I had a great discussion with Cooper and Taylor on the Machinic Unconscious Happy Hour podcast. We covered all sorts of topics relating to Dune, from how my books came to be, our favorite books in the Dune series, and some deeper theoretical perspectives based on our academic backgrounds. And of course we had to talk about the recent film adaptations. I’ve got new angles to think about in future Dune scholarship, and hopefully listeners find something interesting to pick up on as well. Check out the episode “Kara Kennedy – Dune: A Critical Companion” on YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, or The pos ..read more

A good proportion of teens seem interested in learning more about Frank Herbert’s Dune, especially younger ones in the prime demographic for encountering this science fiction classic. Oh, to be discovering and reading Dune for the first time – that experience certainly shaped my life! Following on from my recent presentations on the novel Dune to several junior high/high school classes (thanks to those who responded to my post about what to cover :), I wanted to report back on what teens had questions about and what piqued their attention the most. There were some basic questions like how long ..read more

I’ve been invited to give some talks on Dune to students at a local junior high and high school, so this has me wondering: what do teens want to know about Dune? I’ve done plenty of talks on this subject, but typically my audience is adults, usually at university, so I want to make sure I’m pitching my presentation at the right level. I don’t want to talk down to them, but I also want to be accessible and get them interested in reading this epic science fiction text if they haven’t already. This is a pivotal time in their The post What do teens want to know about Dune appeared first on Dune Sc ..read more

Sharareh Drury in ‘Dune 2’ Criticized for Lack of Middle Eastern and North African Inclusion and Influences: ‘A Missed Opportunity’ addresses the Dune: Part Two film’s treatment of Middle Eastern and North African elements and Islamic culture, casting, and the missed opportunity to adapt Herbert’s novel Dune in a way that involved and represented marginalized communities. I appreciated the opportunity to provide background and commentary about the Fremen and their depiction in the source material. Great quote from writer Khaldoun Khelil in this article: “The problem for the movies [and] the di ..read more

Rory Doherty in Should Denis Villeneuve Make More Dune Sequels? Dune Scholars Aren’t So Sure for Inverse interviewed me and others about potential future sequel adaptations of Dune. I find interesting that people are praising the films for supposedly changing ‘nothing characters’ into something, but also not minding the downplaying or erasure of others such as the Mentats and Guild. It’s also interesting how journalists continue to have a much broader definition of who qualifies as an expert or scholar and tend to draw from their own media pools. Academics may be harder to get a hold of b ..read more

There’s much ado about Chani. Find me on the Gom Jabbar Dune Podcast with Abu and Leo discussing the depiction of Chani in the book vs. the film Dune: Part Two.  The post Chani on Gom Jabbar Dune Podcast appeared first on Dune Scholar ..read more

My review of the Dune: Imperium Uprising board game from Dire Wolf is up at Dune News Net. This updated version of the original Dune: Imperium game adds new elements such as sandworms and spies and incorporates visuals from the Dune: Part Two film. It’s a fun way to immerse yourself in the Dune universe and its politics and intrigue through gameplay. The post Review: Dune Imperium Uprising Game appeared first on Dune Scholar ..read more

My analysis of Chani in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two film has been published on Dune News Net as Chani and the Empowered Woman Stereotype in ‘Dune: Part Two’: No Family, No Faith, Just Fight. Chani’s portrayal in the ‘Dune’ movies eliminates key roles she held in the book, reducing her agency and depth as a character. This piece continues my analysis of the women in the film, begun in Dune: Part Two’s Treatment of Women is an Abomination, which focuses on Jessica and the Bene Gesserit. It draws from my prior scholarship on Chani’s character and my discussion of The post My Analysis of Cha ..read more

I had a great discussion with Maggie Freeman, PhD candidate at the Nomads, Past and Present Podcast, about the depiction of the Fremen in Dune: Part Two compared to the book, including the term ‘jinn’, the Fremen’s diet, and the historical influence of Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab Revolt. Find the episode “Dune, Part Two” on the New Books Network. The post Interview about Dune: Part Two Film on Nomads Podcast appeared first on Dune Scholar ..read more

Despite stated intentions to focus on women and expand their roles, the new Dune film adaptations disappointingly fall back on stereotypes for the Bene Gesserit and undermine the political, religious, and maternal agency of Jessica in particular. Cast and Crew Intentions Director Denis Villeneuve has discussed in numerous interviews that he wanted to focus on the women in his adaptation. Before Dune: Part One, he said: “For me, it was important to bring more femininity to the story. I am fascinated by the relationship of femininity and power, the place of women in society…. [Lady Jessica]’s a ..read more