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The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast

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  2. Episode 51: Madame Grey's Fifty Shades of Web with Dr. Ellen Meiser

Episode 51: Madame Grey's Fifty Shades of Web with Dr. Ellen Meiser

Mar 21, 2025

On this Month's Episode of The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast Dr. Ellen Meiser, friend of the pod, Co-host of The Social Breakdown Podcast, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and author of the new book: Making it: Success in Comercial Kitchens  joins the host in discussing the dismal Dakota Johnson duology of 2015's Fifty Shades of Grey and 2024's Madame Web. We talk bad scipts, worse BDSM representation and why you should never trust fan fiction, or an IP cash Grab

Production Notes:

Intro: 0:00-2:24

Update on Dr. Meiser's work: 2:42-12:03

  •  Her Piece in "The Conversation"
  • Making it: Success in Commercial Kitchens
  • an ASA Context Essay 
  • The Menu Reference 

The Basics of Fifty Shades and Madame Web 12:04-38.32

  • Production 
  • Plot Synopsis 
  • Trivia 

Historical Context: 38:33-78:54

  • Personal Contexts and Public Response 
  • Dakota Johnson and "The Actor's Dilemma"
  • Creator Control
  • Fifty Shades's popularity 
  • Fifty Shades post "Me Too" 
  • Madame Web ignores 9/11
  • A Spider-Man aside 
  • The Critical Reception for both films 
  • Superhero Fatigue or Failure? 
  • Theater Monopolies are coming back
  • "The Streaming Culture" change 

Social Analysis: 78:55-101:28

  • Misrepresenting BDSM and Kink
  • Fifty Shades is a 'Princess' Film
  • Responsibility of the Author 
  • Responsibility of the Consumer 
  • Amy Bonomi study on I.P.V. and Fifty Shades
  • The Female Gaze 
  • Madame Web's Bureaucracy of 'Nothing'
  • The Faux Feminism of Madame Web

Outtro: 101:29-114:34

  • A curated list of better Erotica 
  • Ellen's Next Episode: Alex Garland's Civil War
  • Plugs 
  • Post-Script Easter Egg

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