The Clearihue Corner: Recent Episodes
UVic English Students' Association
Brought to you by the English Students' Association, The Clearihue Corner is a literary podcast for UVic English students. Tune in to hear discussions on some of our favourite topics from English literature. Hosted and produced by Alexander McLauchlan, Leia Soulsbury, and Braedon Lowey. Created by Teresa Sammut (BA '21). Music by Christopher Warren. Cover art by Teresa Sammut.
In this bonus episode, Dr. Tim Personn returns to the podcast to discuss his recently released Fictions of Proximity.
Topics include Mark Fisher, Postmodernism, and American Psycho.
In this episode, Braedon and Leia interview 7 different Honours students (including themselves) who wrote their capstone papers this semester. Thinking about the Honours program? Want to learn what English students do? Looking for inspiration for your own papers? Then check out this episode!
Interview timestamps:
0:01:44: Rowan Watts, "The Social Fabric is a Cotton-Polyester Blend: Social Network Graphs of Contemporary Ecofiction
0:16:07: Sarah Webster, "The Silent Treatment: Oppression and Resistance in 'All My Puny Sorrows' and 'A Complicated Kindness'
0:30:00: Ella Reedman, "Dance as Disguise: Sexualization and Coming-of-Age in Jane Austen's Dance Scenes"
0:41:46: Maya Linsley, "Life After Canon: Dramione Fanfiction's Literary Reconstruction in Harry Potter Fandom"
0:57:52: Mahayla Galliford, "A Partial Edition of Thomas Middleton's 'Civitatis Amor"
1:13:00: Braedon Lowey, "Raiding the Victorian Closet: From Queer Art to Queer Community in 19th Century Periodical Poetry"
1:31:14: Leia Soulsbury, "That Sweet Boy' Rolph: Minorness, Misogyny, and Male Suicide in Jennifer Egan's 'A Visit From the Goon Squad' and 'The Candy House'"
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This episode features a professor named Jentery Sayers, and seems to be about fiction in interactive forms: twine games, video games, choose your own adventure novels, and more. It features in depth discussion about how to analyze and talk about these kinds of narratives. Would you like to listen?
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In our month-late winter break episode, we sit down with Dr. Nicholas Bradley to talk about poetry, climate change, lofi beats, and more.
With ESA Vice President Rowan Watts, your usual crew of co-hosts interviews undergraduate English advisor and renaissance specialist Dr. Erin Ellerbeck on the rising use of generative AI in the humanities.
It's spooky month! To celebrate, Alex, Braedon, and Leia invite Sam Wong to chat about his horror class and everything he loves about the genre.
Are you thinking about getting involved with the ESA? Want to know more about what we do? Listen to this episode to hear Rowan and Maya talk about their experience with this lovely community!
We are back to kick off season 4 with a chat about summer reading, what's coming up for the Clearihue Corner, and two NEW HOSTS!
We couldn't record in our usual studio, so bear with us as we navigate hardware issues. We've made this as listenable as possible, and we'll be back to usual for future episodes!
As another academic year comes to an end, embrace apocalypse with us by exploring the Book of Revelation. Is the end meaningful? Is it imminent? Is it preventable? Dr. Christopher Douglas joins us to discuss apocalypse as a genre, and his work on apocalyptic theology in the Christian far-right in contemporary American literature and politics.
Read some of Dr. Douglas's research here:
Republicans Draw from Apocalyptic Narratives to Inform Democrat Conspiracy Theories
Apocalypse Now and Then: How a Biblical Genre Shapes American Politics
Still Left Behind: What the Endurance of the Left Behind Cinematic Universe Can Tell Us About Conservative Moral Psychology
Now having completed her bachelor degree, Mariah hopes to discover that the suffering was worth it!
Dr. Gary Kuchar is fascinated by times of epistemic uncertainty, and in this episode he tells us about how this inspired the Metaphysical poets. We discuss George Herbert, Andrew Marvell, and John Donne. This episode also features fellow ESA member and legacy Clearihue Corner host Jocelyn Diemer.
In this episode, Braedon, Mariah, and John sit down with Dr. Tim Personn (starting at 14:00) to learn about one of his areas of expertise: irony in contemporary fiction. Through explorations of the works of David Foster Wallace, Otessa Moshfegh, and more, we attempt to unravel exactly what irony is and how it appears in fiction, how it interacts with sincerity and authenticity, and what it's come to mean for culture at large.
In this episode, we (belatedly) kick off the spring semester with a discussion of our winter reads, career prospects, and what we love about studying literature -- plus, in our second segment, we sit down with Dr. Corinne Bancroft to learn about the curriculum changes coming soon to UVic's English department. What's changing, what's not, and why is it ultimately good news for English majors? Dr. Bancroft answers these questions and more (starting at timestamp 58:40 for those who may want to skip ahead!)
You can learn more about the new curriculum on the English department's website: https://www.uvic.ca/humanities/english/undergraduate/curriculum-upgrades/index.php.
This episode features expertise from Germanic and Slavic Studies Professor Dr. Megan Swift. We learn about the classic opposition between readers preferring Tolstoy or Dostoevsky, and try to sway Braedon who enters into the conversation new to both authors.
This Halloween, Braedon and Mariah tour Transylvania, the Italian countryside - and, of course, Wikipedia - to retrace the history of vampires in literature and film. As they work their way from Count Wampyr to Edward Cullen and Morbius, they also take a few detours to discuss topics like the romance of blood transfusions, the difference between horror and terror, and the merits of reading gothic literature in July. Plus: don't miss a few hints that'll help you at the ESA's Halloween trivia night this Tuesday, October 25th, at 5:30pm in Clearihue A207!
