Consumer Culture Episodes

Episode Description What if one of the world's most influential cultural industries wasn't built by publishers or artists alone? Today, manga is a global phenomenon. It has inspired blockbuster films, anime, video games, conventions, cosplay, and a multibillion-dollar merchandise industry. But according to historian Andrea Horbinski, manga's remarkable success cannot be understood simply by studying famous creators or bestselling titles. Its history is also the story of ordinary readers who r...

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Why is one of America's most successful anti-hunger programs suddenly at the center of legal and political controversy? Recent battles over restrictions on purchases through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest government food assistance program, have reignited debates over nutrition, personal choice, and the proper role of government. But as Christopher Bosso explains, those debates are far older than they appear. Bosso takes listener...

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥. The modern business suit may seem timeless and practical, but its history reveals how clothing came to shape our ideas about power, respectability, and political authority. Historian Chloe Chapin uncovers the surprising history behind the business suit and why it still shapes our ideas about leadership today. 𝐈𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 Why does the suit signal authority? When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared before world leaders without wearing one, his clothing becam...