Why Do We Read This?

Audio from the 2022 New York Comic Con panel, "Pop-Culture, Fandom, and Comics in the College Classroom" featuring Heidi Bollinger, Jennifer Caroccio Maldonado, Tanya Cook, Rebecca, Salois, and Asif Siddiqi. In this panel, we shared how we incorporate pop-culture into our own courses and how you might do the same - whether you are a professor or a student! From Taylor Swift to Game of Thrones, Supernatural, Marvel, DC, and more we discussed the validity of pop-culture in the college classroom. Special thanks to New York Comic Con and the New York Public Library for inviting and supporting our panel. Link to the panel slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OLYQLlLaBu1g__pu3KSOiuqn7awRSghFu30bDGTH6ec/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode I feature projects completed by Comparative Literature 2800 students Shan Rabbi, Rigi Geci, and Johanna Gustafsson. Shan's project compares the Tortoise from Aesop's fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare” to the anime character Naruto. In particular he focuses on how these characters challenge expectations by achieving goals that are deemed impossible and overcoming criticism from those around them. Johanna and Rigi focus on the Prologue from “The Thousand and One Nights” and consider the consequences that women face (compared to that of men) when they are unfaithful. They look at how female characters' lives change in the face of infidelity in this text as well as in two separate Netflix television series: Dark Desire and Sex Life. Both projects address texts from distinct cultures from different historical periods. These students were able to draw parallels with contemporary works in order to demonstrate the relevance of these works in our society today.

This special episode is brought to you by the Transformative Learning in the Humanities Initiative at the City University of New York. As part of this initiative, I was invited to speak on the topic of podcasts and the classroom. This episode is my public contribution to knowledge based on the information I shared in that workshop. In this "episode" I discuss using podcasts as an alternative form of student input, podcasts as assessment, and what to consider if you are interested in starting a podcast for your students. Here are some links I mentioned in the episode: YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/u6cbMZO7jk8 Resources and References: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mlpnr4AisIyX_T7IAAGW4vz01yc9Y1Qk_1iUq27BMbY/edit?usp=sharing Sample Final Project w/Podcast Option: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rrCi3O06oeDCHZbeA9gVWXKQGRI9ytF_m776VolIwJA/edit?usp=sharing You can listen to past episodes of my podcast, Why Do We Read This? here: https://soundcloud.com/whydowereadthis Twitter: @ rlsalois and @ whydowereadthis

In this, the final episode of Why Do We Read This? I discuss the literature we've all been waiting for! Don Quixote de la Mancha! I draw parallels between the hero/sidekick duos of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza and Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee. I get into what makes these pairings not only work but actually necessary to telling a good story. For this episode I utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume C, 4th edition. A shout out to all of the co-hosts I have had over these last couple of years. I couldn't have done this without you all. You made this podcast work! And of course a special thank you to all of you listeners around the world. You made this a fun and engaging project. Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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

Please enjoy these bloopers and outtakes from the last 10 episodes of the podcast. I hope you get a laugh out of one or two of them. I know they make me laugh, but I was there! I'll be back with the final episode in two weeks! Guess which work of literature I'll be covering and I'll give you a shout out! Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, Kimberly Fludd joins me once again to discuss another work of Indian literature. This time we cover the ancient tales of the Jataka. We draw parallels between the heroic self-sacrifices of the Bodhisatta as Monkey King and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy. We also consider the parallels between the different characters in The Golden Goose and the family members in Knives Out as they relate to greed, giving, and the loss of trust. For this episode we utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume A, 4th edition. You can follow Kimberly @Kimplaints_NYC on all the things. Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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, returning guest, Gretchen Pineo and I discuss satire in Jonathan Swift's 1729 essay, "A Modest Proposal." We draw parallels between the delivery of the serious message through the guise of satire in both Swift's work and John Oliver's show Last Week Tonight. We also consider the absurdist aspects of A Modest Proposal as satire in print with the absurdist elements of articles found in The Onion. For this episode we utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume D, 4th edition. Additional resources include: The Humor Code, by Peter McGraw and Joel Warner "Jonathan Swift in 1729 Mentions the Weight of an Infant at Birth and at a Year of Age" by T.E.C. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/48/1/122 Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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

