PBS Idea Channel
Season 4
A PBS show that examines the connections between pop culture, technology and art told by Mike Rugnetta.
Where to Watch PBS Idea Channel • Season 4
79 Episodes
- Are Comic Book Characters Like D&D Players?E1
Are Comic Book Characters Like D&D Players?Dungeon Masters rule over Tabletop RPGs, but who watches the Watchmen? Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, Thor... all famous comic book characters, but famous not technically because of the actions they perform, but for those that comic book creators and writers choose for them. How is this like the players of a RPG, who experience what they may perceive as agency over their actions, despite their routes being carefully orchestrated by the Dungeon Master. So, who’s really in control? - Do Upvotes Show Democracy's Flaws?E2
Do Upvotes Show Democracy's Flaws?Are upvotes democratic? Supposedly, YikYak is a democratic social network, following the lead of forums like reddit that use upvoting as “community sourced decisions.” The IDEA behind both is that compelling, unique posts will float to the top, and weak ones will sink to the bottom. Reddit is a democracy! Much like The United States. HOWEVER, in both cases, the notion of true democracy may well be an illusion! Does seeing upvotes promote more upvotes? Does provocative content beget more provocative content? Is all content created equal? - How Does Steven Universe Expand Our Ideas of Family?E3
How Does Steven Universe Expand Our Ideas of Family?We love Steven Universe! But what makes it so great? It's a story of mismatched characters trying to save the world, but maybe there's more to it than that? Maybe Steven Universe is really about Family, and how it's impossible to define it... universally. What else, or who else can we call family? Are Fandoms family? Can THINGS be family? - Why Are You Ignoring My iMessages??E4
Why Are You Ignoring My iMessages??Why are you ignoring my messages? Are read receipts AMAZING or INFURIATING? When you check iMessage on your iPhone, iWatch, iMac, iPad, i…WHATEVER, and you see a little note that says your friend saw your message, but they aren't responding. Why are you ignoring my texts? WHY DOES IT HURT SO MUCH?! WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN RESPONDING TO MY TEXT MESSAGE? Also, what's up with those people with green bubbles? Aren't they the worst? - Is The LEGO Movie Anti-Copyright?E5
Is The LEGO Movie Anti-Copyright?EVERYTHING IS AWESOME in the LEGO™ movie, except when it isn't and LORD BUSINESS gets in the way and wants to control everything and stifle creativity™! Emmet, Wyldstyle, Batman, and others in the movie seem completely opposed to the imposition of any sort of structure that dictates what will be built and how, which to us at Idea Channel sounds really similar to discussions around copyright law and intellectual property (IP). Are master builders just artists who make good use of the public domain? Can the LEGO movie advocate for open culture even if LEGO itself is historically opposed to it? - What’s the Deal With Amiibos?E6
What’s the Deal With Amiibos?The insane popularity of Nintendo’s Amiibos, Amiibo Hunting, and Amiibo Hunters (both in stores and on places like the Amiibo Reddit) proves that people can’t keep their hands off of them, but are they simply be the next big thing in a long line of product/game crossovers? The world was previously infatuated with Skylanders, followed by the Disney Infinity characters, but something about Amiibos feels… different? They’re interactive in a way that gives them value outside of the object itself, blurring the line between consumer and an ardent collector. And how does the existence of Amiibos challenge our idea of what play is? AND WILL WE EVER GET AMIIBOS FROM WAVE 4 AND WAVE 5? - What Does The SAT Really Test?E7
What Does The SAT Really Test?THE SAT. How’s that SAT prep going? Need some SAT tips? Well, here’s one: The SAT may not actually be measuring your…anything. That’s right, your SAT scores, despite what colleges and high schools across America may like for you to believe, may not reflect anything new. There is actually substantial evidence that instead of broad aptitudes, the SATs only measure a specific set of non-quantitative, cultural values and ideas. - Is A Thor By Any Other Name Still Thor?E8
Is A Thor By Any Other Name Still Thor?Female THOR made a lot of people go kind of…crazy. But gender issues aside, people seemed most perturbed with labeling someone other than the male THOR as THOR. Chris Hemsworth even somewhat cemented his THOR character in The Avengers as the modern incantation of THOR, so why could the new comic book THOR not be Thorina or Lady THOR? Why just THOR? Join Michael Rugnetta (the one who hosts Idea Channel, not the Wheel of Fortune candidate) on this week’s episode of PBS Idea Channel as he looks into what the labeling and naming of someone or something actually means. - Why Do Americans Love Road Trips?E9
