May 11 2016

True stories of survival cannibalism!

42 min 4 movies discussed
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Cannibalism is the macabre practice of eating other humans. But sometimes, people have no choice if they want to survive. It's called survival cannibalism and it tastes like chicken.

AI Summary

# Summary

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, Josh and Chuck dive into the dark history of survival cannibalism, exploring real-world instances where people resorted to eating human flesh to survive desperate circumstances. The hosts cover multiple harrowing cases including the 1972 Uruguayan rugby team crash in the Andes, the starving colonists at Jamestown, sailors adrift at sea, and the horrifying 900-day Siege of Leningrad during World War II. With a mix of historical facts, scientific discoveries (like forensic analysis of Jane's remains at Jamestown), and discussions about the moral and religious dilemmas these survivors faced, the episode examines how far humans will go when faced with starvation and death.


Movies Discussed

12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave
2013 2h 14m
★ 7.9
"They made a great movie called Alive. I've not seen it. Is it good? — Discussed the 1972 Uruguayan rugby team plane crash and the resulting film adaptation." — Chuck
Cabin Boy
Cabin Boy
1994 1h 20m
★ 5.2
"Have you ever seen Cabin Boy, the movie? Sure. Great movie. — Referenced when discussing Richard Parker, a cabin boy who was the subject of a survival cannibalism case." — Josh
Cannibal! The Musical
Cannibal! The Musical
1996 R 1h 37m
★ 6.3
"The South Park guys wrote Cannibal the Musical after him. — Referenced as a comedic film adaptation of the Alfred Packer cannibalism case." — Chuck
The Highway of Life
The Highway of Life
1980 1h 42m
★ 6.5
"The guy who wrote The Life of Pi named the tiger Richard Parker as well. — Mentioned as another notable instance where a character was named Richard Parker, coinciding with the historical figure." — Chuck

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