Sex. Love. Literature.

Welcome to our mini-series on Divorce Comedies! Over the next 4-ish episodes, we’re exploring this genre that caught us off guard with how much its makes us laugh, cry, and yell divorce! In this introductory episode, rather than focus on any one show, we get into the defining features of divorce comedies, why we wanted to talk about them, and whether or not they can be counted as rom coms. Show Notes: Other Lit Mentioned this episode: Lost You Forever, WWE: Wrestlemania, Nettle & Bone, The Legend of Shen Li, Romance is a Bonus Book, Grace and Frankie, Crazy Stupid Love, Let's Get Divorced, 500 Days of Summer, Stranger's Again, Mine, Rinko-San Wants to Try, Be Melodramatic On Future SLL Episodes: Dr. Cha, Strangers Again, and Let's Get Divorced, and A Court of Thorns and Roses Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.

"See, on the road to Hell there was a railroad line..." It's time for a deep dive into the Broadway musical, Hadestown. We get into how the musical adapts the Grek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice & Hades and Persephone for a modern setting; the love stories–and tragedy–of the two core relationships; and the productive ambiguity of seeing it all happen on stage.  Content Warning: Discussions of S*xual Assault from (1:06:41 - 1:14:05) Show Notes: Other Lit Mentioned this episode: The Story of Ming Lang, Lore Olympus, When I Arrived at the Castle, Speak, Beka Cooper Trilogy, Alanna the Lioness Quartet On Future SLL Episodes: Divorce Comedies (featuring Dr. Cha, Strangers Again, and Let's Get Divorced), and A Court of Thorns and Roses Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Opening Banter 03:40 What's Sparking Joy 9:43 Introducing Hadestown 18:07 Characters and Plot 33:45 What We Loved about Hadestown 41:50 Is Hadestown a Successful Myth Adaptation? 44:57 The Cycle of Hadestown 49:57 Intertwined Love Stories 1:14:07 Hadestown's Other Themes 1:25:31 On the Climax... 1:31:29 Last Thoughts 1:34:56 Next time on SLL

Corinne wasn’t feeling well this week, so Ayanni called in the cavalry. This episode, she's joined by her spouse (and friend of the show) Andrew Cooper to talk about the new action-dramedy series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They give their general impressions, think about the series’ adaptation choices, and muse about the show’s depiction of married life.  Show Notes: Other Lit Mentioned this episode: Jujutsu Kaisen, Spider-man: Into the Spiderverse, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2009), Skip and Loafer, Dungeon Meshi, Tell Me That You Love Me, Let's Talk About Chu, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Ironman, Pen15, Blue Eyed Samurai, Pluto, Atlanta On Future SLL Episodes: Hadestown, Divorce Comedies, and A Court of Thornes and Roses Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 Saying Hi to Andrew 05:51 What's Sparking Joy 15:20 Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Smith 19:54 First Impressions 24:43 Spoiler Discussion Begins 1:05:47 Coming Up on SLL

Happy New Year, y'all! We continue our annual tradition of checking in about what pop-culture is "sparking joy” in January,  our favorites of 2023, and what we’re looking forward to in 2024. (CW: discussion of parental and sibling death.) Oh, and did we mention we have a tumblr now? www.tumblr.com/sexlovelitpodcast Show Notes: Check out Charcooll--the awesome artist who did our cover art-- on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/) and on RedBubble (https://www.redbubble.com/people/charcooll/shop?asc=u) Lit Mentioned By Section: What's Sparking Joy: Lady Liar, Ms. Abbott and the Doctor, Link: Eat Love Kill Joy Sparked in 2023 - Rapid Fire: Lost You Forever, The Boy and the Heron, Kiss Bet, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Spider-man: Across the Spiderverse, The Story of Kunning Palace, American Fiction, The Marquis Who Musn't, Being Monsters, Till the End of the Moon, A Guest in the House Joy Sparked in 2023 - Deep Dive: Call it Love, Ancillary Justice, A Journey to Love, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Future Joy Sparked in 2024: Lost You Forever: Part 2, The Prisoner of Beauty, All There Is (podcast), Jeong Nyeon, Baulders Gate 3 Others: What If...?, The Marvels, Let's Get Divorced, Dr. Cha, Strangers Again Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit, and on Tumblr @SexLoveLitPodcast Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:58 Opening Bander 09:11 What's Sparking Joy 16:37 2023 Joy Sparked - Rapid Fire 36:06 2023 Joy Sparked - Deeper Dive 1:02:37 Looking Forward to 2024 Joy 1:14:24 Pop-Culture Predictions 1:22:28 Closing Out/Future SLL Episodes

