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Dark Alleys of Media

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Dark Alleys of Media
Latest episode

8 episodes

  • Dark Alleys of Media

    EP8 - Adolescence: ‘Artistic’ Propaganda

    26/05/2025 | 53 mins.
    To day we are looking at the much talked about Netflix global hit 'Adolescence'. 

    A lot has already been said so we wanted to look at it after the dust had settled. 

    We will interrogate the technical brilliance of it, the narrative and its purpose. 

    Resources:

    Interviews

    Creator Jack Thorne REVEALS The DEEP TRUTH Behind 'Adolescence'!

    Adolescence writer calls for social media regulation for kids

    'Adolescence' is a Moral Panic - William Costello | Maiden Mother Matriarch Episode 133

    The Truth About Incels | Ash Sarkar meets William Costello

    LIVE: 'Adolescence' Co-creator Jack Thorne, Addresses Parliament on Misogyny in Media | Screen

    Research:

    The Mating Psychology of Incels (Involuntary Celibates): Misfortunes, Misperceptions, and Misrepresentations

    Groundbreaking study reveals the dating psychology of incels

    “Incels” are not particularly right-wing or white, but they are extremely depressed, anxious, and lonely, according to new research

    News Articles 

    What incels think of Adolescence - They feel trivialised but amplified

    Adolescence: drama schools hit out at ‘stars from nowhere’ narrative

    What 'Adolescence' gets right about teen boys — according to a psychologist

    The Adolescence alarm: ‘If there’s a problem with boys’ behaviour, it’s because of us’

    Adolescence has sparked fears over teen slang – but emoji don’t cause radicalisation

    Adolescence’s message has echoed around the world – but a social media ban is the wrong move

    How ‘Adolescence’ Turned A Story Of Teen Violence Into A Political Call To Action

    The cringeworthiness of showing Adolescence in schools

    I’m a psychologist and this is why Adolescence shouldn’t be shown in schools

    The UK wants to screen Netflix’s Adolescence in schools. Should you watch it with your child?
  • Dark Alleys of Media

    EP7 - The Oscars: Fools Gold

    13/04/2025 | 52 mins.
    In this episode we look at the 2025 Oscars that just went by but decided to delve deeper into the Oscars history, structure and its real purpose. 

    We will look at some of the most controversial Oscar campaigns, the forces behind them, if the Oscars favorite indie movies are really indie and if this whole thing is just an out of touch popularity contest. 

    Also at the end, we hear what Ricky Gervais has to say about the Oscar nominees. 

     

    History:

    The House That Mr. Mayer Built: Inside the Union-Busting Birth of the Academy Awards

    Corruption

    The Oscars Are Corrupted and Dirty and Driven by Publicists, But Dammit We Still Need Them

    The bitter truth about Hollywood’s Oscar obsession

    Most corrupt Oscar campaign

    Number of television viewers of the Academy Awards ceremonies from 2000 to 2025

    Why THIS Is The Worst Best Picture Winner In Oscar History

    Oscar voter admits meeting Robert Downey Jr ‘tipped the scales’ for his vote

    Oscar voters speak:

    2025 - Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot No. 1: ‘Conclave’ for Best Picture, ‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Lost His Vote with Tweets

    2024 - Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot No. 1: ‘Zone of Interest’ Is Best Picture, but Nolan Is Best Director

    Indie Cinema

    Don’t be fooled by all the ‘indie’ nominations – Oscars are still dominated by the big players - 2015 Article

    2025 Oscars 

    Emilia Perez Nomination Explained

    “Emilia Pérez” is Not Good Trans Representation

    REVIEW: ‘Emilia Pérez’ Hates México
  • Dark Alleys of Media

    EP6 - Andrew Tate & Media Failures

    09/03/2025 | 57 mins.
    *This episode was recorded before the Tate's arrived in the US*

    Who is Andrew Tate? We know of him as a social media influencer, misogynist, champion of men's rights and Pimp and more. But why is he famous and what are the forces that are driving his rise and continued relevance? 

    Join us as we dive into the world of the Tates, hear from their own words and see how the traditional media forms are struggling to combat his or his contemporaries. 

     

    Video references: 

    The Incredibly Satisfying Downfall of Andrew Tate

    Andrew Tate Exposed: Chats document manipulation of a trafficking victim!

    BBC Interview with Tate

    Andrew Tate's War Room exposed by Cobratate insider

    Exposing Andrew Tate's Cult Full of Losers!

    I Joined Andrew Tate's $5,000 War Room for 1 Year

    Articles:

    I’m Andrew Tate’s audience and I know why he appeals to young men

    How the Tate Brothers Came to Romania and How They First Made Contact with Organized Crime

    Swallowing the Red Pill: a journey to the heart of modern misogyny

    The female Andrew Tate’: the new influencer dating doctrine is extreme – but I can see why it’s popular

    Yes, Andrew Tate is a misogynist, but his real game is exploiting men’s vulnerabilities for cash

    This is why young men are still listening to Andrew Tate

    Colleges Have a Guy Problem

    Women Likely to Continue Outpacing Men in Education

    Gen Z does not dream of labor

    Tradwives, stay-at-home girlfriends and the dream of feminine leisure

    Report:

    Algorithms as a Weapon Against Women: How YouTube Lures Boys and Young Men into the ‘Manosphere’

    Social Media:

    @CrayonMurders

    @TheMilkBarTV

    @ThePAXWAX

    I Don't Dream of Labour TikTok trend
  • Dark Alleys of Media

    EP5 - Politics is Showbusiness for Ugly People

    01/12/2024 | 1h 10 mins.
    We are back!

