My undergraduate degree is in Politics & Diplomacy, with a minor in History. I focused on Chinese-American relations, and my thesis was on sex trafficking and prostitution in China. When I went back to school for my Master’s, I studied History & Literature, focusing especially on the emergence of sexual identities in late-Victorian England, and the ways those presented in fiction of that era. My thesis focused on Sherlock Holmes and used Victorian understandings of sexuality to explore how the Victorians might have understood Sherlock’s relationship with John.
Since then, I worked as a research assistant at a museum and as a freelance journalist. I loved both of those jobs because they gave me the chance to get to research more widely, studying artists and creators across time.
You could say that, in a way, everything has been leading me to creating this podcast! My first love has always been the stories of people who couldn’t follow the rules, and I’m really excited to finally have an outlet to share their stories with all of you.
I would LOVE to get to know you now! Tell me about what you like about history, what you’re working on these days, or just what your plans are for the weekend.
Sherlock was very clearly stereotyped as a gay man by Victorian standards of sexuality. They had lists of "evidence" that they used to "identify" sexuality, which they then used in prosecutions--some of which are still stereotypes we have today. Cleanliness, a clean-shaven face, liking theater and opera, living in certain neighborhoods, how his home was decorated... this was the "evidence" used to convict Wilde of same-sex liaiasons, and Sherlock checked every box. Unfortunately we don't have the equivalent of Tumblr posts from that time to see what normal people were saying about him, but people were turning in their single male neighbors to the police for less. Sherlock and John, living together when both were wealthy enough to not need to, in Marylebone and the West End, would certainly have come under suspicion if they'd lived in Real London. Maybe not everyone noticed the coding, but there had to have been people who picked up on it. That Doyle also stood of up for several people accused of homosexuality--including Wilde!--might have tipped off shrewd readers as well.
Hey y'all! I'm Joe, a big fan of UF. I studied Islamic history in college, and have been obsessed with the topic my whole life. I think what I like most about it is understanding that history could have happened differently, and the world would look very different if it had.
What I'm working on now: I write about politics and entertainment constantly, but I'm also working on my 2nd book (first one should be coming out this month).
Weekend plans: a jiu jitsu tournament, a COIN concert, and a backpacking trip. I'm pumped!
Oh I didn't know you'd studied Islamic history in college, that's pretty cool! And congrats on the book! (You sent me a copy and I started reading, but I haven't had the chance to finish yet, sorry!)
Jul 18, 2022·edited Jul 19, 2022Liked by Valorie Castellanos Clark
I’m a new subscriber and immediately was drawn to the concept of this newsletter! I studied history in undergrad (with a focus on political history) and have since swung over to the linguistics/education world, specifically second language learning & language revitalization. But of course, the history part of me still informs much of my thinking when it comes to language and how it intersects with people! Excited to learn more about the great troublemakers of history. :)
Thanks for subscribing Rebecca, I really apprecaite it! Language revitalization sounds lik esuch an interesting topic--I'm going to have to learn more about that.
Hello Valorie, it's lovely to see your face and hear about your background.
I have worked as a film editor and writer (mostly learning material, course guides etc.), but now I'm retired and spend most of my time attempting to write personal essays and feeling vaguely annoyed with myself for not getting more done. I love not having to complete pointless work activities, but miss the camaraderie that the working life entails.
I read a lot and publish a short newsletter every two weeks where I talk about what I've been reading, listening to, and eating. It keeps me amused and I've connected with some other lovely writers.
I totally get what you mean about missing the social aspect of work Marg! I work from home and it definitely can be kind of isolating. Thanks for introducing yourself. :)
Hi there! I so love a get-to-know you type thread!
I'm Samantha, a writer of plays, poems, and other various & sundry things. Also a writer who is currently on the arduous search for a day job. I also write on Substack under This'll Have to Do: a newsletter where it's the roaring (20)20s and we're all just tryping* our best. I took a selfie a day every day from March 2020 to May 2021 so the free version is a weekly look at those. Overall, it's mostly personal essays, plays, poems, etc. https://samjeancoop.substack.com/
I am a relatively new subscriber but have long been a lover of history. There's so much to be gained from understanding history and the origins of systems and issues that effect us today. Plus, there were some badass people from history and I want to know about them all. Especially ones who may not been known as well.
As a playwright, history is a big part of research phases for plays that require it. I'm currently in the research phase for a play about the funeral/burial industry. I just finished reading Jessica Mitford's The American Way of Death (Revisited). The original version of the book caused quite a stir in the 1960s and the "Revisited" version updates some of the information and facts for the 1990s.
P.S.
*tryping
adjective
when you are trying your best but not quite making it.
I love the idea of your thesis. So interesting. I love the "story" in history. Being able to drop into the lives of individuals in the past who moved the needle of our world, whether for good or ill (usually both), is endlessly illuminating. At the moment, I'm writing a book on Gandhi's Salt March in 1930. It set the standard for non-violent peace movements, including the civil rights campaign here in the US. Thanks for inviting us to introduce ourselves!
