Flushed Away From Memory
The term “found footage” gets thrown around a lot within the world of media nerddom but our pal Bret Berg is definitely an authority on the subject. Bret and Ryan discuss the many facets of the world of found footage and niche media in general.
*this was originally a patreon exclusive but we decided to make it available for all dumpers!
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While the entertainer that came to be known solely as “Gallagher” made his name smashing watermelons, he was actually a fully developed comedic powerhouse, until he wasn’t. Gallagher’s signature bit overshadowed much of his other work, which was, in reality, about 95% of what he did on stage. On this episode we breakdown how a silly melon smashing jester became the target of harsh criticism who was washed away in the changing tide of the times.
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Scot Sothern is a true outlaw artist. Sothern made his name by photographing society’s most looked down upon, particularly, street prostitutes. Never exploitative and always humanizing, Scot’s work truly shines a light on the dark corners of the city of Los Angeles. His book “Curb Service” is one of Ryan’s all time favorites and his new book “Look at Me” is just as incredible. Whether you love his work or hate it, one thing is for sure, this guy is a fucking bad ass.
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For this incredibly bleak dump Ryan is joined by comedian and smoker Ian Fidance to discuss the backwards world of anti-smoking ads. Big Tobacco has a long history of questionable advertising but none more questionable than their “youth prevention” programs. How does one advertise how bad a product is while simultaneously advertising how cool that product is? Tune in to find out!
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It had to happen, we had to cover one of the most infamous internet figures of all time, Harambe. Join us as we discover how a tragic day at the zoo became the stuff of internet legends for years to come. Ryan is joined by James Ford to discuss the brief, yet impactful history of the most memeable gorilla of all time.
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Following the fall out of 9/11, America turned its guns toward Afghanistan and Iraq. France, a long time ally, did not sanction or support the US’s interest in fighting Iraq and Saddam Hussein. In an effort of Bush era lunacy, Americans started renaming French Fries in “Freedom Fries.” In an act of Patriotic fervor, the trend of Freedom Fries quickly took hold. In true dump fashion, the entire phenomenon seems completely silly in retrospect
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Chyna was and is the most recognizable woman in professional wrestling, but she was so much more than that! Chyna aka Joanie showed us that women can be strong, intimidating, and entertaining, The story of Chyna teaches us many things, things we should have known years ago… Maybe through hearing her story we will finally appreciate what we had, and what we lost.
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Fabio is a manly man! His luscious long hair and Italian accent made him a sex symbol of the 90s. But what did Fabio even do? Handsome as he was, there was something very silly and funny about Fabio’s appearance. He was the winking joke for the “bored housewife” who dreamed on a shirtless man on the beach to take her away from suburban life. His benign ubiquity and iconic look made him something of a walking meme.
If he looked like the model on the cover of trashy grocery store romance novels, that’s because he was that guy! Fabio even started writing his own sultry pulp fiction. Eventually Fabio transitioned into acting, music and advertising, most famously for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. His tale is truly an American success story, and if we could learn anything from Fabio, it is how to laugh at ourselves, especially if you are super hot.
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What was initially promoted as a therapeutic device for kids and adults alike quickly became one of the world’s biggest distractions. Fidget spinners burst onto the scene in 2017 but the history of the stupid little toy stretches back over 20 years before that. This is a classic story of a small idea being misappropriated in a big way.
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