A Fifth of Mahler, Part Two

We tend to think of the art world as being more progressive than the rest of society -- mostly because we confuse libertine with progressive -- but actually it's extremely conservative, especially when it comes to gender. In classical music, the men are geniuses, and the women are support systems or vessels or ornaments. Which is, in part, why Gustav's wife Alma, who certainly was no support system or vessel or ornament, is still reviled by fans of her husband's music today. 

As we think about breaking down barriers to entry for the canon, so that people other than men might be considered worthy of our attention, do we have to rethink the very concept of genius, and the way that word warps our expectations and responses to art? Host Jessa Crispin talks to opera singer Amber Fasquelle, WTF Bach podcast host Evan Shinners, and professor of music history Marianna Ritchey on her journey to think about what else art could be.