The Whole Shebang Minute 94: The Big Book of Brian Slade

In Minute 94 of The Whole Shebang, Jenny, Mike and guest host Rob go deep into Arthur’s research methods, comparing his look through a big periodical index in an earlier minute with his use of cutting-edge 1984 high technology in this one: fax machines and online databases. Then we go SUPER deep into the history of fax machines, 1980s computing and online research, and how this old retrotech evokes an uncanny alternate 1984 very well. We talk about Arthur’s sad apartment, and then we talk a little bit about why Rob chose these minutes, how expertly Todd Haynes creates just the edges of a dystopian 1984, and how endlessly intriguing Rob finds it. Then we get back into Arthur’s research, his look into Brian Slade’s dual name changes, and the mechanics of changing your name in the Velvet Goldmine universe, and his sudden epiphany upon seeing who Tommy Stone’s manager is… Shannon herself!

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