A Safe Place For Boys

South Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut, or Trouble in Paradise Lost

CONTENT WARNING: South Park
Join Kelcee and Spencer for their conversation about the (checks notes) Academy Award Nominated, 1999 Adult Animation Comedy Musical South Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut. Discussion topics include why it's funny when kids swear, jurisprudence in the case of Satire v. Censorship, and Big Gay Al's Manifesto for Queer Survival. 
Content warnings for discussions of obscene language (which at times includes the use of said language); discussions of sexism (and sexist language), racism, xenophobia (specifically toward Middle Eastern characters), fatphobia, and antisemitism; and discussions of abusive romantic relationships, suicide/suicidal ideation, child endangerment, homophobic violence, and incest. 
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
"The Woman Who Wanted Beloved Banned From Schools Is Right About One Thing" by Rebecca Onion, Slate
"Why Saddam is Gay: Masculinity Politics in South Park--Bigger, Longer, and Uncut" by Judith Kegan Gardiner, Quarterly Review of Film and Video
This Film is Not Yet Rated directed by Kirby Dick
Here are some resources if you are looking to expand your horizons and fight present-day censorship efforts!
"The Top Ten Most Challenged Books for 2023" by the American Library Association
Browsable Booklists from A Room of One's Own Bookstore
"Your New Favorite Youtuber" playlist, created by hbomberguy
AK Press
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 
 

Alien and Aliens Part 2, or Mommy Issues

Join Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the scariest movie ever made and its genre-bending sequel: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Discussion topics include meditations on whether it matters that Ripley’s a woman, a deep dive into the goop of the monstrous feminine, and James Cameron’s imaginary dead women.  
And if you’re wondering what male author we’re quoting around 15:04, it’s John Updike in The Witches of Eastwick. You’re welcome. 
Content warnings for discussions of sexual assault throughout, sexual imagery, forced pregnancy, body horror, death, child endangerment, and brief mentions of anti-latinx racism. 
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“Sigourney Weaver, On Eve Of Her Venice Lifetime Achievement Award, Lifts Lid On Remarkable Career From ‘Alien’ To ‘Avatar’, ‘Working Girl’ To ‘Ghostbusters’ And ‘Star Wars’ Role To Come” by Andreas Wiseman, Deadline
“Alien's Gender-Neutral Script, Explained” by Ben Sherlock, ScreenRant
“Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States, 2022,” CDC
The Monstrous Feminine, by Barbara Creed
“Science Fiction: This Time It's War!” by Alasdair Spark, Viet Nam Generation Journal & Newsletter
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Sound Effect by Trading Nation from Pixabay
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

Alien and Aliens Part 1, or In Space Everyone Can Hear You Scream

Join Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the scariest movie ever made and its genre-bending sequel: Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986). Discussion topics include the merits of anatomy-based monster design, whether or not Ellen Ripley needs more trauma, and why you should consider pursuing a forklift operator certification. 
Content warnings for discussions of sexual assault throughout, sexual imagery, forced pregnancy, body horror, death, child endangerment, and brief mentions of anti-latinx racism. 
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“Xenomorph Eggs Originally Looked Very Different In Alien” by Anthony Jones, Screenrant
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

The Karate Kid Part 2, or The Ignoble Crane Kick

Join Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the 1984 martial arts classic: The Karate Kid. Discussion topics include how to fight and why, a trip to the Cobra Kai Corner, and Mr. Miyagi: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. 
 
Content warnings for discussions of bullying and physical violence, anti-asian racism, and war-related trauma, and mentions of child abuse and misogyny. 
 
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
Southpaw podcast
The scholarship of Dr. Wayne Wong (see a video of his most recent presentation at the Martial Arts Studies Conference soon: here)
“Fascist fight clubs: how white nationalists use MMA as a recruiting tool” by Karim Zidan, The Guardian
Love Fighting, Hate Violence
Conscious Combat Club
“Masculinity on the Mat” by Vincent Haddad, Public Books
“The Karate Kid at 40: why the film’s lasting appeal stems from a simplistic stereotyping of the ‘mysterious east’” by Paul Bowman, The Conversation
“Why I used to hate Mr. Miyagi” by jon, Medium
The Real Miyagi (documentary)
“The Nisei Soldiers Who Fought WWII Enemies Abroad–and Were Seen As Enemies Back Home” by Erin Blakemore, National Geographic
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

The Karate Kid Part 1, or Adventures in Bonsai-Sitting

Join Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the 1984 martial arts classic: The Karate Kid. Or, if you want to be pedantic: The Karate Kid (Part 1). Discussion topics include a toxic masculinity speedrun, the not-so-real history of karate, and the world’s most abrupt bully redemption arc. 
See you in two weeks for part two!
Content warnings for discussions of bullying and physical violence, and brief mentions of child abuse, domestic violence, death, and war-related trauma. 
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“This is NOT Karate” by Jesse Enkamp, youtube.com
 “The influence of French gymnastics and military French boxing on the creation of modern karate (1867-1914)” by Jean-François Loudcher and Christian Faurillon, Martial Arts Studies
“Karate's ambiguity: Traditional martial art or modern combat sport” by Rudolf Jakhel, Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas
“The sportivization process of a martial art: the karate” by Marcelo Alberto de Oliveira, Jefferson Campos Lopes, Ricardo João Sonoda-Nunes, and Abel Aurélio Abreu Figueiredo, Revista de Artes Marciales Asiáticas
“Does my Forward Stance Look a Little Fascist? Meiji-Era Karate & Embodied Politics, by Dr Peter Katz” by Martial Arts Studies, youtube.com
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 
 

Hades, or Parent-Trapping in God Mode

Join Kelcee and Spencer for their SUPER GIANT conversation about the 2019 video game phenomenon Hades. Discussion topics include a rougelike rundown, the downsides of “ancient Greek” body culture, and healthy anger management techniques (that don’t involve stabbing your son with a fork.)
 
