Radio Reversal is a show that subjects aspects of everyday life to historico-political, theoretical, cheeky, irreverent, high brow, low brow, eye brow, warm-hearted analysis. Our aim is to see the world more clearly, think about what we'd like it to become, and how we can make that happen. We think that discussing these sorts of ideas is one way to lessen the alienation that affects many of us trying to make sense of a world that so often makes no sense of us. We also play loads of awesome music (sometimes thematic!) with great enthusiasm for requests and an emphasis on supporting local artists. It's fun!
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This week on Radio Reversal we're bringing you another episode in our NOlympics Committee series: THE OLYMPICS IS FASCIST!
In this live recording from No Phones No Phascists in August this year, Anna and Nat offer a provocation and an invitation to think about the long and continuing relationship between the Olympics and fascism. We kick off by digging into the historical links between the Olympics and fascism, excavating the racist, sexist and imperialist logics that have long underpinned the contemporary Olympic Games. We trace the relationship between the Olympics and fascist regimes in Europe, including the role of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin in the rise and emboldening of the Nazi regime in Germany. We consider how the the governing bodies responsible for the Olympics often adopt fascistic models of authoritarian control and top-down governance, with key roles held by "strong-man" figures for decades with little oversight or accountability. And finally, we reflect on how the Olympics as a contemporary mega-event serves as a testing ground for technologies of repression including mass surveillance and "anti-terrorism" laws, border policing and protest repression; and as a laundering tool through which those measures come to seem like normal and acceptable parts of everyday governance.
And of course - a reminder that this month's No Phones, No Phascists event is on tomorrow (Friday 25th September) at the Understory in Holland Park West from 4pm - 9pm. If you're in Brisbane, consider this your invitation to come along for a glorious community event including veggo dinner by donation, collective art and zine-making, fantastic local music and much more.