Track Godzilla’s massive cultural footprint, from 1954 to today.
With a film franchise spanning eight consecutive decades, Godzilla is one of the world’s most recognisable screen icons.
Referenced by The Simpsons and Spielberg alike, and popping up in videogames, literature and lexicon (suffix “-zilla” as anything monstrous), the king of monsters has captured the imaginations of creators across eras and mediums with his distinctive roar, thunderous gait and penchant for destroying miniature and CGI cityscapes.
From Japanese cautionary tale to global blockbuster, we unpack the cultural phenomenon that is Godzilla, and the continuing evolution of the franchise, with Andrew Lynch and Silvi Van-Wall.
Our thanks to The Japan Foundation & Academic consultant Jessica Balanzategui
Panellists
Andrew Lynch
Andrew Lynch is a lecturer in cinema and screen studies in the department of Media and Communication at Swinburne University of Technology. His research examines topics such as "prestige" television, sci-fi, horror and fantasy film and TV, and the diverse approaches of genre-specific streaming services. He is the author of Quality Telefantasy: How US Quality TV Brought Zombies, Dragons and Androids into the Mainstream, published by Routledge in 2022. He teaches a range of undergraduate subjects including Popular Culture of the Asia Pacific and Screen Technology and Culture.
Silvi Vann-Wall
Silvi Vann-Wall is a writer, podcaster, and filmmaker with a love for bombastic genre flicks. They currently work as the film content lead for ScreenHub.com.au, where they review film and TV, and write news about the Australian screen industry. They spend their increasingly scarce spare time doing improv comedy and musical theatre.
Megan McKeough
Megan McKeough is a community radio presenter and pop culture enthusiast with a deep love of all things film, TV, gaming and the grey area where they intersect. Broadcasting on Triple R since 2015, she currently co-hosts Triple R’s fantasy, science fiction and historical show Zero G; and reviews films for Thursday morning Breakfasters. Talk to her about murder mysteries, the rise of Korean media in the west and the lost era of 90s blockbusters.
Emma Westwood
Emma Westwood writes and talks about many things, but she is particularly enamoured with cinema history. She's a regular contributor to DVD and Blu-ray releases for labels in the US, UK and Australia – in both written and commentary form – as well as numerous podcasts and publications. You may have heard her on the airwaves in Melbourne when she was a co-host on Triple R's weekly Plato's Cave radio show. Or, you may have read one of her books on Monster Movies, David Cronenberg's The Fly, John Frankenheimer's Seconds, or James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein.
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