Show notes:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/vampire
- Dracula mailing list: https://draculadaily.substack.com
- "Vampires in the Lemon Grove" by Karen Russell
This episode introduces our newest member Braedon! The three of us try to reach a consensus on what magical realism is, and then we apply our definition to Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino.
Don't forget about the ESA's Trivia night on October 25th, 2022. Check out @uvicesa on Instagram for more info!
Definition of Magic Realism from William Spindler: "the supernatural is presented in a matter-of-fact way as if it did not contradict reason, and no explanation are offered for the unreal events in the text."
Resources:
- Italo Calvino Stories: The Distance of the Moon and At Daybreak
- Magic Realism Wikipedia
- Paper: "Qfwfg's Postmodern Autobiography" by Kristi Siegel
The third season of The Clearihue Corner is here! While getting settled in the new semester, John and Mariah catch up and discuss what they read over the summer.
This episode discusses Esi Edugyan's novel Washington Black. Join us as we gush over how this fast-paced adventure tale breaks all kinds of genre tropes and conventions. This is also the send off episode for Alicia, who graduates this semester. Edugyan is a UVic alum, which makes her novel the perfect subject for this episode! Happy Graduation, Alicia! We will miss you.
Are you ready to visit the Jazz Age? It's a packed episode as Dr. Nowlin answers our questions about F. Scott Fitzgerald and the great American novel. We talk nouveau riche, Modernism, Nick Carraway's reliability, supplementary materials, and symbolism.
John and Alicia talk Dystopia as a new semester begins. It's a mood!
"A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and, seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias." - Oscar Wilde
Show Notes:
John's class: Engl 330: Literature and Culture II
Novels mentioned:
Severance by Ling Ma
Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Articles about Margaret Atwood:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/margaret-atwood-just-schooled-us-all-on-what-1984-is-really-about_n_59137f2be4b0b1fafd0de266?fbclid=IwAR1QCK7FoKDf9fncKnZgRN68WQXvZL9tAVW1JPUC09vx8h-Y0JkwLIxOA-8
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/jun/16/georgeorwell.artsfeatures?fbclid=IwAR1FG9K_o2mMf0NuD00VsRBVWSj3w8Gz-WR-vm3My2V_3QDHYpg3f0fPsxM
https://lithub.com/margaret-atwood-on-how-she-came-to-write-the-handmaids-tale/?fbclid=IwAR1mmgQ_dDpJoyZ22RqDJV4zbrn0nUPJk-crUr0DzaihEA8exqZ0Qi5jPPw
In today’s episode, Mariah steps out of the producer’s booth and joins Alicia to discuss film/TV adaptations of two novels: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. They compare and contrast the two stories, consider how well they translate to the screen, and ruminate on the theme of marrying for love.
We are back for season 2 of Clearihue Corner! In light of this spooky weekend, we talk monstrous humans and humane monsters in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Featuring Shelley’s surprisingly gothic biography, her pioneering of the science fiction and horror genres, and the dissonance of James Whale’s 1931 adaptation.
Show Notes:
“The Other in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” by Helena Engelbert https://www.grin.com/document/457176
In this episode of The Clearihue Corner, we discuss Shakespeare's history play, Richard III. We dive into the aspects of female agency and the use of cursing, Richard as the anti-hero, and political and social contexts of the War of the Roses. We also critique our favourite Richard III adaptations and ponder how women and their use of language are figured in the play. Spoiler alert: There will be a lengthy discussion of Richard III and The Hollow Crown adaptation. So, grab your mead and some popcorn and join us on this episode of The Clearihue Corner!
Guests: Alessandra Azouri and Jocelyn Diemer Music: Christopher Warren Host: Teresa Sammut
Queue "Where You Lead" by Carole King In this episode of The Clearihue Corner, we discuss the cult-classic early 2000's tv show, Gilmore Girls. From small-town quirks to wholesome relationships, we review the show and track the positive (and negative) development of Rory Gilmore, the experience of changing friendships, controversial romantic relationships, and, of course, the infamous mother-daughter antics! So grab some coffee from Luke's and tune in as we talk about a beloved part of our teenage years. Content warning: There will be major spoilers for both the original series and the new Netflix adaptation, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. But, as Lorelai says, Oi with the poodles already!
Guests: Emily Frampton and Errin Johnston-Watson Music: Christopher Warren Host: Teresa Sammut
In this episode of The Clearihue Corner, we talk about all things good, bad, and sexual in the new Netflix series, Bridgerton. We review the show in its entirety and discuss the implications of garden settings, historical accuracy, and, most importantly, the portrayal of heightened sexuality. Read in Lady Whistledown's voice: "Beware, dear listener, there are surely spoilers ahead!"*
Guests: Emily Frampton and Errin Johnston-Watson Host: Teresa Sammut Music: Christopher Warren
In this episode of The Clearihue Corner, we discuss the crucial topics surrounding war literature—idealized tragedy, nationalism, and the lost generation. We reflect on broader implications of war throughout the centuries and how shifting attitudes affect our understanding of war in literature and culture today. Most importantly, we dive into some close readings of important works such as "Flanders Field" (1915), "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854), and "Dulce et Decorum est" (1921).
Host: Teresa Sammmut Poet Laureate: Christopher Driscoll Music: Christopher Warren
In this episode of The Clearihue Corner, we discuss the nature of the Gothic throughout time and space, the importance of the Gothic heroine, and her iconic role within this revolutionary genre. We dive into works such as Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre (1847), Mary Elizabeth Braddon's Lady Audley's Secret (1862), and the works of American author Shirley Jackson.
Guest: Tiegan Suddaby Host: Teresa Sammut Poet Laureate: Christopher Driscoll Music: Christopher Warren