Sex. Love. Literature.
By Ayanni Cooper and Corinne Matthews
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature. on your favorite podcast platforms! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast
Sex. Love. Literature.May 24, 2021
E41 Divorce Comedies: An Introduction (Mini-Series, Part 1)
Welcome to our mini-series on Divorce Comedies! Over the next 4-ish episodes, we’re exploring this genre that caught us off guard with how much its makes us laugh, cry, and yell divorce! In this introductory episode, rather than focus on any one show, we get into the defining features of divorce comedies, why we wanted to talk about them, and whether or not they can be counted as rom coms.
Show Notes:
Other Lit Mentioned this episode: Lost You Forever, WWE: Wrestlemania, Nettle & Bone, The Legend of Shen Li, Romance is a Bonus Book, Grace and Frankie, Crazy Stupid Love, Let's Get Divorced, 500 Days of Summer, Stranger's Again, Mine, Rinko-San Wants to Try, Be Melodramatic
On Future SLL Episodes: Dr. Cha, Strangers Again, and Let's Get Divorced, and A Court of Thorns and Roses
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast
Our cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
EP40 Hadestown
"See, on the road to Hell there was a railroad line..."
It's time for a deep dive into the Broadway musical, Hadestown. We get into how the musical adapts the Grek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice & Hades and Persephone for a modern setting; the love stories–and tragedy–of the two core relationships; and the productive ambiguity of seeing it all happen on stage.
Content Warning: Discussions of S*xual Assault from (1:06:41 - 1:14:05)
Show Notes:
Other Lit Mentioned this episode: The Story of Ming Lang, Lore Olympus, When I Arrived at the Castle, Speak, Beka Cooper Trilogy, Alanna the Lioness Quartet
On Future SLL Episodes: Divorce Comedies (featuring Dr. Cha, Strangers Again, and Let's Get Divorced), and A Court of Thorns and Roses
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast
Our cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Opening Banter
03:40 What's Sparking Joy
9:43 Introducing Hadestown
18:07 Characters and Plot
33:45 What We Loved about Hadestown
41:50 Is Hadestown a Successful Myth Adaptation?
44:57 The Cycle of Hadestown
49:57 Intertwined Love Stories
1:14:07 Hadestown's Other Themes
1:25:31 On the Climax...
1:31:29 Last Thoughts
1:34:56 Next time on SLL
E39 Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2024) with Dr. and Mr. Cooper
Corinne wasn’t feeling well this week, so Ayanni called in the cavalry. This episode, she's joined by her spouse (and friend of the show) Andrew Cooper to talk about the new action-dramedy series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They give their general impressions, think about the series’ adaptation choices, and muse about the show’s depiction of married life.
Show Notes:
Other Lit Mentioned this episode: Jujutsu Kaisen, Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2009), Skip and Loafer, Dungeon Meshi, Tell Me That You Love Me, Let's Talk About Chu, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Ironman, Pen15, Blue Eyed Samurai, Pluto, Atlanta
On Future SLL Episodes: Hadestown, Divorce Comedies, and A Court of Thornes and Roses
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast
Our cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:07 Saying Hi to Andrew
05:51 What's Sparking Joy
15:20 Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Smith
19:54 First Impressions
24:43 Spoiler Discussion Begins
1:05:47 Coming Up on SLL
E38 Sparking Joy in 2024: A Pop-Culture Roundup
Happy New Year, y'all! We continue our annual tradition of checking in about what pop-culture is "sparking joy” in January, our favorites of 2023, and what we’re looking forward to in 2024.
(CW: discussion of parental and sibling death.)
Oh, and did we mention we have a tumblr now? www.tumblr.com/sexlovelitpodcast
Show Notes:
Check out Charcooll--the awesome artist who did our cover art-- on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/) and on RedBubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/charcooll/shop?asc=u)
Lit Mentioned By Section:
- What's Sparking Joy: Lady Liar, Ms. Abbott and the Doctor, Link: Eat Love Kill
- Joy Sparked in 2023 - Rapid Fire: Lost You Forever, The Boy and the Heron, Kiss Bet, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse, The Story of Kunning Palace, American Fiction, The Marquis Who Musn't, Being Monsters, Till the End of the Moon, A Guest in the House
- Joy Sparked in 2023 - Deep Dive: Call it Love, Ancillary Justice, A Journey to Love, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
- Future Joy Sparked in 2024: Lost You Forever: Part 2, The Prisoner of Beauty, All There Is (podcast), Jeong Nyeon, Baulders Gate 3
- Others: What If...?, The Marvels, Let's Get Divorced, Dr. Cha, Strangers Again
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast
Our cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:58 Opening Bander
09:11 What's Sparking Joy
16:37 2023 Joy Sparked - Rapid Fire
36:06 2023 Joy Sparked - Deeper Dive
1:02:37 Looking Forward to 2024 Joy
1:14:24 Pop-Culture Predictions
1:22:28 Closing Out/Future SLL Episodes
E37 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 3, Spoiler Filled)
CW: Discussion of s*xual assault, and brief mentions of drugging and s*icide, from 1:00:27 – 1:04:15
You’ve made it to the third and final installment of our semi-accidental mini-series on the Chinese Drama, Lost You Forever. (You either really like us, or you really like Lost You Forever, and we appreciate you either way.)
We know you’ve been waiting for it, so this episode, we finally get to the last three main players fighting for Xiaoyao’s heart: Fenglong of the Central Plains; Xiang Liu, everyone’s favorite nine-headed sea snake demon man; and last but certainly not least, Tushan Jing, soft beta baby boy of the year.
