Episode 40 FREE: incredibly posh lesbians in an old film;the world's oldest lesbian; a tribute to Julie Burchill; and breaking news (geddit) -we read Raygun as an alternative to watching her.
Episode 40 FREE: incredibly posh lesbians in an old film;the world's oldest lesbian; a tribute to Julie Burchill; and breaking news (geddit) -we read Raygun as an alternative to watching her.
I didn’t know The Sprinkler was exclusively Australian! I didn’t know other countries don’t know this move! Perhaps it comes from the classic Australian pastime of cranking up your garden sprinkler (after looking up and down the street to make sure no council cars are patrolling to enforce water restriction laws), and allowing your children to run around under the sprinkler in the 40’C summer heat!
Honestly… as someone who did gender studies at uni, I would bet that this cultural studies academic is doing all of this unironically. Aside from anything else, gender and cultural studies academics have no sense of humour.
From one of your US fans, an obit from the NYT re a lesbian illustrator whom I was not familiar with. Thought Julie might be aware of her. Perhaps worthy of mention on the pod.
I'd never heard of this woman either (Ms. Wings). Just 7 years older than I. I spent a lot of active, out-&-about lesbian time in famously gay-friendly & prominent Minneapolis, including literary & artistic circles, and I never heard of her or her books. Weird how that could happen.
Aug 16·edited Aug 16Liked by The Lesbian Project Podcast
Absolutely hilarious!! when Julie's explaining the shift towards scientific 'sexology' and says something about "moving away from the earth. (pause) and the sky. (pause) and all of that." OMG! And then - we have the oddest game of 'f*ck, marry, push off a cliff' but with only two options, when obvs you need three (??) C'mon - spill. Who's the third?
Then, luckily, your link to Julie Burchill's article let me read it, and I agree, she writes well - waspish, louche and forgotten in the morning. More of that kind of thing please.
I am so Fridayed now, from laughing so much. Thanks both xx
Aug 18·edited Aug 19Liked by The Lesbian Project Podcast
In hospital right now so not been able to ‘listen’ this week. Glad these things remain online.
Given the interest in Monte Punshon, I want to mention the original research done by Australian lesbian, Nancy Peck, in the 1980’s.
I met Nancy at the original Lesbian Action Group at the Moor St Women’s Building in 1979. She is one of those amazing women we all hold in memory - a feminist and community activist on many levels. There may be other lesbian elders reading this now who also remember. 🦋
Another great episode. Had to explain to my gf why I was laughing so hard when Kathleen said that Camilla Parker Bowles really was Julie’s type (i listen through earpods). I hope Julie’s hair will grow as long as Camilla’s is, but personally I do not see any progress in that field yet.
PS there are gorgeous parts in the historical center of Utrecht, as well as hideous post-war (1970s) ones. It is as easy to conclude Utrecht is beautiful (even in winter) as that it’s cringe-worthy awful (even in spring).
Aug 16·edited Aug 16Liked by The Lesbian Project Podcast
Oh that's funny, my copies of Mendelson's Wife and The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden just arrived this week. I think we both read the literary section of the Times, Kathleen! (Mendelson's previous book The Exhibitionist is good fun and has a male art monster at the centre, whose wife, a much less celebrated but much more interesting artist, is having an affair with a woman.)
Alison Hennegan worked with CHE and Friend in the 70s and went on to be
Literary Editor at Gay News. She also worked at the Women’S Press and later as Director of Studies in English at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. In 1972, when we were students, she was the first out lesbian I met!
Re male stereotypes of lesbians - isn't the older predatory lesbian preying on younger women exactly one? The whole lesbian vampire genre, 80s amazon movies, those boarding school dramas with nasty headmistresses, Killing of Sister George, Notes on a Scandal, that book you're talking about... At least the lesbian vampires and amazons are attractive! The more "serious" variations of the theme all seem like jealous male projections of the juicy young woman "inexplicably" attracted to the "ugly" old hag - or the hag's evil plotting to snare her or if that fails punish her... I would have liked to see a chapter in the - very hetero-centric - Hag on the "Lesbian Hag" because that sure is a genre/trope of its own!
I just want to say that the addition of both of you doing accents this week was 💯🤌
Also, loved the notable lack of denial that Camilla is Julie's type. 😉
I didn’t know The Sprinkler was exclusively Australian! I didn’t know other countries don’t know this move! Perhaps it comes from the classic Australian pastime of cranking up your garden sprinkler (after looking up and down the street to make sure no council cars are patrolling to enforce water restriction laws), and allowing your children to run around under the sprinkler in the 40’C summer heat!
Honestly… as someone who did gender studies at uni, I would bet that this cultural studies academic is doing all of this unironically. Aside from anything else, gender and cultural studies academics have no sense of humour.