CW: Discussion of s*xual assault, and brief mentions of drugging and s*icide, from 1:00:27 – 1:04:15 You’ve made it to the third and final installment of our semi-accidental mini-series on the Chinese Drama, Lost You Forever. (You either really like us, or you really like Lost You Forever, and we appreciate you either way.) We know you’ve been waiting for it, so this episode, we finally get to the last three main players fighting for Xiaoyao’s heart: Fenglong of the Central Plains; Xiang Liu, everyone’s favorite nine-headed sea snake demon man; and last but certainly not least, Tushan Jing, soft beta baby boy of the year. Don't forget to listen to part one, "E35 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 1, Spoiler Free)," and part two, “E36 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 2, Spoiler Filled),” if you haven't already. Show Notes: Lost You Forever Soundtrack (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/6opCSvYhh5CiAioySGp0Nm?si=7a6e1432558947d0 Other lit mentioned this episode: Till the End of the Moon Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit. Our cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:24 Opening Bander 02:32 What's Sparking Joy 6:30 Fenglong doesn't stand a chance 17:58 It's thirsting for Xiang Liu hours 41:14 Poor, sweet Tushan Jing 1:06:30 Some Final Thoughts 1:14:38 Closing Out

We’re continuing our three-part mini-series on Lost You Forever by diving right into a truck load of spoilers! In honor of the reverse harem-ness at all, we organized our discussion around leading lady, Xiaoyao, and her four suitors. This episode, we start with Xiaoyao herself–and her many abandonment issues. Then, we get into our complicated feelings about her charming, ambitious cousin, Cang Xuan and his dangerous pursuit of the throne. As a treat (for Corinne), we also talk about Xiaoyao’s bratty half-sister, A’nian, because she’s the worst (and the best). Don’t worry Fangfeng Bei and Tushan Jing fans, stay tuned for part three of our discussion for our hot takes on the rest of the harem. Don't forget to listen to part one, "E35 Lost You Forever Season 1 (Mini-Series Part 1, Spoiler Free)," if you haven't already. Show Notes: Lost You Forever Soundtrack (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/6opCSvYhh5CiAioySGp0Nm?si=7a6e1432558947d0 "You & Me" by Jennie (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/track/6gcuJpHu0Ey30D5WR76y98 Other lit mentioned this episode: Crash Landing on You, You & Me by Jennie, Pharaohs by SBTRKT, Goodbye My Princess Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Opening Bander 07:17 What's Sparking Joy 12:51 Starting with Xiaoyao 31:58 Cang Xuan Time 51:44 Closing Out

CW: Brief mention of s*icide @ 30:00. Welcome to the first installment in our three part mini-series on the Chinese drama, Lost You Forever (Season 1). If you haven’t seen this drama, don’t worry–the first part of our mini-series is spoiler free! We give some context about the show set up, share some spoiler-free reactions, and wrap up with a game of F*ck, Marry, K!ll. Along the way, we also share all the reasons we think you should check out Lost You Forever–if it hasn’t already taken the top spot on your favorite dramas list. Parts 2 and 3 of our Lost You Forever mini-series dropping on December 8th! Show Notes: Lost You Forever Soundtrack (on Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/album/6opCSvYhh5CiAioySGp0Nm?si=7a6e1432558947d0 Lit discussed this episode: Love Between Fairy and Devil, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, As If Love Does Not Exist, Perfect Marriage Revenge, Story of Ming Lan, Love and Redemption, Love You Seven Times Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL cover art is by Charcooll (⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/charcooll/⁠⁠). The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:16 Opening Banter 06:19 What's Sparking Joy? 15:36 It's Lost You Forever Time 22:24 LYF Characters 27:36 LYF Political Landscape 34:23 What We Love About LYF

