Pop Detective
@popdetective.bsky.social
Video essays focusing on the intersections of society, masculinity, politics, and entertainment. Hosted by Jonathan McIntosh
This book is extremely important and spot on in how it pinpoints the latent misogyny emended in AI chatbots and other new tech. Check out “The New Age of Sexism” by Laura Bates
October 3, 2025 at 10:05 PM
This book is extremely important and spot on in how it pinpoints the latent misogyny emended in AI chatbots and other new tech. Check out “The New Age of Sexism” by Laura Bates
The Sound of Music (1965)
September 18, 2025 at 8:33 PM
The Sound of Music (1965)
An important thing to understand about this is that Apocalypse Now is not an "antiwar" film. Francis Ford Coppola said so himself. It's a "war is hell" narrative. The film and especially the cool surfing scene has been co-opted by the US Military and conservatives to promote imperialism for decades.
September 14, 2025 at 7:46 PM
An important thing to understand about this is that Apocalypse Now is not an "antiwar" film. Francis Ford Coppola said so himself. It's a "war is hell" narrative. The film and especially the cool surfing scene has been co-opted by the US Military and conservatives to promote imperialism for decades.
Working on a new thing…
September 6, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Working on a new thing…
The "This is awesome!" trend in family films is a silly pet peeve of mine. A character loudly exclaims that something is awesome. The obligatory line typically comes during, or right after, they do said awesome thing. I've collected almost 200 examples so far: letterboxd.com/popdetective...
August 30, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The "This is awesome!" trend in family films is a silly pet peeve of mine. A character loudly exclaims that something is awesome. The obligatory line typically comes during, or right after, they do said awesome thing. I've collected almost 200 examples so far: letterboxd.com/popdetective...
Marlene Dietrich performing masculinity in the pre-Code Hollywood film "Morocco" from 1930
August 8, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Marlene Dietrich performing masculinity in the pre-Code Hollywood film "Morocco" from 1930
The video in question is not ambiguous in its condemnation. It also uses footage from films famous for mocking fascism.
June 6, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The video in question is not ambiguous in its condemnation. It also uses footage from films famous for mocking fascism.
I posted a video clip on TikTok using footage of Charlie Chaplin and Jojo Rabbit to condemn fascism and my video got removed for “promoting hate.” The irony would be funny if we weren’t living in such dangerous times.
June 6, 2025 at 8:52 PM
I posted a video clip on TikTok using footage of Charlie Chaplin and Jojo Rabbit to condemn fascism and my video got removed for “promoting hate.” The irony would be funny if we weren’t living in such dangerous times.
Umm...And what happens right after that conversation? This is a picture of Andromache trying to convince Hector not to fight Achilles outside the gates of Troy. If you know the ending to that story, Hector REALLY should have listened to his wife.
May 17, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Umm...And what happens right after that conversation? This is a picture of Andromache trying to convince Hector not to fight Achilles outside the gates of Troy. If you know the ending to that story, Hector REALLY should have listened to his wife.
I'm sorry but this is 100% bullshit. Men are not being "vilified." Men are being gently asked to challenge patriarchal behavior and acknowledge some of our privilege, which is a necessary step to liberation. Ending patriarchy will also result in men living happier more fulfilled lives.
May 15, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I'm sorry but this is 100% bullshit. Men are not being "vilified." Men are being gently asked to challenge patriarchal behavior and acknowledge some of our privilege, which is a necessary step to liberation. Ending patriarchy will also result in men living happier more fulfilled lives.
Players are currently running around Fortnite wearing Sabrina Carpenter skins and dancing together instead of killing each other. I made a video essay last year all about this kind of social interaction within deathmatch style games: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SArt...
April 12, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Players are currently running around Fortnite wearing Sabrina Carpenter skins and dancing together instead of killing each other. I made a video essay last year all about this kind of social interaction within deathmatch style games: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SArt...
Similarly, the show name-drops Andrew Tate but makes no effort to explain who he is or how his brand of misogyny operates. Some in the audience will already know, others will end up googling him. Googling him, without the necessary context, leads down an endless rabbit hole of reactionary bullshit.
April 5, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Similarly, the show name-drops Andrew Tate but makes no effort to explain who he is or how his brand of misogyny operates. Some in the audience will already know, others will end up googling him. Googling him, without the necessary context, leads down an endless rabbit hole of reactionary bullshit.
It’s well known that in trying to debunk false information, it's easy to accidentally reinforce it, especially when the misinformation is widespread and generally accepted as true. This is sometimes called “The Familiarity Backfire Effect," as explained in the Debunking Handbook.
April 5, 2025 at 12:43 AM
It’s well known that in trying to debunk false information, it's easy to accidentally reinforce it, especially when the misinformation is widespread and generally accepted as true. This is sometimes called “The Familiarity Backfire Effect," as explained in the Debunking Handbook.
