Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma (2023 book by Claire Dederer) | Episode #90

2023-12-15

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca venture into their first non-fiction book as they discuss the 2023 collection of essays Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer. Episode Highlights: We talk about the word "monstrous" and what it means to us. We express how called out--and seen--we felt at various points in this book, particularly as fellow aca-fans wrestling with our own feelings of certain monstrous creators (like Whedon). We celebrate the memoir approach to this topic and how brave Dederer was...

In this episode, hosts Katherine Troyer and Toni Tresca venture into their first non-fiction book as they discuss the 2023 collection of essays Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer.

Episode Highlights: We talk about the word "monstrous" and what it means to us. We express how called out--and seen--we felt at various points in this book, particularly as fellow aca-fans wrestling with our own feelings of certain monstrous creators (like Whedon). We celebrate the memoir approach to this topic and how brave Dederer was for having such honesty. And we express our frustrations that the author's only real discussion of monstrous creative women were those who abandon children or are angry/extreme; we had hoped this would be a place to analyze further women creators like Rowling.

A Dose of Scholarship: If you haven't read Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma, we promise you that this read will offer a lot of food for thought! In this episode, Toni references the Today, Explained podcast episode Hannah Gadsby and "Pablo-matic" Picasso. You might also check out this 2023 Vox interview with Dederer.

This podcast episode first aired on December 15, 2023.

We appreciate you Jackson O'Brien! Thanks for editing!

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