Happy Halloween, SLL Listeners! This episode is a special spooky season treat: a Trope Spotlight episode on ~Demon Lovers~ 😈. We’re joined by comic-scholar, friend of the show, and fellow monster aficionado Dr. Sam Langsdale to tackle the deliciously demonic topic. Together, we parse through what makes a demon a demon-as well as what we want from a demon lover-throw in some monster theory, and share some of our many favorites. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:30 Opening Banter 02:57 Guest Introduction 12:37 What's Sparking Joy 25:42 Demon Lovers Discussion Show Notes: You can find Sam on Bluesky @samlangsdale.bsky.social or on her website, www.samlangsdale.com. And here's a link to Monstrous Women in Comics, too - https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/M/Monstrous-Women-in-Comics Bonus Treats🍬 Lanfear Gif sets, because she deserves more that one: https://www.tumblr.com/ofthebrownajah/732098078959665152 ; https://www.tumblr.com/dykedivorce/729834242890153984/the-wheel-of-time-lanfear-in-2x07 ; https://www.tumblr.com/hcmoeroticisms/729915504717873152/natasha-okeeffe-as-lanfear-in-wheel-of-time-207 ; https://www.tumblr.com/ghostintransit/729144619593547776/lanfear-in-wheel-of-time-s2-ep6 Chu Kong (AKA cat demon) gif set: https://www.tumblr.com/dingyuxi/726930914058338305/love-you-seven-times-%E4%B8%83%E6%97%B6%E5%90%89%E7%A5%A5-2023-dir-li-nan Xiang Liu (AKA sexy snake man) gif set: https://www.tumblr.com/yesdramas/724227274238574592/tan-jianci-as-xiang-liu-in-lost-you-forever-%E9%95%BF%E7%9B%B8%E6%80%9D Nightcrawler posing like Burt Reynolds: https://twitter.com/peppard_anna/status/1554151790614134785 (but also, just look at the whole thread) "Smited, Smote, Smitten: A Reading on Queer Longing in Good Omens" by Maya Gittelman - https://www.tor.com/2023/10/04/smited-smote-smitten-a-reading-on-queer-longing-in-good-omens/ Oh Gosh, Oh Golly, Oh Wow! Podcast - https://goshgollywow.com/ As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections–none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist. Lit discussed this episode: Fionna and Cake, Wheel of Time (Season 2), Glow Up, Wednesday, Love You Seven Times, Lost You Forever, Howl's Moving Castle (Book and Film), Good Omens 2, Fruits Basket, Stuffed - A living pillow romance, Inuyasha, Love and Redemption, The Good Place, Castlevania, Beauty and the Beast, Lucifer, Excalibur, Oh Gosh, Oh Golly, Oh Wow! Podcast, Monster Prom, Monster Camp, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Obey Me: One Master to Rule Them All, Shadow & Bone, The Witches of Eastwick, Till the End of the Moon, Monsters and Girls Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music for this episode is “TipToes” by Myuu. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.