Don't forget to listen to part one, "E35 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 1, Spoiler Free)," and part two, “E36 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 2, Spoiler Filled),” if you haven't already.
Show Notes:
Lost You Forever Soundtrack (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/6opCSvYhh5CiAioySGp0Nm?si=7a6e1432558947d0
Other lit mentioned this episode: Till the End of the Moon
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit.
Our cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:24 Opening Bander
02:32 What's Sparking Joy
6:30 Fenglong doesn't stand a chance
17:58 It's thirsting for Xiang Liu hours
41:14 Poor, sweet Tushan Jing
1:06:30 Some Final Thoughts
1:14:38 Closing Out
E36 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 2, Spoiler Filled)
We’re continuing our three-part mini-series on Lost You Forever by diving right into a truck load of spoilers! In honor of the reverse harem-ness at all, we organized our discussion around leading lady, Xiaoyao, and her four suitors.
This episode, we start with Xiaoyao herself–and her many abandonment issues. Then, we get into our complicated feelings about her charming, ambitious cousin, Cang Xuan and his dangerous pursuit of the throne. As a treat (for Corinne), we also talk about Xiaoyao’s bratty half-sister, A’nian, because she’s the worst (and the best).
Don’t worry Fangfeng Bei and Tushan Jing fans, stay tuned for part three of our discussion for our hot takes on the rest of the harem.
Don't forget to listen to part one, "E35 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 1, Spoiler Free)," if you haven't already.
Show Notes:
Lost You Forever Soundtrack (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/6opCSvYhh5CiAioySGp0Nm?si=7a6e1432558947d0
"You & Me" by Jennie (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/track/6gcuJpHu0Ey30D5WR76y98
Other lit mentioned this episode:
Crash Landing on You, You & Me by Jennie, Pharaohs by SBTRKT, Goodbye My Princess
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:32 Opening Bander
07:17 What's Sparking Joy
12:51 Starting with Xiaoyao
31:58 Cang Xuan Time
51:44 Closing Out
E35 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 1, Spoiler Free)
CW: Brief mention of s*icide @ 30:00.
Welcome to the first installment in our three part mini-series on the Chinese drama, Lost You Forever (Season 1). If you haven’t seen this drama, don’t worry–the first part of our mini-series is spoiler free!
We give some context about the show set up, share some spoiler-free reactions, and wrap up with a game of F*ck, Marry, K!ll. Along the way, we also share all the reasons we think you should check out Lost You Forever–if it hasn’t already taken the top spot on your favorite dramas list.
Parts 2 and 3 of our Lost You Forever mini-series dropping on December 8th!
Show Notes:
Lost You Forever Soundtrack (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/6opCSvYhh5CiAioySGp0Nm?si=7a6e1432558947d0
Lit discussed this episode:
Love Between Fairy and Devil, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, As If Love Does Not Exist, Perfect Marriage Revenge, Story of Ming Lan, Love and Redemption, Love You Seven Times
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL cover art is by Charcooll (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:16 Opening Banter
06:19 What's Sparking Joy?
15:36 It's Lost You Forever Time
22:24 LYF Characters
27:36 LYF Political Landscape
34:23 What We Love About LYF
E34 Trope Spotlight: Demon Lovers with Dr. Sam Langsdale
Happy Halloween, SLL Listeners! This episode is a special spooky season treat: a Trope Spotlight episode on ~Demon Lovers~ 😈. We’re joined by comic-scholar, friend of the show, and fellow monster aficionado Dr. Sam Langsdale to tackle the deliciously demonic topic. Together, we parse through what makes a demon a demon-as well as what we want from a demon lover-throw in some monster theory, and share some of our many favorites.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:30 Opening Banter
02:57 Guest Introduction
12:37 What's Sparking Joy
25:42 Demon Lovers Discussion
Show Notes:
You can find Sam on Bluesky @samlangsdale.bsky.social or on her website, www.samlangsdale.com. And here's a link to Monstrous Women in Comics, too - https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/M/Monstrous-Women-in-Comics
Bonus Treats🍬
- Lanfear Gif sets, because she deserves more that one: https://www.tumblr.com/ofthebrownajah/732098078959665152 ; https://www.tumblr.com/dykedivorce/729834242890153984/the-wheel-of-time-lanfear-in-2x07 ; https://www.tumblr.com/hcmoeroticisms/729915504717873152/natasha-okeeffe-as-lanfear-in-wheel-of-time-207 ; https://www.tumblr.com/ghostintransit/729144619593547776/lanfear-in-wheel-of-time-s2-ep6
- Chu Kong (AKA cat demon) gif set: https://www.tumblr.com/dingyuxi/726930914058338305/love-you-seven-times-%E4%B8%83%E6%97%B6%E5%90%89%E7%A5%A5-2023-dir-li-nan
- Xiang Liu (AKA sexy snake man) gif set: https://www.tumblr.com/yesdramas/724227274238574592/tan-jianci-as-xiang-liu-in-lost-you-forever-%E9%95%BF%E7%9B%B8%E6%80%9D
- Nightcrawler posing like Burt Reynolds: https://twitter.com/peppard_anna/status/1554151790614134785 (but also, just look at the whole thread)
- "Smited, Smote, Smitten: A Reading on Queer Longing in Good Omens" by Maya Gittelman - https://www.tor.com/2023/10/04/smited-smote-smitten-a-reading-on-queer-longing-in-good-omens/
- Oh Gosh, Oh Golly, Oh Wow! Podcast - https://goshgollywow.com/
As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections–none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist.
