The Problem with Greek Myth Retellings Kate Alexandra 2024-04-25 | A (not so) quick look at the popular sub-genre of feminist myth retellings. I'm interested in examining the trend as a whole, and although I single out and discuss specific books, I only do so in hopes of highlighting broader trends across the sub-genre. (I guess we can call it a sub-genre now?)Thank you for watching!Patreon: http://patreon.com/KateAlexandraMusic: Opening/closing: Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2, Evgeny Kissin (youtube.com/watch?v=l4zkc7KEvYM)All other music sourced from WoodCut Music (woodcutmusic.co.nz)Links:Katerina Cosgrove on her concerns over Greek myth retellings: islandmag.com/read/who-owns-the-greek-myths-by-katerina-cosgroveJennifer Saint on the purpose of retelling Greek Myths: thenovelry.com/blog/greek-myth-retellingsHilary Mantel on the purpose of historical fiction: theguardian.com/books/2017/jun/03/hilary-mantel-why-i-became-a-historical-novelistMadeline Miller on her inspiration for The Song of Achilles: theguardian.com/books/2021/aug/27/madeline-miller-on-the-song-of-achilles-it-helped-people-come-out-to-their-parentsFurther reading on the history of boars' tusk helmets (genuinely fascinating stuff, I recommend!) https://www.heraklionmuseum.gr/en/exhibit/boars-tusk-helmet-with-cheek-guards/Contact: kate.alexandra.inquiries@gmail.com
Harry Potter has a Worldbuilding Problem... Kate Alexandra 2025-06-22 | 'In contrast to “worldbuilding,” I’ll offer the term “worldconjuring.” ... Worldconjuring uses hints and literary magic to create the illusion of a world, with the reader working to fill in the gaps. Worldbuilding imposes, worldconjuring collaborates.'— Lincoln Michel, 'Against Worldbuilding'This video doesn't address any of J K Rowling’s recent antics in any depth. I do recommend these videos which delve into Rowling’s bigotry and transphobia (although given she seems to find new lows every other week, they’re already a bit out of date.)➛ youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=7gDKbT_l2us&t=0s➛ youtube.com/watch?v=EmT0i0xG6zg➛ youtube.com/watch?v=_GBUArD51KYA few sources for further reading/listening — ➛ Ursula K. Le Guin on J K Rowling: ursulakleguin.com/bvc-art-information-theft-and-confusion-part-two ➛ Alex Renton on boarding schools and the stories they've inspired: theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/08/school-boarding-secrets-crimes-alex-renton-kipling-rowling-dahl-churchill➛ Fascism and the British aristocracy: tribunemag.co.uk/2020/10/the-fascist-sympathies-of-britains-aristocracy➛ Lincoln Michel's essay 'Against Worldbuilding': electricliterature.com/against-worldbuilding➛ An excellent introduction to William Blake and the powers of imagination: patreon.com/posts/now-available-on-109669401 ➛ The podcast Weird Studies is an amazing introduction to some of the things (magic, imagination, epistemic vs ontological possibilities) I discuss towards the end of the video. Patreon: patreon.com/KateAlexandraEmail: katealexandrainquiries@gmail.comInstagram: @cosmia.diffinis
How to be original Kate Alexandra 2025-05-22 | Sorry all my screen recordings are from youtube, I’m not strong enough to download tiktok:(Further reading and watching— Katy Waldman’s piece on the Crave lawsuit: newyorker.com/magazine/2025/01/13/did-a-best-selling-romantasy-novelist-steal-another-writers-storyMatthew Lyons on Tolkien: mathewlyons.co.uk/2013/04/03/history-and-myth-jrr-tolkien-a-roman-temple-and-a-ringUrsula K. Le Guin on Tolkien: ursulakleguin.com/some-assumptions-about-fantasyBowie’s interview: youtube.com/watch?v=mL4W_mo7G_UBarry Jenkins’ Criterion Closet Picks: youtube.com/watch?v=R7HLpe65fHY&t=2sJ F Martel’s piece: metapsychosis.com/consciousness-in-the-aesthetic-imaginationAndrea Del Sarto, by Robert Browning: poetryfoundation.org/poems/43745/andrea-del-sartoMusic: Allegro — Emmit FennForest Lullabye — Asher FuleroRide Into The Sun (Instrumental) — The Velvet Underground Life on Mars (Instrumental) — David BowieSpace Oddity (Instrumental) — David BowieCeremonial Library — Asher FuleroPatreon: patreon.com/KateAlexandraEmail: katealexandrainquiries@gmail.com