The final project that I assigned this semester asked students to compare one of the works of literature we read in class to pop-culture from today and it gave students the options to present their research in one of three formats: a paper, a video, or a podcast episode. Five students who completed podcast episodes gave me their permission to share their work as part of a Why Do We Read This episode. This episode features English 2800 student Tenzing Palden and English 2850 students Anesa Feratovic and Nam Kim. Anesa's project was a comparison of Diary of a Madman by Lu Xun and the anime series Welcome to the NHK. Tenzing's podcast was about the Bhagavad-Gita and the The Lion King. And Nam covered parallels he saw between Lola Rodriguez de Tio's poem "Song of the Borinquen" and J. Cole's "High for Hours." Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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

The final project that I assigned this semester asked students to compare one of the works of literature we read in class to pop-culture from today and it gave students the options to present their research in one of three formats: a paper, a video, or a podcast episode. Five students who completed podcast episodes gave me their permission to share their work as part of a Why Do We Read This episode. This episode features English 2800 student Carolina Castillo and English 2850 student Jaden Santos. Carolina’s project was a comparison of Lysistrata by Aristophanes and the popular YA novel Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo while Jaden's podcast was about Chikamatsu Monzaemon's Love Suicides at Amijima and the hit television series Power. Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, my guest (and husband) Shawn P. Russell and I analyze another classic Charles Dickens Christmas story: The Cricket on the Hearth. We consider what makes a bad adaptation, and how the 1967 Rankin/Bass animated adaptation is just plain bad. We also compare Dickens third Christmas story with his first, A Christmas Carol and discuss why one story has become a timeless classic while the other is virtually unknown. We even broach the subject of Die Hard being a Christmas movie! We utilize the unabridged audio version of this novella narrated by Jim Dale and produced by Audible, Inc. Follow Shawn! Twitter: @Shawn_P_Russell Instagram: @shawnpatric Website: shawnprussell.com Soundcloud: shawnprussell (consider supporting the creative community) Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 I was recently a guest on the podcast Soundtrack Your Life where I discussed my love for the 1970 adaptation of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge, starring Albert Finney and Alec Guinness. Check it out now! https://www.soundtrackyourlife.net/episodes/episode-18-scrooge-1970-w-dr-rebecca-l-solois-of-the-why-do-read-this-podcast ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 week's episode, my guest, Amy Schack and I discuss "Liberty or Death" by Haitian revolutionary and leader, Jean Jacques Dessalines. We draw parallels between this provocative proclamation and Public Enemy's classic song "Fight the Power" (both the 1989 original and the 2020 remix). We also consider connections between Dessalines's message and Sting song lyrics - taking special care to address the glaring difference of privilege in the latter's situation. For this episode we utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume E, 4th edition. Additional resources include: Lyrics by Sting. Suggested Watching: Do the Right Thing, Spike Lee Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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 week I am joined by Ryan Pak, host of Soundtrack Your Life. Listen as we discuss both Plato's The Symposium and Plato's Allegory of the Cave. We draw parallels between The Symposium and the Netflix film, The Half of It, specifically in how they address love. Then we consider the awareness of Truman Burbank as it relates to the prisoners in the cave from Plato's Allegory of the Cave. For this episode we utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume A, 4th edition for The Symposium and a pdf version of The Allegory of the Cave. Additional resources include: "The Half of It: A Modern Symposium on Love" by Roc Su The "math book" I mentioned at one point is called Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions and is by Edwin A Abbott if you want to check that out! You can follow Ryan on IG: @soundtrackcast and subscribe to his podcast Soundtrack Your Life on all major podcast platforms! Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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 week we welcome back Professor Amina El-Annan from Baruch College. Join us as we discuss Mary Wollstonecraft's 1792 treatise, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman." We consider the calls she made for equality in rights and education for women in conversation with gender equality laws passed by Ruth Bader Ginsberg throughout her career. Then we switch gears and draw parallels between Wollstonecraft's work and the character of Enola Holmes from the Netflix film of the same name. For this episode we utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume D, 4th edition. Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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