From one of your US fans, an obit from the NYT re a lesbian illustrator whom I was not familiar with. Thought Julie might be aware of her. Perhaps worthy of mention on the pod.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/08/arts/mary-wings-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.B04.PcFk.ihyCOECB5BiW&smid=url-share
How sad. I translated two of Mary Wings’ lesbo sleuth books into Dutch. Very Cool, she was. She Came By The Book was one of them.
I'd never heard of this woman either (Ms. Wings). Just 7 years older than I. I spent a lot of active, out-&-about lesbian time in famously gay-friendly & prominent Minneapolis, including literary & artistic circles, and I never heard of her or her books. Weird how that could happen.
Absolutely hilarious!! when Julie's explaining the shift towards scientific 'sexology' and says something about "moving away from the earth. (pause) and the sky. (pause) and all of that." OMG! And then - we have the oddest game of 'f*ck, marry, push off a cliff' but with only two options, when obvs you need three (??) C'mon - spill. Who's the third?
Then, luckily, your link to Julie Burchill's article let me read it, and I agree, she writes well - waspish, louche and forgotten in the morning. More of that kind of thing please.
I am so Fridayed now, from laughing so much. Thanks both xx
In hospital right now so not been able to ‘listen’ this week. Glad these things remain online.
Given the interest in Monte Punshon, I want to mention the original research done by Australian lesbian, Nancy Peck, in the 1980’s.
I met Nancy at the original Lesbian Action Group at the Moor St Women’s Building in 1979. She is one of those amazing women we all hold in memory - a feminist and community activist on many levels. There may be other lesbian elders reading this now who also remember. 🦋
https://www.acmi.net.au/works/83748--a-single-life-ethel-may-monte-punshon-1882-1989/
Another great episode. Had to explain to my gf why I was laughing so hard when Kathleen said that Camilla Parker Bowles really was Julie’s type (i listen through earpods). I hope Julie’s hair will grow as long as Camilla’s is, but personally I do not see any progress in that field yet.
PS there are gorgeous parts in the historical center of Utrecht, as well as hideous post-war (1970s) ones. It is as easy to conclude Utrecht is beautiful (even in winter) as that it’s cringe-worthy awful (even in spring).
Oh that's funny, my copies of Mendelson's Wife and The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden just arrived this week. I think we both read the literary section of the Times, Kathleen! (Mendelson's previous book The Exhibitionist is good fun and has a male art monster at the centre, whose wife, a much less celebrated but much more interesting artist, is having an affair with a woman.)
UPDATE: I'm glad to report that WIFE is actually a comic novel, and not bleak at all in the manner of Sister George. Recommend!
Alison Hennegan worked with CHE and Friend in the 70s and went on to be
Literary Editor at Gay News. She also worked at the Women’S Press and later as Director of Studies in English at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. In 1972, when we were students, she was the first out lesbian I met!
Anna Dorn is a novelist who reclaims the word lesbian and her protagonist in her latest novel says that she’s lesbian not queer - very refreshing:)
Could she have been in prison for suffrage or, mire likely peace activism? She sounded really proud to have done time. I bet it wasn’t fraud or theft.
The sprinkler is one of the mooves Bluey' dad does in the show's opening sequence. Along with the air guitar, other classic of the genre.
Re male stereotypes of lesbians - isn't the older predatory lesbian preying on younger women exactly one? The whole lesbian vampire genre, 80s amazon movies, those boarding school dramas with nasty headmistresses, Killing of Sister George, Notes on a Scandal, that book you're talking about... At least the lesbian vampires and amazons are attractive! The more "serious" variations of the theme all seem like jealous male projections of the juicy young woman "inexplicably" attracted to the "ugly" old hag - or the hag's evil plotting to snare her or if that fails punish her... I would have liked to see a chapter in the - very hetero-centric - Hag on the "Lesbian Hag" because that sure is a genre/trope of its own!
Just watched the Gay Life video. It’s really striking how we rarely hear a notably posh accent these days.
Another great episode, thank you so much.
I'm not sure if people outside of Australia will be able to access this.
50 min chat with author Tessa talking about Monte. I listened to this a month ago and enjoyed it, others might too.
.https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/monte-punshon-tessa-morris-suzuki-lesbian-theatre-drag/104005002
Here's a youtube link for the 1981 Lesbian film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hyh9RIWEkU
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thanks for this link, Kate.
Thanks Kate 😻
I’ve come back (late) to comment here, about RS Archer. I started following because they have some funny stories about Brit tourists in France.
The account recently followed me back after, I responded to one of the many tweets they made, about the women’s boxing fiasco in Paris.
I think sometimes it’s parody and, the rest of the time it’s sarcastic/sardonic 😻