Why are so many childrens stories sad? Kate Alexandra 2025-02-02 | My attempt to answer the age-old question: why are so many classic children’s stories depressing?For further reading/listening:Phil Ford and J F Martel’s take on the Rapunzel fairy tale, replete with a much deeper dive into riddles, interpretation and how the fairy story is a cultural and literary nomad: weirdstudies.com/177And another podcast, this one about Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising from the folks at Backlisted: https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/127-susan-cooper-the-dark-is-risingOne of the most original and enlightening takes on children's fiction I’ve read, which framed a lot of this video (also need to mention that H. G. Parry is a wonderful fiction author too): openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz/articles/thesis/The_Aeneid_with_Rabbits_Children_s_Fantasy_as_Modern_Epic/17018768“The Irony in Tolkien’s Triumph” by J Daniel Sawyer: jdanielsawyer.substack.com/p/the-irony-of-tolkiens-triumphHera Lindsay Bird’s take on the most miserable and fucked up children’s authors, ranked: thespinoff.co.nz/books/05-01-2025/the-most-miserable-and-fucked-up-childrens-authors-rated-2As mentioned at the end of the video, I’ve recently launched my Patreon and would be so grateful for your support! http://patreon.com/KateAlexandraMusic: Allegro — Emmit FennAnomalous Hedges — The Mini VandalsCeremonial Library — Asher FuleroForest Lullabye — Asher FuleroRecollections — Asher FuleroWandering Soul — Asher FuleroContact me: kate.alexandra.inquiries@gmail.comInstagram: @cosmia.diffinis
Are We Entering a New Romantic Era? Kate Alexandra 2024-12-10 | I love making vague and nebulous predictions.If you're curious to learn more, these are some articles, books and podcasts which delve deeper into these ideas. Think of this video as a light introduction:)Ross Barkan's piece in The Guardian: theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/28/new-romanticism-technology-backlashTed Gioa's Notes Towards a New Romanticism: honest-broker.com/p/notes-toward-a-new-romanticismRichard Nilson on a New Romantic era: richardnilsen.com/2021/11/05/a-new-romanticismPete Whitehead's piece on New Atheism: theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2021/09/14/the-strange-online-legacy-of-new-atheism Dazed beauty forecasts a return of the New Romantics: dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/61662/1/beauty-forecast-2024-girlhood-core-evolves-into-new-romantics-2-0John Pistelli’s Invisible College lecture series (including six episodes on the Romantic poets): grandhotelabyss.substack.com/p/introducing-the-invisible-collegeIf you’re curious to learn more about William Blake and have time to read a book, this one’s excellent: archive.org/details/fearfulsymmetrys0000frye/page/n7/mode/2upPatreon: http://patreon.com/KateAlexandraFootage:Gothic (1986)Haunted Summer (1988)Pandaemonium (2000)Lady Caroline Lamb (1972)Frankenstein (1931)Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1977)The Love Witch (2016)Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)Music: Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major op. 73 (performed by Alina Bercu) youtube.com/watch?v=3TiYGxOQDYwBlack Night - Andrew McMillanFields of Now - Stephen GreenContact me: kate.alexandra.inquiries@gmail.comInstagram: @cosmia.diffinis
The Endless Reinvention of Greek Mythology Kate Alexandra 2024-08-14 | A brief survey of a lot of history. Neoclassicism, philhellenism, a former British Prime Minister, and my hot takes on creative writing. My previous video: youtube.com/watch?v=7tL3Pbc_zhUThe painting is called Livia. It’s painted by yours truly, oil on canvas (with a bit of gold leaf.)Patreon: http://patreon.com/KateAlexandraSome sources on Greek independence: I consulted New Perspectives on the Greek War of Independence (edited by Yianni Cartledge and Andrekos Varnava), which is a series of thought-provoking essays. Another excellent book is Stathis Gourgouris’s Dream Nation: Enlightenment, Colonisation, and the Institution of Modern Greece. This is an analysis of nation formation and the use (and misuse) of classical antiquity to these ends.Further reading that might be of interest — this is Usama A. Gad’s piece: https://eidolon.pub/papyrology-and-eurocentrism-partners-in-crime-8a2778908e59If you’d like to learn more about the Abbasid Caliphate, Overly Sarcastic Productions’ video on the Baghdad House of Wisdom is a great introduction: youtube.com/watch?v=TDlpGelZItY. I also enjoyed this article: theguardian.com/books/2010/sep/26/baghdad-centre-of-scientific-worldTIMESTAMPS00:00 - Intro04:20 - Part 1: In An Age of Surfaces15:06 - Part 2: ‘The glory that was Greece’23:10 - Part 3: Classics Under a Microscope30:49 - Part 4: The Misuse of Classics41:38 - Part 5: Reinvention56:45 - Part 6: The Past is a Foreign CountryIf you'd like to contact me directly, you’re welcome to do so via email: kate.alexandra.inquiries@gmail.com. Thank you for watching!
