4 - A Thousand Fabulous Faces: Queering Culhwch and Olwen (Mab. c. 1050)

Queering Arthur

Welcome to 🌈Queering Arthur👑, our fourth episode of the podcast, where you can join us in exploring ✨queer interpretations🧠 of 🫅🏾The Mabinogion's Culhwch and Olwen📜. Context in this episode includes: trade of ideas as technology and the emergence of guilds in Britain after the Norman Conquest, portrayals of Edward I in media, conniving use of democracy to undo democracy itself, and syncretism of druidism within Celtic Christianity. Discussion includes: adaptation of literature for legitimate reasons (entertainment and education) and propagandistic reasons (such as adapting pagan myths to fit Christian frameworks, portray certain rulers in a favorable light, or reinforce societal norms like class hierarchy and patriarchy), the role of the superhero in propaganda over time (such as in Superman, Captain America, Luke Skywalker, and Sailor Moon), and the difference between the inner and outer quest in the hero's journey and other comparative literature techniques like the heroine's journey (such as in The Catcher in The Rye and the Sunstone comics). Analysis in the episode includes: the positive objectification of Olwen the maiden as a boon and the feminine transcendentalism as both exclusionary and freeing, Culhwch's yearning for a boon as a yearning for progress in queer rights over time as ebbs and flows of bittersweet advances and obstacles to advancement, negative objectification of Olwen the maiden as a assortment of body parts to serve the male gaze, and the complexity of whether Olwen's father is being overbearing or if he is grappling with the thought of growing old seeing his daughter move on to a new stage in life.

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As always, we're discussing these questions on our discord.

Discussion Questions:

1. What meaning do others assign to the term "boon" in the context of the text? Is it seen as objectifying or empowering? How does this perception align with or challenge traditional gender roles?

2. When Culhwch is described as "yearning for his boon" and encountering obstacles, how does this reflect the queer experience of navigating societal barriers? Is there a parallel between Culhwch's quest and the historical struggles of the LGBTQ+ community?

3. In the discussion of the ups and downs of queer rights throughout history, how does the analysis of societal progress intersect with the portrayal of yearning and obstacles in the text? Do the ebbs and flows of LGBTQ+ rights mirror Culhwch's journey for his "boon"?

4. Regarding the description of Olwen's physical attributes in the text, how does the emphasis on her appearance contribute to the objectification of women? In what ways does this reflect broader societal attitudes towards gender and desire?

5. When examining the portrayal of Olwen's physical features, how does the discussion of objectification connect to larger themes of patriarchy and power dynamics in the text? What role does objectification play in reinforcing or challenging traditional gender norms?

6. Considering the varying interpretations of gender and desire presented in the text, how does the portrayal of Olwen's beauty intersect with broader discussions of LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in literature? Are there alternative readings of Olwen's character that challenge traditional gender roles?

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Consider it: you can join us and discover the authentic queer narratives woven throughout Arthuriana from the authors and their works, the arts, language, history, politics, religion, and trade that shaped the culture. Unpack the 💖intertextuality📚 using mythology, psychology, biology, and cosmology 🏳️‍🌈 Come! 💙Queer Arthur💜 with us ₊˚✧𑁍.ೃ࿔*: #queer #podcast #arthurianlegend #lgbtq #hermeneutics #staychivalrous