Queer as Fact

The Color Purple (1982)

Today's Queer as Fiction episode is on the famous 1982 epistolary novel by Alice Walker, The Color Purple. Join us for a discussion about intersectionality, what qualifies as good representation and the critical reaction to the novel since its publication. 

William Dobell

What does it take for a painting to ruin a friendship, initiate a court case, and change the Australian art world forever? Tune in to this episode on the Australian artist William Dobell and his controversial win of the 1943 Archibald Prize for portraiture to find out!

(Image: William Dobell, Self Portrait, 1932.)

Queer as Fact meets History is Gay

This week we have our first ever collaborative episode, where we meet with our fellow queer history podcast History is Gay to compare queer slang in Australia and the USA. Join us as we talk about lavender linguistics, Gilette blades, and our favourite ways to say we're queer.

You can find History is Gay on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter, and check out more of their episodes on their website, or wherever you find your podcasts.

Federico García Lorca

In this episode, we're talking about the early-20th-century Spanish poet and playwright, Federico García Lorca. Join us as we discuss Federico's relationship with Salvador Dalí, 19-year-old Jesus Christ's fights with his parents, and the mystery surrounding Federico's death.

Call Me By Your Name

Today's Queer as Fiction episode is on the 2007 novel and 2017 movie Call Me By Your Name. Join us as we chat about Jewish identity, whether or not this is really a gay movie after all and, of course, the controversial age gap.

Please note that this episode contains swearing in a quote - our apologies for not including it in the content warnings!

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Today's episode is on the godmother of rock and roll, gospel singer Rosetta Tharpe. Join us to learn about Rosetta's rise to fame, mad guitar skills, and the invention of everything from the tour bus to stadium rock.

Also, Queer As Fact has a sponsor! Have a listen to pick up a discount code for Sudio Sweden headphones. 

Transcript available here

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Pope Joan

Today's episode is on the story of Pope Joan, the 9th-century woman who disguised herself as a man and became pope. Tune in for popes, antipopes, medieval Catholic pageantry, and the truth about Pope Joan.

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(Image: Pope Joan in papal garb holding an infant in her arms. Engraving from Hartman Schedel's Chronica Universalis or Nuremberg Chronicle, published in 1493 by Anton Koberger. Via Wikimedia Commons.)

Horace Walpole

Today's episode is on Horace Walpole, 18th century man of letters and writer of the world's first gothic novel. This episode features a number of firsts for Queer As Fact, including our first possible asexual person, and the first Queer As Fact Historical Goth-Off!

 Transcript available here

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(Image: Portrait of Horace Walpole by Pierre Subleyras, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Birdcage (1996)

For our second episode of Queer as Fiction, we'll be talking about Mike Nichols' 1996 comedy film 'The Birdcage'. Join us as we discuss gender performance, gay fatherhood and unnecessary sequels. 

Sofya Parnok

Today's episode is about the life of Sofya Parnok, an early 20th century Russian poet who wrote openly about her relationships with women, owned a pet monkey, and died surrounded by her loving girlfriends.

Transcript available here

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