Adolescence references the "80/20 Dating Rule" again in episode three when Jamie tells the psychologist that he's not an incel but does think the 80/20 myth is correct. Again this statement passes without challenge or rebuttal.
April 5, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Adolescence references the "80/20 Dating Rule" again in episode three when Jamie tells the psychologist that he's not an incel but does think the 80/20 myth is correct. Again this statement passes without challenge or rebuttal.
The false myth asserts that "80% of women are attracted to 20% of men." This claim is absurd but it's widely accepted even outside of the manosphere. Though false, it's also proven to be an effective gateway myth that's used to radicalize lonely young men into the alt-right pipeline.
April 4, 2025 at 11:06 PM
The false myth asserts that "80% of women are attracted to 20% of men." This claim is absurd but it's widely accepted even outside of the manosphere. Though false, it's also proven to be an effective gateway myth that's used to radicalize lonely young men into the alt-right pipeline.
The most troubling example comes during episode two when Adam tells his Detective Inspector father about something called the "80/20 Dating Rule." It's important to know upfront that this is a false myth. It's not real. But the show doesn't tell us that. The misinformation is left uncontested.
April 4, 2025 at 10:48 PM
The most troubling example comes during episode two when Adam tells his Detective Inspector father about something called the "80/20 Dating Rule." It's important to know upfront that this is a false myth. It's not real. But the show doesn't tell us that. The misinformation is left uncontested.
While Netflix's Adolescence is a marvel in both acting and filmmaking, I have some serious concerns about how the writers address, or rather don't address, the noxious manosphere myths their characters reference during the show.
April 4, 2025 at 10:13 PM
While Netflix's Adolescence is a marvel in both acting and filmmaking, I have some serious concerns about how the writers address, or rather don't address, the noxious manosphere myths their characters reference during the show.
Male centrality, and the expectation thereof, is one of the core aspects of a patriarchal society like ours. Here’s a quote defining what it means for a society to be male centered from the excellent book “The Gender Knot” by sociologist Allan G Johnson.
April 4, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Male centrality, and the expectation thereof, is one of the core aspects of a patriarchal society like ours. Here’s a quote defining what it means for a society to be male centered from the excellent book “The Gender Knot” by sociologist Allan G Johnson.
Katie is presented as a flat image in a photograph. A victim without a voice. A lost girl without expression and therefore without true humanity. The perpetrator, on the other hand, is well defined. Jamie is presented in a nuanced, troubled, and complex way. He therefore comes across as very human.
April 3, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Katie is presented as a flat image in a photograph. A victim without a voice. A lost girl without expression and therefore without true humanity. The perpetrator, on the other hand, is well defined. Jamie is presented in a nuanced, troubled, and complex way. He therefore comes across as very human.
Adolescence even lampshades this exact issue in the dialogue of episode two, so we know the writers are aware of the problem. And yet, that exchange is just lip service because the series steadfastly refuses to give us the prospective of the women impacted by men's harassment and violence.
April 3, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Adolescence even lampshades this exact issue in the dialogue of episode two, so we know the writers are aware of the problem. And yet, that exchange is just lip service because the series steadfastly refuses to give us the prospective of the women impacted by men's harassment and violence.
I recently watched Adolescence on Netflix and at the risk of sounding a bit iconoclastic, I’d like to offer some criticisms and concerns about how the mini-series (perhaps inadvertently) perpetuates some myths related to the online radicalization of men and boys.
April 3, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I recently watched Adolescence on Netflix and at the risk of sounding a bit iconoclastic, I’d like to offer some criticisms and concerns about how the mini-series (perhaps inadvertently) perpetuates some myths related to the online radicalization of men and boys.
Making a list of games with NPC romance options. Most of the big franchises are on here but I'm most interested in smaller indie games with unique, bizarre, or interesting mechanics. Suggestions welcome! bckl.gg/g5Z2
March 24, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Making a list of games with NPC romance options. Most of the big franchises are on here but I'm most interested in smaller indie games with unique, bizarre, or interesting mechanics. Suggestions welcome! bckl.gg/g5Z2
Collecting examples of mainstream media where the bad guy is an ideologue of the MRA, podcast bro, pick-up artist, or red pill variety?
March 18, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Collecting examples of mainstream media where the bad guy is an ideologue of the MRA, podcast bro, pick-up artist, or red pill variety?
Karis Nemik in Andor - Season 1, Episode 5
January 22, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Karis Nemik in Andor - Season 1, Episode 5
Welp, I guess it’s time to download all videos, likes, and bookmarks from TikTok.
January 17, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Welp, I guess it’s time to download all videos, likes, and bookmarks from TikTok.