Why Do We Read This?

In this episode, we discuss Henrik Ibsen's Victorian masterpiece, Hedda Gabler. We approach the text from two different angles, first considering Hedda's narcissistic tendencies, and then by looking at her as a potential victim of her society. By comparing Hedda with Mother Gothel from Tangled, we get one perspective on this complex character, and by drawing parallels between Hedda and Regina George, we see that "mean girls" are often products of their upbringing.

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

Additional Resources include:

"Narcissistic Personality Disorder in the Movie Tangled: Mother Does Not Know Best" by Veronica Jaski

Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman

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, we discuss Henrik Ibsen's Victorian masterpiece, Hedda Gabler. We approach the text from two different angles, first considering Hedda's narcissistic tendencies, and then by looking at her as a potential victim of her society. By comparing Hedda with Mother Gothel from Tangled, we get one perspective on this complex character, and by drawing parallels between Hedda and Regina George, we see that "mean girls" are often products of their upbringing.

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

Additional Resources include:

"Narcissistic Personality Disorder in the Movie Tangled: Mother Does Not Know Best" by Veronica Jaski

Queen Bees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman

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, we discuss the Ancient Egyptian tale of Setne Khamwas. We compare narrative tropes in this work with those used in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time video game. And we draw parallels between the magic book discovered by Naneferkaptah (and later Setne Khamwas)with The Book of the Damned from season 10 of Supernatural.

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

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, we discuss the Ancient Egyptian tale of Setne Khamwas. We compare narrative tropes in this work with those used in the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time video game. And we draw parallels between the magic book discovered by Naneferkaptah (and later Setne Khamwas)with The Book of the Damned from season 10 of Supernatural.

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

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, we discuss the Korean short story "My Innocent Uncle" by Chae Man-Sik. We discuss "slippage" humor as it pertains to the nephew and the Joker from Batman: The Dark Knight. And we consider three -isms: ageism, classism, and (internalized) racism as they play out in both the short story and the United States today.

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

Additional references include:

“Of Mimicry and Man: The Ambivalence of Colonial Discourse” by Homi Bhabha

"The Sad Truth about Ageism in America" by Kathy Harrington-Sullivan

"Classism, America's Overlooked Problem" by Matt Gamble

Chapter 5 in Flipping the Script: White Privilege and Community Building - "What is Internalized Racism" by Donna K. Bivens

We apologize for any sound issues this episode, we unknowingly had a technical difficulty, but it has been remedied for future episodes.

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, we discuss the Korean short story "My Innocent Uncle" by Chae Man-Sik. We discuss "slippage" humor as it pertains to the nephew and the Joker from Batman: The Dark Knight. And we consider three -isms: ageism, classism, and (internalized) racism as they play out in both the short story and the United States today.

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

Additional references include:

“Of Mimicry and Man: The Ambivalence of Colonial Discourse” by Homi Bhabha

"The Sad Truth about Ageism in America" by Kathy Harrington-Sullivan

"Classism, America's Overlooked Problem" by Matt Gamble

Chapter 5 in Flipping the Script: White Privilege and Community Building - "What is Internalized Racism" by Donna K. Bivens

We apologize for any sound issues this episode, we unknowingly had a technical difficulty, but it has been remedied for future episodes.

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, we discuss 17th-century Chinese play, The Peach Blossom Fan by Kong Shangren. We consider the parallels between the play and HBO's Watchmen in terms of theatricality. Additionally we compare the symbolism of the the Peach Blossom Fan itself with the Heart of the Ocean from Titanic

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

Additional references include:

How To Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster

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, we discuss 17th-century Chinese play, The Peach Blossom Fan by Kong Shangren. We consider the parallels between the play and HBO's Watchmen in terms of theatricality. Additionally we compare the symbolism of the the Peach Blossom Fan itself with the Heart of the Ocean from Titanic

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

Additional references include:

How To Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster

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, we discuss Ama Ata Aidoo's short story "Two Sisters". We consider this text through the lens of postcolonialisms and intersectional feminisms, especially as it relates to the film Black Panther. Additionally we discuss how sisters have historically been represented in literature and film, including the roles they play, how they contrast with one another, and how these factors create a more complete story.

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

Additional references include:

“What does intersectional feminism actually mean?” by the International Women's Development Center

"African Post-Colonial Development" at TEDxGallatin 2013 by Fatoumata Waggeh

Among Women, by Louise Bernikow

Devoted Sisters: Representations of the Sister Relationship in Nineteenth-century British and American Literature, by Sarah Annes Brown

How To Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster

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, we discuss Ama Ata Aidoo's short story "Two Sisters". We consider this text through the lens of postcolonialisms and intersectional feminisms, especially as it relates to the film Black Panther. Additionally we discuss how sisters have historically been represented in literature and film, including the roles they play, how they contrast with one another, and how these factors create a more complete story.

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

Additional references include:

“What does intersectional feminism actually mean?” by the International Women's Development Center

"African Post-Colonial Development" at TEDxGallatin 2013 by Fatoumata Waggeh

Among Women, by Louise Bernikow

Devoted Sisters: Representations of the Sister Relationship in Nineteenth-century British and American Literature, by Sarah Annes Brown

How To Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster

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