Audio Poem of the Day Study of Two Figures (Pasiphaë/Sado)
Jan 4, 2026
Monica Youn explores the intertwining lives of a mythical woman, Pasiphaë, and the historical figure of Sado, emphasizing their shared experiences of containment and Asianness. The conversation dives into how race becomes a lens through which the poem is interpreted, revealing underlying themes of desire, anger, and the haunting notion of sexualized deaths. Youn cleverly links art, tourism, and taboo, while examining how cultural contexts influence the representation and understanding of these figures, ultimately closing with thought-provoking translations of their names.
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Race As A Visible Poetic Marker
- Monica Youn argues that naming figures' Asianness makes race a visible marker that reshapes reading of the poem.
- She claims revealing such markers forces the work to be 'about' race in ways that constrain interpretation.
Hot-Button Logic Contains Desire
- Youn links 'hot-button' topics like race, violence, and sex to a market-driven logic that both satisfies and punishes desire.
- She observes this logic deters desire while containing its expression through cultural regulation.
Two Figures Who Displace Anger
- Youn recounts passages about two figures who both cause sexual deaths and displace anger away from the king.
- She contrasts their actions with their spouses' political strategizing in tumultuous times.