Subtext: Conversations about Classic Books and Films
Wes Alwan and Erin O'LuanaighSubtext is a book club podcast for readers interested in what the greatest works of the human imagination say about life’s big questions. Each episode, philosopher Wes Alwan and poet Erin O’Luanaigh conduct a close reading of a text or film and co-write an audio essay about it in real time. It’s literary analysis, but in the best sense: we try not overly stuffy and pedantic, but rather focus on un... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 223 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArtsTV & Film | |||
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A poem about a map opens North and South, the first collection of the great twentieth century poet Elizabeth Bishop, and since, maps have been associated with her poetic vision—at once telescoping and binocular—and with the polarities and preoccupati... more
A poem about a map opens North and South, the first collection of the great twentieth century poet Elizabeth Bishop, and since, maps have been associated with her poetic vision—at once telescoping and binocular—and with the polarities and preoccupati... more
The very apparatus of the mummy’s tomb—his body locked in box upon box, his organs apportioned to canopic jars, hieroglyphic inscriptions on every surface—suggest the complexity of the undertaking. What might these two strands of the mummy’s DNA—in S... more
As a cinematic monster, the mummy seems less an embodiment of revenge against colonial forces than a figure invented by colonialism itself. On the one hand, the mummy represents mystery, romance, magic, and the East. His wrappings suggest to the imag... more
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Reviews
- Wonderful Close Readings
I came to this podcast through PEL. I have a master’s in poetry, and I really like their close readings of poems. They’re really insightful and well read and thoughtful and not too too serious.
Apple Podcasts5codewordglitter
United Statesa month ago - Elegant and Insightful
I love this show. Erin and Wes’ skills in critical thinking, psychoanalysis and poetic language, help them to playfully tease apart even the most slippery and prickly of concepts or scenarios. Each film, book or piece of poetry is prised apart to reveal deeper and richer meaning. Thank you both. What pleasures you reveal!
Apple Podcasts5Ljelly
United Kingdom4 months ago - Happened upon this, fortunately
I found this podcast because I love Elaine May, and I was hoping to find an interview with her somewhere. But I found an episode of this podcast where the hosts were discussing the movie “A New Leaf,” and it was so insightful and well observed that I then listened to a six part conversation they had about The Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare, and now I think I will listen to this podcast for as long as they make it.
Apple Podcasts5Mr ReviewypantsUnited States5 months ago - Mostly good
I struggled with this review because of the Jane Austen episode. I was really enjoying each episode I was listening to, but when it came to the Pride and Prejudice one, I found the commentary extremely strange. I believe it’s perfectly normal to dislike a movie adaptation of a book you love, or cast choices, or acting ability, but to go on and on about Keira Knightley’s looks in such a gross way when it’s not relevant to the story or any context of the book (and is in fact, merely a matter of pr... more
Apple Podcasts3Lt_met
Canada8 months ago - Profound Yet Approachable
A celebration of the human experience and the symbols we negotiate in describing it. Wes and Erin are deeply insightful and humorously self-aware at the same time. They have great chemistry, and every episode is edifying and funny, even if you haven’t read or watched the work they’re discussing.
Apple Podcasts5ZumolllaaaaaaaaUnited States9 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #16 |  Philippines/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #23 | Philippines/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #26 |  Russia/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #54 | Russia/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #107 |  Singapore/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #233 |  Argentina/Arts/Books |
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| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
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| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
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What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
A thought-provoking, long-form discussion duo conducts close readings of books and films, weaving philosophical, psychoanalytic, and literary perspectives into an accessible audio essay in real time. Episodes span classics and pop culture alike, often linking colonialism, existential questions, and artifice to broader human concerns, with frequent references to philosophy, theater history, and literary theory. Noteworthy is their knack for balancing rigorous analysis with warmth and humor, making dense ideas feel lively and relevant while inviting listeners to rethink familiar texts through fresh frameworks.
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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?
These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:
1. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
2. The History of Literature
3. In Our Time
4. The LRB Podcast
5. Folger Shakespeare Library: Shakespeare Unlimited
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this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 223 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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