Joker: The Dark Side of Film Fandom (Author Interview)

Following the success of our Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Season 2 Retro Rewind season, this week we sit down with academic scholar and author of the newly released book, Interpreting and Transmitting Kynicism in Joker: The Dark Side of Film Fandom (Lexington Books, 2024). In a twist of fate, Joker's author is none other than guest host and friend-of-the-pod, Dr. Kyle Hammonds. In this interview, we provide an objective platform to discuss Kyle's book and the origins of his ideas and its focus. The conversation helps advance our season-long focus on recognizing deeper values embedded within popular artifacts like superhero comic books, films, and other kinds of transmedia experiences. Stay tuned til the end for information on how to obtain a discounted copy of this philosophical examination of the popularity tethered to Batman's most iconic arch nemesis. 

Hosts: Garret Castleberry

Guest: Kyle Hammonds

Producers: Garret Castleberry, Will McMurry (Audio Engineer), Alli Garner (Cover Art), Austin Foster (Music)

Recommended readings paired with Season Two "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns":
Frank Miller (with Klaus Jansen). Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. DC Comics, 1986.

Chris Gavaler. Superhero Comics. Bloomsbury Academic Press, 2017.

Robert Jewett & John Shelton Lawrence. The Myth of the American Superhero. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002.

Ways to Connect with us online:
Follow and engage with Special Topics in Media on Twitter at @podcast_topics.

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Join the Special Topics in Media Facebook Group and share your reviews of the film or this episode.

Follow Kyla Hammonds's wider media insights in the Facebook Group MovieTalk, with Kyle Hammonds.

Subscribe to Dr. Castleberry's academic YouTube Channel.

Garret's academic website is available at https://garretcastleberry.academia.edu/.