Lit discussed this episode: Fionna and Cake, Wheel of Time (Season 2), Glow Up, Wednesday, Love You Seven Times, Lost You Forever, Howl's Moving Castle (Book and Film), Good Omens 2, Fruits Basket, Stuffed - A living pillow romance, Inuyasha, Love and Redemption, The Good Place, Castlevania, Beauty and the Beast, Lucifer, Excalibur, Oh Gosh, Oh Golly, Oh Wow! Podcast, Monster Prom, Monster Camp, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Obey Me: One Master to Rule Them All, Shadow & Bone, The Witches of Eastwick, Till the End of the Moon, Monsters and Girls
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music for this episode is “TipToes” by Myuu. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
E33 Rinko-San Wants to Try (Rinko-san wa shitemitai)
This episode, on the recommendation of an SLL listener, we’re excited to do a deep dive into the Japanese Drama, Rinko-San Wants to Try. We get into how the show complicates conceptions of virginity, plays with the friends with benefits trope, and maybe get in our feelings a lil bit about a second female lead who really got under Ayanni’s skin.
As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections–none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist.
Lit discussed this episode: Get Up EP by NewJeans, Pop Culture Happy Hour (this episode specifically: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/15/1193958358/newjeans-is-a-new-kind-of-k-pop-juggernaut), My Dearest, Hit the Spot, Because This is My First Life, Lost You Forever, Friends With Benefits, No Strings Attached, Nevertheless..., Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Sex Education
Bonus reading (aka works cited & consulted):
- Jones, Gretchen. "'Ladies' Comics': Japan's Not-So-Underground Market in Pornography for Women." U.S.-Japan Women's Journal, English Supplement, no. 22, 2002, pp. 3-31.
- Lieber-Milo, S. “Cute at an Older Age: A Case Study of Otona-Kawaii”. Mutual Images Journal, no. 10, Dec. 2021, pp. 93-108, doi:10.32926/2021.10.lie.otona.
- Sato, Kumiko. "From Hello Kitty to Code Row Kewpie: A Postwar Cultural History of Cuteness in Japan." Asian Intercultural Contacts, vol. 14, no. 2, 2009. https://www.asianstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/from-hello-kitty-to-cod-roe-kewpie-a-postwar-cultural-history-of-cuteness-in-japanA.pdf
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Recorded September 2023
SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.
E32 The Female Gaze (Part 2): Complication and Expansion
This is the second episode of our two part discussion on the Female Gaze. Since we laid some groundwork and gave some context in part one, this time around, we dive right in. In thinking through “the female gaze,” we ask questions of whom we presume is looking and who is being looked at. We also think about how the gaze becomes more complicated in our modern media context, especially when we move beyond binary, heteronormative understandings of gender and sexuality.
We definitely recommend checking out "E31 The Female Gaze (Part 1): The Origins of the Gaze" before listening to this one.
As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist.
Lit discussed this episode: Get Up EP by NewJeans, Spicy by Aespa, Her Private Life, See You in My 19th Life, My Love Story with Yamada-Kun at Level 999; The Song of the Lioness Quartet, The Immortals Quartet, The Lunar Chronicles, A League of Their Own (TV Series),
Bonus reading (aka works cited & consulted):
- Bowers, Susan R. “Medusa and the Female Gaze.” NWSA Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, 1990, pp. 217-235. <https://www.jstor.org/stable/4316018>
- Benson-Allott, Caetlin. “No Such Think Not Yet: Questioning Television’s Female Gaze.” Film Quarterly, vol. 71, no. 2, 2017, pp. 65-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/FQ.2017.71.2.65.
- Forster, Stefani. “Yes, there’s such a thing as a ‘female gaze.’ But it’s not what you think.” Medium. !2 Jun 2018. Accessed 13 February 2020. https://medium.com/truly-social/yes-theres-such-a-thing-as-a-female-gaze-but-it-s-not-what-you-think-d27be6fc2fed.
- Dyhouse, Carol. Heartthrobs: A History of Women and Desire. Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Hemmann, Kathryn. "Queering the Media Mix: The Female Gaze in Japanese Fan Comics." Transformative Works and Cultures, no 20, 2015. https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2015.0628.
- hooks, bell. "The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators." Black Looks: Race and Representation, Routledge, 2014.
- Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Visual and Other Pleasures, Indiana University Press, 1989.
- Phillips, Leah. Female Heroes in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction: Reframing Myths of Adolescent Girlhood. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023.
- Wilton, Tamsin. Sexual (Dis)Orientation: Gender, Sex, Desire and Self-Fashioning, Palgrave Macmillian UK, 2004.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E31 The Female Gaze (Part 1): The Origins of the Gaze
We’re tackling a big topic in our two part discussion on “the female gaze.” What is the female gaze and why does it matter? In this first episode, we establish some context for the term by getting into the history of the “gaze” as a concept, the psychoanalytic origins of the Male Gaze as theorized by Laura Mulvey, and how the oppositional gaze, as coined by bell hooks, makes space for alternative ways of looking and being looked at.
You can listen to "E32 The Female Gaze (Part 2): Complication and Expansion" right now!
A quick editorial note: We incorrectly mention that polo originated in China. Sources consider what would be modern day Iran as the location of origin for the game.
As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist.
Lit discussed this episode: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury, Vincenzo, The Story of Ming Lan
Bonus reading (aka works cited & consulted):
- Bowers, Susan R. “Medusa and the Female Gaze.” NWSA Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, 1990, pp. 217-235. <https://www.jstor.org/stable/4316018>
- Benson-Allott, Caetlin. “No Such Think Not Yet: Questioning Television’s Female Gaze.” Film Quarterly, vol. 71, no. 2, 2017, pp. 65-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/FQ.2017.71.2.65.
