{"id":19399,"date":"2026-06-26T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sonic-cinema.com\/wordpress\/?p=19399"},"modified":"2026-06-26T09:06:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:06:52","slug":"episode-186-fascism-in-cinema-control-through-spectacle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonic-cinema.com\/wordpress\/2026\/06\/episode-186-fascism-in-cinema-control-through-spectacle\/","title":{"rendered":"Episode 186 – Fascism in Cinema: Control Through Spectacle"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we’ve gone through this series, many of the topics have been more inspired by the larger atmosphere around the United States during Trump Administration II. This episode, however, had a very specific inspiration in the recent UFC cage fight on President Trump’s birthday- and part of his celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. The idea of a UFC fight in front of the White House made me think of films that depict past, and futuristic, examples of state-sanctioned violent spectacle as a way of exerting control over its population. Joining me on the episode is Chris Scalzo of The First Run<\/a> podcast as we look at Norman Jewison’s “Rollerball”<\/i>, Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator”<\/i><\/a> and Gary Ross’s “The Hunger Games”<\/i><\/a>. I hope you enjoy!<\/p>\n

You can read my blog outlining my thoughts after the 2024 election here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In July 2025, I wrote about my dive into conspiracy theories here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fascism in Cinema Series<\/b>
\nEpisode 162 – Resistance to Fascism in Cinema<\/a>
\nEpisode 166 – Fascism in Cinema: Copaganda<\/a>
\nEpisode 170 – Fascism in Cinema: Bad Faith<\/a>
\nEpisode 175 – Fascism in Cinema: The Fourth Estate<\/a>
\nEpisode 176 – Fascism in Cinema: Action Nationalism<\/a>
\nEpisode 183 – Fascism in Cinema: Past Future Present<\/a>
\nEpisode 185 – Fascism in Cinema: Into a World of Conspiracy<\/a><\/p>\n

Episode 186 – Fascism in Cinema: Control Through Spectacle<\/b>
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