This week, Rivka and Frank are joined by comedian and podcaster Jamel Johnson to break down the 1983 Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd comedy Trading Places. Wealth inequality in the United States has skyrocketed as corporate interests have captured our government and politicians. Today, it feels like there are a few ultra-wealthy individuals at the top pulling all the strings, while those of us without obscene wealth are stuck playing a game that’s been rigged from the start. Forty years ago, Trading Places was already raising the alarm about this phenomenon. In today’s interview, the team digs into the “nature vs. nurture” debate explored in the film. They also praise the film’s satirical depiction of the crusty upper class, while pointing out the film’s problematic racism and sexism. Finally, Jamel attributes the rise of neoliberalism in the 1980s in part to the success of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. A rough transcript of the episode is available here.Links mentioned:

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For next week, we’ll be watching the 1997 film and cultural phenomenon Titanic.This podcast relies on listeners like you to keep the show going:Go to MVCpod.com to become a supporter or leave us a tip. Supporters will also get access to The Lever’s premium content, including their exclusive newsletters, private podcast feed, e-books, and live events. MVC strives to practice its values as anti-capitalist media and will not be selling traditional advertisements. Instead, we will be donating our ad space to progressive or leftist causes. If you’re part of an advocacy organization, mutual-aid group, a worker co-op, a political campaign, or some other org, and you are interested in promoting your work on MVC, you can email us at moviesvscapitalism@gmail.com.Follow us on Instagram and TikTok.You can also watch our full episodes on YouTube.Produced by The LeverArtwork by Rufus Paisley
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