Competence porn: Why we like to watch experts do things we can't
The q pop culture panel weighs in on the top trends and stories this week in entertainment.
Shad wrangles q's weekly pop culture panel — Slate music critic Carl Wilson, journalist Rachel Giese, and Esquire columnist Stephen Marche — on the most discussed entertainment stories and debates of the past week.
At issue today:
- From pop to politics, Canada is in the spotlight. Is this a unique cultural moment for our nation?
- Growing potatoes on mars. Solving impossible cold cases. Dazzling the jury in court. Why we like to watch fictional characters dazzle us with their competence.
- If culture is Apple obsessed, why did the new Steve Jobs movie bomb at the box office?