- Forster, Stefani. “Yes, there’s such a thing as a ‘female gaze.’ But it’s not what you think.” Medium. !2 Jun 2018. Accessed 13 February 2020. https://medium.com/truly-social/yes-theres-such-a-thing-as-a-female-gaze-but-it-s-not-what-you-think-d27be6fc2fed.
- Dyhouse, Carol. Heartthrobs: A History of Women and Desire. Oxford University Press, 2017.
- Hemmann, Kathryn. "Queering the Media Mix: The Female Gaze in Japanese Fan Comics." Transformative Works and Cultures, no 20, 2015. https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2015.0628.
- hooks, bell. "The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators." Black Looks: Race and Representation, Routledge, 2014.
- Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Visual and Other Pleasures, Indiana University Press, 1989.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
LP 09 (Re)Introducing Ourselves: Dr. Ayanni and Dr. Corinne
Content warning: This episode contains a very brief discussion of sexual assault from 27:14 - 27:21.
Happy 3rd Birthday to Sex. Love. Literature! 🎂 Since we started the show as English PhD candidates, the two of us have been through a lot. And now, over the last year, we’ve defended dissertations, donned our wizard robes, and officially both become doctors. To celebrate, this episode is all about us. Learn about our research, what projects we’re working on, and what we watch, read, and listen to when we’re not recording new episodes for y’all.
Want to join us in wishing a happy third birthday to SLL? Share your fave SLL episode with a friend who’s never listened before and tag them on our Instagram post (@SexLoveLit) to say hi! Thanks to all of you who’ve stuck around since the beginning and thanks to all of you who joined along the way 💛🥰
As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist.
Lit discussed this episode: Pokémon Go, Love You Seven Times, Lost You Forever, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Sex Education, The Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner, Lore Olympus, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, When I Arrived at the Castle, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson & Emily Carroll, Through the Woods, Good Hunting by Ken Liu, Love Death + Robots, Levar Burton Reads, Tower of God, God of High School, All of Us are Dead, Forever by Judy Blume, Hulu's The Great, See You in My 19th Life
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E30 Netflix's Sex Education (Part 2) feat Dr. Michele Meek
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of bullying in the narrative from (13:05 - 19:00) and sexual assault from (37:21 - 48:50).
This is the second of our two-parter on Netflix’s Sex Education with filmmaker, writer, and scholar Michele Meek! We dive right into the sex with this one, starting with depictions of sex in the show, how we feel about the ways consent does and does not work in-universe, and Corinne works through her angry feelings about Season 3 headmaster, Hope Haddon.
Make sure to listen to "E29 Netflix's Sex Education (Part 1) feat Dr. Michele Meek" for the first part of our conversation. To learn more about Michele and her work, visit MicheleMeek.com.
As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Episode was recorded in May 2023.
E29 Netflix’s Sex Education (Part 1) feat Dr. Michele Meek
We've got a treat for you all this episode! Along with your usual fabulous co-hosts, we’re joined by filmmaker, writer, and scholar Michele Meek to discuss the Netflix show Sex Education.
In the first of two episodes with Michele, we first learn about her exciting new book, Consent Culture in Teen Films: Adolescent Sexuality in US Movies. Then, in our discussion proper, we introduce Sex Education; decide whether or not we really like the main character, Otis, and other members of the ensemble cast; and work through some of the secondhand embarrassment often associated with teen sex comedies.
Mark your calendars and turn on your SLL notifications: "E30 Sex Education (Part 2) feat Dr. Michele Meek" will drop on July 28th, 2023!
To learn more about Michele and her work, visit MicheleMeek.com.
Corinne got really excited during What's Sparking Joy and it ran a little long, but if you want to get right to the Sex Education content, you can jump (15:35 - 24:48). Also, if you're a Sex Education fan and want to skip the background/character info, you can bypass (25:49 - 30:48).
As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Lit discussed this episode: The Graceling Trilogy, Vinland Saga (Season 2), To the End of the Moon, The End of Sex
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Episode was recorded in May 2023.
E28 Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
We’re doing a deep dive into the Shondaland Netflix show, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story! This episode, we talk about the steamy, but bittersweet romance of George and Charlotte, the evolution of the inimitable Lady Danbury, and how this new Bridgerton tale makes space for the complex desires of mature women.
Like most Bridgerton series, this one has a large cast. Skip to (18:56) to bypass the character and series introductions.
A quick note to bolster our discussion of minstrel shows, they rose in prominence and popularity in the mid-1800s and—to be explicit—relied upon mocking racial stereotypes of Black folks. For more information about the history of minstrelsy and it's afterlives in our modern media, check out Racial Innocence: Performing American Childhood from Slavery to Civil Rights by Robin Bernstein and Was the Cat in the Hat Black?: The Hidden Racism of Children's Literature, and the Need for Diverse Books by Philip Nel. (And more sources to come!)
Make sure to visit Mav and the rest of our friends @ VoxPop over on their site: https://voxpopcast.com/wp/
Lit discussed this episode: KPOP! Broadway, Suzume, "Flower" by Jisoo, Bridgerton, the novels of Julia Quinn, Till the End of the Moon, Game of Thrones, VSQ Performs Prince by Vitamin String Quartet
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E27 Trope Spotlight: Friends to Lovers
E26 Hit the Spot aka Fanta G Spot (Part 2)
This episode continues our deep dive into the sexy and sex-filled Korean web-drama Hit the Spot, aka Fanta G Spot. We get into the ways that the drama centers female pleasure, how it balances education with fantasy, and ask if consent can really be sexy. (Spoiler: yes.) If you haven't listened to part one, check it out for our take on the show’s setup, the cast of characters, and for our reactions to the two main romances.
