In episode 44 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha are delving into the recent Yorgos Lanthimos film, Bugonia.

In this more than usually complex and surprising dystopian narrative, we consider the depiction of vulnerable young white male characters both as victims and villains, and the role played by conspiracy theory and internet rabbit-holes. In particular, we challenge our views of the academy and mainstream research when faced with a story in which the conspiracy theorist is proved right.

We look at corporate responsibility and the power of pharmaceutical companies, including medical testing, opioid addiction, and the role of consent in trials and treatments. We compare the ethics of actions by the rich and powerful with those of the disenfranchised individual, and ask who is the real villain of this story.

Clare gives a short speech on bees, and we discuss bugonia and CCD as allegories for humanity and/or the planet. We also look at the bar set for humanity's redemption and whether the species' annihilation can be justified, along with whether a higher intelligence and/or colonial power has the right to decide Earth's future.

We make a number of specific references to other material in this episode, as follows.

• Louis Theroux's Inside the Manosphere documentary
• Drama series Adolescence
• Barbara Kingsolver's novel Demon Copperhead*
• Donna Zuckerberg's book Not All Dead White Men*

*affiliate link

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In Episode 43 (and not 42 as Clare so confidently announces in the first minute!) of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, we're discussing 2025 Paul Thomas Anderson film, One Battle After Another.

As well as examining the success of using dark comedy and satire to present themes of authoritarianism and revolution, particularly through the caricaturing of both the right and the left, we contextualize the politics of the film within the current rise of fascism in the United States.

We consider the presentation of failed violent revolution and the suffering of the individual in the face of perpetuating institutions. We look at the way in which rebellion can be undermined both by the weaknesses of individuals and the indistinctness of messaging or abundant bureaucracy. We are particularly interested in the burden of a fight placed on the shoulders of the next generation.

We critique the way in which the film was depicted either as a call to violence, by the right, or a celebration of left-wing protest, by the left. Rather, we conclude that, despite the film's sympathy for those who confront authoritarianism and champion liberty, it does so in the spirit of challenge, adopting the extreme representation of each end of the political spectrum by the other as a means both to provide comedy and provoke serious political thought.

In this episode we specifically quote from the following interviews and articles:

https://www.theringer.com/2025/09/29/movies/one-battle-after-another-movie-themes-explained-analysis

https://ew.com/teyana-taylor-defends-one-battle-after-another-perfidia-scene-that-hit-hard-11905646

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/teyana-taylor-golden-globes-breakout-year

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In episode 42 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha go back to an animated classic, the 2008 Disney Pixar film Wall-E.

As well as exploring how the central ecological message of the film has fared in light of 2026 consumerism, we talk about the roles of advertising, corporate power, and human apathy have contributed to the state of the world in the era of late-stage capitalism.

We also discuss how an 18-year-old film foresaw the rise in screen-addiction, increased automation, the loss of expertise, and the reliance on vs the potential threat of AI.

In the episode, we refer to ways to better inform ourselves with respect to waste production. Among other sources, we suggest checking out: https://www.earthday.org/how-our-trash-impacts-the-environment/.

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