For fans of epic and high fantasy, the idea that there will nearly always be musician or bard character will come as no surprise. While not often the main character, no band of unlikely misfits is complete without a character who turns up for every quest toting a guitar, lyre, harp or trombone. Such characters are disguised a little better in Sci-fi but they are still very much present - Gurney Halleck anyone? This week Jules and Madeleine take a look at exactly why the bard character is so ubiquitous. What is the purpose of the musician archetype and how does it feed into story telling? And just how strong is the relationship between music and politics? Taking examples from a wide range of myths, legends and other literary and films sources, the dragons set off to find out.
Title music: 'Ecstacy' by Smilin Cynic
Episode 295: White Ladies and Ghostly Cavaliers - A Selection of Britain‘s Most Haunted Buildings
Episode 294: Crying Boys and Unhappy Mummies - More Cursed Objects in Fact and Fiction
Episode 293: Goblin Fruit and Faery Cobblers - The Horror of Getting What You Truly Want in Speculative Fiction
Episode 292: With Friends Like These - Reunions Reprises and Encores in Speculative Fiction
Episode 291: Absent Saints and Cruel Caretakers - How Parents Shape Characters in Speculative Fiction part 2
Episode 290: Absent Saints and Cruel Caretakers - How Parents Shape Characters in Speculative Fiction part1
Episode 289: Women, Swords and Trauma - the Backstory of the Female Warrior in Speculative Fiction
Episode 288 - Battle of the Animated Feature Films - Disney vs Don Bluth vs Studio Ghibli
Episode 287: Its All About Me - the Strange Appeal of Narcissism in Speculative Fiction
Episode 286: The Road to Hell - Moral Quandaries and Impossible Choices in Speculative Fiction
Episode 285 Challenging Expectations vs Wokewashing - Blindcasting, Diversity USPs and Nuance in Speculative Fiction
Episode 284: From Tea Houses to Taverns - Tea, Coffee and Intoxicating Substances in History and Speculative Fiction
Episode 283: Vanishing Acts and Secret Scandals - A Compilation of Author Mysteries
Episode 282: Mysterious Parcels and Mystical Cups - McGuffins, Plot Devices and Choosey Magical Objects in Speculative fiction
Episode 281: Mean Girls & Toxic Friends - Why Friendship Conflicts are Important in Speculative Fiction
Episode 280: Gentle Giants and Brick Outhouses - the Tank Character in Speculative Fiction
Episode 279: We're All in This Together - The Art of Collaborating in the Arts
Episode 278: Sins of the Father - Inherited Curses, Crimes and Responsibilities in Speculative Fiction
Episode 277: All Around My Hat - More Folksong Writing Inspiration Part 2
Episode 276: All Around My Hat - More Folksong Writing Inspiration Part 1
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Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Anne of Green Gables
Gulliver’s Travels
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends