Illesha

Illesha Pop culture decoded
MA: media + culture

05/26/2026

Paul Newman starred in Exodus, one of the most influential pro-Israel Hollywood films ever made. But decades later, he publicly criticized US double standards toward Israel on national television. Had you seen this clip before?

05/25/2026

Nancy Sinatra boasted about Frank Sinatra helping zionist militias move money for weapons during the 1948 Nakba. Does it surprise you that Hollywood was so involved in early zionism?

“In Star Wars the good guys are the rebels, they’re using asymmetric warfare against a highly organized empire, l think ...
05/22/2026

“In Star Wars the good guys are the rebels, they’re using asymmetric warfare against a highly organized empire, l think we call those guys terrorists today.” - James Cameron

This week on Substack, I wrote about a thread running through so much of my recent research: Hollywood’s long-standing c...
05/20/2026

This week on Substack, I wrote about a thread running through so much of my recent research: Hollywood’s long-standing consensus around Israel is starting to crack, and pop culture doesn’t know how to manage the contradictions anymore. Link in bio to read & subscribe.

05/19/2026

Rewatching “The Dictator” in the context of the War on Terror era feels VERY different. 👀 Do you think movies like this influenced public opinion? What other comedies feel like propaganda now?

05/18/2026

Bad Bunny keeps partnering with Zara, but Zara has had several public anti-Palestinian controversies in recent years. What do you think about Bad Bunny working so closely with Zara right now?

05/16/2026

How far does it go? Did you know HBO’s Euphoria is actually adapted from an Israeli TV series? 👀

05/15/2026

It’s not that surprising that Habibi Drake called out DJ Khaled over Palestine… 👀

05/14/2026

Who actually won this roast battle: Shane Gillis or Chelsea Handler? 👀

05/13/2026

Boy George is one of the most pro-Israel celebrities at Eurovision 2026, while also competing in the contest himself representing San Marino. 👀 Did you catch what he’s doing by conflating Israel with Jewish people?

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