The Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show is infamous, not because of the extensive and impressive performance, but for the fraction of a second a breast was accidentally exposed to the world on national television. This week, Anita Sarkeesian recounts that time when a simple wardrobe malfunction nearly ended the career of Janet Jackson.
As televisions became more commonplace in America, puritanical hand-wringing began to reach an all-time high that resulted in investigations, committee hearings, and the ruining of several lives. This week, Anita Sarkeesian tells us about that time when a baseless witch hunt evolved into the Hollywood Blacklist.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there was a world where the likes of Will and Grace or The L Word never would have been imaginable. Queer representation has come a long way, and a pivotal turning point can be traced back to Ellen DeGeneres’ primetime television show. This week, Anita Sarkeesian reminds us of that time when Ellen came out.
In this episode of That Time When, host Anita Sarkeesian gives us a look into the puritanical frenzy of conservative parents and politicians who worried their kids would be corrupted by Satan if their kids played the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons.
The Beatles had just performed their final show, famous boxer Mike Tyson was born, and a beloved sci-fi darling first premiered on a television show called Star Trek. One fan was inspired by Nichelle Nichols’ performance and saw the potential the show truly had. Join Anita Sarkeesian for that time when Martin Luther King Jr. changed the fate of Star Trek.
In the era of silent film, women directors were thriving. This week, Anita Sarkeesian explores the career of legendary director Lois Weber, as she took on the topics of birth control, abortion, class, and more at the turn of the 20th century, and the puritanical gatekeepers who tried to censor her work.
In 2003, the Dixie Chicks began their year with the title of Best-Selling Female Group in history. The trio was considered the queens of the country music industry... And then, suddenly, they weren’t. Host Anita Sarkeesian covers that time when the Dixie Chicks got canceled.
In the early ’90s, Hollywood ramped up its efforts of creating more nuanced women characters, capable of having careers, meaningful relationships, and total independence. Conservative politicians found their next easy scapegoat: fictional single moms. Join Anita Sarkeesian as she recalls that time when Murphy Brown had a baby and it infuriated Dan Quayle.
This episode’s a little more personal. Anita Sarkeesian looks back on Gamergate, unpacking the historical environment that primed a violent, entitlement-fueled temper tantrum hell-bent on preserving male domination of video game culture. And how conservative strategists saw potential in mimicking those tactics and strategies to sway voters into siding with extreme regressive politics.