Content Warnings for discussions of child abuse and death throughout, rape and sexual violence (particularly between 1:15:35 and 1:19:22), murder, grief, and pregnancy loss.  
 
Works Cited & Recommended Reading:
“Roguelike Games: 5 Elements of Roguelike Video Games,” Masterclass
“Zagreus,” Britannica
“What Hades Can Teach Us About Ancient Greek Masculinity,” by Autumn Wright, Wired.com
"The Stages of Grief and What to Expect," by Kimberly Holland, Healthline
“The Furies,” Brooklyn Museum
“Hey, Dad: Hades & Fatherhood,” by George Umbarger, Unwinnable.com
“Hades: An Ode to Family Trauma,” by Jessica Howard, Uppercutcrit.com
“Anger and Grief,” Hospice Foundation of America
“Coping with anger while grieving,” Harvard Health Publishing
Beyond Anger: A Guide for Men, by Thomas J. Harbin
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

Mr. Mom Part 2, or The Rocky Interlude

Join Kelcee and Spencer for part two of their conversation about hidden feminist classic Mr. Mom (1983). Discussion topics include stay-at-home-fatherhood statistics, pandemic callbacks, and, of course, the enduring messages of Rocky 3.
Recommended Reading: “Male Weepies: A Misunderstood Genre” by Broey Deschanel, Youtube.com
Content Warnings for discussion of sexism (including workplace sexual harassment and an attempted assault), mentions of physical violence, and mental health issues.
Works Cited:
“It’s Time to Recognize ‘Mr.Mom’ as a Feminist Classic” by Cole Haddon, Substack
“Only 6 American Men Identified As Stay-At-Home Dads In The 1970s. Today, It's A Different Story” by Emily Peck, Huffington Post
“Mr Mom” Oxford English Dictionary
“Hollywood’s Winners and Losers in ‘83” by Aljean Harmetz, New York Times
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Sound Effects from Pixabay
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

Mr. Mom Part 1, or How to Feed Your Baby Chili Without Really Trying

Join Kelcee and Spencer for part one of their conversation about the hidden “John Hughes” gem from 1983: Mr. Mom. Discussion topics include ruminations on the Detroit Lions, Bad Boss Behavior, and a moment-by-moment breakdown of the most egregious child theft in cinema history. Join us again in two weeks for part two!
Also sorry we hit the microphone a million times in this one. 
Recommended Reading: Spencer says to watch Rocky 3 (1982). 
Content Warnings for discussion of sexism (including workplace sexual harassment and an attempted assault) and mental health issues.
New to the Show? Start at the beginning with Jurassic Park, or Monstrous Moms vs. Dangerous Dads
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Sound Effect from Pixabay
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/ 

"Season Two" Announcement!

Hi Everyone! A Safe Place for Boys is going on summer vacation!
Thank you all so much for the feedback and suggestions you've given us so far. We're really looking forward to bringing you even more compassionate conversations about masculinity in media starting Saturday, August 10th. 
If you want to watch/play along with us, here is a preview of what we'll be talking about in "season two" (order TBD):
Mr. Mom (1983)
Alien (1979)/Aliens (1986)
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Last Dragon (1985)
Cool Runnings (1993)
Hades (2019)
South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999) (Just...trust us)
Thank you all again for listening! Have a great summer, and we'll see you again on August 10th. 

It's a Wonderful Life Part 2, or "Deck the Halls with Donna Reed"

Join Kelcee and Spencer for part TWO of their conversation about the 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. Discussion topics include watching movies for the FBI, the failures of armchair psychology diagnoses, and what to do when the wallpaper starts talking to you. 
 
Content Warnings for discussions of PTSD and trauma, suicide and suicidal ideation, and child abuse.  
 
Works Cited:
“The Weird Story of the FBI and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’” by Kat Eschner, Smithsonian Magazine 
“How Jimmy Stewart’s war service affected ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’” by Nina Metz, The Chicago Tribune
“How World War II shaped ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’” by Rachael Scott, CNN
“Did Jimmy Stewart Suffer PTSD from World War II Bombing Missions?” by Dan MacGuill, Snopes
“Guideposts Classics: James Stewart on ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’” by James Stewart, Guideposts
“Mary Bailey is the True Hero of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’” by Monica Hesse, Washington Post
 
Credits:
Theme Music: Break Through_Narrative by INOD
Sound Effect from Pixabay
Logo Design: Geoff Sykes (find him on Instagram)
Connect with us!
Suggestions for episode topics? Email us at: safeplaceforboys@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/safeplaceforboys/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/WbGP4gg9CXxLvYU5/