In this episode I'm joined by Valentina Gaio. Like myself, Valentina's research interests are broad, from popular culture to crime and horror, and we initially discuss the contemporary 18th century media depiction of the French Revolution. Our main topic today, however, centres on Victorian views of food (specifically slum inhabitants' diets), and the similarities to contemporary 21st century food campaigns. Specifically, we focus on Valentina's study on Jamie Oliver's public campaign, and how Victorian/19th century attitudes towards poverty, disadvantaged communities, diet, and how to help marginalised people maybe have not changed as much as we might initially imagine

About my guest: Valentina is a PhD student at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, who's currently preparing for her comprehensive exams. Her field of interest is Modern Popular Culture with a focus on crime and horror. She is interested in queer themes, social structures and hierarchies, and grief. She is currently working on an investigation of contemporary English reporting of the French Revolution. In addition to her academic work, she is an editor of the literary journal The Lamp and a prose writer. She received her BA in Modern Foreign Cultures and Languages at the University of Parma, her MA in English Studies at the University of Venice, and her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of St Andrews in Scotland

For more information on Valentina's work, check out the details below:

Instagram: @popcompromp
https://queensges.wordpress.com/reps/
"Let Them Eat Nuggets": https://20vg41.wixsite.com/thedoldrums/post/let-them-eat-nuggets

Check out Valentina's suggestions: (lInks to these can all be found in Valentina's article above)

Love and Toil: Motherhood in Outcast London by Ellen Rosson
"Food and the Cooking of the Working Class about 1900" by Eunice Schofield
"The provision of school meals since 1906: progress or a recipe for disaster?" by Alan Finch
"Jamie Oliver's War on Nuggets" by Dan Olson
Sunless Skies, a Lovecraftian videogame with a Neo-Victorian setting.

Valentina is helping to organise the Queen's Graduate Conference in Literature, so here is the live CFP: https://queensges.wordpress.com/queens-graduate-conference-in-literature-2/


Episode Credits:
Episode Writer, Editor and Producer: Emma Catan
Music: Burning Steaks (by Stationary Sign) - obtained via EpidemicSound

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Email: [email protected]