Literature for Life: Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar with Alyson Shelton
Download MP3In this episode, Jess speaks with fellow Femme On host Alyson Shelton about Sylvia Plath’s classic, The Bell Jar. We discuss navigating trauma and identity as a young teenage woman, the tumultuous and heartbreaking life of Plath, and how reading this novel today offers poignant commentary on the terrifying reversal of women’s rights unfolding in the United States.
Please keep in mind, we talk about suicide and sexual violence in this episode. If this is not something you feel able to listen to, we have many other wonderful episodes on the Femme On podcast channel that might offer what you need.
You can follow Alyson on Instagram where she hosts her wonderful poetry series Where I’m From: @byalysonshelton
You can also learn more about Alyson’s work on her website: www.alysonshelton.com/
Follow our host Jess on Instagram: @jess_bdavies
Creators and Guests
Host
Alyson Shelton (she/her)
Alyson Shelton writes about women across mediums + genres. She’s written about a superpowered and multi-faceted heroine in her comic Reburn, and uncovering childhood secrets in Eve of Understanding, the award winning feature she wrote and directed. In her award winning screenplay, The Night We Met, she tackles a psychological thriller through fractured realities and self-invention. She is working on a memoir in essays and her writing has been published widely at outlets including The New York Times, Ms., The Rumpus and more. Her generalist knowledge and approach make her the perfect fit for her podcast, Fine Cut, in which she and a guest take a deep dive into one scene of the guest’s choosing. You can learn more about her through her website, www.alysonshelton.com and her Instagram @byalysonshelton where she hosts a weekly Instagram Live series inspired by George Ella Lyon’s poem, Where I’m From, where she’s hosted over 100 writers and creatives.