This episode, on the recommendation of an SLL listener, we’re excited to do a deep dive into the Japanese Drama, Rinko-San Wants to Try. We get into how the show complicates conceptions of virginity, plays with the friends with benefits trope, and maybe get in our feelings a lil bit about a second female lead who really got under Ayanni’s skin. As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections–none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist. Lit discussed this episode: Get Up EP by NewJeans, Pop Culture Happy Hour (this episode specifically: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/15/1193958358/newjeans-is-a-new-kind-of-k-pop-juggernaut), My Dearest, Hit the Spot, Because This is My First Life, Lost You Forever, Friends With Benefits, No Strings Attached, Nevertheless..., Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Sex Education Bonus reading (aka works cited & consulted): Jones, Gretchen. "'Ladies' Comics': Japan's Not-So-Underground Market in Pornography for Women." U.S.-Japan Women's Journal, English Supplement, no. 22, 2002, pp. 3-31. Lieber-Milo, S. “Cute at an Older Age: A Case Study of Otona-Kawaii”. Mutual Images Journal, no. 10, Dec. 2021, pp. 93-108, doi:10.32926/2021.10.lie.otona. Sato, Kumiko. "From Hello Kitty to Code Row Kewpie: A Postwar Cultural History of Cuteness in Japan." Asian Intercultural Contacts, vol. 14, no. 2, 2009. https://www.asianstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/from-hello-kitty-to-cod-roe-kewpie-a-postwar-cultural-history-of-cuteness-in-japanA.pdf Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Recorded September 2023 SLL is a podcast relishing the romantic, the sexy, and the scandalous in pop-culture. English academics by day and podcasters by night, hosts Ayanni and Corinne take a semi-scholarly look at why the “sex-stuff” in media matters in the bedroom—and beyond.

This is the second episode of our two part discussion on the Female Gaze. Since we laid some groundwork and gave some context in part one, this time around, we dive right in. In thinking through “the female gaze,” we ask questions of whom we presume is looking and who is being looked at. We also think about how the gaze becomes more complicated in our modern media context, especially when we move beyond binary, heteronormative understandings of gender and sexuality. We definitely recommend checking out "E31 The Female Gaze (Part 1): The Origins of the Gaze" before listening to this one. As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist. Lit discussed this episode: Get Up EP by NewJeans, Spicy by Aespa, Her Private Life, See You in My 19th Life, My Love Story with Yamada-Kun at Level 999; The Song of the Lioness Quartet, The Immortals Quartet, The Lunar Chronicles, A League of Their Own (TV Series), Bonus reading (aka works cited & consulted): Bowers, Susan R. “Medusa and the Female Gaze.” NWSA Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, 1990, pp. 217-235. <⁠https://www.jstor.org/stable/4316018⁠>  Benson-Allott, Caetlin. “No Such Think Not Yet: Questioning Television’s Female Gaze.” Film Quarterly, vol. 71, no. 2, 2017, pp. 65-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/FQ.2017.71.2.65. Forster, Stefani. “Yes, there’s such a thing as a ‘female gaze.’ But it’s not what you think.” Medium. !2 Jun 2018. Accessed 13 February 2020. https://medium.com/truly-social/yes-theres-such-a-thing-as-a-female-gaze-but-it-s-not-what-you-think-d27be6fc2fed. Dyhouse, Carol. Heartthrobs: A History of Women and Desire. Oxford University Press, 2017. Hemmann, Kathryn. "Queering the Media Mix: The Female Gaze in Japanese Fan Comics." Transformative Works and Cultures, no 20, 2015. ⁠https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2015.0628⁠. hooks, bell. "The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators." Black Looks: Race and Representation, Routledge, 2014. Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Visual and Other Pleasures, Indiana University Press, 1989. Phillips, Leah. Female Heroes in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction: Reframing Myths of Adolescent Girlhood. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023. Wilton, Tamsin. Sexual (Dis)Orientation: Gender, Sex, Desire and Self-Fashioning, Palgrave Macmillian UK, 2004. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

