Feminist Frequency Radio

Latest Episodes:

25: A Robitussin Ride May 09, 2018

Show notes

On this week’s FFR, it’s a queer media extravaganza as we talk Netflix’s reboot of Queer Eye and the Wachowskis’ seminal 90s lesbian crime film Bound. Queer Eye can certainly be heartwarming and endearing, but we also discuss how it obscures systemic issues and misrepresents potential solutions to matters of oppression and violence against marginalized people. Also, Anita calls out one of their design decisions as absolutely unacceptable. Moving on to Bound, we celebrate the film’s visual style and the ways in which it reaffirms queer female sexuality, which was so significant when it was released in 1996. Ebony brings the magic despite being under the weather, and Anita reveals a celebrity people used to tell her she looks like.

Segment Timestamps:

:00 A special message from Ebony

2:20 Ebony’s epic quest to sneeze

3:30 Pop culture news: Donald Glover’s big weekend

7:30 A prelude to this week’s queer bonanza

12:00 Queer Eye

33:00 A quick message from Ebony and Carolyn

34:30 Bound

48:20 What’s Your FREQ-Out?

59:10 Wrap-up

Relevant Links:

John Paul Brammer on the Met Gala and the homophobia of the Catholic church: https://www.them.us/story/catholic-church-homophobic-met-gala

Subscribe to Cinemaball: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cinemaball/id1372297272?mt=2

24: The Monthly Ebony Meeting May 02, 2018

Show notes

On this week’s FFR, Anita has left Ebony and Carolyn to fend for themselves! In our desperate attempt to put together a coherent podcast in Anita’s absence, we go deep on Avengers: Mandatory Moviegoing Experience (or Infinity War as it’s more commonly known), discussing the film’s various representations of masculinity, the roles women play in its narrative, and its surprising ending. (Take heed: our conversation has more Infinity War spoilers than there are grooves in Thanos’ chin.) From there, we dive into recent events that have brought “incel” ideology into the media spotlight. Don’t know what “incel” means? Well, enjoy your final moments of ignorance before we explain what it is and tear it to shreds! We also touch on Netizens, a powerful documentary on online harassment which features Anita and recently had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Segment Timestamps:

:00 A Special Message from Carolyn
1:19 Greetings!
3:22 Ebony on Netizens, a new documentary featuring Anita
7:45 Pop culture news items: Bill Cosby convicted, Joy Reid’s homophobic blog posts
13:10 Avengers: Infinity War
34:15 “incels” and victim blaming in the news
47:00 What’s Your Deal?
53:40 Wrap-up

Relevant Links:

Netizens
Cinemaball Episode 1
The Ugly Truth of Being a Black Professor in America by George Yancy

23 Live at Kickstarter with Special Guest Jay Smooth Apr 25, 2018

Show notes

In this week’s episode, Anita and Ebony are at Kickstarter HQ in Brooklyn recording the podcast in front of a live studio audience! Best of all, they’re joined by special guest, cultural commentator and hip hop DJ Jay Smooth. Ebony leads the trio through a wide-ranging assortment of questions that find them discussing Breaking Bad, Bradley Cooper, pro wrestling, the music of Rush, and the end of the world, among other things. So settle in for this lively, stimulating discussion and learn which condiment brings about the apocalypse!

Be sure to check out Crash Course’s current series on media literacy, hosted by Jay Smooth: https://youtu.be/AD7N-1Mj-DU

Segment Timestamps

Caro’s Intro :00
2:00 Hello!
3:15 Ebony’s Tribeca Story
6:20 Ebony Has a Bunch of Questions
7:05 What’s another career you would love to have?
12:05 What brings about the apocalypse?
16:10 Kanye and the Dilbert guy
18:40 What is a work/creator that’s way overrated?
20:10 Anita’s late night bar/party question
22:10 Breaking Bad, Sherlock, and Awful Protagonists
27:55 Bradley Cooper’s Watch Commercial
31:30 What is something people don’t know about you but they should?
40:55 What celebrity do you think would be charmed by you if you met?
45:50 What’s Your FREQ-Out?
Ebony on NYC
Jay on Squibbons’ Twitch stream
Anita on Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”
52:40 wrap-up

Relevant Links:

Matt Miller on “Nothing Compares 2 U”: https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a19863265/prince-nothing-compares-2-u-original-listen/ 
The Twitch channel of speedrunner Squibbons: twitch.tv/squibbons
The music of Margo Price: http://margoprice.net/

