The Damsel Dialogues

Sarah Winchester & Jessica Reiner-Harris

Delve into the damsels that developed our psyches. A pinch of history, a dollop of psychology, and a sprinkle of fairy dust. And, of course, jokes. *Season 2: Damsels of Death* Macabre mistresses, creepy chicks. Mysterious mavens from cartoon flicks. What can they teach us of Death and beyond? The Damsels of Death, the show must go on! *Season 1- Princesses: Where Did They Come From, and Where Have They Taken Us?* Explore animated princesses from literary origin to lessons learned. A little film history, a little psych. A lot of fun with our favorite animated royals.

  1. Damsels of Death Ep. 4 - There Are No Small Parts, Only Small Minds

    10/26/2021

    Damsels of Death Ep. 4 - There Are No Small Parts, Only Small Minds

    What do Lady Tottington from Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Wererabbit, Jenny Bennett from Monster House, and Elsa Van Helsing from Frankenweenie have in common?  At first glance, not much, except that they are not the leads of their movies. But closer inspection shows us that they are each in a story that halts and stammers and explodes due to mob mentality. Groupthink. Mass delusion. When angry and scared people come together, terrible things can happen. Join us as we give these women their due while exploring what mob mentality is, and how it affects humans. Spoiler alert: It affects us really, really easily. Add in an exploration of Mary Shelley and the creation of Frankenstein, the history of werewolves and wererabbits (yes, there is actual history for the latter,) and a peek into the original Frankenweenie short film, and you've got episode 4 of The Damsel Dialogues Season 2: DAMSELS OF DEATH! Music and SFX by Zapsplat.com Links https://www.wattpad.com/729772698-supernatural-myths-explained https://theconversation.com/the-ancient-origins-of-werewolves-104775 https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/killer-rabbits-in-medieval-manuscripts/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/facing-trauma-together/202101/the-psychology-mob-mentality https://news.miami.edu/stories/2021/01/scholars-examine-the-mob-mentality.html https://drwendyjames.com/the-psychology-of-mob-mentality-and-violence/ https://www.simplypsychology.org/asch-conformity.html https://web.archive.org/web/20210303220008/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article/397/sheep_in_human_clothing__scientists_reveal_our_flock_mentality https://arraybc.com/what-is-mob-mentality https://gizmodo.com/how-to-know-whether-your-house-is-occupied-by-demonic-f-791412055 https://www.newportri.com/article/20161025/entertainment/310259989 https://www.wikihow.com/Exorcise-Your-House-or-Dwelling

    1h 17m
  2. 10/19/2021

    Damsels of Death Ep. 3 - Hidden Worlds

    When this world feels oppressive, mean or cruel (gee, what's that like?) it's tempting to imagine another world to which we could escape. Stories like Coraline and James and the Giant Peach mirror those fantasies in a magical, and sometimes grotesque, way, and allow us to envision what could be. There's the good: Giant insects that demonstrate real friendship, a wise cat guide...And there's the bad: A narcissistic spider witch of Romanian lore who traps her prey using their deepest desires, for example. Come along with us as we explore the mythology and legends behind the women of Coraline and James and the Giant Peach, and imagine what could be behind the portal in your own hidden worlds.  SFX/Music by Zapsplat.com Links https://www.ranker.com/list/coraline-beldam/erin-cody https://www.bustle.com/p/coraline-was-inspired-by-a-folktale-thats-even-creepier-than-neil-gaimans-version-11994869 https://www.mythicalcreaturesguide.com/beldan/ https://weirdfictionreview.com/2011/11/creepy-classic-lucy-cliffords-the-new-mother/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaiman https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-uncanny-valley-4846247 www.007.info www.roalddahl.com https://www.learnreligions.com/are-voodoo-dolls-real-95807 https://scaquarium.org/luck-lady-bug/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insects_in_mythology#Symbols,_amulets_and_omens thepleasantdream.com https://www.terriwindling.com/blog/2019/08/cats.html https://basepaws.com/blogs/news/meowgical-mythology-of-cats https://bnr.bg/en/post/101218868/mice-in-folklore-beliefs-and-traditions https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/water-dowsing.htm