Why Do Americans Love Road Trips?Planning on going on a road trip across America at some point? Well, you’re not alone, because for some reason AMERICANS LOVE ROAD TRIPS. Planning road trips, going on road trips, going to famous places and calling it the best road trip ever. We’ve got a whole genre of films dedicated to the “road movie,” On The Road was an incredibly famous book from the beat generation. But when does a drive become a road trip? Today on Idea Channel, we dig into the how, why, and what America loves about road trips, all filmed while on the road, of course! - Country Music: The Good, The Bad, and The UglyE10
Country Music: The Good, The Bad, and The UglyCountry music is awesome! BUT there’s a weird stigma attached to even the best country music and we at Idea Channel want to understand why. Not only is it’s appeal massive, but it in some respects is keeping the record business afloat! And when it comes to music, who better to walk you from Johnny Cash to Garth Brooks on a dusty saddle than the one and only wild wild west wrangler Mike Rugnetta? Join us on this week’s episode of Idea Channel for a look at this much maligned but all together wonderful genre of music, why it might be misunderstood and how country music went from twanging banjos to pop music with a drawl (no pickup truck needed). - Do We Live In The Future?E11
Do We Live In The Future?We spend a lot of time thinking about THE FUTURE. But spoilers, maybe the future is now! Forget hoverboards, flying cars, jetpacks, and structures made of bubbles — the future is here, and your notion of the one you were “promised” was probably a lie. Look around you! Computers the size of pennies, instant communication across the oceans. The Future is now! But why still do we defer to an idea of “The Future”? And what happens to Now when we’re living in the future? Watch this week’s episode of PBS Idea Channel and find out! - DON'T CLICK THIS VIDEO!E12
DON'T CLICK THIS VIDEO!THE BUTTON! Has there ever been such a weird thing on the internet? Well, we did have Twitch Plays Pokemon, and then there was rickrolling, and then… wait, maybe the internet is always weird. But how does the button on reddit fit into all of this? Is it a game? Or... with its cult like following and rabid commenters it seems almost like a… religion? Join Mike on this week’s episode as he talks about internet communities, the button on reddit, and other crazy internet things! - Why Are There So Many Remakes?? (besides $$$)E13
Why Are There So Many Remakes?? (besides $$$)Fantastic Four, Jurassic World, The Hulk, Star Trek, Spiderman… is it just me or does it seem like remakes are EVERYWHERE? And not only that, but it seems like some movies are just sequel bait, deliberately leaving their ends open to ensure we return to the theaters a year from now to catch the second half of a story we thought we were getting the whole version of. What’s up with that? Besides financial reasons, why are there so many remakes? Does Simon Pegg have the answer? Or maybe our grumpy friend Jean Baudrillard! Watch this week’s episode of PBS Idea Channel with Mike Rugnetta to find out! - How Accurate Should Movies Be?E15
How Accurate Should Movies Be?Neil DeGrasse Tyson has made a small game out of decrying the factual inaccuracies of popular movies, but do these noted inaccuracies actually…matter? On one hand, showing the dinosaurs in Jurassic World without feathers is a scientific error, but what about the fact that Jurassic World exists at all? Isn’t it just fantasy? Does it matter that in Gravity, gravity itself seemed to not necessarily obey our current understanding of it? Join Mike on this week’s episode of Idea Channel as he looks at what works of fiction may or may not owe to actual reality. - When Does Play Become Work?E17
When Does Play Become Work?I'm only one person, and there are only so many hours in the day. Why does entertainment increasingly feel like work? The Witcher 3 literally describes its side quests as contracts, every new movie seems like a must see, and every book that comes out IS JUST SO GREAT. Even as a human who's job it is to KNOW ALL THE THINGS, on this week's episode of Idea Channel, Mike laments the idea that no longer do we just enjoy things, we are required and tasked with enjoyment. - Three Laws of The Internet Explained!E19
Three Laws of The Internet Explained!Godwin’s Law, Lewis’s Law & Poe’s Law GODWIN’S LAW, LEWIS’S LAW, POE’S LAW, and… RUGNETTA’S LAW? It’s not often that we think RULES govern the way we act on the INTERNET like the way rules govern us in real life, but on this week’s episode of Idea Channel Mike looks at how behavior on the internet isn't so much actively governed by laws, but rather that all behavior somehow follows…patterns?? From EPIC MEMES to USELESS debates, this week’s episode of PBS Idea Channel isn’t one to miss. - What If We're All Minions??E21
What If We're All Minions??Is hateful Minion press still good Minion press? THE MINIONS. The internet’s most ubiquitous… things? What exactly is a minion, and, despite everyone’s inability to actually answer this, WHY ARE MINIONS EVERYWHERE. WHY?? Why does the internet and the world seem to be obsessed with Minions? On this week’s episode of Idea Channel, Mike looks to answer some of your most pressing question about Minions, and attempts to answer why they are positively EVERYWHERE! - 100% Organic Idea Channel EpisodeE23
