Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 93 (previously 31c) - Reprise: Ordinary Women - transcript
(Originally aired 2019/02/16 - listen here)
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 93 (previously 31c) - Reprise: Ordinary Women - transcript
(Originally aired 2019/02/16 - listen here)
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 92 (previously 31b) - 10 Lesbian Historical Books and Movies I Loved in 2018 - transcript
(Originally aired 2019/02/09 - listen here)
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 31a - On the Shelf for February 2019 - Transcript
Note: Enough story submissions came in on the very last day that I will be doing the fiction series this year.
(Originally aired 2019/02/02 - listen here)
Welcome to On the Shelf for February 2019.
As I mention in the discussion below, given how very little information this article has relating to women's same-sex relations, one might wonder why I bothered to include it. And the answer is, because often negative information is as important to understanding the context of people's lives in history as the positive information is. We often have an impression that women in sexual relationships were in constant danger of persecution and repression. That they must have lived in constant fear of discovery and the consequences thereof.
What was the social purpose of the motif of women wearing men's clothing in early modern England? What did the cross-dressed woman mean to men and what did she mean for women? How was the reception different for cross-dressed women in literary or theatrical contexts as opposed to ordinary women in real life? Lucas's article looks at the association between female cross-dressing, disorderly conduct in general, sexual misconduct, and anxiety about the disruption of all social categories, not just gender categories.
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 90 (previously 30d) - The New Atalantis - Secret Lesbian Clubs in 17th c Literature - transcript
(Originally aired 2019/01/26 - listen here)
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 89 (previously 30c) - The Favourite - transcript
(Originally aired 2019/01/19 - listen here)
[Note: The scripted portion of the show is transcribed, but the interview portions are still pending transcription.]
One of the topics looming over this blog (though likely to be addressed in the podcast) is the historic ambiguity between the expression of gender identity and the use of gender presentation to accommodate heteronormative expectations in the context of same-sex desire. Or, to put it in less academic terms: the conflict between interpreting a historic individual as a trans man or a cross-dressing lesbian.
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 88 (previously 30b) - The State of Lesbian Historicals in 2018 - transcript
(Originally aired 2019/01/12 - listen here)
I’ve gotten in the habit of doing a year-end summary of my creative output, if only to convince myself that I really have accomplished something after all. It’s funny: people have a tendency to react as if I’m boasting, or making the lists to try to make other people feel bad. But for me it’s an emotional survival tool. What have I done? What do I have to show for all the time, energy (and money) I’ve poured into the projects of my heart? Am I putting those resources into things that bring return? The intangible returns are the connections and friendships I make.