On a more serious note, here’s a recent article about one actresses experiences of working on Hit the Spot and being filmed topless: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/x-rated-k-drama-hit-spot-actress-yeonji-coerced-filming-nude-scene-releases-statement/
Lit discussed this episode: Summer Strike, Ditto by New Jeans, Business Proposal
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E25 Hit the Spot aka Fanta G Spot (Part 1)
We’re diving into the spicy Korean web-drama Hit the Spot, aka Fanta G Spot. There was so much ground to cover (and once again, so much sex) that we’re splitting our discussion into two parts. In part one–which you’re reading about right now–we give some context for the show’s setup, introduce the cast of characters, and share our reactions to the two main romances. Make sure you listen to part two for our thoughts on the ways the drama centers female pleasure, how it balances education with fantasy, and more!
Most importantly though, we need your thoughts on Roy Choi with a beard or without. Will y'all vindicate Ayanni's appreciation for stubble? Or will you side with Corinne's approval of a clean shave? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or by answering the Spotify poll~
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
Lit discussed this episode: Blue Lock, Lovestruck in the City, Interest of Love, Crash Course in Romance
Articles on cis women and faked orgasms:
- Barnett, Michael D., et al. "Motivations for faking orgasm and orgasm consistency among young adult women." Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 149, 2019, pp. 83-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.031.
- Fahs, Breanne. "Coming to power: women's fake orgasms and best orgasm experiences illuminate the failures of (hetero)sex and the pleasures of connection." Culture, Health & Sexuality, vol. 16, no. 8, 2014, pp. 974-988. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2014.924557.
- Herbenick, D., H. Eastman-Mueller, Tc. Fu, et al. "Women’s Sexual Satisfaction, Communication, and Reasons for (No Longer) Faking Orgasm: Findings from a U.S. Probability Sample." Archives of Sexual Behavior, vol. 48, 2019, pp. 2461–2472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01493-0.
- Hevesi, Krisztina, et al. "Faking Orgasm: Relationship to Orgasmic Problems and Relationship Type in Heterosexual Women." Sexual Medicine, vol. 9, no. 5, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100419.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
LP 08 Sparking Joy in 2023: A Pop-Culture Roundup
We also take a moment remembering KPOP! Broadway and our experience seeing the final performance of its run. (You can pre-order the original cast recording of KPOP! or stream the song "This is My Korea" to give the fabulous cast some love.)
What media are you looking forward to this year?
Some Episode Notes:
Ayanni was so excited this episode, she forgot how to speak and count! The 3rd anniversary of SLL with be this summer ❤️
...and it's Lee Jae Wook 🙃
Links to the KPOP! Broadway main site, Twitter, and Instagram
Link to the Chainsaw Man Themes Compilation, from MAPPA CHANNEL
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Lit discussed this episode: Alchemy of Souls, The Last of US on HBO, "This is Why" by Paramore, KPOP! Broadway, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Everything Everywhere All At Once, American Born Chinese, Chainsaw Man, New Life Begins, Business Proposal, 25 21, My Liberation Notes, Under the Queen's Umbrella, Little Woman, Kiss Bet, The Story of Minglan, Old Gods of Appalachia, Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, Yumi's Cells, Steal the Stars, Afternoona Delight, Vox Popcast, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Wandavision, Antman: Quantumania, Hit the Spot
(This episode was recorded on January 16, 2023.)
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig.
“What’s Sparking Joy” BGM is Candy-Coloured Sky by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E24 Love Between Fairy and Devil (Part 2, Spoiler Filled)
This is our spoiler-filled deep dive into the Chinese Drama, Love Between Fairy and Devil. (If you'd like to hear our take on the drama sans-spoilers, check out "E23: Love Between Fairy and Devil (Part 1, Spoiler Free)".) In this episode, we cover the show’s multifaceted depictions of love, the scenes that made us cry, and a spicy take about the show’s finale. Plus, there's a special behind-the-scenes bonus blooper for y'all at the end of the episode~
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E23 Love Between Fairy and Devil (Part 1, Spoiler Free)
Happy New Year, SLL Listeners 🎉🎉
For our first episode of 2023, we’re diving into our first Chinese Drama discussion with the high fantasy romance Love Between Fairy and Devil. If you haven’t seen this drama, don’t worry! The first part of our conversation--AKA this episode right here--is spoiler free! We give some context about the fantastic storytelling, the fabulous cast of characters, and all of the reasons we think you should give Love Between Fairy and Devil a try. (When you're ready for spoilers, listen to "E24: Love Between Fairy and Devil (Part 2, Spoiler Filled).")
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E22 "Lore Olympus and/as Young Adult Literature" (Special Episode)
Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault, from (28:34 - 35:55).
At the last YASA Conference, we answered the very pressing question on the mind of every Lore Olympus reader: Why is Hades So Hot? (Read: many, many reasons.) This time around we broaden our focus by putting Lore Olympus in context. In our "semi-academic" style, we discuss how this adaptation of the Hades & Persephone myth blurs the boundaries of young adult literature through audience, themes, and what it means to "come of age."
