In this milestone 40th episode, Clare and Masha are discussing the visually-stunning Oscar-winner of 2024, Flow. Despite this animation having no dialogue and minimal explicit narrative, we follow the travels of the Cat and their rag-tag bag of animal companions to see what they might tell us about survival, the climate crisis, found-family, and mutual support between very different characters.

We consider the way in which collaboration and community benefit everyone. We situate the mythical circumstances of the film within a real-life crisis of rising sea-levels and extreme weather phenomena, from both our usual anthropocentric standpoint and the impact on flora and fauna.

We follow the Cat's arc, as they become more resourceful and courageous, and learn the benefit of having others in their lives. We look at the Capybara as a symbol of generosity and the Lemur as representative of consumerism. We explore the Dog's journey away from the group-think of the Dog Pack, considering the true nature of friendship. And we pick at the strands of spiritual and religious narrative that seem to underpin the depiction of the Secretary Bird.

Flow is far from being allegorical and even defies some metaphorical interpretation. If you have your own ideas as to how we might learn from this film, please let us know your thoughts via our website and social media, and don't forget to rate and review if you enjoy this episode!

In Episode 39 of Dystopian Fiction Has Been Moved to Current Affairs, Clare and Masha delve into the supposedly-fair society of Arcadia, the Dutch-Belgian series from Walter Presents.

Our discussion looks at the flaws with the score-based system of citizenship in the show, and how it reflects ideas around meritocracy, with reference to Michael Sandel's The Tyranny of Merit. We also look at the way in which subconscious bias plays into opportunity, and talk about some of the ideas in Boys Don't Try by Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts.

We consider what happens when a society ties worth into a cost-benefit analysis for the state, with particular reference to the treatment of the disabled and those who rely on the safety net of a benefits system. We also discuss how societal systems and constraints may not always apply to those with privilege.

We compare the current treatment of immigrants and asylum-seekers in the UK with the systems of exile in place in Arcadia. We also look at the depiction of neurodiversity and disability in the show, in comparison with the treatment of vulnerable people in British society.

If you enjoy this episode, please don't forget to rate and review. You can find us on social media @dystopianfictioncurrentaffairs, including signing up to our newsletter on Substack.

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This episode we are exploring the world of The Pod Generation, a 2023 film about artificial wombs.

CW: this episode includes discussion of death-in-pregnancy and suicide.

Inspired by the discussion surrounding the ultimately-fake news reports that a Chinese company had developed a robot with a uterus, we look at the pros and cons of such a technology, the benefits that it might bring women and people with uteruses, as well as those who cannot conceive naturally, and the challenges that make the womb-pod science fiction for the time being.

We also consider the societal impact of a two-tier maternity system and the dangers of handing power over pregnancies to corporations. We look at how the film suggests gestation in a pod might effect the involvement of both parents, particularly fathers, in the process of pregnancy, and how this might change attitudes to the provision of childcare.

We explore some of the other elements of the world of The Pod Generation, not least the commodification of the natural world. We look at the benefits and dangers posed by replacing human therapists with AI, reflecting on recent issues in the news. And we discuss a future without state-regulated education.

If you enjoy this episode, please do rate and review it. You can contact us with your own thoughts via our social media or on our website.