logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
1h 2m

Queer Eye x Cruel Optimism

Witch, Please Productions
About this episode

What makes the Fab Five so fab? In this episode, Hannah leads Marcelle through a discussion of contemporary masculinities and their commodification via pop culture! They talk neo-liberalism, self-care discourse and the interplay of Trump's rise to power and "reaching across the aisle" through entertainment. Hannah pulls on theory from the late Lauren Berlant for a lesson on intimate publics and 'cruel optimism.'


This episode is for you if you:

  • watched the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
  • enjoy the reboot of Queer Eye
  • hate the reboot
  • think Antoni is a hunk
  • don't think Antoni is a hunk
  • care about the commodification of progressive ideals


If you like this episode, please share it with family and friends! Word-of-mouth is the primary way we reach new listeners who are interested in feminist materialist critique, pop culture and laughing at and from within *the discourse.* Share the show today!


***


Material Girls is a new show that aims to make sense of the zeitgeist through materialist critique* and critical theory! Each episode looks at a unique object of study (something popular now or from back in the day) and over the course of three distinct segments, Hannah and Marcelle apply their academic expertise to the topic at hand.


We'll be back in two weeks for another episode, but until then, be sure to check out all the bonus content we have on our Patreon at Patreon.com/ohwitchplease. You can learn more about the show at ohwitchplease.ca and on our instagram at instagram.com/ohwitchplease! Want more from us? Check out our website ohwitchplease.ca.


*Materialist Critique is, at its simplest possible level, a form of cultural critique – that is, scholarly engagement with a cultural text of some kind – that is interested in modes of production, moments of reception, and the historical and ideological contexts for both. Materialist critique is really interested in the question of why a particular cultural work or practice emerged at a particular moment.


Music Credits:

“Shopping Mall”: by Jay Arner and Jessica Delisle ©2020

Used by permission. All rights reserved. As recorded by Auto Syndicate on the album “Bongo Dance”.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 8
Proactive Kinship with Hannah McGregor | Gender Playground
As we continue our July break, we are dropping into your feed with an episode of Gender Playground! If you don't yet know, Gender Playground is a show about the joys of gender-affirming care for kids — and it's hosted by Marcelle. We love this show and we’re currently releasing n ... Show More
48m 32s
Jul 1
Should I Quit Drinking? with Marcelle Kosman | The Real Question
As we mentioned last month, Material Girls is taking a summer break for the month of July! We’ll be releasing drop-in episodes from other podcasts that we think you'll enjoy. Today, we're sharing The Real Question: Should I Quit? — a podcast from our friends at Not Sorry. Marcell ... Show More
26m 6s
Jun 24
Material Concerns: Marcelle and Coach Have One-on-One Time Pt. I | Ad-Free
No Hannah on this episode! But we still have fun! So much fun, we didn't record a part two... The burnout is real, but we're still so sorry! Part two is coming by the end of the week! Please enjoy this one-on-one chat between Marcelle and Coach until then! And be sure to scoop ti ... Show More
29m 3s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2021
Obsessions: Eliza Clark On The Enduring Joy Of Drag Race
This episode, we're so excited to be joined by the legend, Eliza Clark! The Boy Parts author will be telling us all about their love of Drag Race. Taking an adoring yet critical look at the TV franchise, Eliza will be chatting to us about why we should look beyond the US and UK v ... Show More
34m 21s
Mar 2024
Ethics of media piracy, gender essentialism & “male feminists,” Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
Hello listeners! Here is a new episode where we talk about feminism at length… who’s surprised? But before we get into the feminism of it all, we discuss various facets and corners in the world of media piracy and consuming digital content in response to a listener email. We cont ... Show More
2h 23m
May 2024
We Must Defend These Problematic Rom-Com Makeover Scenes
Ah the makeover scene... you know, the classic we took her glasses off and she was beautiful all along, moment of the movie? We didn’t say they weren’t problematic… but they do represent something far deeper than typical beauty standards. On today's episode we simply must defend ... Show More
22m 40s
Jan 2022
The Sleepover Club: The 'Toxic' Femininity Deep Dive Part Two - The Emergence Of 'Dissociative Feminism'
It's part two of the 'toxic' women deep dive! This week we're discussing the backlash against the 'evil' women genre and how the TikTok girlies are catapulting our obsession with these characters into a new era. From being in your 'fleabag era' and basing your whole life on the p ... Show More
24m 34s
Jul 2019
PEL Presents PMP#1: Pop Culture vs. High Culture
What is pop culture? Does it make sense to distinguish it from high culture, or can something be both? Welcome to this new pop culture podcast hosted by Mark Linsenmayer, Erica Spyres, and Brian Hirt. This episode also features Tyler Hislop, our editor. For more, see prettymuchpo ... Show More
43m 50s
Feb 2020
How to record sex, with podcaster Kaitlin Prest. Plus: fashion month explained by a trend forecaster
Award-winning podcaster Kaitlin Prest (of The Heart and Mermaid Palace) is one of the most innovative people making audio today. She chats with Lilah about sex, power and the grey areas around consent—as well as how her collective of queer anarchist outsiders climbed to the top o ... Show More
59m 22s
Apr 2021
"Who's At Village?!" (w/ Kate Berlant)
Matt and Bow get raw and real about their physical and mental health (mama, as they say in hospitals, "scalpel!") before launching into an episode truly for the ages with the one, the only, Kate Berlant! Often imitated but NEVER duplicated, this genuine hero and co-host (alongsid ... Show More
1h 33m
Jun 2017
"Yes..." (w/ Julio Torres)
Okay bitch, FOCUS UP! It’s time for a mesmerizing journey into the wondrous mind of Space Prince JULIO TORRES (SNL). Coming off a stressful apartment hunt, Julio joins Matt & Bowen in-studio to UNPACK all the CULTCH that SHAPED him. We’re talkin “I Dream Of Jeannie,” Jeannie’s ev ... Show More
1h 16m
May 2020
How is culture adapting to quarantine? Plus: our film critic on what to watch now
This week, we discuss the future of movies with FT film critic Danny Leigh. Will we see a wave of apocalypse dramas once this is over? Are mid-budget films under threat? And what little-known films should we be watching? In the second half of the show, Gris and Lilah take stock o ... Show More
48m 11s