Catch Corinne and Ayanni at the first ever, live Sex. Love. Literature. Q&A session on Tuesday, November 1st at 4:30pm ET as part of this year's Young Adult Studies Association (YASA) Conference! Register to join in on the fun and hear great presentations by other speakers. YASA will take place from October 31st to November 4th 2022; you can register for the conference here - https://yastudiesassociation.com/yasa2022/.
Other lit discussed this episode - Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Kiss Bet, Ghost Wife, Half-Ghost, Brass and Sass, Yumi’s Cells (Webtoon & Kdrama), Midnight Poppyland, Let’s Play, and Goblin (aka Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) because Corinne couldn't help herself.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig.
E21 "30% Scoundrel: The Allure of Hades in Lore Olympus" (Bonus Episode)
Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault, beginning at (18:55).
In this special episode, we ask the question on the mind of all Lore Olympus readers: why is Hades so hot? This episode was originally recorded in 2020 for the the inaugural Young Adult Studies Association Conference, so it leans a little more academic than our usual episodes. We get into how how cartoonist Rachel Smythe’s adaptation of Hades and Persephone myth plays with dark prince tropes, retools familiar characters, and grapples with difficult concepts.
And make sure to check out our next Love Olympus episode, coming out on Monday, Oct 24th!
For more on conference presentations, check out "E11 Special Episode — Tamora Pierce was Our Judy Blume: Sex (Ed) in YA Fantasy" (Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts)
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig.
(Episode was originally recorded in late 2020.)
E20 The Appeal of Regency Romance (Part 2)
This episode is the second of our two-parter on Bridgerton, Jane Austen, and the appeal of the Regency Romance genre. Continuing our tête-à-tête with Mav and Hannah from Vox Popcast, we get into why Netflix’s Persuasion may or may not have sucked, other delightful Jane Austin adaptations, and what ingredients we absolutely have to have to make a regency romance work.
You can find Hannah, Mav, and VoxPop wherever you get your podcasts. But here are links to one of the episodes we mention: e218. Does The Bechdel Test Fail The Bechdel Test?
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
Lit discussed this episode includes: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Bridgerton, Belle, Woman of Color, Fire Island, Romeo & Juliet, Romeo + Juliet, The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet, The Lizzie Bennett Diaries, Christmas Calendar, Christmas Inheritance, Mansfield Park, and more!
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. “What’s Sparking Joy” BGM is Candy-Coloured Sky by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E19 The Appeal of Regency Romances (Part 1)
Back in your ear holes for the first time since May, we’re fresh off our summer hiatus. This episode we’re joined by friends of the show, and fellow pop-culture connoisseurs, Mav and Hannah from VoxPopcast. In part inspired by Netflix’s recent Persuasion adaptation as well as the continued success of Bridgerton, we wanted to put regency romances in context. In the first of two parts, we get into what, exactly, a regency romance is, why people love them so much, and our own experiences watching them. (Hint: it's the bosoms.)
What's Sparking Joy sparked a little more than we expected, but you can skip (09:25-26:35) to get to the main discussion. Also, a quick correction: Love Like the Galaxy takes place 2000 years ago, not 1000.
You can find Hannah, Mav, and VoxPop wherever you get your podcasts. But here are links to some of the episodes we mention:
- e219. Why We Still Love the Jurassic Park Franchise
- e201. The Romance Show: (Hannah wouldn’t let us call) Love In The Time Of COVID
- e208. What Time Is It? It’s Bridgerton Time! (Again)
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit.
Lit discussed this episode includes: Love Like the Galaxy, Riverdale, Claim to Fame, Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park: Dominion, Obsession (Board Game), Alchemy of Souls, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Yumi's Cells, Afternoona Delight Podcast, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Bridgerton, Unmarriageable
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig.
“What’s Sparking Joy” BGM is Candy-Coloured Sky by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E18 Love Is Blind and Other Dating Reality TV (Part 2)
In the second of two episodes on Netflix’s Love is Blind, we continue our discussion with June and Lauren on dating reality television. We get into the gendered expectations around love and sex; why you should never feel guilty about enjoying reality shows; and our guests’ favorite matchmaking show of all time, Are You the One?
You can find Lauren and June's new show, Under Review, where ever you get your podcasts. (But here's a link to their Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/show/1H32AGeE1ZQeRSNfy3AATI?si=422e16fdf7bf4e8e)
*SLL will be on hiatus through September 2022*
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Lit discussed this episode includes:
Love Is Blind, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Mr. Sunshine (Kdrama), Are You The One?, A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, Iron Chef, Nailed It, Survivor, and more~
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig.
“What’s Sparking Joy” BGM is Candy-Coloured Sky by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
E17 Love Is Blind and Other Dating Reality TV (Part 1)
This episode, we’re joined by Lauren and June, two fellow PhD candidates and podcasters, to discuss Netflix’s Love is Blind and other dating/matchmaking reality shows. In the first part of two, we discuss how being on a reality show turns people into characters, get into our own reality TV viewing practices, and discover that Ayanni has seen way more of them than she thought!
You can find Lauren and June's new show, Under Review, where ever you get your podcasts. (But here's a link to their Spotify page: https://open.spotify.com/show/1H32AGeE1ZQeRSNfy3AATI?si=422e16fdf7bf4e8e)
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Lit discussed this episode includes:
Love Is Blind, Below Deck: Sailing Yacht, The Bachelor, Next, I Love New York, Business Proposal, Thirty-Nine, Obey Me: One Master to Rule Them All, Mr. Sunshine, Dear Shandy, Tick Tick Boom, The Floor is Lava, Millionaire Matchmaker, Too Hot To Handle and more~
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig.
