Many echoes of this fine essay in Benjamin Franklin's "The Speech of Polly Baker." Franklin isn't widely remembered as a satirist now, but he adopts Polly's voice in that sketch and skewers the judges who are about to fine her for an unplanned pregnancy. Maybe you're not in a position to say, but I think Substack represents a larger pendulum swing in publishing. Certainly women exert much more influence on the book marketplace now as a majority of book buyers (wouldn't be shocked if they are also a majority of paying subscribers on the platform).
History is written by the victors. Im going to be spending some time today thinking about how that relates to the literary cannon.
I’ve thought before how much of what are “classics” are influenced by a thousand factors out of any author’s control and unrelated to their skill, but now also how the male education and power dynamic shapes our list of “classics”
Women are still fighting this fight. Although many men have joined them in their efforts (like yourself) and this will hopefully instruct us all in understanding the importance of humility and inclusion.
My copy of "The Book of the City of Ladies" is one I'm most proud of in my home library. Every time my eyes rest on that cover, I feel a vicarious sense of accomplishment.
It's hard to choose highlights of this richly informative essay, but your analysis of the 'humility topos' and the following count for me:
'Furthermore, “there are also some who do so because they like to flaunt their erudition: they have come across these views in books and so like to quote the authors whom they have read.”
'This last reason is particularly resonant, not only because it emphasizes the embedded misogyny of the received canon, but also because it implicitly questions an epistemology that privileges male written authority over female lived experience. The Wife of Bath famously claims that experience is enough for her to speak about marriage, that she doesn’t need “auctoritee” or written authorities.'
As I said last week, it's a most readable university education in literature all for the price of a free Substack subscription!
Many echoes of this fine essay in Benjamin Franklin's "The Speech of Polly Baker." Franklin isn't widely remembered as a satirist now, but he adopts Polly's voice in that sketch and skewers the judges who are about to fine her for an unplanned pregnancy. Maybe you're not in a position to say, but I think Substack represents a larger pendulum swing in publishing. Certainly women exert much more influence on the book marketplace now as a majority of book buyers (wouldn't be shocked if they are also a majority of paying subscribers on the platform).
Thanks! I don’t know the Franklin but will seek it out.
The new Judy Chicago museum exhibit is also inspired by the book: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/judy-chicago-new-museum-survey-art-historical-women-2298176/amp-page
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
Ah! What a fun series! I’m so into it! Thank you!
History is written by the victors. Im going to be spending some time today thinking about how that relates to the literary cannon.
I’ve thought before how much of what are “classics” are influenced by a thousand factors out of any author’s control and unrelated to their skill, but now also how the male education and power dynamic shapes our list of “classics”
Women are still fighting this fight. Although many men have joined them in their efforts (like yourself) and this will hopefully instruct us all in understanding the importance of humility and inclusion.
Sound work. A rarity. Unfortunately.
My copy of "The Book of the City of Ladies" is one I'm most proud of in my home library. Every time my eyes rest on that cover, I feel a vicarious sense of accomplishment.
It really is a marvel, isn’t it?
It's hard to choose highlights of this richly informative essay, but your analysis of the 'humility topos' and the following count for me:
'Furthermore, “there are also some who do so because they like to flaunt their erudition: they have come across these views in books and so like to quote the authors whom they have read.”
'This last reason is particularly resonant, not only because it emphasizes the embedded misogyny of the received canon, but also because it implicitly questions an epistemology that privileges male written authority over female lived experience. The Wife of Bath famously claims that experience is enough for her to speak about marriage, that she doesn’t need “auctoritee” or written authorities.'
As I said last week, it's a most readable university education in literature all for the price of a free Substack subscription!