22 Apples: The Loudest @$%*ing Fruit (TM) Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

On this week’s show, we discuss the use of sound in John Krasinski’s new horror thriller A Quiet Place, whether Ebony would survive in this particular brand of apocalypse, the agony of living in a world without crunchy food, and whether seeing it in a theater is the best decision or the worst decision. We also talk about the sensitive way in which the film handles its deaf character, Regan, who is played by deaf actor Millicent Simmonds, and Ebony drops some knowledge about horror films as a genre. Then we discuss the new espionage series Killing Eve starring Sandra Oh. Is it a completely absurd spy show or is it a show that’s consciously playing with spy tropes? (Why not both?) We highlight the smart little details that humanize its characters, and how wonderful it is to see Sandra Oh cast as the lead in a major series. Also, Anita and Ebony discuss the lack of croissant-sharing in their relationship, and Anita goes on an eye-opening educational journey as she learns both that John Krasinski is the dude from The Office and that aromanticism is a word that actually means something.

Segment Timestamps:

:00 Brought to you by…
:27 Caro is excited about something!
1:10 Intro and greetings
2:40 Pop culture news: Beyonce at Coachella
6:00 A Quiet Place
25:50 Killing Eve
41:00 What’s Your FREQ-Out?
-Ebony on Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
-Carolyn on My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata
-Anita on the music of Moses Sumney
51:40 wrap-up

Relevant Links:

Jon Caramanica’s review of Beyonce’s Coachella performance for the New York Times: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/04/15/arts/music/beyonce-coachella-review.html
Dread Nation by Justine Ireland: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071RQX7W9/
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071ZR7CZZ/
The music of Moses Sumner: https://www.mosessumney.com/

JoCo Cruise Interview #6: Open Mike Eagle on Hip Hop, Politics, and Snorkeling Apr 16, 2018

Show notes

In this candid conversation, the last of our special JoCo Cruise interviews, Anita talks to hip hop artist Open Mike Eagle about both his evolution as a rapper and the evolution of hip hop as a whole. The two also discuss how our current political reality seeps into the fabric of everyday life, accepting that as an artist, you might start off creating some pretty bad art, and the horrors of bad snorkeling experiences.

Check out Mike’s work at mikeeagle.net

21 Watch the Fried Ones Apr 11, 2018

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Feminist Frequency Radio, Anita and the gang discuss Netflix’s tantalizing new food documentary series Ugly Delicious, which explores the collisions of food, culture, and history. When does culinary tribute cross over into culinary appropriation? How do we handle beloved foods that have become saddled with deeply racist associations? Whose cuisine is considered valuable and whose is considered disposable? Then we talk about Bury Me, My Love, a mobile game that puts you in the role of a husband whose wife is a Syrian refugee attempting a dangerous journey to Europe. The game’s subject matter is weighty, but Ebony still finds a way to bring up the original theatrical release of the movie Clue. Finally, we each share something we’ve been digging lately in What’s Your FREQ-Out?

Timestamps:

:00 Brought to you by…
:27 Intro and greetings
3:22 pop culture checkin: The Simpsons responds to criticisms of Apu
7:55 Ugly Delicious
30:24 Bury Me, My Love
44:10 What’s Your FREQ-Out?
(Ebony on Requiem, Carolyn on Toto’s song Africa remixed to sound like it’s playing in an empty mall, Anita on Bishop Nehru’s album Elevators Act I & II)
55:08 wrap-up

Relevant links:

The Problem with Apu: https://www.amazon.com/Problem-Apu-Season-1/dp/B077GB9J33
Bury Me, My Love trailer: https://youtu.be/8zWnWqUsods
Toto, “Africa” (playing in an empty shopping centre) https://youtu.be/D__6hwqjZAs
The Overwhelming Emotion of Hearing Toto’s “Africa” Remixed to Sound like It’s Playing in an Empty Mall (Jia Tolentino in the New Yorker): https://www.newyorker.com/culture/rabbit-holes/the-overwhelming-emotion-of-hearing-totos-africa-remixed-to-sound-like-its-playing-in-an-empty-mall
“A Whole New World” with realistic audio: https://youtu.be/-yLsF8VMPKE

JoCo Cruise Interview #5: Showrunner Amy Berg on Making TV That Matters Apr 09, 2018

Show notes

In our latest JoCo Cruise interview, Anita talks to writer and showrunner Amy Berg, who has worked on shows such as Leverage, Eureka, Person of Interest, and Starz’ current hit sci-fi series Counterpart. Here, Berg recounts the bold way she once got Joss Whedon’s attention, the unproduced Lost script that helped her make a name for herself, and all the things that go into being showrunner on a major TV series. Anita also talks to Berg about consciously doing the work to create a more inclusive television landscape, and what impact our current political landscape is likely to have on the visions of the future that television will give us in the years ahead.

