Laurie Penny

Owen Matthews, a writer for The Spectator, shares his insight on the perpetual grumbling of Venice’s residents about tourism amidst high-profile events. Laurie Penny discusses the intriguing politics in Alex Garland’s zombie film franchise, revealing how it mirrors societal fears and gender issues. The conversation also touches on the quirky charm of British delicacies, like Angel Delight, and how they evoke nostalgia. Expect a lively mix of cultural critique and personal reflections that keep you engaged throughout!

Join Laurie Penny, an incisive author and journalist, and Lionel Shriver, an award-winning author, as they delve into the heated debate surrounding free speech and transgender rights in the UK. They discuss the arrest of Graham Linehan over anti-trans posts, sparking global concern over censorship and identity. The conversation navigates the boundaries of humor in gender discourse, the complexities of free speech in sports, and societal shifts in attitudes towards trans issues. It's a riveting exploration of contemporary challenges in public discourse.

Laurie Penny, an insightful author and journalist known for her sharp commentary on feminism, dives deep into the complex legacy of Mother Jones. Penny explores the discrepancies between Jones' legendary image and the truth of her life, revealing uncomfortable truths about her views and actions. The conversation weaves through historical misrepresentations and the racial dynamics within labor movements, painting a vivid picture of the struggles faced by immigrants and marginalized groups. Penny’s critique offers a fresh lens on activism and the narratives we uphold.

Laurie Penny, a journalist and author renowned for her insights on social justice and gender, dives into her latest work about the intersections of the sexual revolution and modern fascism. She advocates for an intersectional feminism that addresses critical issues like rape culture and consent. The conversation critiques traditional masculinity and its ties to capitalism while exploring healthier alternatives. Penny also examines the complexities surrounding online pornography and urges a deeper understanding of men's privilege in today’s world.

Mary Beard is Britain’s best known classicist. Widely admired for her scholarship and popular television programmes about the ancient world, she is also one of this country’s most prominent feminists. By refusing to be cowed by the misogynistic trolls who have abused her on Twitter, she has become a heroine for our times. On June 7th Beard comes to the Intelligence Squared stage to talk about the themes of her No. 1 bestselling book Women and Power: A Manifesto. Examining misogyny’s deep cultural roots, she will explore the ways in which women have been excluded from power for thousands of years. Take the decapitated, snake-haired head of Medusa in Greek mythology – seen by Freud as a castrator figure. It has been used recently to demonise Theresa May, Angela Merkel, and in the 2016 presidential campaign Hillary Clinton, who appeared in a meme as Medusa, with Trump holding her severed head aloft. The message? That the ultimate way to silence a woman is to kill her. Beard will also highlight a passage in Homer’s Odyssey, some 3,000 years old, where Penelope’s son tells her to shut up and go back to her spinning and weaving because speech is ‘the business of men.’ Muted women, men as aggressors: the injustices that the #MeToo movement is addressing are millennia old. So how do we combat misogyny in all its forms? Is the kind of collective action we have seen recently in the Women’s March and #MeToo going to effect the change longed for by so many? Should women who seek political power simply accept the status quo and follow the male template, or do we need a radical rethink of the entire nature of power and spoken authority? Beard explored these urgent questions, in conversation with lawyer and campaigner Miriam González and radical commentator Laurie Penny, with writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch in the chair. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices