57: “Do More Crosswords!” The Sexual Politics of Language feat. Anna Shechtman
Jun 22, 2024
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Writer and cruciverbalist Anna Shechtman discusses the sexual politics of language, feminist history of crosswords, and the pleasure in creating and solving puzzles. Topics include écriture feminine, psychoanalysis, Lacan's advice on crosswords, and the complexities of language, feminism, and sexuality. Plenty of puns, frank talk about therapy, and insights into the unconscious mind through crossword puzzles.
Crossword puzzles transitioned from women's intellectual activity to a male-dominated industry, reflecting deeper feminist history and language autonomy.
French feminist thinkers challenged phallocentric language structures, emphasizing the construction and deconstruction of meaning within linguistic frameworks.
The podcast blurred personal experiences with theoretical concepts, showcasing the transformative potential of language play in challenging traditional power structures.
Exploration of feminist language critiqued norms, reshaped linguistic frameworks, and promoted gender equality through playful language manipulation and deconstructionist insights.
Deep dives
The Simplified Spelling Board Proposal and Gender Dynamics
In the early 1900s, the Simplified Spelling Board, endorsed by influential figures like Andrew Carnegie, proposed a standardization of English written orthography for federal documents. This endeavor included simplifying words like replacing 'ED' with 'T' and streamlining diphthongs in a uniform manner. Notably, the board comprised entirely of men communicated using a simplified form of English. The movement faced significant backlash and eventually fizzled out, highlighting an era of homosocial male dominance and language experimentation.
The Evolution of Crossword Puzzles and Language Play
In the discussion, an exploration into the history of crossword puzzles highlighted a transition from women's intellectual activity associated with the puzzle's invention to a predominantly male industry. The narrative delved into the deeper feminist history of the puzzle, engaging with themes of language transformation and autonomy. Additionally, the podcast touched upon the interplay between language play and academic constructs like French feminist and psychoanalytic thought, blending scholarly analysis with personal narratives of puzzle creation and feminist exploration.
Feminist Philosophical Discourse and Deconstructionist Critique
The podcast examined feminist philosophical discourse through the lens of French feminists such as Julia Kristeva, Luce Irigaray, and Hélène Cixous, who challenged traditional phallocentric language structures by advocating for feminine writing and creative language deconstruction. These thinkers critiqued Freudian theories by uncovering patriarchal biases and highlighting language's role in shaping power dynamics and gender identities. Their fusion of psychoanalytic perspectives and deconstructionist critiques emphasized the ongoing construction and deconstruction of meaning within linguistic and social frameworks.
The Intersection of Personal Narratives and Theoretical Frameworks
The conversation navigated intricate intersections between personal narratives and complex theoretical frameworks, weaving together themes of recovery, feminist history, psychoanalytic thought, and language deconstruction. Emphasizing the power of language play and scholarly analysis in shaping identities and dismantling traditional power structures, the episode engaged with the dynamic interplay between individual experiences of suffering, intellectual exploration, and collective engagement with feminist discourses. Through a blend of personal reflections and academic insights, the podcast underscored the transformative potential of language and critical thought in challenging established norms and fostering collective empowerment.
The Philosophical Underpinnings of Feminist Language Exploration
Delving into the philosophical underpinnings of feminist language exploration, the discussion blurred the boundaries between personal experiences and theoretical concepts, unpacking the significance of playful language manipulation in challenging traditional power structures. By interrogating the role of language in constructing gender identities and reinforcing patriarchal norms, the episode showcased the transformative potential of feminist thought and deconstructionist critiques in reshaping linguistic frameworks and empowering marginalized voices. Through an intricate exploration of language play, feminist discourse, and psychoanalytic insights, the podcast illuminated the ways in which linguistic creativity and critical engagement can reshape societal narratives and promote gender equality.
Exploring French Feminist Concepts and Gender Anxieties
Concepts like the logic of implying or tearing with their opposites in relation to anxieties of whiteness and masculinity are discussed. The podcast delves into the use of linguistic and philosophical propositions in Western philosophy, highlighting exclusivity and gender biases. It also touches on figures like Arrie Garrai and Kristeva, emphasizing their focus on sexual difference and embodiment.
Analyzing Feminist Interpretations and Identity Contradictions
The episode explores writer Jane Gallop's interpretations of Lacan and French feminists, contrasting between the concept of the prick and the phallus. Gallop's controversial book about being a feminist accused of sexual harassment is dissected for its reflections on desire, pedagogy, and gender dynamics. The discussion delves into the complexities of feminist identity and contradictions in relation to power, desire, and academic persona.
Abby and Patrick welcome writer, academic, and cruciverbalist Anna Shechtman, author of The Riddles of the Sphinx: Inheriting the Feminist History of the Crossword Puzzle, a book that’s part personal memoir, part cultural history, and part meditation on what it means to care about meaning in the first place. In typically overdetermined fashion, the three talk about the complex interweaving of language, sexual difference, and the vicissitudes of our appetites for food, clues, accomplishments, “solutions,” and more. Along the way, they unpack the écriture feminine of Hélène Cixous, Julia Kristeva’s idea of the semiotic, Luce Irigaray’s critique of phallogocentrism, the writing of Jane Gallop, and more. Whether on paper or otherwise, why do people love to create problems for ourselves, and how does the pleasure of solving any given puzzle relate to our apparently limitless hunger for new ones? How does the latent, overdetermined, and unconscious structure what’s manifest on a grid in a newspaper, magazine, or online? What did Lacan mean when he advised young psychoanalysts to “do more crosswords”? And how exactly does a crossword get made, anyway? Plus: plenty of puns, both punishing and pleasurable, frank talk about psychotherapy, and more!
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