Ep. 49 Humble Bragging with Comets & the Commie Frida Kahlo

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Today Milena and Megan cover the first professional woman astronomer, Caroline Herschel (1750-1838) & queer, communist painter, the one, the only, Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954)

Caroline Herschel

Sometimes with the people we cover, everything works out in the end. They’re appreciated in their lifetime, credited with their ground breaking work and most importantly, no one dies of tuberculosis. That’s the case with the first Western professional woman astronomer, Caroline Herschel. Today Milena covers this 18th century scientist, revealing the impact of family relationships, just what the hell a comet actually is and most importantly, how to humble brag like a pro.

Frida Kahlo

There are some artists that just about everyone can name – Mexican painter Frida Kahlo is one of them. But how much do people actually know about the 20th century Magical Realist artist? On Megan’s end, turns out she didn’t know a lot. Megan corrects that today by exploring the biography of one of the leading modern feminist artists. Along the way we cover the heteronormative whitewashing that’s taken place, stripping Frida of her agency as a queer, disabled, communist artist.

Selected Works
Painted corset of Frida’s, showing not only a much desired child but featuring the iconic symbolism of her political ideology, Communism
1946 work The Wounded Deer, capturing Frida’s long term pain from an accident years prior
1932 painting Henry Ford Hospital (the flying bed) depicting Frida’s miscarriage while her and Diego were living in Detroit
Wedding portrait Frida painted not long after getting married in 1929 at the age of 22 (Diego being 20 years her senior)
Diego being creepy AF
Wanna know more? Always a book for that (usually) (or article)

Celeida Tostes by editors Marcus de Lontra Costa & Raquel Silva. Available to read for free, this is a great collection of essays in both Portuguese and English

As always, music by EeL