The homework for the episode:
Martha: Sense8 holiday special (Netflix streaming)
Pete: The VVitch (film)
Calee: The Orphanage (film)
It’s here! Our debut episode, in which we discuss how identity functions as a narrative tool, get used to the flow of conversation in a podcast, and Martha gets a little cranky about what people view as “feminist” narratives.
Your podcasters’ credentials:
Pete: The Staves (musical group)
Martha: The Rest of Us Just Live Here, by Patrick Ness
Calee: The Monster Factory Youtube Channel (here)
Before we get to the syllabus, I (Martha) want to apologize for forgetting to give Sense8 a proper introduction – I can blame only my inexperience as a podcaster, and my tendency to skip things when I get nervous. Sense8 is a Netflix show written and developed by the Wachowski siblings that premiered in 2015. It’s the story of eight individuals from all corners of the globe who, one day, suddenly become psychically interconnected. The first episode of the second season debuted as a holiday special, while the rest of the season comes out in spring – it is one of the most significantly diverse shows currently airing, and even when I find the plot incomprehensible, it is beautiful to watch.
Anyway, here’s your guide to further exploration of identity in different forms of media – this is a pretty prevalent theme, but I think we’ve got some non-obvious things for you to take a gander at. If you have other suggestions, please let us know!
Identity as a Story Tool – Additional Material
Grace & Frankie, Netflix original show
Hurricane Bianca (film)
The Lie Tree, by Frances Hardinge (YA novel)
Ms. Marvel, vol. 1: No Normal, by G. Willow Wilson and Adrian Alphona (graphic novel)
The OA (Netflix original show)
Transparent (Amazon Prime original show)
The Wicked + the Divine, vol. 1: The Faust Act, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie (graphic novel)
Supplementary reading (or, articles Martha alluded to vaguely):
“The Witch is Sinister, Smart, and Wildly Feminist,” Scott Pierce on Wired (here)
“The Witch Movie Isn’t a a Horror Flick – It’s a High Powered Feminist Manifesto,” Diane Cohen on Marie Claire (here)
Our theme for our next episode is going to be: Welcome to the Resistance (Resistance and Insurgency). Enjoy doing your homework!
Your homework for February 1:
Pete: Heavn, by Jamila Woods (musical album – streaming on SoundCloud)
Martha: The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson (YA novel)
Calee: In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang (graphic novel)
Did You Do Your Homework? 