Feminist Frequency Radio

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FFR 61: The Favourite Jan 23, 2019

Show notes

FFR #61: The Favourite

This week, we’re traveling back to the court of Queen Anne for all the stately and scandalous manipulations of The Favourite, the Oscar-nominated film starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Throughout the movie, courtiers Sarah (Weisz) and Abigail (Stone) scheme and compete against each other politically and sexually to be the favorite of the queen (Colman). Our conversation covers the film’s power dynamics and cold political ploys, its depiction of female sexuality, the excellent performances, and the appeal of a film in which women who wield some degree of influence are the primary focus.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

3:10 Entertainment News (More Ghostbusters, Chris Pratt, Erykah Badu)
12:50 The Favourite
44:50 What's Your FREQ-Out? Carolyn on Cold War, Ebony on three great pieces about Martin Luther King, Jr., Anita on Pitch Perfect and evolving media standards

RELEVANT LINKS:

Jay Smooth's video on ten other things MLK said: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIFTNmOOLmk
The Whitewashing of King's Assassination by Vann Newkirk: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/02/how-to-kill-a-revolution/552518
I Don't Know What Dr. King Would Have Thought About Abortion and Neither Do You by Imani Gandy: https://rewire.news/ablc/2016/01/22/dont-know-mlk-thought-abortion-neither/

FFR 60: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Jan 16, 2019

Show notes

FFR #60: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

This week on FFR, we take on a Hollywood classic in the 1962 psychological thriller What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, a film whose title character was, at the time, one of the most shocking women ever seen onscreen. Played by cinematic legend Bette Davis, Baby Jane is an aging former child star who mentally and physically abuses her sister Blanche, played by another giant of 30s and 40s cinema, Joan Crawford. It’s a complex and extremely effective film, and we discuss about how it spawned the psychobiddy genre centered on the unsettling spectre of the mad older woman, the power of Davis’ performance, the effectiveness of the tension and discomfort the film generates, and how there was a very public rivalry between the two leads during and following the making of the movie.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

3:05 Entertainment News: celebs apologizing for having worked with R. Kelly, Green Book co-writer’s racist tweet, Megan Kelly parts ways with NBC

13:30 What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

46:30 WYFO: Carolyn’s concerns about Oscar nominations, Ebony on scholar Dan-el Padilla Peralta's response to the racism with the Society for Classical Studies, Anita on My Brilliant Friend

RELEVANT LINKS:

Angelica Bastien's story on Vulture on the feud between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford: https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/joan-crawford-and-bette-daviss-feud-explained.html

Inside Higher Ed's report on the racism encountered by scholar Dan-el Padilla Peralta at a Society for Classical Studies conference: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/07/racist-comments-directed-classics-scholar-disciplinary-meeting-floor-classicists

Padilla Peralta's post on Medium: https://medium.com/@danelpadillaperalta/some-thoughts-on-aia-scs-2019-d6a480a1812a

FFR 59: If Beale Street Could Talk Jan 09, 2019

Show notes

FFR #59: If Beale Street Could Talk

This week on FFR, we’re discussing Moonlight director Barry Jenkins’ wonderful new film, If Beale Street Could Talk. We get into the striking beauty of the film’s visual composition, the way it creates a feeling of community and solidarity that stretches beyond just what we see on the screen, and how it somehow manages to overflow with warmth and love, even as it gazes unflinchingly at the cruelties of systemic injustice.

We also dish about the highs and lows of the Golden Globes, Carolyn offers up a new video game recommendation, Ebony asks where the white women are in the conversation about R. Kelly, and Anita says the cheesiest thing she’s ever said in her life.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

0:50 The Golden Globes (Sandra Oh hosts, Green Book wins (boo!), Olivia Colman wins (yay!)

10:15 A special message from Anita

10:35 If Beale Street Could Talk

45:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out?

Carolyn on Return of the Obra Dinn, Ebony on the voices missing from the conversation about R. Kelly, Anita on Aquaman

RELEVANT LINKS:

Hannah Giorgis talks to Beale Street composer Nicholas Britell about the process of creating the film's wonderful score: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/12/if-beale-street-could-talk-nicholas-britell-composer-music-score/577879/

FFR 58: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Jan 02, 2019

Show notes

FFR #58: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

We’re kicking off 2019 with an FFR lovefest thanks to the exuberant and incredible Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse! Join us as we celebrate one of the best films of last year, with appreciation for its depiction of a diverse and lively Brooklyn, its wonderful hero, its touching Stan Lee cameo, and the way it fully embraces the medium of animation to do things that a live-action film probably couldn’t get away with.

