S1-E8: "Brazil," the Movie (Season Finale)

The Radical Bureaucrat

For the last episode of the season, Sam and Abram invited some friends to watch and discuss Brazil, a surreal film that takes on themes of bureaucracy and alienation. Sam and Abram are joined by Patrick G. Williamson, who works for the NYC Department of Education and produces the podcast 3 Educated Brothas, and Toni Smith-Thompson, who is an organizer for the New York Civil Liberties Union. In Brazil, protagonist Sam Lowry works for a massive bureaucracy called Central Services, but fantasizes about becoming a “lone wolf” hero who rescues a damsel in distress. It inspires a conversation addressing questions like: What is normalcy, and what can we learn by observing who accepts it and who doesn’t? How do we balance individual ambition with the call to be of service to other people? How does the dystopia in Brazil mirror the real world? And, should we work to change unjust systems by trying to become revolutionary heroes, or can we build community to work for incremental change? Further reading: Brazil (1985 film), directed by Terry Gilliam. Sorry to Bother You (2018 film), directed by Boots Riley. 3 Educated Brothas podcast (http://www.3educatedbrothas.com/). Jay Smooth – “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Discussing Race” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdxeFcQtaU) The Coup – “Me and Jesus the Pimp in a ’79 Granada Last night” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPr1JLoYLW4) Killer Mike – “Reagan” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lIqNjC1RKU) Ill Doctrine, a video blog by Jay Smooth (http://illdoctrine.com/)