100% Organic Idea Channel EpisodeThe Organic Feels! The "Organic Movement" has become nothing short of MASSIVE in recent years, from whole foods to "raw diets", its popularity is endless. But how good is organic for you? Or a better question: how BAD is NON-organic food for you? On this week's episode of Idea Channel, Mike looks to answer just why are we so obsessed with "organic"!? - Should You Watch Leaks?E25
Should You Watch Leaks?To Leak Or Not To Leak? Leaked material hit an all time high this past year with four episodes from HBO's season 5 premiere of Game of Thrones leaking, as well as major leaks in private photos from celebrities, most notably: Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton. But what are the consequences of watching a leaked episode? On this week's episode of Idea Channel, Mike looks to answer why there seems to be a division between those that watch, and those that don't. Does it create a competition of status? Check it out! - Are All Hotel Rooms The Same Place?E27
Are All Hotel Rooms The Same Place?Guests or Ghosts? Is every hotel room the same place? Despite being associated with exciting travel or relaxing getaways, the point of a hotel room is to NOT use it. But then what exactly is a hotel room meant to be?..or more specifically, where? On this week's episode of Idea Channel, Mike looks to answer where exactly these 'transitional rooms' fit in our lives, and who are we while staying in them? - If There Are No Pics, Did It Happen?E29
If There Are No Pics, Did It Happen?Pics Or It Didn't Happen! Pictures are the gold standard by which we measure all evidence and happenings. With sites like Facebook, Imgur, and the king of all ‘pics’ - Instagram, having taken the place of disposable cameras of the past, the method remains the same: unveiling a photo of proof for all to see. But do we put too much stock in how ‘provable’ photos really are? On this weeks episode of Idea Channel, Mike looks to question the phenomenon that is “pics or it didn’t happen”. Are pics absolute proof? Or are we just convincing ourselves of everything we see? - Is Rick from Rick & Morty The Ideal Scientist?E31
Is Rick from Rick & Morty The Ideal Scientist?Rick and Morty! Rick Sanchez, the erratic scientist from Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty is nothing short of brilliantly talented, but his crazy antics and experiments place him on a scientific fringe. So much so, that some may even consider Rick to not be a scientist at all. But are his anarchic methods representative of what an ideal scientist should be? On this weeks episode of Idea Channel, Mike questions what makes the perfect scientist and if the scientific method is too restrictive in the pursuit of knowledge. - Do Makers Propose a More Open Source Future?E33
Do Makers Propose a More Open Source Future?Tractor Hacking Is Illegal! ‘Open Source’ is a licensing and development model which allows its inner-workings to be open to the public, and even potentially expanded upon. Popular open source software includes: Wordpress, Bitcoin, BitTorrent, and Apache to name a few. But what about Open Sourcing other technologies? On this week’s episode of Idea Channel, Mike explores the world of open source, copyright violation, Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the “maker’s movement”. Is our technology too locked down? Should everything be open sourced? - What's The Deal With Classroom Trigger Warnings?E35
What's The Deal With Classroom Trigger Warnings?Trigger Warnings In College! TRIGGER WARNINGS! The internet’s method of warning viewers that the discussion or content they are about to view may ‘trigger’ anxiety or PTSD. But as trigger warnings move out of private spaces and into public ones, like college classrooms, do they limit conversation? Or is it the opposite? Join Mike on this week’s episode of Idea Channel as he articulates the difference between online trigger warnings and those within the classroom. Are trigger warnings actually encouraging conversation? - Are 400+ TV Shows Happening in the Same Universe?E37
Are 400+ TV Shows Happening in the Same Universe?Is it possible that over 400 television shows all take place in the same universe? Every other week for the next few weeks, Mike is going to tackle theories from different fandoms, and he starts out with one of the most far reaching fan theories of them all: the Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis. If the entire series of St. Elsewhere was dreamed up by a young autistic boy, does this include every other role the actors have played? Could Firefly and Castle take place in the same world? - Are You Literally What You Post?E39