We’re tackling a big topic in our two part discussion on “the female gaze.” What is the female gaze and why does it matter? In this first episode, we establish some context for the term by getting into the history of the “gaze” as a concept, the psychoanalytic origins of the Male Gaze as theorized by Laura Mulvey, and how the oppositional gaze, as coined by bell hooks, makes space for alternative ways of looking and being looked at. You can listen to "E32 The Female Gaze (Part 2): Complication and Expansion" right now! A quick editorial note: We incorrectly mention that polo originated in China. Sources consider what would be modern day Iran as the location of origin for the game. As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist. Lit discussed this episode: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury, Vincenzo, The Story of Ming Lan Bonus reading (aka works cited & consulted): Bowers, Susan R. “Medusa and the Female Gaze.” NWSA Journal, vol. 2, no. 2, 1990, pp. 217-235. <https://www.jstor.org/stable/4316018>  Benson-Allott, Caetlin. “No Such Think Not Yet: Questioning Television’s Female Gaze.” Film Quarterly, vol. 71, no. 2, 2017, pp. 65-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/FQ.2017.71.2.65. Forster, Stefani. “Yes, there’s such a thing as a ‘female gaze.’ But it’s not what you think.” Medium. !2 Jun 2018. Accessed 13 February 2020. https://medium.com/truly-social/yes-theres-such-a-thing-as-a-female-gaze-but-it-s-not-what-you-think-d27be6fc2fed. Dyhouse, Carol. Heartthrobs: A History of Women and Desire. Oxford University Press, 2017. Hemmann, Kathryn. "Queering the Media Mix: The Female Gaze in Japanese Fan Comics." Transformative Works and Cultures, no 20, 2015. https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2015.0628. hooks, bell. "The Oppositional Gaze: Black Female Spectators." Black Looks: Race and Representation, Routledge, 2014. Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Visual and Other Pleasures, Indiana University Press, 1989. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Instagram and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Content warning: This episode contains a very brief discussion of sexual assault from 27:14 - 27:21. Happy 3rd Birthday to Sex. Love. Literature! 🎂 Since we started the show as English PhD candidates, the two of us have been through a lot. And now, over the last year, we’ve defended dissertations, donned our wizard robes, and officially both become doctors. To celebrate, this episode is all about us. Learn about our research, what projects we’re working on, and what we watch, read, and listen to when we’re not recording new episodes for y’all. Want to join us in wishing a happy third birthday to SLL? Share your fave SLL episode with a friend who’s never listened before and tag them on our Instagram post (@SexLoveLit) to say hi! Thanks to all of you who’ve stuck around since the beginning and thanks to all of you who joined along the way 💛🥰 As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other industries/countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist. Lit discussed this episode: Pokémon Go, Love You Seven Times, Lost You Forever, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Sex Education, The Queen's Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner, Lore Olympus, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, When I Arrived at the Castle, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson & Emily Carroll, Through the Woods, Good Hunting by Ken Liu, Love Death + Robots, Levar Burton Reads, Tower of God, God of High School, All of Us are Dead, Forever by Judy Blume, Hulu's The Great, See You in My 19th Life Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere |  https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective;  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons  Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of bullying in the narrative from (13:05 - 19:00) and sexual assault from (37:21 - 48:50). This is the second of our two-parter on Netflix’s Sex Education with filmmaker, writer, and scholar Michele Meek! We dive right into the sex with this one, starting with depictions of sex in the show, how we feel about the ways consent does and does not work in-universe, and Corinne works through her angry feelings about Season 3 headmaster, Hope Haddon.  Make sure to listen to "E29 Netflix's Sex Education (Part 1) feat Dr. Michele Meek" for the first part of our conversation. To learn more about Michele and her work, visit MicheleMeek.com. As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike–along with their counterparts in other countries, who also deserve fair wages and labor protections– none of the works we discuss here or in other episodes would exist. Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere |  https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective;  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons  Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Episode was recorded in May 2023.

Content warning: While we don’t discuss sexual assault in detail, we do mention it a few times, since it often comes up in conversations about consent. We've got a treat for you all this episode! Along with your usual fabulous co-hosts, we’re joined by filmmaker, writer, and scholar Michele Meek to discuss the Netflix show Sex Education. In the first of two episodes with Michele, we first learn about her exciting new book, Consent Culture in Teen Films: Adolescent Sexuality in US Movies. Then, in our discussion proper, we introduce Sex Education; decide whether or not we really like the main character, Otis, and other members of the ensemble cast; and work through some of the secondhand embarrassment often associated with teen sex comedies.  Mark your calendars and turn on your SLL notifications: "E30 Sex Education (Part 2) feat Dr. Michele Meek" will drop on July 28th, 2023! To learn more about Michele and her work, visit MicheleMeek.com. Corinne got really excited during What's Sparking Joy and it ran a little long, but if you want to get right to the Sex Education content, you can jump (15:35 - 24:48). Also, if you're a Sex Education fan and want to skip the background/character info, you can bypass (25:49 - 30:48). As two people who study, analyze, and have a literal podcast about media, we stand in solidarity with the WAG and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Lit discussed this episode: The Graceling Trilogy, Vinland Saga (Season 2), To the End of the Moon, The End of Sex Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere |  https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective;  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons  Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US Episode was recorded in May 2023.

