?? Hopefully they can help u…
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S2E13 - Everything I Wanted (Billie Eilish)
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"If I could change the way that you see your self, you wouldn't wonder why they hear 'they don't deserve you.'" Can Raymond and Sophie change the way Billie Eilish sees herself? Maybe, with a little bit of help from G.K. Chesterton. In this episode, we ask the question: for the Christian called to martyrdom, does this entail a desire to die? Questi…
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S2E12 - We Talk About Bruno (Disney's Encanto)
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What's going on with this Bruno guy? On the surface, Disney's Encanto seems to be just another typical "save-the-magic" princess story. But Sophie and Raymond think there is more hiding under the rafters of this magic house. In this episode, the Unreliable Narrators discuss scapegoats, innocent victims, cultures of the taboo, and the genius lyrics …
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S2E11 - The Picture of Dorian Gray
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WE'RE FINALLY BACK with a high-energy conversation about Oscar Wilde's novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. What does Oscar Wilde really think about art? Is Lord Henry the devil in disguise, or just a bad guy? What in the world is up with the ending? We may not have all the answers, but we do have a good time. In our next episode, we will be talking …
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S2E10 - Bridge Over Troubled Water
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In this CHRISTMAS episode, Raymond and Sophie tackle Simon & Garfunkel's most popular song, Bridge Over Troubled Water. What does it mean to lay yourself down as a bridge over troubled water? Why did Paul Simon write the "sail on, silver girl" verse? What does any of this have to do with Christmas?? All this and more in our latest episode. In our n…
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S2E9 - The Social Dilemma (2020 Netflix Documentary)
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We all know social media manipulates us. We know they're tracking out data. We know it's designed to get us addicted. And yet no matter how many times we are warned about what social media is doing to us, we still use it. Can we really have a healthy relationship with social media, or is it inherently detrimental to our mental health? In this episo…
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S2E8 - Spider-Man: No Way Home
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"On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" In this episode, Raymond and Sophie discuss their mutual favorite superhero in Spider-Man: No Way Home. (Mostly because they wanted to disc…
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S2E7 - That Hideous Strength (Ft. Cynthia Chung)
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In this episode, we are joined by editor-in-chief and co-founder of the Rising Tide Foundation, Cynthia Chung. Cynthia has lectured on the topics of Schiller’s aesthetics, Shakespeare’s tragedies, Roman history, and the Florentine Renaissance among other subjects. She is a writer for Strategic Culture Foundation, and is a contributing author to the…
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In the second installment of C.S. Lewis' epic science fiction trilogy, Ransom is commissioned by Maleldil on a celestial journey to the planet Venus. There, Ransom meets the Green Lady, who plays the role of a second Eve, and confronts a satanic force that is invading Perelandra through the body of his former colleague Weston. Throughout this episo…
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S2E5 - Vienna (Billy Joel)
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In this episode, Sophie and Raymond tackle Billy Joel's hit song Vienna. Are only fools satisfied? What does Vienna represent, anyway? And when will you realize that Vienna waits for you? Along the way, we discuss miracle pranks, heavenly McDoubles, and Raymond's Billy Joel impression. Don't miss it! In our next episode, we will be discussing Perel…
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S2E4 - The Four Gospel Frontispieces by Mokoto Fujimura (Ft. Anna Mason)
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Japanese-American artist Makoto Fujimura says, "We have a language for waywardness, but not a language for coming back home.” What does this mean? Anna Mason, art major at Hillsdale College, joins us to explore Fujimura's art series The Four Gospel Frontispieces, confirming for us once and for all that God approves of abstract art! What is "slow ar…
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S2E3 - The Seventh Seal
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Sophie and Raymond discuss their most depressing topic since Silence by Shusaku Endo: The Seventh Seal, a film by Ingmar Bergman. What is the meaning of silence in the film? Who do the characters represent? How does medieval symbology help us understand this artistic enigma? The Seventh Seal may be nihilistic and full of dread, but your favorite ho…
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S2E2 - THIS IS WATER! By David Foster Wallace
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Trinity joins Sophie and Raymond to discuss absurdism in Gen Z humor, the problems of irony, and deconstructing commencement speeches in the YouTube short film THIS IS WATER!, taken from David Foster Wallace's 2005 commencement address at Kenyon college. Wallace earnestly challenges us to rethink what it means to a human being in the world, even wh…
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In the SEASON 2 PREMIERE (!!), Sophie and Raymond tackle Rian Johnson's 2019 film Knives Out. What does it mean to be a passive observer of the truth? Why does Marta Cabrera inherit the earth? And how do you tell the difference between a stage prop and a real knife? All this and more as we kick off Season 2. New episodes every other Friday. Stay tu…
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S1E18 - The Tragedy of Othello
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Sophie and Raymond discuss tragedy, psychopaths, jealousy, betrayal, human nature, and more and William Shakespeare's deeply existential and profound play Othello. This episode marks our last episode of Season 1. Check out the new Mars Hill topics in the link below. Time stamps: 3:47 - Aristotle’s vision of tragedy10:31 - The difference between a G…
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S1E17 - The Danger of a Single Story
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In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk, "The Danger of a Single Story." How do stories define the way we think? What is the role of representation in popular art and literature? What's the problem with stereotypes? All this and more in this week's episode! New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our …
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S1E16 - Out of the Silent Planet
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The heavens declare the glory of God...and in the Space Trilogy, C.S. Lewis decided to take this piece of scripture literally. In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss Out of the Silent Planet, the first installment of the Space Trilogy. What is the role of language in explaining and understanding the gospel? Is C.S. Lewis developing a cosmic my…
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S1E15 - Stranger Things Season 1 (Feat. Jenny Buccola)
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Sophie and Raymond invite Jenny Buccola onto the podcast to talk about nostalgia, the importance of childhood, medieval cathedrals, and Hamlet in relation to the Netflix hit series Stranger Things. Jenny is currently a student at the University of Notre Dame pursuing a masters degree in theological studies. New episodes every other Friday. Stay tun…
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S1E14 - Level of Concern (Twenty One Pilots)
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Episode Notes I told you my level of concern, and you walked by like you never heard. In this episode, Raymond and Sophie answer the age-old question: Just how concerned should we be? They also discuss the power of words to reshape the world, analyze the connections between Twenty One Pilots and WandaVision, and somehow end up imagining what it sou…
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S1E13 - Babette's Feast
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Two devout and elderly sisters allow their cook, a French refugee, to prepare a feast in honor of their late father's 100th birthday, despite their spiritual concerns over the sensuality and decadence of French cuisine. Sophie and Raymond discuss the tension between Gnosticism and hedonism and the symbolism of God's grace in the eucharist, as it is…
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S1E12 - 1984 (with special guest Connor Daniels!)