Also, Carolyn brings us the latest outrageous entertainment news about awful men doing awful things, and Ebony considers a career as a spy.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

0:58 A special New Year message from Anita

2:25 Anita and Ebony discuss Anita’s approach to roast chicken

3:12 Entertainment News (Unfortunately we’re still talking about Kevin Spacey and Louis CK)

13:15 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

42:45 What’s Your FREQ-Out?

Ebony on rewatching MI-5
Carolyn on Leave No Trace
Anita on the free giveaway at the Laker game she went to

FFR 57: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power Dec 19, 2018

Show notes

FFR #57: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

This week, we journey to the world of Etheria for showrunner Noelle Stevenson’s bold reimagining of She-Ra, and we very much like what we see! From the surprisingly complex explorations of friendship dynamics (for what’s ostensibly a children’s cartoon) to the terrific assortment of body types to the wonderful way that some characters don’t conform to standard gender expectations and much more, this show has so much to offer young viewers (in addition to just being an entertaining show, of course). Plus, can we just talk about how great Catra looks in that tux?!

Also, we discuss what CBS’ settlement with Eliza Dushku over sexual harassment on the set of Bull reveals about the culture within the network, and the horrible tactics Offset is using in his quest to get Cardi B back.

We want to hear from you, so head on over to feministfrequency.com/freqout and send us your FREQ-Out today!

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

5:20 Entertainment News

14:00 She-Ra

44:15 What’s Your FREQ-Out?

RELEVANT LINKS:

The New York Times report on CBS settling with Eliza Dushku: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/13/business/media/cbs-bull-weatherly-dushku-sexual-harassment.html

The Hollywood Reporter on Megan Fox’s worries that she wouldn’t be a “sympathetic victim” in the #MeToo movement: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/megan-fox-talks-metoo-movement-new-york-times-interview-1167994

Prince Adam from He-Man singing "What's Going On": https://youtu.be/32FB-gYr49Y

FFR 56: Doctor Who Dec 12, 2018

Show notes

FFR #56: Doctor Who

At long last, Anita and Ebony finally get around to talking about Doctor Who on the podcast! First, they both share their different relationships with the history of the show, and what they’re bringing with them to the new season, which stars Jodie Whittaker as the show’s first female Doctor. (Please note that this episode was recorded in early November, and only includes discussions of the season’s first five episodes.) We get into the overall political values of the new season under new showrunner Chris Chibnall, and give special attention to the episode “Rosa Parks.”

Carolyn drops by FROM THE FUTURE to share the latest in entertainment news, and as always, Ebony and Anita each share a little something in What’s Your FREQ-Out?

We want to hear from you, so head on over to feministfrequency.com/freqout and send us your FREQ-Out today!

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

2:55 Entertainment News: Call Me by Your Name author announces sequel novel in the works; the dangerous transphobia of Danish film Girl; Hannah Gadsby’s speech at THR’s Women in Hollywood Gala; SonicFox wins Best Esports Player at The Game Awards

8:25 Doctor Who

42:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out? (Ebony on the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik, Anita on something else)

RELEVANT LINKS:

Check out our producer Phil Surkis’ podcast Spice Cabinet, briefly referenced on this episode: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/spice-cabinet/id1307048969?mt=2

Read critic Oliver Whitney’s piece on the transphobic dangers of Girl: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/belgiums-oscar-submission-girl-is-a-danger-transgender-community-1166505

Watch Hannah Gadsby’s speech at last week’s Women in Hollywood event: https://jezebel.com/hannah-gadsby-on-the-convenient-and-incredibly-irritati-1830906188

Learn more about Naomi Novik's Temeraire series: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/TEM/temeraire

FFR 55: Green Book Dec 05, 2018

Show notes

This week on FFR, Ebony and Carolyn take a road trip with Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali in Green Book. The film initially had a good deal of Oscar buzz, and in fact it was just chosen as the best film of 2018 by the National Board of Review. However, not everyone thinks the praise is deserved. In our conversation, we examine the film's reliance on stereotypes about what defines "real" blackness and the way it centers a white character in what should be a black man's story, while also praising the exceptional performance by Mahershala Ali, a performance that deserved a better film.

