Do you really know?

What are sensitivity readers?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is the Smurfette Principle? Jun 12, 2021

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What is the Smurfette Principle? Thanks for asking!

Does that ring a bell? How many of you spent hours in front of the Smurfs as children? We’re sure you remember the smiley little girl with blond hair, a white dress and high heels.

In case your memory has faded, in the wonderful world of the Smurfs, Smurfette is created by the evil wizard Gargamel to sow discord! How curious that the role of agitator is reserved for a female character, don’t you think?!

Add to that the fact that the Smurfville population is exclusively male, until the arrival of the lone Smurfette. That’s where the idea of the Smurfette Principle comes from. It’s mainly to do with the overrepresentation of male figures as protagonists in works of fiction, to the detriment of female characters.

How can you base a whole theory on a single cartoon? What’s wrong with that? It’s fiction after all and fiction can write its own rules, can’t it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is live shopping?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What are sensitivity readers? Jun 10, 2021

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What are sensitivity readers? Thanks for asking!

The role of sensitivity reader first appeared in the United States. Authors and publishing houses recruit these $200 per hour beta readers to go over works with a fine-tooth comb before they are released. The purpose is to make sure there are no offensive stereotypes, relating to race, religion or gender for example, or instances of cultural appropriation. numb

The rise to prominence of this area of work is helping to bring on a shift in representations. For example, sensitivity readers may notice the tendency of certain writers to limit black characters to socially devalued roles. They then suggest rewrites which are more respectful of certain characters and less caricatural. In the long run, the aim is that readers, whatever their background, can identify with characters.

Isn’t this akin to censorship, which will stifle literature? Are there any examples of works which have had to be rewritten after a sensitivity reader’s input? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is live shopping?

What is BookTok?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is live shopping? Jun 09, 2021

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What is live shopping? Thanks for asking!

Technological disruption and the Covid-19 pandemic have combined to bring on new trends, one of which is live shopping. If the shops are closed or you don’t have time to go there, another alternative exists, in addition to standard online shopping. It’s a new kind of shopping experience, where customers see items on video before deciding to buy them.

What’s so original about live shopping then? Where did live shopping come from? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is Tiananmen Square Massacre?

What is BookTok?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is Friends? Jun 07, 2021

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What is Friends? Thanks for asking!

On May 27th, all eyes were on HBO Max, who aired a Friends reunion special, 17 years after the sitcom’s 236th and final episode. It was the first time since then that the six main cast members had appeared together publicly to talk about the show.

Friends was hugely popular throughout the ten years it aired, and is still consistently among the most watched shows on online streaming service Netflix. It won many prestigious awards over the years, including six Emmys, six People’s Choice Awards and a Golden Globe.

But, believe it or not, when the sitcom launched, it almost didn’t make it past the pilot episode.

No way! I can’t imagine a world without endless Friends repeats! So what do we learn in the reunion special? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What is a virus variant region?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is BookTok? Jun 05, 2021

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What is BookTok? Thanks for asking!

You’ve no doubt already heard of TikTok, the short video app of choice for teens and young adults. Well in the last few weeks a new trend has really taken off, and it’s known as BookTok. The idea is simple: recommend books to your Tiktok followers using the hashtag #BookTok.

It’s really catching on and has even led to the emergence of literature enthusiast communities on the platform. The hashtag has been used millions of times since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Is it a new form of literary review then? What kinds of books are covered? So is there such a thing as Booktokers now then? Has the trend been having any other positive effects? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What are molecular scissors?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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What is the Tiananmen Square Massacre? Jun 03, 2021

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What is the Tiananmen Square Massacre? Thanks for asking!

32 years ago today, Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing, saw unprecedented student protests. As night fell on June 3rd 1989, the Chinese military entered the square with a number of tanks and opened fire on the unarmed crowd.

The number of deaths is estimated between 1,000 and 2,000, in what became known internationally as the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Thus ended seven weeks worth of pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests.

One particular image is shared every time the month of June comes around. It’s that of a lone man blocking the path of the Chinese army tanks. It really highlights the imbalance of force between the military and the peaceful student protesters. This anonymous man became a symbol of anti-violence and the struggle for freedom throughout the world. The whole world was shocked and the Chinese government was universally condemned.

How did we get to such a drastic situation? Are you saying the massacre put a stop to a series of social movements? Why is this period of Chinese history so poorly known? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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What are molecular scissors?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a virus variant region? Jun 02, 2021

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What is a virus variant region? Thanks for asking!

The Indian variant known as B.1.617 is causing concern in Europe, particularly due to a steep rise in infections since early May. It recently spread into the United Kingdom, where it is currently taking over as the dominant variant. As a result, Germany reclassified the UK as a virus variant region on May 23rd.

Travel between the UK and Germany is therefore strictly limited for the time being, meaning only German citizens or residents are allowed to enter the country. Even then, whether arriving by train, car or plane, they are also subject to a two week isolation period, which can’t be shortened even by testing negative.

For now, four main variants are still circulating in Europe: the Indian, South African, Brazilian and British variants. With summer just around the corner, the situation is being monitored closely as these variants are more contagious and virulent.

I thought the UK’s health situation was going much better! Is Germany the only country to have put in place restrictions against visitors from the UK?Could the Indian variant have an impact on summer holiday plans in Europe? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

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