Moksha Reviews

Moksha Reviews

By Moksha DavaloorArtsBooks
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Moksha Reviews episodes

  • The Hunger Games and ACOTAR part 2: Pretty Privilege, KGOY, the overuse of "morally gray"

    Shortly after we released last episode, Warner Brothers and Suzanne Collins announced the release of a new Hunger Games work: Sunrise on the Reaping. We brought Miranda Downs on the podcast to discuss this update as well as some other remnants from last episode that were on our mind.

    Reach out to us as usual--

    https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moksha-davaloor

    mokshadavaloor.wordpress.com

    59 min
  • Yankee Doodle and the Hunger Games: Diluting Messages, the Commodification and Exploitation of Public Figures, and Cancel Culture

    We are back again! This time we discuss Yankee Doodle and the Hunger Games, regarding allegorical messages and how these messages can be altered and lost to time.

    If you want to read the full Yankee Doodle poem, you can here: https://americansongwriter.com/meaning-of-yankee-doodle-song-lyrics/

    If you want to visit the Kennedy Center article we reference in this episode, here it is: https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/music/story-behind-the-song/the-story-behind-the-song/yankee-doodle/

    As always, you can reach us at [email protected] and https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moksha-davaloor

    See you soon!

    57 min
  • The Barbie Movie: Jo Koy, Gender Flight, The Female Immigrant Experience, and Girlhood vs. Womanhood
    WE ARE BACK! We hope you enjoy this talk: it’s something we discuss pretty often and are extremely passionate about. In fact, Maia works closely with Advocates For Youth (and their council, Free the Pill) to promote female autonomy, starting with her (successful) advocacy to get birth control over the counter. Yes I am bragging about her because I am so proud. You can read more about her work here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2023/06/12/birth-control-pill-over-counter-nationwide-option/70290654007/ I also want to take a moment to acknowledge that I incorrectly cited a Bonnie Burstow quote: “Often father and daughter look down on mother (woman) together. They exchange meaningful glances when she misses a point. They agree that she is not bright as they are, cannot reason as they do. This collusion does not save the daughter from the mother’s fate.” Finally (as always) you can reach us at [email protected] or send us a voice message (link in bio). We love hearing your takes, ideas, and rebuttals!!!
    57 min
  • “The Lakes,” by Taylor Swift: Transcendentalism, Isolationism, and Romanticism
    In honor of the record store day announcement, here’s an episode about one of Folklore’s best tracks: “The Lakes.” Joe (from season 3!) and I analyze the song from a Transcendental angle.
    Sources (NOT MLA!!):
    * https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/very-beautiful-tempest-teapot-elizabeth-barrett/docview/196908724/se-2
    * https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/bostoncollege-ebooks/detail.action?docID=3440861&pq-origsite=primo
    * https://www-fulcrum-org.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/epubs/w0892b699/OEBPS/xhtml/cover.xhtml
    * https://go.openathens.net/redirector/bc.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/romantic-elegy-consolations-transcendence-england/docview/303451484/se-2?accountid=9673
    To reach out:
    * Voice message: anchor.fm/moksha-davaloor
    * Pinterest: @mokshareviews
    * Website: Mokshadavaloor.wordpress.com
    49 min
  • "Desiree's Baby" by Kate Chopin: Feminism, Racism, & Love
    Today we discuss Chopin's "Desiree's Baby." If you haven't read the story/want to refresh your memory, you can access it here: https://americanliterature.com/author/kate-chopin/short-story/desirees-baby
    A couple points we missed: 
    Desiree's Baby is set in the Antebellum South: i.e. it's set before the civil war in the states that eventually secede. This means that the story serves as commentary and fuel to the growing fire of sectional tensions over slavery. If you want us to elaborate on this (and trust me, we'd love to), reach out with the links below!
    In class, this story was accompanied by another tale, "The Story of an Hour," which was much more focused on the role of women and wives. That may have been why the class discussion was so pigeonholed into feminism*
    To reach out: 
    Voice message: anchor.fm/moksha-davaloor
    Pinterest: @mokshareviews
    Website: Mokshadavaloor.wordpress.com
    *We did not intend to imply that the class itself was racist or anti-feminist; we love our teacher and have many friends in that classroom. However, we also cannot ignore that systematic racism and indoctrinated racist mentalities are pervasive in our region. This may not have had anything to do with the thread of our class discussion; it was just an idea, but we apologize if it hurt any feelings.
    24 min
  • "The Happy Prince," by Oscar Wilde: Kant, Locke, Aurelius+ Pretty Privilege and Ethical Billionaires???
    While most famously known for The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde has published many pieces possessing his signature allegory, including his series of fairy tales. The first story in this collection, "The Happy Prince," is the topic of today's discussion. If you haven't read/are looking to brush up, here's a place to access it:
    https://www.wilde-online.info/the-happy-prince.html
    Our Sources (NOT MLA DON'T SUE US):
    https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/
    https://pooran.net/so-you-want-a-reward-for-good-deeds/
    https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-responsibility/
    https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-moral/
    To reach out:
    Voice message: anchor.fm/moksha-davaloor
    Pinterest: @mokshareviews
    Website: Mokshadavaloor.wordpress.com
    33 min
  • Bonus: The city of Book Marketing and all the best tourist destinations//A life update because I suck and disappeared

    I'm Back... for a school project :/

    But, I will be back for real soon. This summer will bring season 4 :)

    Til then, we're doing an Ask us Anything campaign! Send us any question, book related or not! You can reach us through the voice link, or through [email protected]

    Other ways of reaching us include a dm through pinterest (@mokshareviews) or a comment on the website: mokshadavaloor.wordpress.com

    Finally, if you're a spotify user, you can reach us directly by swiping up on the app!

    19 min
  • Trailer+ Season 4 reveal

    Moksha Reviews is back, and I'm so excited to share the news with you! Season 4 is going to be a min-season, but a powerful season all the same. Full of advocacy, some amazing friends and I are going to attempt to expose the toxic and abusive underbelly of Young Adult culture, starting with the most well-loved, most topical books.

    It means the world to me that y'all have reached out and been so kind! I love hearing from all of you! You can reach me through my voice message link, or through my email: [email protected]

    ---
    Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/moksha-davaloor/message
    13 min

About Moksha Reviews

From the publisher's feed

Teen book-lover Moksha Davaloor invites friends to discuss her favorite reads. Right now, Maia Lopez joins season 4 to analyze literature, novels, music, movies, and other pop culture moments from a philosophical and cultural lens.