Why Do We Read This?

In this episode special guest co-host Michelle Crowley joins the podcast to discuss the not-so-Disney version of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. After discussing the dark elements of the original text, we compare the picaresque elements of Pinocchio with Bart Simpson. We then look at the journey taken by Pinocchio alongside the journey of Darren Shan from the first Cirque du Freak trilogy and consider the concept of the father as creator in both works.

We used the unabridged audiobook published by RNIV and read by Andrew Timothy.

Other references include "The Real-Life Adventures of Pinocchio" by Rebecca West in Profiles of Popular Culture by Ray Browne.

To connect with Michelle you can follow her on twitter @PreheatingProf

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

In this episode special guest co-host Michelle Crowley joins the podcast to discuss the not-so-Disney version of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. After discussing the dark elements of the original text, we compare the picaresque elements of Pinocchio with Bart Simpson. We then look at the journey taken by Pinocchio alongside the journey of Darren Shan from the first Cirque du Freak trilogy and consider the concept of the father as creator in both works.

We used the unabridged audiobook published by RNIV and read by Andrew Timothy.

Other references include "The Real-Life Adventures of Pinocchio" by Rebecca West in Profiles of Popular Culture by Ray Browne.

To connect with Michelle you can follow her on twitter @PreheatingProf

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

Episode 17 features the return of special guest co-host, musician and Rebecca's husband, Shawn P. Russell. In this episode we consider Welcome to the Monkey House, a collection of short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. We discuss the idea of bucking social conventions and cultural expectations in "Deer in the Works" and the Pixar film Ratatouille. We also talk about how some people find it easier to connect with others when doing so through the perspective of a fictional character, as is shown in Harry Nash from "Who Am I This Time?" and Abed Nadir from Community.

We use the 2006 paperback edition of Welcome to the Monkey House published by Dial Press.

We also reference a 2012 study published in Science Daily entitled "'Losing yourself' in a Fictional Character Can Affect Your Real Life" https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507131948.htm

and a 2019 article in Aeon entitled "Acting Changes the Brain: It's How Actors Get Lost in a Role." https://aeon.co/ideas/acting-changes-the-brain-its-how-actors-get-lost-in-a-role

Rebecca also referenced the Nerds and Beyond event, "Festival and Beyond." The link will send you to the start of the panel she discussed in the Final Thoughts segment of this week's episode: https://youtu.be/VnZ9SWW_1U4?t=5974

You can follow Shawn on Soundcloud at Shawn P. Russell or visit his website shawnprussell.com

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

Episode 17 features the return of special guest co-host, musician and Rebecca's husband, Shawn P. Russell. In this episode we consider Welcome to the Monkey House, a collection of short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. We discuss the idea of bucking social conventions and cultural expectations in "Deer in the Works" and the Pixar film Ratatouille. We also talk about how some people find it easier to connect with others when doing so through the perspective of a fictional character, as is shown in Harry Nash from "Who Am I This Time?" and Abed Nadir from Community.

We use the 2006 paperback edition of Welcome to the Monkey House published by Dial Press.

We also reference a 2012 study published in Science Daily entitled "'Losing yourself' in a Fictional Character Can Affect Your Real Life" https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507131948.htm

and a 2019 article in Aeon entitled "Acting Changes the Brain: It's How Actors Get Lost in a Role." https://aeon.co/ideas/acting-changes-the-brain-its-how-actors-get-lost-in-a-role

Rebecca also referenced the Nerds and Beyond event, "Festival and Beyond." The link will send you to the start of the panel she discussed in the Final Thoughts segment of this week's episode: https://youtu.be/VnZ9SWW_1U4?t=5974

You can follow Shawn on Soundcloud at Shawn P. Russell or visit his website shawnprussell.com

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

In this episode special guest co-host Elizabeth Mannion join the podcast. We discuss humor and language usage in the Athenian Comedy, Lysistrata by Aristophanes. We compare the way characters discuss sex in both the play and the CW series, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. We also look at dark comedies and screwball comedies and consider how the use of humor is not so different in today's world.

We use translations from both the 3rd and 4th editions of the Norton Anthology of World Literature.

You can find Beth's website at elizabethmannion.com

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

In this episode special guest co-host Elizabeth Mannion join the podcast. We discuss humor and language usage in the Athenian Comedy, Lysistrata by Aristophanes. We compare the way characters discuss sex in both the play and the CW series, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. We also look at dark comedies and screwball comedies and consider how the use of humor is not so different in today's world.

We use translations from both the 3rd and 4th editions of the Norton Anthology of World Literature.

You can find Beth's website at elizabethmannion.com

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

This episode features special guest co-host, musician and Rebecca's husband, Shawn P. Russell. We consider the horror genre in general and specifically in two short stories by Edgar Allan Poe: "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Masque of the Red Death." We discuss the theme of isolation as it relates to the House of Usher and Stanley Kubrick's film, The Shining. We also talk about the uncanny yet timely parallels between the Red Death and COVID-19.

We used public versions of these two short stories found on poestories.com

We also reference H.P. Lovecraft's essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature" and Ann Radcliffe's essay "On the Supernatural in Poetry."

You can follow Shawn on Soundcloud at Shawn P. Russell or visit his website shawnprussell.com

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

This episode features special guest co-host, musician and Rebecca's husband, Shawn P. Russell. We consider the horror genre in general and specifically in two short stories by Edgar Allan Poe: "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Masque of the Red Death." We discuss the theme of isolation as it relates to the House of Usher and Stanley Kubrick's film, The Shining. We also talk about the uncanny yet timely parallels between the Red Death and COVID-19.

We used public versions of these two short stories found on poestories.com

We also reference H.P. Lovecraft's essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature" and Ann Radcliffe's essay "On the Supernatural in Poetry."

You can follow Shawn on Soundcloud at Shawn P. Russell or visit his website shawnprussell.com

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Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

In this episode, featuring special guest co-host Kimberly Fludd, we discuss Toni Morrison's short story "Recitatif." We consider race as a social construct and discuss racial assumptions made in today's world. We talk about the assumptions we made about Morrison's characters, why we made them, and why these assumptions can be harmful.

We utilize the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 3rd Edition, volume F.

You can follow Kimberly on Twitter and Instagram: @Kimplaints_NYC

Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois

In this episode, featuring special guest co-host Kimberly Fludd, we discuss Toni Morrison's short story "Recitatif." We consider race as a social construct and discuss racial assumptions made in today's world. We talk about the assumptions we made about Morrison's characters, why we made them, and why these assumptions can be harmful.

We utilize the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 3rd Edition, volume F.

You can follow Kimberly on Twitter and Instagram: @Kimplaints_NYC

Music: Fugue in C# Major, from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1": J.S. Bach

Music Synthesizer and Programming: Shawn P. Russell

Sound Consultant and Mixing: Shawn P. Russell

Recording and Editing: Rebecca L. Salois