The Big Screen version of Boom and Bust

09/29/21 • 14 min

2 Listeners

It was 13 years ago this month when news broke that the Wall Street investment firm Lehman Brothers collapsed, setting in motion the financial crisis that devastated the world’s economy.

For all the misery the financial meltdown caused, Americans have never balked at opportunities to relive the crisis through hundreds of films, books and even plays. But while greedy investment bankers have become a staple archetype of recent movies like The Wolf of Wall Street, The Big Short, and Margin Call, Hollywood hasn't always portrayed Wall Street with such cynicism. In 2018 Brooke spoke to Per Hansen, professor of business history at the Copenhagen Business School, about his study examining cinematic depictions of big business and financial institutions. Hansen sifted through 81 films to understand how America's volatile attitudes on capitalism have evolved through other periods of boom and bust. He and Brooke discussed how classics like Wall Street, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Apartment have reflected and actively shaped the way we feel about money.

This segment is from our September 14th, 2018 episode, Doomed to Repeat.

It was 13 years ago this month when news broke that the Wall Street investment firm Lehman Brothers collapsed, setting in motion the financial crisis that devastated the world’s economy.

This segment is from our September 14th, 2018 episode, Doomed to Repeat.

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The Subversion Playbook

By now, we’re familiar with voter suppression tactics, from long voting lines to voter ID laws. On this week’s On the Media, hear how election subversion takes the anti-democratic playbook to the next level. Plus, how the Russian government is using bureaucracy to stifle elections — and the press.

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Music from this week's show:

Chicago Sunset - Charlie Musselwhite

Time is Late ft. Joakim Johans

Unnamed Track - Mark Henry Philips

Baba O'Rilеy - The Who

From Russia With Love - Huma-Huma

Дальше действовать будем мы (“We will continue to act”) - Kino

Next Episode

Out of Sight

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Music from this week's show:

Nino Rota - Juliet of Spirits Nicola Cruz - Colibria Kronos - FlugufrelsarinnVijay Iyer - Human Nature Merkabah - John ZornBooker T and The MG's - Slim Jenkins Place Alex Wurman - Going Home for the First Time