Lit Think Podcast

Alicia and Sarah expand their understanding of science fiction through the unconventional time travel story in Octavia Butler’s Kindred. They discuss how the Hulu adaptation has updated the forty-year-old novel while still challenging audiences to consider the lasting effects of slavery on our modern consciousness. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: speculative fiction, utopian fiction, visionary fiction

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah explore their darker sides with a discussion of the new Netflix original series Wednesday. They investigate the elements of gothic literature and cover centuries of gothic literature, leading right up to the Addams family. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: gothic, gothic literature, women in gothic literature

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah go back to a childhood favorite, Matilda, as they discuss the Netflix adaptation of the Broadway musical. They discuss archetypes as they appear in Roald Dahl’s original story, plus the good, bad, and ugly of using them to generalize groups of people. At the end of this week’s discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: archetype, child archetype, giant archetype

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah go back to Freshman English as they discuss the Hulu original film, Rosaline. They discuss elements of satire and look at the film as an example of using alternative views of classic stories to teach students how satire can strengthen and modernize arguments made in the original text. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: satire, hyperbole, oxymoron, allegory

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah take a walk on the wild side through their environmental analysis of the movie Avatar. They talk allusions, hubris, colonialism, and care for the planet. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

And Sarah’s dogs apologize for their barking ten minutes into the conversation.

Literary terms of the week: sophrosyne, hubris, Pandora, avatar, and barbarian/savage

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah explore the value of quality adaptations, particularly adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. Both Bride and Prejudice and Fire Island give us the opportunity to look at a classic story through a modern lens. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: adaptation, classic, diversity and representation

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah embrace their darker side to discuss all things zombie with a particular focus on the feature film Zombieland. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: monstered other, zombie, satire

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah discuss the movie adaptation of the novel Where the Crawdads Sing. They discuss the role of prejudice and oppression related to poverty and gender and the presence of naturalism throughout both the novel and movie. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: cycle of oppression, prejudice, isolation

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah bring history and comic book nerddom together in their discussion of the Disney+ original series, Ms. Marvel. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: others, differentness, unhomeliness

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Music by Craig Harmann
Cover art by Matt Holman

Alicia and Sarah discuss the Jurassic Park/World franchise and connections to science fiction in the classroom, particularly Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. At the end of the discussion, they talk about the things they've been reading, watching, and analyzing outside of the classroom.

Literary terms of the week: stereotype, character archetype

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Music by Craig Harmann

Cover art by Matt Holman