Show Notes for Ep. 54 "Transgressing Authentically"
In this episode, Mary Anne recounts a recent trip she took to Pakistan to teach science fiction writing at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. The two discuss her experiences of gender in Pakistan, as well as the broader cultural, religious, and material prohibitions of Lahore and the other countries, including our own. All leads to the question of whether one can and should risk transgressing from societal norms in an “authentic” and progressive manner.
Recorded April 7, 2023 / Published August 28, 2023
Contents
- 0:00:00 – a recap of Mary Anne and Ben’s relationship views on religion
- 0:06:50 – introducing the Salam Award Writers Workshop, and exploring how science fiction and fantasy communities arise
- 0:20:41 – on issues of gender and violence in Pakistan
- 0:26:55 – an aside on Oak Park’s cultural prohibition against segregation
- 0:37:15 – does Ben feel the gender differences when travelling?
- 0:42:08 – on catcalling culture
- 0:47:40 – Ben’s thoughts on public nudity
- 0:52:43 – on racist laws
- 1:03:50 – intermission, followed by a discussion on alcohol use in Pakistan and other prohibitions of society
- 1:14:00 – exploring the impact of religion on societal prohibitions
- 1:26:40 – on blasphemy and social censure
- 1:40:54 – on the things we censure sub-consciously
- 1:49:27 – on the potential risks of unintended blasphemy
- 1:57:46 – transgressive reimagination of religions
- 2:01:00 – Ben’s ad for The Dawn of Everything, and transgressive societies
- 2:08:33 – reviewing Mary Anne’s old erotica stories and the conservative struggle
- 2:19:08 – on what Ben hesitates to write now
- 2:29:00 – Ben’s views on current Palestine and Israel conflict, followed by closing thought1
Works Mentioned
Organized by order of appearance.
-
Midnight Doorways: Fables from Pakistan, by Usman T. Malika
- Tasavvur, South Asian magazine
- The Pages of the Mind, by Jeffe Kennedy
- The Dawn of Everything, by David Graeber & David Wengrow
- Brotherless Night, by V. V. Ganeshananthan
- The Best American Erotica, by Susie Bright
- The Princess in the Forest, by Mary Anne Mohanraj
- The Orange, by Benjamin Rosenbaum
- Preeta Samarasan, Malaysian author
- Arkady Martine, author
Other Clarifying or Explanatory Links
- link to Twitter thread with more information about the Salaam Award Writers Workshop website
- Salaam Award Website
- article on the impact of the Salaam Award Writers Workshop
- Kateri Tekakwitha, Native American saint Mary Anne picked as her patron saint once upon a time
- link to episode where Mary Anne and Ben go into further depth on their religious views
- Elizabeth Hand, writer
- link to Salaam award and workshop organizers
- article about the women who campaigned to save Star Trek
- link to Silvia Moreno-Garcia Deep Dive
- what is a slush pile is
- link to panel discussion
- explanatory link for Israeli Kibbutz
- The Color of Law, by Richard Rothstein (covers segregation in housing in areas like Oak Park, IL)
- article on the different types of head covers worn by Islamic women
- race fail 2009
- Salman Rushie and his Satanic Verses controversy
- on blasphemy laws in Pakistan
- fleas in a jar video
- link to Snaring New Suns episode
- list of symbols for polyamory
- Derry Girls, British teen sitcom