A warm welcome back to Kimberly Fludd! Join us as we discuss 3rd-century South Indian Poetry and how it is still relevant today. We draw parallels between the themes of love in both Akam Poetry and Taylor Swift song lyrics. And we consider how the Buffy/Angel relationship from the early seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer has a lot in common with the lovers in these poems. We utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume B, 4th edition. Other references include: Adam Bradley, "The Poetry of Pop" Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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 week's guest is my friend Gretchen Pineo, an architectural historian and fan of all things geeky. In this episode, we discuss some of the European imperialists' letters from the Americas back to their respective Kings. We consider how Science Fiction employs similar lessons on imperialism and colonialism in general, but specifically in the film Starship Troopers. And we draw parallels between the these letters with letters written by New England missionaries to Hawaii in the early nineteenth century, focusing on some of the motivations behind their letters and the reactions of the Hawaiian people who they were trying to convert. We utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume C, 4th edition. Other references include: John Rieder - Colonialism and the Emergence of Science Fiction Noah Berlatsky - Why Sci-Fi Keeps Imagining the Subjugation of White People Sarah Vowell - The Wordy Shipmates Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast For podcast merch check out: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55982933 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 week my guest is Maudro Alexis, friend and fellow Gish team member. We discuss Clarice Lispector's short story "Daydreams of a Drunk Woman." We draw parallels around the cost of a different lifestyle between the protagonist, Maria and Ruby Baptiste from HBO's Lovecraft Country. We also consider the similarities between Maria's struggle to adapt to her new life and Supernatural's Mary Winchester and her struggle to adapt to coming back from the dead. Introduction: 0:00 Background: 4:38 Lovecraft Country: 9:25 Supernatural: 34:35 Final Thoughts: 58:45 We utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume F, 4th edition. Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast 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 week I am joined by another wonderful guest, Amina El-Annan, fellow English professor at Baruch College. We discuss a short story by Naguib Mahfouz entitled "Zaabalawi." We draw parallels between the narrators failed search for Zaabalawi and King Arthur's failed search for the Holy Grail in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We also consider the journeys of both the skeptic and the believer as they are presented in the short story and the television show The X-Files. We utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume F, 4th edition. Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast 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

Welcome Back! We're excited to get started again along with the new semester. In this episode, I am joined by guest co-host Chris Trogan. We discuss Jamaica Kincaid's first published short story "Girl." We talk about rules, both spoken and unspoken, that exist for girls and women by drawing parallels to Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno's YA novel Rules for Being a Girl. We also consider the complicated nature of mother/daughter relationships in both the short story and the Netflix series Never Have I Ever. We utilized the Norton Anthology World Literature, Volume F, 4th edition. Follow the podcast! Twitter: @whydowereadthis Instagram: @wdwrt_podcast 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

Please enjoy these bloopers and funny moments from the first 20 episodes of the podcast (plus the holiday special). I hope you get a chuckle or two out of them. I know they make me laugh, but I was there! Remember, I'll be back with new episodes for the fall semester! Keep following on Twitter @whydowereadthis for updates. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, my mother and I discuss A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. We talk about nested stories and how they affect our understanding of the outer story as well as lessons that can be learned from them. We also discuss adaptations geared toward children and how an early introduction to a story line can help a reader better comprehend the original text when they eventually come across it. We utilized the Royal Shakespeare Company's unabridged 1968 production of the play to fully understand how the text would be performed. Additional sources referenced include: A Vanity Fair article entitled “How Dear White People Crafts Its Hilarious Shows-Within-a-Show" by Laura Bradley and The Humor Code by Peter McGraw and Joel Warner. 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

The final project that I assigned this semester asked students to compare one of the works of literature we read in class to pop-culture from today and it gave students the options to present their research in one of three formats: a paper, a video, or a podcast episode. Five students who completed podcast episodes gave me their permission to share their work as part of a Why Do We Read This episode. This episode features English 2800 student Afshara Choudhury and English 2850 students Kevin Nguyen and Yehuda Tenenbaum. Kevin's project was a comparison of A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift and the animated series South Park. Afshara's podcast was about Sanskrit poet Bhartrhari's poem As the Sun Rises and Sets and Modern Family. And Yehuda covered parallels he saw between Henrik Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler and BoJack Horseman. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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