    54 min
  3. 10/05/2021

    Damsels of Death Ep. 1 - Undead & Unfinished

    A ghost is said to be stuck on this mortal plane due to that ubiquitous phrase, "Unfinished Business." They are trapped, unable to move into the next phase because of something that happened while they were alive. Come with us in our inaugural episode of Season 2, The Damsels of Death, as we explore the unfinished business of Emily in The Corpse Bride, and Aggie Prendergast in Paranorman. Learn about the real origins of witches and zombies, and explore how film has used and changed these concepts to create the pointy hat wearing cacklers and lurching corpses we now know so well. Dig under the surface with us as we learn both Victorian and Jewish death rites, and enjoy the lighter side as we swap fun facts about the production of these two delightful Halloween movies. Welcome to Season 2 of The Damsel Dialogues! Music and SFX by Zapsplat.com Links: https://filmschoolrejects.com/witches-on-screen/ http://www.angelpig.net/victorian/engagement.html https://stacker.com/stories/13619/history-zombie-movies http://websites.umich.edu/~engl415/zombies/zombie.html https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/judaism https://www.verywellhealth.com https://www.victorianlondon.org/cassells/cassells-35.htm https://www.funeralbasics.org/do-funerals-still-matter/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/59550/era-body-snatchers https://www.fxguide.com/quicktakes/the-tech-behind-paranorman/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/02/160211-victorian-hair-art-work-jewelry-death-history/ www.arthistory.net/victorian-jet-jewelry/ https://www.history.com/news/post-mortem-photos-history https://victorianmonsters.wordpress.com/victorian-funerary-practices/ www.amazon.com/Murder-Magic-Medicine-John-Mann/dp/0198507445 Instyle.com

    1h 19m
  4. Episode 37: Raya - Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

    09/16/2021

    Episode 37: Raya - Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

    Disney really stepped up their game in 2021 when they produced an entire animated feature from home, in quarantine, during a worldwide pandemic. For our final episode of season one, we are discussing Raya and the Last Dragon, a tale of learning to trust again after betrayal, and the absolute need humans have to rely upon each other in order to grow and live freely. These lessons are always relevant, but even more keenly so in the midst of the turmoil we are all experiencing. Join Sarah as she delves one last time into the origins of a princess and the production of her film, and continue on with Jessica as she explores what it means to trust again when trust has been shattered. Raya and Namaari are our final princesses, and what a pair help us finish off season one.  SFX Provided by Zapsplat.com Historical Links: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/making-history-while-making-raya-and-the-last-dragon/ https://d23.com/disney-animation-makes-womens-history-while-making-raya-and-the-last-dragon/ https://www.techradar.com/news/raya-and-the-last-dragon-how-disney-made-its-latest-animated-movie-in-lockdown https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raya_and_the_Last_Dragon https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/03/10346209/raya-the-last-dragon-kumandra-based-on-southeast-asia Psychological Links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-ties-bind-us/202106/disneys-raya-and-the-economics-trust-examining-how-trust-facilitates https://www.moralrevolution.com/blog/3-steps-to-restoring-trust-after-betrayal https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/healing-sexual-trauma/202010/can-you-trust-again-after-being-betrayed https://psychcentral.com/blog/healing-the-wounds-of-betrayal#:~:text=Blaming%20and%20accusing%20is%20a,they%20hope%20to%20repair%20trust.

    1h 8m
  5. Episode 36: Moana - Moana (2016)

    09/09/2021

    Episode 36: Moana - Moana (2016)

    "I have crossed the horizon to find you. I know your name. They have stolen the heart from inside you. But this does not define you. This is not who are you are. You know who you are." These lyrics and the entirety of Moana illustrate the importance and beauty of truly seeing someone for who they are. Whether in regards to the island of Motunui seeing Moana's true gifts and destiny, or Moana being able to see the truth behind Te Ka's anger, this gorgeous movie holds up empathetic connection as true heroism. Join Sarah as she explores the true myths of the god Maui, and the inspiring production behind Moana, and then come with Jessica as she explores the way this film deals with trauma, truth and connection.  SFX Provided by Zapsplat.com Historical Links: https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/where-is-moana-from/ http://www.keliiskayak.com/legend-of-maui/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/moana-directors-reveal-how-story-changed-950468/ https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/moana-oceanic-trust-disney-controversy-pacific-islanders-polynesia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film) Psychological Links: https://bust.com/movies/193300-moana-feminized-heroism.html https://www.anewhopetc.org/post/moana#:~:text=If%20Moana%20went%20to%20therapy%2C%20she%20would%20have%20the%20chance,is%20hers%20and%20hers%20alone.&text=Moana%20has%20to%20process%20her,be%20by%20her%20own%20accord. https://medium.com/@sarah01890/cw-sexual-assault-db1207b57c3

    51 min
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Delve into the damsels that developed our psyches. A pinch of history, a dollop of psychology, and a sprinkle of fairy dust. And, of course, jokes. *Season 2: Damsels of Death* Macabre mistresses, creepy chicks. Mysterious mavens from cartoon flicks. What can they teach us of Death and beyond? The Damsels of Death, the show must go on! *Season 1- Princesses: Where Did They Come From, and Where Have They Taken Us?* Explore animated princesses from literary origin to lessons learned. A little film history, a little psych. A lot of fun with our favorite animated royals.