Stormtroopers and the Work of Empire
The tools of empire aren't always so obvious. by Matt Houle One of the first introductions we get to the Imperial Stormtrooper in Star Wars is the observation that “only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise.” The moment comes early in the film, as
A Dream of Revolution
In 2016, the Dallas Police Department killed Micah Xavier Johnson using a bomb disposal robot and a block of C-4. He was the first—but almost certainly not the last—person to be killed by a police r
Subgenres of the Apocalypse
In 2016, the Dallas Police Department killed Micah Xavier Johnson using a bomb disposal robot and a block of C-4. He was the first—but almost certainly not the last—person to be killed by a police r
This Was A Triumph: Remote Work Dystopias from Portal to Pandemic
Lessons on remote revolution from the Aperture Science Enrichment Center by Louis Evans “This was a triumph. I’m making a note here, HUGE SUCCESS.” – GLaDOS on the events of Portal “I think we did a great job.” – Donald Trump on the response
Breaking the First Law
In 2016, the Dallas Police Department killed Micah Xavier Johnson using a bomb disposal robot and a block of C-4. He was the first—but almost certainly not the last—person to be killed by a police r
Communizing The Moon
It's time to stop thinking about the moon as the next frontier for labor exploitation.
Buy Happiness Here
Aldous Huxley's vision of a drugged utopia has found new life in a culture obsessed with wellness, productivity hacking, and quick-fix pharmaceuticals.
V for Vendetta and the Limits of Liberal Protest
Does a Bush-era adaptation of a British anarchist comic have anything to say in 2020?
Emptiness Is What’s Used
Science fiction and fantasy films tend to be fairly unsubtle in their depiction of authoritarianism. Children of Men is the exception.