Episode 1006: White Noise / American Dharma

Fog of Truth

We wrap up Season 10 with returning guest host Anuradha Rana (Associate Professor, School of Cinematic Arts, DePaul University) as we review Daniel Lombroso's White Noise, a profile of some of the current leading figures among the alt-right. This leads to a discussion of the dangers of turning one's lens on problematic ideologues, given how the camera may amplify their message even as it deconstructs and criticizes it. From there, Bart and Chris interview the great Errol Morris, whose American Dharma offers a portrait of right-wing activist Steve Bannon. We've wanted to have Morris on an episode since we started, given how we named our podcast partly in homage to his The Fog of War. Though occasionally contentious, as Chris questions Morris on his approach to Bannon, our conversation proves fascinating and respectful. What a great way to end the season! Listen in and enjoy.

Group Review Documentary:

WHITE NOISE (Daniel Lombroso, 2020)

Available now on demand. Clips provided courtesy of director.

Film Featured in Interview Portion:

AMERICAN DHARMA (Errol Morris, 2018)

Streaming now on Topic.

Other Book/Films Mentioned:

• Donald Trump on Citizen Kane (Errol Morris, 2002)
• Errol Morris's Oscar Short Film: 2002 Oscars (Errol Morris, 2002)
• First Person IFC/Bravo series (Errol Morris, 2000-2001)
• The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara (Errol Morris, 2003)
• My Psychedelic Love Story (Errol Morris, 2020)
• Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know book (Malcolm Gladwell, 2019)
• The Thin Blue Line (Errol Morris, 1988)
• Triumph of the Will (Leni Riefenstahl, 1935)
• Twelve O'Clock High (Henry King, 1949)
• The Unknown Known (Errol Morris, 2013)
• Us Kids (Kim A. Snyder, 2020)
• Wormwood Netflix series (Errol Morris, 2017)

Links to reviews by Christopher Llewellyn Reed:

• Film Festival Today review of White Noise
• Hammer to Nail review of American Dharma

Timestamps:

• 00:42 – Intro
• 04:33 – Group Discussion of WHITE NOISE
• 21:49 – Bart and Chris interview Errol Morris on AMERICAN DHARMA
• ­­47:43 – Doc Talk
• 55:14 – Closing and End Credits

Website/Email:

www.fogoftruth.com

[e-mail]

Credits:

Artwork by Hilary Campbell

Intro music by Jeremiah Moore

Transitional music by BELLS≥ (thanks to Christopher Ernst)

Editing and shownotes by Christopher Llewellyn Reed