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Episode Notes Does 2 + 2 really equal 4? Does love really conquer all? Can Sophie really survive for a whole episode with Raymond? In this episode, Sophie and special guest Connor tackle George Orwell's novel 1984. We tackle topics like freedom of thought, the nature of love, and the human spirit. New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our…
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S1E11 - Man of La Mancha
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Episode Notes Onward to glory we go! In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha, based on the novel Don Quixote, by Miguel de Cervantes_._ Is idealism better than realism? Does Don Quixote live in the "real world"? Are we all living in a prison? Does Christ turn prostitutes into princesses? All this and more in ou…
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The Monday Post: Anthropomorphism and a Defense of Talking Animals
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Hey everyone! We're adding a new feature to the podcast. Every week, Sophie and I write a "Monday Post" published on our blog, which you can find here: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/blog/ For those of you who prefer to listen rather than read, you can listen to us read our posts, published every Monday. We hope that this portion …
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We return again to Japan, this time in the 17th century, to follow the tragic tale of Jesuit missionaries who struggle with their faith and eventually apostatize under the pressure of Japanese persecution. Central to our discussion is the "Mars Hill" approach--that is, how are Christians to properly employ pagan culture in a way that leads them to …
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BONUS: Is Twilight Redeemable? (Raymond Says No)
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Episode Notes Raymond says no. Sophie says yes. Email us and let us know who's right. We'll be back in two weeks with regular episodes, discussing Shusaku Endo's Silence! See you then. Thanks to Caleb Klomparens for our theme music, "No New Words" from the album Krypt. You can listen to more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse Visit…
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Episode Notes What is grief if not love persevering? Raymond gets excited about cinematography. Sophie pulls out her copy of C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces. We talk about The Truman Show, grief, Gethsemane, and...memes? Plus, we answer a listener question! New episodes every other Friday. Stay tuned for our next episode where we discuss Shusaku En…
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Clean your room. Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street. And, most importantly, act as if God exists. Today, Sophie, Trinity, and Raymond discuss the work and thought of clinical psychologist and philosopher Jordan Peterson and his book 12 Rules For Life. In this episode, we'll be addressing these…
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S1E7 - And Then There Were None
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Episode Notes One little Soldier Boy left all alone; he went out and hanged himself...and then there were none. In this episode, Sophie and Raymond discuss one of the most popular murder mysteries of all time: Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Along the way, we talk about the nature of justice, law as a villain, red herrings, and scapegoa…
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In Tokyo, Japan, high schooler Shoya Ishida seeks to reconcile a broken relationship with his childhood classmate, Shoko Nishimiya, a deaf girl he used to bully. But true redemption isn't so simple. Join Sophie, Raymond, and our guest speaker John-Luke Dokupil as we dive into the 2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) based on the manga s…
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Episode Notes Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/. What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablenarratorsstoa@gmail.com. Thanks to Caleb Klomparens for our theme music, "No New Words" from the album Krypt. You can listen to more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/kappamuse. Acce…
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Episode Notes Raymond and Sophie are rejoined by special guest Trinity Klomparens to discuss U2's hit song "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Does Bono's music represent a return to religion? What role should spiritual longing play in our faith journey? What is the problem with evangelism? And what does U2 have to do with C.S. Lewis? We …
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S1E4 - What is an Unreliable Narrator?
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In this episode, Sophie and I discuss the historical and cultural background to the phrase "Mars Hill" in reference to the Apostle Paul's sermon on Mars Hill in the book of Acts. We answer the question of what an unreliable narrator is and why we chose it as the title for our podcast. We also explain the piece featured in our cover art and the mean…
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S1E3 - The Rise of Skywalker
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Episode Notes Raymond, Sophie, and special guest Trinity Klomparens discuss themes of sacrifice, adoption, and baptism in The Rise of Skywalker, Episode IX of the Star Wars saga. Along the way, we run into topics like the balance between the dark side and the light side, good vs. evil, and the Force as a parallel to Dante's Divine Comedy. We hope y…
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Episode Notes In this episode, we discuss themes of memory, courage, and the imagery of "the abyss" in Pixar's 2003 animated classic Finding Nemo. We also explore Nemo's search for an ideal father figure and Dory's role as the Shakespearean "wise fool." We conclude with discussing the interwoven ideas of luck, grace, providence, miracles, and how t…
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Episode Notes Raymond and Sophie discuss Hadestown, the hit musical adaptation of an old Greek myth. Topics include Hades' justice, Orpheus as a Christological figure, and the hope of "singing it anyway." Visit our website at: https://unreliablenarratorspodcast.wordpress.com/What work would you like to hear discussed next? E-mail us at: unreliablen…
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