We discuss the idea of women as a consolation prize, and how some biases might not become less prevalent but less explicit. We dive deep into each of our forms (poetry and children’s literature) for the main discussion. Haley wonders why people have such varying perceptions of poetry and the benefit of reading poetry in a classroom. Aparna likes that children’s literature is in the margins and suggests that radical work is possible when most people aren’t paying attention to it. We confirm the requirements for a banana split and give each other a challenge for next week. Lastly, Aparna asks whether women go to the bathroom in groups.
Haley spotlights Toronto’s official tree (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaP23J55AzI&t=283s).
Aparna spotlights In Season Fish (inseasonfish.com) and Know Your Fish (knowyourfish.org.in).
Mentions:
Mel Brooks on Serious Jibber-Jabber with Conan O’Brien (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2RpZBP_vyg)
“The 47th” at the Old Vic Theatre (https://www.oldvictheatre.com/stage/event/the-47th)
Beth Spencer’s chapter in “Shaping the Fractured Self: Poetry of Chronic Illness and Pain”, edited by Heather Taylor Johnson
Daniel Sloss: X
Thank you to Pádraig Ó Tuama whose poem “The Facts of Life” inspired the title of this podcast.
Cover image by Sanjana Kapur.