20 Enjoy Your Sloppy Nostalgia Pudding While Also Eating a Chicken Sandwich Apr 04, 2018

Show notes

In this week’s episode, Carolyn has visited the OASIS of Ready Player One and lives to tell Anita and Ebony the tale, demonstrating her own knowledge of obscure pop culture trivia and criticizing RPO for its use of the woman-as-trophy trope familiar to so many of the properties that inspired it. The gang then moves on to ABC’s Roseanne revival, which pulled in huge numbers of viewers. Is it an important portrayal of white working-class experience, or a harmful sanitization of the damage done by Trump voters? Finally, in What’s Your FREQ-Out, Carolyn recommends an excellent TV show, Ebony recommends a terrible movie, and Anita gushes over a great documentary series that explores intersections of food, culture, politics and tradition.

Segment Timestamps:

:00 Brought to you by…
:25 Intro/Greetings
2:25 Entertainment news: John K.
5:40 Ready Player One
27:10 Roseanne
48:05 What’s Your FREQ-Out? (Carolyn on The Americans, Ebony on Prom Night, Anita on Ugly Delicious)
58:10 wrap-up

Relevant Links:

Constance Grady on Ready Player One and GamerGate for Vox: https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/3/26/17148350/ready-player-one-book-backlash-controversy-gamergate-explained

VR Chat and the scourge of the Ugandan Knuckles meme: Julia Alexander for Polygon https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/8/16863932/ugandan-knuckles-meme-vrchat

Ready Player One is an Accidental Horror Movie About Fandom: Alison Willmore for Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alisonwillmore/ready-player-one-steven-spielberg-fandom?utm_term=.ayvByWo7d#.qsY260R17

Why the New Roseanne Reboot Just Plain Sucks: Rob Sheffield for Rolling Stone: https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/rob-sheffield-why-the-roseanne-reboot-sucks-w518543

The Roseanne Reboot Is Funny. I’m Not Going to Keep Watching: Roxane Gay for The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/opinion/roseanne-reboot-trump.html

JoCo Cruise #4: Jackie Kashian and the Shifting World of Comedy Apr 02, 2018

Show notes

“I can’t talk about airline food anymore!” In this conversation recorded aboard the JoCo Cruise, Anita talks to comedian Jackie Kashian about how the realm of stand-up comedy has changed in the 30 years or so that she’s been in the business. The material has evolved, sure, but the gender dynamics are shifting too, and that’s a good thing in what has historically been a very male-dominated industry. The two also discuss Star Trek Discovery, the pronunciations of their Armenian last names, and their conflicting feelings about Agents of SHIELD.

19 You Down With GDC? No, Not Ebony! Mar 28, 2018

Show notes

This week, Anita and Caro talk all about their experiences at this year’s Game Developer’s Conference, touching on the shifting politics of the industry, the important voices that go unheard, and, of course, their favorite games of the show. Learn how Carolyn totally saved Anita’s life during the event, and hear Caro gush over the Outerlands documentary series, which she considers a must-watch for anyone interested in game history.

Time stamps:

Ebony’s intro 00:01

Anita’s welcome 01:05

GDC exhaustion 02:10

Absent voices and old ideas 4:45

Let’s talk about games! 17:10

ALT-CTRL-GDC 31:30

Homo Machina, inspired by the art of Fritz Kahn 38:55

GDC film festival: Outerlands episodes 41:00

Game Workers Unite 45:28

What’s Your FREQ-Out? 47:25

Wrap-up 54:55

Relevant Links:

Knights and Bikes announcement trailer: https://youtu.be/UqR0hgcLSDo
Untitled Goose Game pre-alpha gameplay: https://youtu.be/wQknBJo4aBQ
Gamasutra article about Kids by Playables: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/315114/Road_to_the_IGF_Playables_Kids.php
Dreams trailer: https://youtu.be/odfYSiTpXpo
Gamasutra interview about Grave Call: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/314385/AltCtrlGDC_Showcase_Grave_Call.php
Gamasutra interview about Hi-5 Heroes: https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/313854/AltCtrlGDC_Showcase_Hi5_Heroes.php
Play with Botnik yourself: http://botnik.org/
gamesindustry.biz story on the #1ReasonToBe panel: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-03-26-1reasontobe-listen-to-the-people-you-do-not-hear-because-they-are-not-allowed-to-speak
Outerlands documentary series: http://www.area5.tv/outerlands/
Game Workers Unite Twitter account: https://twitter.com/GameWorkers

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