We’re doing a deep dive into the Shondaland Netflix show, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story! This episode, we talk about the steamy, but bittersweet romance of George and Charlotte, the evolution of the inimitable Lady Danbury, and how this new Bridgerton tale makes space for the complex desires of mature women. Like most Bridgerton series, this one has a large cast. Skip to (18:56) to bypass the character and series introductions. A quick note to bolster our discussion of minstrel shows, they rose in prominence and popularity in the mid-1800s and—to be explicit—relied upon mocking racial stereotypes of Black folks. For more information about the history of minstrelsy and it's afterlives in our modern media, check out Racial Innocence: Performing American Childhood from Slavery to Civil Rights by Robin Bernstein and Was the Cat in the Hat Black?: The Hidden Racism of Children's Literature, and the Need for Diverse Books by Philip Nel. (And more sources to come!) Make sure to visit Mav and the rest of our friends @ VoxPop over on their site: https://voxpopcast.com/wp/ Lit discussed this episode: KPOP! Broadway, Suzume, "Flower" by Jisoo, Bridgerton, the novels of Julia Quinn, Till the End of the Moon, Game of Thrones, VSQ Performs Prince by Vitamin String Quartet Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere |  https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective;  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons  Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

This episode, we’re talking about the in’s and out’s of the Friends to Lovers trope. We cover what we think makes for a great friends to lovers story, what really really doesn’t, and throw in a ton of examples. (Only half of which are Kdramas.) What's Sparking Joy ran a little long this episode, so it won't hurt our feelings if you want to skip to the end (19:36). Lit discussed this episode: The Dreamer in the Spring Boudoir (webnovel & Cdrama version), Next in Fashion, Love Between Fairy and Devil, I'm The Villainess, So I'm Taming The Final Boss, The Romance Between Tiger and Rose, Avatar the Last Airbender, Soundtrack #1, Happiness, Law Cafe, Reply 1988, A Love So Beautiful, Fight For My Way, Le Morte d'Arthur, Hospital Playlist, The Kiss Bet, Veronica Mars, The 100, Bluebox, Hometown Chachacha, The Graceling Series: Winterkeep, Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Brooklyn 99, Semantic Error, Something in the Rain/Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food, Dealing with Dragons, Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku, Nevertheless,..., Mass Effect 2, When Harry Met Sally, The Good Place, Romance is a Bonus Book, Someday or One Day, Crash Course in Romance, Your Name, The Story of Ming Lan, Ella Enchanted Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere |  https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective;  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons  Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

This episode continues our deep dive into the sexy and sex-filled Korean web-drama Hit the Spot, aka Fanta G Spot.  We get into the ways that the drama centers female pleasure, how it balances education with fantasy, and ask if consent can really be sexy. (Spoiler: yes.) If you haven't listened to part one, check it out for our take on the show’s setup, the cast of characters, and for our reactions to the two main romances. On a more serious note, here’s a recent article about one actresses experiences of working on Hit the Spot and being filmed topless: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/x-rated-k-drama-hit-spot-actress-yeonji-coerced-filming-nude-scene-releases-statement/ Lit discussed this episode: Summer Strike, Ditto by New Jeans, Business Proposal Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere |  https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective;  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons  Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

