The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast
Episode 64: The Karate Kid Franchise Part II with Dr. Ted Preston
On this month's episode of The Sociologist's Dojo Podcast Dr. Ted Preston Professor of Philosophy at Rio Hondo College and the Host conclude their discussion of "The Miyagi-verse" and The Karate Kid Franchise. Listen to Part I Here in Part II: The Host and Dr. Preston discuss the 80's commodification of the series, Terry Silver's embodiment of 80's Cocaine-fueled corporate villainy, and the depictions of Vietnam before looking at the displays of masculinity, and the representations of social class and parental/mentor forms of socialization. We lock-in during this second Part. Enjoy. Production Notes: Intro: 0:00-3:13 "Previously on" Historical Context (Concluded): 3:14-48:41 The films and the show representing the time they were produced Reganite deregulation, Nostalgia marketing and the 80's commodification of the franchise Terry Silver: A personification of 80's Cocaine-fueled corporate greed The Depictions of Vietnam and the impact of US Colonialism Social Analysis 48:42-118:00 Trauma, Arrested Development and PTSD Tangent 1: Just a local "special interest" story Depictions of Masculinity in the Franchise Parent/Mentor Socialization The Cinematic relationship with political polarization Tangent 2: Learning about Reality through Cinema Race, Orientalism, and the cultural appropriation of Asian culture through a Whiteness Lens Representation of social class struggles and its impact on Storytelling Outtro: 118:01-124:19 Personal Rankings of the Franchise Plugs Next Essay: "The Paranoid Trilogy of Allan J. Pakula: An Introduction (August 1st) Next Episodes The Dojo's 2026 Summer Movie Round Up (Late August) All Clips used under Faire Use Links Vader's Flesh is Sacred: Disability Personhood and Victimhood Through 80's Representations of Robots and Cyborgs Episode(s) 52 and 53 The Rambo Franchise Part I and Part II Wax On: 'The Karate Kid' and Me by Ralph Macchio The Karate Kid Franchise Sound tracks Clip 1- Miyagi Karate , Clip 2 "I like that" , Clip 3 A Reformed Terry , Clip 4 Kreese Therapy Clip 5 Kreese Apologizes , Clip 6 Johnny Confronts , Clip 7 Miyagi vs Daniel, Clip , Clip 9 Child labor Clip 10 Child Abuse , Clip 11 Child Soldiers
