Media-eval: A Medieval Pop Culture Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Dragonheart Jun 13, 2020

Show notes

Guests Mary Galvin and Sally Whiting (Instagram:@_the_writer_and_the_artist; YouTube: The Writer and the Artist)join Sarah to talk about Dragonheart, a movie that cannot decide whether it is a children's movie or a sex comedy about a dragon-human throuple. We delve into the epic dragon-elephant battles that should have been in this movie, and what actually happened in the year 984 (hint: it was not abolishing the monarchy).

SIX the Musical May 30, 2020

Show notes

Join Sarah and guests Meghan Griffin and Tracy Tanoff as we gush about our new favorite adaptation featuring of the wives of Henry VIII (at least, until our own novels come out). I hope listeners will be inspired to check out the soundtrack and support the creators during this difficult time while theaters are closed. CW: one song (and therefore also our discussion of it) includes themes of grooming and sexual assault.

The Other Boleyn Girl May 17, 2020

Show notes

Imagine you took everything that was intriguing about the life story of Anne Boleyn ... and then somehow made an extremely boring movie. You would have The Other Boleyn Girl. Join Sarah and guest Dana Carriere as we discuss how truth can be more interesting than fiction, and the real story of Anne Boleyn. Come back in 2 weeks for an episode on another (better) piece of media related to the wives of Henry VIII!

Brethren by Robyn Young May 03, 2020

Show notes

Media-eval tackles another book! Join Sarah and guest Tegan Robinson for a discussion of Brethren by Robyn Young. Highlights include Jew Watch (spoiler: there aren't any), medieval manic pixie dream girls, and the real secret of the Templars - that they're less interesting than you expect (unless you really like economic history).

Life Of Brian Apr 18, 2020

Show notes

Happy belated Easter and Passover! In honor of the holidays, Media-eval travels a bit further back in time with a special episode on Monty Python's Life of Brian - with a special guest, Roman history enthusiast (and Sarah's Dad) Richard Ifft. Join us as we talk Latin grammar and Roman Judea, and ponder the question: What have the Romans ever done for us?

I Am Dragon Apr 05, 2020

Show notes

Sarah and guest Christine Fredrickson get into certain NSFW functions of fire and medieval dragon lore in the 2015 Russian film I Am Dragon (aka The Dragon Inside Me).

Virgin Spring Mar 22, 2020

Show notes

CW for rape/sexual assault/murder So ... this movie was pretty rough? Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales talk about problematic portrayals of sexual violence, plus ideas about purity, piety, and martyrdom, in the second film of our medieval Ingmar Bergman retrospective. RIP, Max von Sydow - while we stand by our plot and character critiques he gave an incredible performance. Media-eval is prepared to continue through this period of social distancing, as all recording is already done remotely. Stay healthy and safe!

The Seventh Seal Mar 08, 2020

Show notes

Sarah and returning guest Morgan Morales tackle the crisis of the fourteenth and twentieth centuries in Ingmar Bergman's 1957 film The Seventh Seal. Join us as we wonder yet again why people think the Black Death immediately followed the Crusades. This will be the first of a two-part discussion on Bergman's medieval-inspired films. CW: consent issues/threatened sexual assault

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik Feb 22, 2020

Show notes

Sarah and guest Caroline Gruenbaum discuss Media-eval's inaugural book! Join us as we talk about medieval Jews real and fantastical in Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver.

Le Moine et la Sorciere / Sorceress (1987) Feb 08, 2020

Show notes

In honor of the often unrecognized work done by women in film (*cough* Oscars 2020 *cough*)Sarah and guest Kourtnea Hogan cover Le Moine et la Sorciere, known in English as Sorceress, directed by Suzanne Schiffman. Join us as we delve into what they got right and wrong about the true story of a dog venerated as a saint in medieval France! CW for sexual assault; dog death