Jonathan McIntosh (@radicalbytes) / X

Jonathan McIntosh

32.7K posts

Jonathan McIntosh

@radicalbytes

I make video essays investigating the intersections of sociology, masculinity, and politics in popular media // @PopDetective

youtube.com/popculturedete…

Joined October 2008

Pinned
Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
May 30, 2025
Been working on this video essay since the election. Sad that it's still so relevant but *waves in the direction of the United States currently*
The Myth of the Alpha Male
From youtube.com
Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Dec 27, 2019
It isn’t just that her scenes were cut, it’s that Abrams wrote her out of the script. He created new undeveloped characters to do and say what Rose should have. Worst of all, when Rose does speak she literally rejects the call to adventure. It’s clear capitulation to angry nerds.
IndieWire
@IndieWire
Dec 24, 2019
Kelly Marie Tran Was Excited For Rose and Rey to Interact in #StarWars, but Those Scenes Don’t Exist bit.ly/393vw9b
Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jul 10, 2018
A handful of The Last Jedi haters in my mentions are offering up a fascinating misreading of the final showdown between Luke and Vader in RotJ. I think it's worth taking a moment to discuss because it may help explain why these guys hate Luke’s character so much in Episode VIII.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Mar 24, 2021
It was a war crime. They made a video game where you play the side committing a real life war crime.
IGN
@IGN
Mar 23, 2021
Get your first official look at gameplay from Six Days in Fallujah, the tactical first-person shooter based on the real-life Second Battle for Fallujah in the Iraq War. bit.ly/3rbnkve
Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jul 10, 2018
Replying to @radicalbytes
The fact that an iconic figure like Luke Skywalker was explicitly framed as *weak* for fighting a murderous villain like Darth Vader is a pretty subversive message, especially for a male hero in Hollywood. And it’s something that, 35 years later, some fans still refuse to accept.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jun 7, 2020
Once a social movement becomes powerful enough, the powerful will join you and pretend they were on your side all along. It might be an opportunistic move on their part but it doesn't matter because it’s a very clear sign the movement is winning.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jul 10, 2018
Replying to @radicalbytes
Luke’s arc in the original trilogy ends with him not only refusing to kill the bad guy, but refusing to even fight a worse villain. This is why Luke’s force projection standoff with Kylo in The Last Jedi is so perfect. It's the ultimate expression of everything Luke has learned.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jul 10, 2018
Replying to @radicalbytes
What really happened: Luke tries to avoid fighting but gives into anger. As he bests Vader in combat, Luke realizes his great mistake, winning this fight means losing his soul to the Dark Side. The battle itself is corrupting him, understanding this Luke throws away his weapon.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
May 28, 2024
The University of Washington tried to wash it away but the message remains...
Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jul 10, 2018
Replying to @radicalbytes
Notice that the misreading (above) reframes Luke as a badass warrior and reframes his refusal to kill Vader as an act of mercy stemming from a position of power. This is significant because Luke beating Vader in combat is explicitly depicted as a moment of weakness NOT strength.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jul 10, 2018
Replying to @radicalbytes
The desire of some fans to re-imagine Luke as a powerful warrior who spares the bad guy out of benevolence is consistent with the way male heroes are often represented. It’s the way Batman is framed when he doesn't kill The Joker. But Luke Skywalker isn’t the typical action hero.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Jul 10, 2018
Replying to @radicalbytes
The misreading: Luke Skywalker uses his great warrior skills to defeat Darth Vader. Once he’s proven himself in combat and stands victorious, Luke does the honorable thing by showing mercy and sparing his enemy. Thereby saving himself from corruption and redeeming his father.
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Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Oct 2, 2017
Mass shootings are overwhelmingly committed by straight men. We must interrogate how our culture links violence to ideas about masculinity.
Jonathan McIntosh
@radicalbytes
Dec 27, 2016
For those sharing images of Leia as a slave, the search term you are looking for is "General Organa."