Are You Literally What You Post?“Me rn”: the internets self-recognition phenomenon where pictures and gifs are used to represent feelings, reactions, and internal states. But could this process of ‘disembodiment’ be an attempt at better representing ourselves in a technological world? Join Mike on this week’s episode of Idea Channel as he explores the world of Me rn, Same, GPOY and Literally me rn. Are these collections of pics and gifs just momentary self-recognition or are they a subconsciously more accurate representation of ourselves in the modern era? - Does Pokemon Start After a Massive War?E41
Does Pokemon Start After a Massive War?Pokemon might not be what you thought it was. On this episode of Idea Channel, Mike continues our fan-theory series by looking at the Pokemon, "Kanto War Theory" or "Pokemon War Theory". With apparent evidence to help explain why there seems to be a lack of adults, why everyone is combat obsessed and why infrastructure is lacking...does Pokemon start after a massive war? - Have #Brands™ Become Mythological?E43
Have #Brands™ Become Mythological?Modern brands such as clothing, food, technology and even celebrities, have permeated almost every aspect of our culture as the intangible asset of a money-hungry corporation or persona. But what if brands signified something..more? What if brands were mythological? Join Mike on this week's episode of Idea Channel to find out how the simple meanings of brands may have just taken on a new shape within our culture! - Do All Horror Monsters Fit Into 5 Categories?E45
Do All Horror Monsters Fit Into 5 Categories?Halloween is upon us and we all know what that means! Scary monsters everywhere! But while we're all used to seeing hundreds of different horror monsters in popular culture, did you know that almost all of them fit neatly into 5 simple categories? All thanks to Noel Carroll's Taxonomy of monsters! What do you think of his categorization? Did he miss any traits? Can you think of any monsters that don't fit the mold? - Why Do Stormtroopers Have Bad Aim?E47
Why Do Stormtroopers Have Bad Aim?Shots fired! Stormtroopers might not actually be as bad at shooting as you thought. On this episode of Idea Channel, Mike continues our fan-theory series by looking at the “Stormtroopers can’t shoot” or “Stormtroopers miss on purpose” theory. Are Stormtroopers intentionally shooting at the wall, are their stormtrooper blasters broken, or were they cloned with defects. Maybe their masks or armor are just blocking their vision. Or maybe, just maybe, they realize what they've become. - Were They Dead the Whole Time??E49
Were They Dead the Whole Time??Why do so many fan theories postulate that the main character has been dead the whole time? In our 4th installment of Idea Channel Fan Theory Episodes, we try to find out. Do Bruce Willis and The Sixth Sense have anything to do with it? What about Heidegger and his concept of being “toward death”? How can death CREATE stories instead of end them? - To AdBlock, Or Not to Adblock...E51
To AdBlock, Or Not to Adblock...YOU WON! CLICK HERE TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE! We’ve all seen this ad before in some way, shape, or form. And many companies have come forward with technology promising to ruthlessly eliminate any and all ad-supported websites from your devices. Sounds like a sweet deal, but can it be that simple? Well, this is Idea Channel so, obviously not! Can there ever be a nuanced approach to blocking ads? - Is Ron Dumbledore??E53
Is Ron Dumbledore??It’s time for some Harry Potter fan theory! In this episode, Mike explores the possibility that Ron and Dumbledore are the same person. J.K. Rowling has stated that this is not true, but should that even matter? Do you think that Ron and Dumbledore are one and the same? - Holidays Be Creepin'E54
Holidays Be Creepin'This week, we at Idea Channel have a few questions about the enigma that is “Christmas Creep.” We’ve all noticed it; holiday decorations popping up in stores earlier and earlier every year. But does this happen everywhere, or this is exclusively an American capitalist phenomenon? Is this even a purely capitalist endeavor, or is there more at play? - Is Language a Virus? Starring PunishedE56
Is Language a Virus? Starring PunishedThe latest installment of the Metal Gear Solid series is centered around an interesting idea; people are better defined by the language that they speak than the country that they are from. The idea of “Linguistic Determinism” is not new, and there is scientific evidence to support the fact that the language we speak can influence the way we perceive the world around us. But is a language a homeland? Or are we all infected by the deadly virus? - Eleventy Reasons Listicles Are GreatE58
Eleventy Reasons Listicles Are GreatWe’ve all seen them. Links to articles in list-form are taking over our timelines more and more every day. Although this has become strongly associated with the culture, editorials, and blogs borne of the internet era, this is not a new phenomenon. It turns out that there is plenty of historical evidence to explain why it is that these “Listicles” are so popular. In fact, humans have been using lists to organize and consume content for thousands of years! - The Ruins of Las VegasE59
