Future Shock Film: Soylent Green (1973)

Special Topics in Media

In a world where rapid overpopulation leads to accelerated resource scarcity, near-future police detective Thorn (an icy Charlton Heston) investigates a murder that involves an upper-class power player, an escort with limited social mobility, and an increasing sense of sociopolitical conspiracy. Featuring an unnerving supporting role (and final screen performance) by Edward G. Robinson, director Richard Fleischer's 1973 ecological thriller Soylent Green serves as the launch point discussion for Season 3's emphasis on "Future Shock" science fiction film.
Orienting this discourse into future shock, host Garret Castleberry is joined by sci-fi aficionado Scott McMurry on a voyage of dark discovery into the dystopian spaces that haunt not only sci-fi film but also the fears and anxieties of storytellers and their audiences. What is Soylent Green, and does it offer salvation to the resource-poor near-future? SPOILER WARNING for listeners unfamiliar with the source material. The film will be discussed in full, so consider re/visiting this cult classic before listening to this week's discussion.
"Future Shock" originated as Season 3 of Special Topics in Media, and the first batch of film conversations comprise a RETRO REWIND mini-series. Following these Retro Rewind film talks, Season 3 will collide with its altered future as we converge with a new season (and NEW university film course!) of future shock analyses.
Hosts: Garret Castleberry, Scott McMurry
Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)
Recommended readings to pair with Season 3 "Future Shock Science Fiction Film":
Keith M. Johnston. Science Fiction Film: A Critical Introduction. Bloomsbury, 2011.
Rick Altman. Film/Genre. British Film Institute, 1999.
Laurie Ouellette and Jonathan Gray (Eds.). Keywords for Media Studies. NYU Press, 2017.
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Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/.