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Podcast: New Books in Popular Culture
Episode: Robert Farley on how "Andor" recreates "The Battle of Algiers" (and it works)
Description: It’s the UConn Popcast, and today we are joined by Professor Robert Farley, author of “Andor: Star Wars Recreates the Battle of Algiers (And it Works).” We talk about how Andor, the Disney+ streamer, was deeply influenced by Gillo Pontecorvo’s 1966 movie The Battle of Algiers. Both texts tell the story of a rebellion against authoritarian colonial overlords, and both do so in a documentary style. We consider how Andor relates to other entries in the Star Wars universe, what myths and meaning structures Andor engages, and whether the show qualifies as great television, or merely pretty good Star Wars...