We’re diving into the spicy Korean web-drama Hit the Spot, aka Fanta G Spot. There was so much ground to cover (and once again, so much sex) that we’re splitting our discussion into two parts. In part one–which you’re reading about right now–we give some context for the show’s setup, introduce the cast of characters, and share our reactions to the two main romances. Make sure you listen to part two for our thoughts on the ways the drama centers female pleasure, how it balances education with fantasy, and more! Most importantly though, we need your thoughts on Roy Choi with a beard or without. Will y'all vindicate Ayanni's appreciation for stubble? Or will you side with Corinne's approval of a clean shave? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram, or by answering the Spotify poll~ Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit. Lit discussed this episode: Blue Lock, Lovestruck in the City, Interest of Love, Crash Course in Romance Articles on cis women and faked orgasms: Barnett, Michael D., et al. "Motivations for faking orgasm and orgasm consistency among young adult women." Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 149, 2019, pp. 83-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.031. Fahs, Breanne. "Coming to power: women's fake orgasms and best orgasm experiences illuminate the failures of (hetero)sex and the pleasures of connection." Culture, Health & Sexuality, vol. 16, no. 8, 2014, pp. 974-988. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2014.924557. Herbenick, D.,  H. Eastman-Mueller, Tc. Fu, et al. "Women’s Sexual Satisfaction, Communication, and Reasons for (No Longer) Faking Orgasm: Findings from a U.S. Probability Sample." Archives of Sexual Behavior, vol. 48, 2019, pp. 2461–2472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01493-0. Hevesi, Krisztina, et al. "Faking Orgasm: Relationship to Orgasmic Problems and Relationship Type in Heterosexual Women." Sexual Medicine, vol. 9, no. 5, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100419. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere |  https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective;  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons  Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

It's time for our yearly celebration of pop-culture: "What's Sparking Joy 2023!" We start off with a round of “What’s Sparking Joy” for us in January, move on to thinking about our favorite pop culture of 2022, what we’re looking forward to in 2023, and a round of pop-culture predictions. We also take a moment remembering KPOP! Broadway and our experience seeing the final performance of its run. (You can pre-order the original cast recording of KPOP!  or stream the song "This is My Korea"  to give the fabulous cast some love.) What media are you looking forward to this year? Some Episode Notes: Ayanni was so excited this episode, she forgot how to speak and count! The 3rd anniversary of SLL with be this summer ❤️ ...and it's Lee Jae Wook 🙃 Links to the KPOP! Broadway main site, Twitter, and Instagram Link to the Chainsaw Man Themes Compilation, from MAPPA CHANNEL Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @SexLoveLit. Lit discussed this episode: Alchemy of Souls, The Last of US on HBO, "This is Why" by Paramore, KPOP! Broadway, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Everything Everywhere All At Once, American Born Chinese, Chainsaw Man, New Life Begins, Business Proposal, 25 21, My Liberation Notes, Under the Queen's Umbrella, Little Woman, Kiss Bet, The Story of Minglan, Old Gods of Appalachia, Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, Yumi's Cells, Steal the Stars, Afternoona Delight, Vox Popcast, Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Wandavision, Antman: Quantumania, Hit the Spot (This episode was recorded on January 16, 2023.) The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. “What’s Sparking Joy” BGM is Candy-Coloured Sky by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

This is our spoiler-filled deep dive into the Chinese Drama, Love Between Fairy and Devil. (If you'd like to hear our take on the drama sans-spoilers, check out "E23: Love Between Fairy and Devil (Part 1, Spoiler Free)".)  In this episode, we cover the show’s multifaceted depictions of love, the scenes that made us cry, and a spicy take about the show’s finale. Plus, there's a special behind-the-scenes bonus blooper for y'all at the end of the episode~ Don't forget to subscribe to Sex. Love. Literature! You can find us on Twitter and Instagram @SexLoveLit. The SLL Theme music is “Pluck It Up” by Dan Henig. What’s Sparking Joy  BGM is "Candy-Coloured Sky" by Catmosphere | https://soundcloud.com/ctmsphr; Released by Paper Crane Collective; Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com; Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License;  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US