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 | 213 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsBooksTV & Film | |||
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Latest Episodes
Photography is a technology of contradictions. It is at once mechanical and mysterious, even magical. It furnishes evidence of presence while being a token of absence. It can show us proof but can’t, without accompanying narration or context, make us... more
Are Mozart’s gifts a glitch in divine accounting? Or are his flaws attendant on or even the result of his genius? And how can we account for the glitch in Salieri’s design, which permits longing to go unanswered by talent? Wes & Erin continue their d... more
If an understanding of music implies a love of structure, perhaps the musician’s relationship to his art mirrors the one he has with authority, both human and divine. Salieri, whose father was a man of commerce, sees God as a kind of bank manager who... more
Wes & Erin continue their discussion of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” and its sustained reflection on how political power is constructed, located, and legitimated.
Upcoming Episodes: “Amadeus,” Susan Sontag’s “On Photography.”
Pre-order Erin’s f... more
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Reviews
- 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
Canada2 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 Podcasts5Zumolllaaaaaaaa
United States3 months ago - Love!
Huge fan of this podcast! Every time they cover something I’ve read or watched I’m so delighted. Fantastic observations
Apple Podcasts5HSpauldsUnited States7 months ago - Love this show!
Best subtextual analysis out there…
Apple Podcasts5adam8652United States10 months ago - Question on Emily Dickinson
Hey guys! Love the show. I had a question about the Emily Dickinson episode on “I felt a funeral in my brain.” Do you think there’s any possibility Ambrose Bierce read the poem and incorporated its insights into dying into “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”?
Apple Podcasts5felix1062United States10 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #241 |  United Kingdom/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #88 |  Australia/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #239 | Australia/Arts |
Apple Podcasts | #89 |  Finland/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #110 |  Ireland/Arts/Books |
Apple Podcasts | #166 |  Norway/Arts/Books |
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| Listeners per Episode | Gender Skew | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interests | Professions | Age Range | |||
| Household Income | Social Media Reach | ||||
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What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Listeners are drawn to engaging discussions that explore significant works of literature and film, focusing on the deeper questions they raise about life. Episodes feature co-hosts discussing a variety of texts and films, conducting thoughtful analyses while maintaining a balance of intellect and approachability. Notable for their insightful commentary, the podcast emphasizes the intersection between literary and cinematic narratives and contemporary human experiences. This makes it a unique space for lovers of literature and film looking for thought-provoking commentary that connects stories with broader existential themes.
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1. Very Bad Wizards
2. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
3. The History of Literature
4. Philosophy Bites
5. History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
How many episodes of this podcast are there?
this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 213 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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