    This time we are looking at what could have been the 'greatest show on earth' a.k.a the US presidential election of 2024. 

    It was definitely a show as it lacked any real substance. We will be looking specifically at image polities, online culture, the decline of legacy media & rise of new media. 

    Links:

    Exit polling

    Abortion did not play a big role as expected in the US election

    How female voters broke for Harris and Trump

    Progressive measures won in conservative states and lost in liberal  states

    It’s the economy stupid. Trump taps voter anger in red wave

    Breaking Points - CNN: Trump COULD WIN Popular Vote

     

    Election ads - 

    Youtube channel with all the election ads

    Top 5 Trump Ads of '24 Based On Views!

    Harris opening ad

    Trump Ad : They Will Never Silence Me

    Harris Ad : Monster

    Trump closing ad

    Harris closing ad

     

    Celebrity Endorsements - 

    How 'damaging' celebrity endorsements could have made battleground voters turn against Kamala Harris

    Why Celebrity Endorsements Don’t Always Deliver Votes, and Might Work Against Candidates

     

    The rise of new media -

    How Podcasts Emerged as Vehicles of Mass Reach, Niche Audiences and Cultural Influence

    Joe Rogan and the Fifth Estate: How the Podcaster and a Group of Cable News Exiles Became More Powerful Than Traditional Media

    Podcast giant Joe Rogan may have played key role in US elections

     

    The legacy media in crisis -

    Viewers flee MSNBC and flock to Fox News 

    60 Minutes ADMITS It Edited Kamala Harris Interview, DEFENDS Choice Anyway

    Bad News

    Media’s Crisis Point: It’s Losing Relevance and Scorned in Trump Era. A Reboot May Be Next

    Joe Biden's bad debate performance exposed legacy media

    Legacy media faces identity crisis ahead of Trump’s term

    Poor news judgment has shredded US legacy media’s influence. What about in Australia?

     

    US Election ad spending -

    Unpacking the Data Behind Trump and Harris’ Presidential Election Ad Spending
  • Dark Alleys of Media

    EP4 - Manufacturing the Band

    05/09/2024 | 50 mins.
    Lou Perlman became infamous for creating some of the bestselling Boy Bands in the world and running a ponzi scheme for over 40 years. What did this guy get up to? How did he make his money? 

    More importantly, why were boy Bands such money makers for studios and what lies behind the extravagant facade?

    We deep dive into Perlmans past, his scams, the exploitation of his artists and then look into how this is the norm in the music industry where music and the artists are commodities. 

    In the end of the episode, we listen to the words of the very honest, Simon Cowell. 

     

    The Boy Band Con: The Lou Perlman Story (WATCH) 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcCRs0Ic3FI&t=1823s

     

    Menudo: Forever Young looks at the Exploitative Nature of Boy Bands
    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/menudo-forever-young-exploitation-boy-bands_n_62b9cfc4e4b0cf43c86835f8

     

    Dirty Pop: Boy Band Scam Awkwardly Curates the Facts

    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dirty-pop-boy-band-scam-review-flawed-celebrity_n_669fe59ae4b08943f2a14923

     

    The True Story Behind Dirty Pop: The boy Band Scam

    https://time.com/7002523/dirty-pop-netflix-time-studios/

     

    The Dark Questions Netflix’s Lou Perlman Doc Dirty Pop Doesn’t Answer

    https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/lou-pearlman-backstreet-boys-nsync-dirty-pop

     

    Making the Band: Dark History of boy Bands

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahxk3GTi5yc

     

    Lou Perlman: The Evil Behind 90s Boy Band

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbOzY9pRxA0

     

    All About the Disgraced Con Artist Who Discovered NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys

    https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-lou-pearlman-stories/carly-silver

     

    Record Breaking Revenues in the Music Business, But are Musicians Getting a Raw Deal

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/oisinlunny/2019/05/15/record-breaking-revenues-in-the-music-business-but-are-musicians-getting-a-raw-deal/

     

    Music Industry Monopolies: Are They Preventing Growth

    https://www.gearnews.com/music-industry-monopolies-are-they-preventing-growth/

     

    How Music Monopolies own your ears (and Everything that goes in Them)

    https://challenge-magazine.org/2022/05/16/how-music-monopolies-own-your-ears-and-everything-that-goes-in-them/

     

    Diary of a CEO: Simon Cowell Opens Up About His Heartbreaking Loss & His Regrets About One Direction
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsbCdCG8gE

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About Dark Alleys of Media

The seedy side of media is an open secret. Original material is replaced by scandal. Alex, Ash and Marina explore the power dynamics of film, TV, streaming and music, and where reality is the new commodity of entertainment. This podcast explores each dark alley of media, the forces that shape it, and the future of scandalous entertainment. Of course it’s all alleged. For thought provoking entertainment only.
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