Also, we discuss the media's handling of George H. W. Bush's passing, and Carolyn issues an apology for certain statements made during last week's discussion of Sabrina.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

2:25 Carolyn's apology

6:30 Pop culture news (Daredevil is cancelled, responses to the death of George H.W. Bush, the issue of "blackfishing" on Instagram)

19:10 Green Book

44:55 What's Your FREQ-Out? (Ebony on rewatching The West Wing, Carolyn on Red Dead Redemption 2)

RELEVANT LINKS:

‘Green Book’ Somehow Manages to Make a Uniquely Black Story All About the White Guy And the Results Are Ridiculous -- Candice Frederick for Slashfilm: https://www.slashfilm.com/green-book-whitewashing/

The Women “Blackfishing” on Instagram Aren’t Exactly Trying to Be Black -- Lauren Michele Jackson for Slate: https://slate.com/culture/2018/11/blackfishing-instagram-models-emma-hallberg-appropriation.html

FFR 54: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Nov 28, 2018

Show notes

This week, we’re off to Greendale to spend some time with the new Netflix series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina! The latest incarnation of the teenage witch who originated in comics in the early 1960s and who famously had her own TV show in the 1990s, The Chilling Adventures takes a creepier approach, with plenty of references to Satan and all manner of genuinely scary and sinister happenings plaguing the mere mortal townsfolk of Greendale. Our conversation touches on the show’s attempts to establish its feminist bonafides, its handling of characters of color and a character who is gender-nonconforming, the ways in which it tries to be simultaneously scary and silly, and more.

SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS:

01:40 Entertainment News: Women kiss at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade; transphobic responses to Dwight Howard allegations

09:20 The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

39:40 What’s Your FREQ-Out?

RELEVANT LINKS:

In Defense of Prudence Night on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina by Angelica Bastien: https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/chilling-adventures-of-sabrina-prudence-black-witches.html

1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles Mann: https://www.amazon.com/1491-Second-Revelations-Americas-Columbus-ebook/dp/B000JMKVE4

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn: https://www.amazon.com/Peoples-History-United-States-ebook/dp/B015XEWZHI

FFR 53: Widows Nov 21, 2018

Show notes

On this week's Feminist Frequency Radio, we follow Viola Davis wherever she wants to lead us in director Steve McQueen's new film, Widows. On the surface, Widows looks like a heist flick, though notably one with women comprising the crew at its center. But while Widows certainly has many elements of a heist film, it's not exactly a traditional, straightforward example of the genre. It's a film deeply concerned with racism, political corruption, financial desperation, the narrow roles women are often expected to fill, and the systems that perpetually maintain power for some while denying it to others. Our conversation covers the unexpected ways that Widows breaks from the genre mold, our differing opinions on how successfully (or unsuccessfully) it handles all its plot threads and political concerns, and some of the remarkable newcomers in the cast. And don't worry, our conversation is spoiler-free!

Segment Timestamps:

1:45 Entertainment News (No Sony presence at E3 2019, Bill Maher's blog post on the passing of Stan Lee)

11:10 Widows (no spoilers)

43:30 What's Your FREQ-Out?

NOTE: During the discussion of Widows, Ebony refers to “Albert Fox” and the “Angola 9,” but this was the result of speaking faster than her brain was working. She was obviously talking about Albert Woodfox and the Angola 3.

52: A Star Is Born Nov 14, 2018

Show notes

This week’s episode is (maybe) our one year anniversary and Ebony eats cake in celebration. This week’s discussion surrounds the most recent remake of A Star is Born directed and starring Bradley Cooper with Lady Gaga. As usual we are a group divided on these tortured love stories but it might not be what you expect. Ebony loved the music, Carolyn loved the romance and Anita couldn’t get over Bradley Cooper’s voice. Ebony tries to convince us of a new segment idea “Runtime Rundown”. The Anita robot breaks.

Segment Timestamps:

2:23 - Pop Culture News (RIP Stan Lee, Serena Williams and GQ’s cover debacle)

5:03 - Main Topic: A Star is Born

39:08 - What’s Your FREQ Out

Links:

Serena Williams GQ's Woman of the Year: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/serena-williams-gq-woman-of-the-year_us_5beaaa0fe4b0caeec2bd8656

A Star is Born, How the Media Would Have Covered: http://www.vulture.com/2018/10/a-star-is-born-how-the-media-would-have-covered.html

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