“What’s Sparking Joy” BGM is Candy-Coloured Sky by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
LP 07 Sparking Joy in 2022: A Pop-Culture Roundup
In this "La Petite," we check in about pop culture that has brought us joy in the past and present, and hopefully will continue do so in the future. We start off with a round of “What’s [Was] Sparking Joy” for us in January, move on to thinking about our favorite pop culture of 2021, and then what we’re looking forward to in 2022. What media are you looking forward to this year?
You can find Corinne on episode 199 of Vox Popcast, Nancy Drew & the Hidden Staircase to Pop Culture Immortality~
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
All the lit discussed this episode:
- Midnight Poppy Land by Lilydusk
- Our Beloved Summer
- Ranking of Kings
- Bad Mode by Utada Hikaru
- Winterkeep by Kristin Cashore
- Hospital Playlist
- Mad for Each Other
- Daebak Realty
- Doom At Your Service
- Yumi's Cells
- Arcane
- Jujutsu Kaitsen
- Welcome to Your Fantasy (podcast)
- Afternoona Delight (podcast)
- In the Serpent’s Wake by Rachel Hartman (and Tess of the Road)
- Into the Spider-verse 2
- His Dark Materials
- Everything, Everywhere, All At Once
- Destiny 2
(This episode was recorded on January 22.)
The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig.
“What’s Sparking Joy” BGM is Candy-Coloured Sky by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
We used a room tone from http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/
E16 Trope Spotlight: Love Triangles with Lia Riley
You can find Afternoona Delight at www.afternoonadelight.com, on Instagram (@afternoonadelightpodcast), Twitter (@Afternoonadeli1), Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/AfterNoonaDelightPodcast), and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
List of media mentioned coming soon!
E15 Hulu's The Great, Season 2 (Part 2)
In part two of two of our The Great, Season Two deep dive, we focus more on the second half of the season. We take a closer look at Peter and Catherine’s evolving relationship, how sex is used to build story, and why, to quote Aunt Elizabeth, “Women don’t end up with men who fuck their mothers.” If you'd like more info about where the season begins, as well as in-depth character introductions, listen to the first part of our The Great mini-arc (Episode 14).
You can find The Great on Hulu.
Media mentioned in "What's Sparking Joy":
- "Millennial Love" from the Search: WWW soundtrack
- "Se Acabó" by Bomba Estéreo
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E14 Hulu's The Great, Season 2 (Part 1)
Welcome to the first of our two-part deep dive on Hulu's "anti-historical" comedy-drama: The Great, Season 2. We had so much to say (and honestly, there was just so much sex) we decided to break our discussion in half. This episode, we focus on where we find Peter, Catherine, and the Russian Court as the season opens on Catherine’s chaotic coup. Now that she has Russia, what's she gonna do with it?
You can find The Great on Hulu.
Media mentioned in "What's Sparking Joy":
- Happiness (KDrama, Viki);
- The Wheel of Time (Amazon);
- Doom At Your Service (Kdrama, Viki);
- Arcane (Netflix);
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E13 Hometown Cha Cha Cha (Korean Drama)
The SLL crew takes a trip to the seaside and deep dives into another Korean drama: Netflix's Hometown Cha Cha Cha. This episode, we’re joined by friend/spouse-of-the-show Andrew Cooper as we chat about the "manic pixie dream guy," the allures of small-town neighborhood stories, and ask ourselves how much rom com is too much rom com 🤔
Corinne was a guest on the Afternoona Delight Podcast episode "All About Kdrama Kissing," which you can listen to here, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can learn more about the Noonas on their podcast website: https://www.afternoonadelight.com/.
You can find Hometown Cha Cha Cha on Netflix.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
LP 06 - Why "Literature"?
LP 05 - Checking In & Sparking Joy
LP 04 - Why "Love"?
(If you took a shot whenever we mention a KDrama this episode, you would get *very* drunk #SLLDrinkingGame.)
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
LP 03 - Why "Sex"?
Join us for the first of our meta-mini-series on our titular keywords, "Why 'Sex'?" Instead of looking at a particular text, we reflect on the first year of SLL. We chat about our research, the ways we approach questions about sex, and the complexities of desire and desirability. (While you're listening, see if you can count how many accidental sex-puns we make 😂).
Content notice: We don't get into any specifics, but we do touch on some of the difficulties in studying fictional depictions of sexual assault.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E12 Red, White, and Royal Blue
This episode, we’re joined by Frannie and Sophie, hosts of the Girls Like Us podcast, to chat Casey McQuiston’s runaway hit novel, Red, White, and Royal Blue. The four of us talk queer romance, political fantasy--and what it is that makes so many english majors want to start a podcast!
You can find GLU on Instagram and Twitter (@GirlsLikeUsShow), at https://www.girlslikeus.show/, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E11 Special Episode — Tamora Pierce was Our Judy Blume: Sex (Ed) in YA Fantasy
In this special episode, we’re joined by the delightful Dr. Leah Phillips to chat Tamora Pierce’s lasting legacy on the landscape of young adult literature, especially as it relates to sex. Join us as we cover everything from Alanna’s first period, to the sex appeal of Nawat the crow man, to some magical butt stuff (lol). If you love the fantastical worlds of Tamora Pierce--or even just want to know more about what sex in YA fantasy has to do with real life--this is an SLL you don’t want to miss.
You can find Dr. Phillips on Twitter (@Le_Phill) and the YA Studies Association on Twitter (@YAStudiesAssoc), or at https://yastudiesassociation.com/. Special shout out to the Let's Talk About Sex in YA Conference! (Twitter: @LTYSYAconf; https://letstalkaboutsexinya.thinkific.com)
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Skip to (4:10) for the beginning of the presentation.