The Ruins of Las VegasLas Vegas has always portrayed an air of opulence and wealth. But in recent years, this seems to be more of a marketing ploy than the genuine culture of the city. Homes and hotels alike have increasingly become abandoned by their owners, and many new construction projects have been halted before completion. As a city with such a distinct history and narrative, one might begin to wonder if we have outgrown the super-consumption lifestyle that Las Vegas represents. Does that make Las Vegas America’s ruins? - Do You Want to Believe?E61
Do You Want to Believe?Popular 90’s television series, The X-Files, is making its return to the airwaves. And this begs the question, why now? What is it about our current social and political climate that has once again created a market for ‘the unknown’? Space travel and exploration has made its way back into the mainstream, and this time for more practical reasons than pride or curiosity. So does this mean that we have collectively moved beyond our alien paranoia, and towards the goal of becoming aliens ourselves? - Is Undertale The Most Violent Game This Year?E64
Is Undertale The Most Violent Game This Year?Undertale, unlike most of the today’s most popular video games, allows the player to show mercy to their enemies. Violence is often presented as the one and only response to overcoming challenges, so this ability to remain peaceful allows for a very rare gaming experience. It makes the game’s aspect of violence unique in that the player must choose to be violent. So, doesn’t this actually make Undertale one of the MOST violent games? - Related Videos: Devour, Digest, YouTube PoopE66
Related Videos: Devour, Digest, YouTube PoopThe so-called ‘subversive remix’ is not a new phenomenon. Artists from all mediums have been destroying established cultural symbols for the sake of making a statement for decades. So does YTP also qualify as a “statement” of sorts? Is it a way to reclaim these pop culture symbols and create something that is truly our own? Or are they just the annoying byproduct of having video editing software and too much time on your hands? - Fallout 4: Is the Transistor a Symbol of Peace?E70
Fallout 4: Is the Transistor a Symbol of Peace?Fallout’s unique brand of retrofuturism allows us a glimpse of what very well could have been our actual future. In a world where nuclear power and technology was pursued unrelentingly, resources became increasingly scarce, while our capability to annihilate each other became increasingly simple. If we hadn’t abandoned our nuclear ambitions in the 1950s, we may have easily met the same unfortunate fate. Instead, we focused our attention on our computers and electronics, which have become exponentially more compact and powerful due to advancements in transistor technology. So does this mean that the transistor has indirectly saved civilization as we know it? - How Does Deadpool Know He's a Comic Book Character?E72
How Does Deadpool Know He's a Comic Book Character?According to the philosophical theory of ‘phenomenology,’ our consciousness is unfalteringly dependent upon the experiences of our body. The concept of the mind is inseparable from that of the body because we experience the whole of our reality THROUGH our body. But in Deadpool’s case, his body is not so much a part of his reality as it is just another object that he interacts with. He is unfazed by his own mutilation, and has experienced his own physical destruction too many times to keep track of. So has this fundamentally altered his state of consciousness, to the point of delusion? - What is ~A E S T H E T I C~ Experience?E73
What is ~A E S T H E T I C~ Experience?Aesthetics' is defined as a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, especially in art. However, A E S T H E T I C has recently taken on a meaning of its own within internet culture. On this weeks Idea Channel, Mike breaks down what it means to be aesthetic in modern culture, and how we experience art as a whole. - Is Jar Jar Binks a Sith Lord?E76
Is Jar Jar Binks a Sith Lord?A recent Star Wars fan theory has been doing the rounds on the internet, and it is blowing the minds of franchise superfans everywhere. What if Jar Jar Binks was the evil Sith mastermind behind the entire prequel trilogy? Unlike many highly-speculative fan theories, there is actually ample evidence within Episodes 1-3 to back this idea up, and comments from George Lukas and Jar Jar Binks’ voice actor seem to suggest that key elements of the Jar Jar character were changed at the last minute to appease disgruntled fans. So what do you think about this theory, and the fact that after 15 years, fans are still trying to “fix” the Star Wars prequels? - Why Aren't All Cocktails Served in the Same Glass?E78
Why Aren't All Cocktails Served in the Same Glass?On this week’s idea channel, we visited Ivy Mix at Leyenda to have a cocktail and discuss a brief history of glassware in drinking culture. As it turns out, bar glassware has an interesting story. Cheers!