The final project that I assigned this semester asked students to compare one of the works of literature we read in class to pop-culture from today and it gave students the options to present their research in one of three formats: a paper, a video, or a podcast episode. Five students who completed podcast episodes gave me their permission to share their work as part of a Why Do We Read This episode. This episode features English 2800 student Daniel Carku and English 2850 student Ying Mai. Daniel’s project was a comparison of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes and the popular anime Naruto while Ying's podcast was about Voltaire’s satirical novella Candide and another well-known anime, Demon Slayer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 extra special episode, I welcome FOUR guests! Four of my seven sisters, Brooke Walker, Ashley Clement, Jillian Torabpour, and Kerrie Walker. Together we are "The Original Five." We discuss sisters and sister dynamics, both in real life and in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. We also consider the men and the parents in the novel and why they acted the way they did. We utilized various editions of the novel, along with mini-series and film adaptations for our discussion. Additional sources referenced include: A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists From Brontë to Lessing, by Elaine Showalter. 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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, 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 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 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 The Bhagavad-Gita. We consider this text in relation to Dragon Ball, connecting Arjuna, Goku, and other mythical heroes. Additionally we discuss what an adaptation is and how a golf movie such as The Legend of Bagger Vance is a retelling of this epic poem. We utilize the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 3rd Edition, volume A. Additional references include: "Legend of Bagger Vance How the Bhagavad Gita landed on a golf course" in Hinduism Today, by Steven J. Rosen 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 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We consider the 1834 Poor Law, children's literature, and the Romantic backlash against industrialization. Additionally we analyze Dickens's lessons on poverty through the characters of Tiny Tim, Ignorance, and Want. We utilize the unabridged audio version of this classic narrated by Jim Dale and produced by Listening Library. 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, Rebecca discusses The Scholar's Guide by Petrus Alfonsi. She considers what it Alfonsi means by half-friend and whole-friend and how that connects with true friends and Facebook friends. She also shares a bit about GISH - The Greatest International Scavenger Hunt and how it relates to the ways in which we as humans learn about and retain information. She utilizes the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 4th Edition, volume B. For more information about GISH visit www.gish.com 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 works of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz. We consider the allegory in her loa to The Divine Narcissus in connection with that in Disney Pixar's film Inside Out. Additionally we analyze issues of gender in her Letter to Sor Filotea as they relate to the anime series Saint Seiya. We utilize the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 4th Edition, volume E. 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 Voltaire's Candide. We consider this text in connection with The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. We utilize the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 3rd Edition, volume B. Additional references include: The Republic by Plato How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell 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 three of Aesop's Fables: The Fox and the Raven, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and The Old Man and His Sons. We consider these works in connection with American Idol/The Voice contracts, Lady Olenna Tyrell from Game of Thrones, and Pixar's film The Incredibles. We utilize the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 3rd Edition, volume A. Additional references include Mike Duncan's The Storm Before the Storm, and assorted articles about American Idol and The Voice contracts. 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 and Andrea Fernandez

In this episode, we discuss the 12th-century writings of Chinese poet Li Qingzhao. We consider her works in connection with today's fandom culture, including spending money on fandom and writing fan-fiction. We utilize the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 34d Edition, volume B. Additional references include Confucius's Classics of Poetry and Sam Magg's The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy. 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 and Andrea Fernandez

In this Episode we discuss the 19th-century short story, Bartleby the Scrivener by Herman Melville. We consider what it has in common with Orange is the New Black's portrayals of ICE and what particular parallels exist between Bartleby and Peter Gibbons from the 1999 film, Office Space. n.b. from Andrea: I mentioned swearing fealty of naturalization in 2013. It was 2006. In this episode, we utilize the the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 3rd Edition, volume E. Additional References include: Josefina Ludmer's Feminist perspectives on Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz and Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations. 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 Salois and Andrea Fernandez

In this Episode we discuss the 17th century play Fuenteovejuna by Lope de Vega. We ask what it has in common with Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway hit Hamilton, how it demonstrates toxic masculinity, and what parallels it might have with the Me Too Movement. In this episode, we utilize the translation from the Norton Anthology of World Literature, 3rd Edition, volume C. For more information about the Me Too Movement visit: https://metoomvmt.org/ 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 Salois and Andrea Fernandez

In this, Episode "Zero" of Why Do We Read This?, meet your hosts, Dr. Andrea Fernandez and Dr. Rebecca Salois, adjunct assistant professors of world literature in NYC. Find out what this podcast will be all about and get ready 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 Salois and Andrea Fernandez