LP 02 - Crazy. Stupid. Love.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E10 Promising Young Woman
Episode Content Warning: Discussion of sexual assault, violence against women, and suicide.
For our 10th episode, we dive into Emerald Fennell's Oscar Award winning revenge-thriller Promising Young Woman. The conversation takes a turn toward the academic as we think on consent, unpack the curious nature of rape-revenge films, and sort through our complicated reactions to this thought provoking film.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Additional Show Notes:
For more information about RAINN, please visit https://www.rainn.org/. Their confidential sexual assault hotline is available 24/7 @ 1.800.656.HOPE (4673) and online at https://hotline.rainn.org/online.
On Baudrillard and 3rd Order Simulacra - https://cla.purdue.edu/academic/english/theory/postmodernism/modules/baudrillardsimulation.html & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulacra_and_Simulation
Claire Henry's Revisionist Rape-Revenge
Aiyana Altrows' "Rape Scripts and Rape Spaces: Constructions of Female Bodies in Adolescent Fiction"
La Petite 01 - True Beauty (Korean Drama)
Episode Content Warning: Brief Mention of Suicide and Abuse.
Introducing La Petite SLL, our new mini-episodes! This time, we take a quick look at the use of the tropes “Love Makes You Evil” and “If I Can’t Have You, No One Can” in the popular Korean Webtoon turned drama True Beauty. What happens when a female friendship turns sour because of jealousy over a man, and why do we hate it so much 😒??
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit. Mention of abuse at (10:55) and of suicide at (23:44)
E09 WandaVision
Though the Avengers may have dis-assembled, we've been looking forward to the new Disney+ MCU offerings--and WandaVision did not disappoint. A love story between a super powered witch and a handsome android? That has SLL written all over it! Listen in as we share our thoughts on Wanda, Vision, and all the witchy happenings of this new Marvel show.
Skip (6:50-10:16) to bypass the WandaVision character introductions.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E08 Crash Landing on You (Korean Drama)
Episode Content Warning: Discussion of Depression and Suicidal Ideation.
The SLL crew digs deep into our feelings as we discuss the internationally renowned Korean drama Crash Landing on You. Joined by our very first guest, the wonderful Minji Kang, we (try to) keep our tears in check as we swoon over the epic love story of South Korean business mogul Yoon Seri and North Korean Captian Ri Jeung Hyeok. With everything from found families to fake-out make-outs, this drama was totally our type 🥰
You can find Minji on Instagram (@Community_Foodwaves) and Facebook (@CommunityFoodwaves), or at https://communityfoodwaves.com. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Skip (13:34-20:48) to bypass the Crash Landing character introductions.
E07 Schitt's Creek--Singles' Week
Hello bébés! This episode, we're trying something a little different and taking a deep dive into the Season 4 Finale of Schitt's Creek: "Singles' Week." From evolving mother-daughter relationships to how much we adore our OTPs, there's so much to cover in one of our favorite episodes of the entire TV show. Recording this podcast was like one of those moments that you dream about...and we both even had tea.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Jump to (08:07) to skip the introduction to Schitt's Creek;
Skip to (19:07) for Alexis and Ted talk;
Jump to (38:25) for David and Patrick chat;
Skip to (47:27) for discussion of the show as a whole.
E06 Bridgerton
Episode Content Warning: Discussion of Sexual Assault.
Calling all members of the ton, our Bridgerton episode has arrived! Salacious gossip, ruinous scandal, and--of course--heaving bosoms abound in this colorful regency romance based on Julia Quinn's The Duke and I. This is our longest episode to date, so save us a space on your dance card as we track the twists and turns of sexy time in this steamy Shondaland show.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
Jump to (04:58) to skip the general introduction to Bridgerton.
Jump to (10:03) to skip both the general and character introductions for Bridgerton.
E05 Happiest Season (Film)
Happy Holidays! This year, we want to give you the gift that keeps on giving: our reactions to, and analysis of, Hulu's Happiest Season! Though Christmas has passed (and we had a handful of audio issues), there's no better way to end the first year of SLL than with Harper, Abby, and their roller-roaster relationship.
See you in 2021!
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit
E04 It's Okay To Not Be Okay (Korean Drama)
Fairy tales and family secrets collide in the Korean drama It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, one of our favorite shows of 2020. Come kick it with us as we discuss the whirlwind romance of an impulsive children’s book author and a repressed mental health caretaker--along with one of the steamiest kisses in recent KDrama history 😘.
Cast Info: Moon Gang-tae played by Kim Soo-hyun; Ko Moon-young played by Seo Yea-ji; Moon Sang-tae played by Oh Jung-se; Nam Ju-ri played by Park Kyu-young; Lee Sang-in played by Kim Joo-hun; Yoo Seung-jae played by Park Jin-joo
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E03 Lucifer (Season 5a)
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E02 Roswell, New Mexico (Season 2)
Ayanni and Corinne talk hot cowboy (and cowgirl) aliens in the steamy second season of the CW’s Roswell, New Mexico. But don’t be fooled, there’s more going on beneath the sheets than first meets the eye.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.
E01 Hulu's The Great (Season 1)
Welcome to Sex. Love. Literature! In this episode, Corinne and Ayanni dive into the scandalous shenanigans of the Russian Court in the first season of Hulu’s The Great. Your lovely hosts also take a moment to introduce themselves and (hopefully) your new favorite podcast.
Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit.