The Encyclopedist

A guide to the best of Mexican Psychotronic Cinema for the years 1974-1977. 

A guide to the best of Mexican Psychotronic Cinema for the years 1968-1973. 

A guide to the best of Mexican Psychotronic Cinema for the years 1963-1967. 

A guide to the best of Mexican Psychotronic Cinema for the years 1939-1962. 

A guide to the best of Mexican Psychotronic Cinema. Part one is an introduction to the genre and an explanation of just what it is and why it rocks. 

In 1724 one "Captain Charles Johnson" wrote a book about the pirates of the day, and included a description of "Libertatia," a Pirate Utopia. I talk about that in this episode, along with some talk about the Algerian cities of Rabat and Salé, the latter being a real pirate utopia. 

Heard about "film noir" but not sure what it is? Curious to learn a little more about film noir? Or eager to hear someone bloviate about what the best films noir are?  That's what I'm here for. Take a listen! Nearly an hour on what constitutes films noir and what are the best noirs of the "classic noir" period of 1940-1958. 

Sure, there were badass male Vikings, and perhaps you can even name them, but do you know the story of Auðr-Unn the Deep-Minded, the most badass female Viking of them all? No? Well, sit back, pour yourself some mead, and have a listen, 'cause it's a good story and (as far as I've been able to tell) 100% true. 

In part 1 of the Bollywood Primer I guided you through the history of Hindi Cinema. In part 2, an unwieldy forty-two minutes long (sorry!), I provide you with three to four movies for every decade that Hindi Cinema has been around. Each of these movies is worth seeing because of their historical importance and/or their intrinsic worth. Bonus: music from the films!

This episode of The Encyclopedist is a two-parter! In part one we take a brisk, eighteen-minute stroll through the history of Bollywood, a.k.a. Hindi Cinema, beginning in 1896 with the first showing of film in India and proceeding through the decades until we end at 2020. Film names will be dropped! Knowledge will be dealt!