Free Women, Free Men

Social critic Camille Paglia refers to herself as "abrasive, strident, and obnoxious." And those words also apply to her narration. This intelligent, opinionated academic offers an array of provocative philosophical and historical perspectives that span a range of topics. She covers Madonna, Queen Nefertiti, Freud, and the importance of understanding football as a strategy for women who are stepping into the public arena, just to name a few. She's clear about her stance. Not only does she enunciate her words, she also projects them, as if to prove a point to those who have devalued her work. For example, a fifth-grade teacher once kept her after school to research the word "aggressive," suggesting that it's a negative characteristic for girls. She's been shamed and also praised. This collection offers a fearless in-your-face narration of her work. T.E.C. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine