In this long overdue (and also slightly late) episode, I talk to brilliant musician, writer, artist, and teacher Vivek Shraya about touring difficult books, finding more equitable ways to run your classroom, and the enduring power of the shit sandwich. And here are some links!
- Vivek’s newest book is I‘m Afraid of Men, which Vanity Fair described as “cultural rocket fuel” and Bustle called “The Book Title That Best Describes 2018″. We also talk a whole lot about her debut poetry collection, even this page is white, and you can find out more about all of her books here.
- Vivek is also an incredible musician (the theme song for this episode is from one of her bands, Too Attached), and a visual artist. Read her reflections on Trisha, a photography project in which she reproduced vintage photographs of her mother with herself as the subject.
- Vivek mentions a keynote by Neil Gaiman, in which he describes making art as “sometimes like putting messages in bottles, on a desert island, and hoping that someone will find one of your bottles and open it and read it, and put something in a bottle that will wash its way back to you: appreciation, or a commission, or money, or love.” Read that whole talk here.
- And here’s a link to the excellent thread friend-of-the-show Cynara Geissler wrote about the do’s and don’ts of giving a public reading.
- I assume you’re already listening to Can’t Lit, but just in case you missed it, here’s Vivek’s most recent episode.
- Finally, on the topic of student-shaming (and why it’s bullshit), here’s Aimée Morrison on those who are praised for saying “things that confirm people’s authoritarian biases and distaste for youth” and an iconic piece by Jesse Stommel on how widespread bullying is in universities.
The podcast theme song is “Mesh Shirt” by Mom Jeans off their album “Chub Rub.” Listen to the whole album here or learn more about them here. Vivek’s theme song is “I’m Afraid of Men” by Too Attached feat. Peaches. Go buy it here!
Secret Feminist Agenda is recorded and produced by Hannah McGregor on the traditional and unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.