Episode 128. The Feral Feminine: Cat People (1942)
Coming to you live from Salem Horror Fest , Andrea and Alex prowl the darkest corners of RKO’s cult classic Cat People . From the themes of immigration and assimilation to the parallels of sex and power, we uncover how Jacques Tourneur and Val Lewton’s dark vision of 1940s America remains a prescient warning. REQUIRED READING Cat People . Dir. Jacques Tourneur, 1942. EXTRA CREDIT What history tells us about assimilation of immigrants . The paper published by Stanford University that explains the trends that followed immigration booms in the US in the first half of the 20th century. On Female Rage: Does the Wallpaper Look Yellow to Anyone Else? The Harvard Crimson’s examination of a new age of feminine anger that is forever grappling with the past. When God Was a Woman . Merlin Stone’s 1976 exploration of pre-Christian religions where women led. The uproar over the New Yorker short story “Cat Person,” explained. Male hysteria at women writing fiction about their feelings. Gore-Geous: Personal Essays on Beauty and Horror. Alex’s new book includes more thoughts on Cat People . LISTEN Right click or option-click here and choose “Save Target As”