I come to history from a slightly odd vantage, or it feels like it at least. I studied Classics with Latin and Ancient Greek and have a penchant for Late Republican Rome. And then as a queer and disabled activist & advocate I've developed a real fascination with 19th and 20th century medicalisation and what I belive is the shared history of queer and disabled people in the eugenics movement and subsequent medical model. Plans for the weekend? Read about Sappho and write some more newsletters, or something.
I don't think that's odd at all! I absolutely agree that the rise of the medical field in the 19th and 20th century did a lot to medicalize anything "not normal" including disability and queerness. And we still use that language today!
Hey Writers. It's Shareef Mazibuko from South Africa. I'm a new kid in the block. Thanls for making this place a welcoming one. Hope to interact more here and share some inspirational stuff. Already have two reads, check them out and criticize constructively. Much love.
I love reading and listening to history especially those off the beaten path. I don't have any degrees in history, I was a bookkeeper until I had to retire for my disabilities. I spend my days with my birds reading, listening to podcasts and doing needlework.
Wait — so what would Victorians have thought of Sherlock and Watson's relationship?
I'm Elizabeth, a writer living in D.C. If you like books, I have recommendations at whattoreadif.substack.com
Sherlock was very clearly stereotyped as a gay man by Victorian standards of sexuality. They had lists of "evidence" that they used to "identify" sexuality, which they then used in prosecutions--some of which are still stereotypes we have today. Cleanliness, a clean-shaven face, liking theater and opera, living in certain neighborhoods, how his home was decorated... this was the "evidence" used to convict Wilde of same-sex liaiasons, and Sherlock checked every box. Unfortunately we don't have the equivalent of Tumblr posts from that time to see what normal people were saying about him, but people were turning in their single male neighbors to the police for less. Sherlock and John, living together when both were wealthy enough to not need to, in Marylebone and the West End, would certainly have come under suspicion if they'd lived in Real London. Maybe not everyone noticed the coding, but there had to have been people who picked up on it. That Doyle also stood of up for several people accused of homosexuality--including Wilde!--might have tipped off shrewd readers as well.
This is fascinating! Can you do an episode on Doyle or is he too well known?
He's on my list to cover someday!
Hey y'all! I'm Joe, a big fan of UF. I studied Islamic history in college, and have been obsessed with the topic my whole life. I think what I like most about it is understanding that history could have happened differently, and the world would look very different if it had.
What I'm working on now: I write about politics and entertainment constantly, but I'm also working on my 2nd book (first one should be coming out this month).
Weekend plans: a jiu jitsu tournament, a COIN concert, and a backpacking trip. I'm pumped!
Oh I didn't know you'd studied Islamic history in college, that's pretty cool! And congrats on the book! (You sent me a copy and I started reading, but I haven't had the chance to finish yet, sorry!)
Sounds like a packed weekend--enjoy!
Thank you!!
I’m a new subscriber and immediately was drawn to the concept of this newsletter! I studied history in undergrad (with a focus on political history) and have since swung over to the linguistics/education world, specifically second language learning & language revitalization. But of course, the history part of me still informs much of my thinking when it comes to language and how it intersects with people! Excited to learn more about the great troublemakers of history. :)
Thanks for subscribing Rebecca, I really apprecaite it! Language revitalization sounds lik esuch an interesting topic--I'm going to have to learn more about that.
Hello Valorie, it's lovely to see your face and hear about your background.
I have worked as a film editor and writer (mostly learning material, course guides etc.), but now I'm retired and spend most of my time attempting to write personal essays and feeling vaguely annoyed with myself for not getting more done. I love not having to complete pointless work activities, but miss the camaraderie that the working life entails.
I read a lot and publish a short newsletter every two weeks where I talk about what I've been reading, listening to, and eating. It keeps me amused and I've connected with some other lovely writers.
I totally get what you mean about missing the social aspect of work Marg! I work from home and it definitely can be kind of isolating. Thanks for introducing yourself. :)
Hi there! I so love a get-to-know you type thread!
I'm Samantha, a writer of plays, poems, and other various & sundry things. Also a writer who is currently on the arduous search for a day job. I also write on Substack under This'll Have to Do: a newsletter where it's the roaring (20)20s and we're all just tryping* our best. I took a selfie a day every day from March 2020 to May 2021 so the free version is a weekly look at those. Overall, it's mostly personal essays, plays, poems, etc. https://samjeancoop.substack.com/
I am a relatively new subscriber but have long been a lover of history. There's so much to be gained from understanding history and the origins of systems and issues that effect us today. Plus, there were some badass people from history and I want to know about them all. Especially ones who may not been known as well.
As a playwright, history is a big part of research phases for plays that require it. I'm currently in the research phase for a play about the funeral/burial industry. I just finished reading Jessica Mitford's The American Way of Death (Revisited). The original version of the book caused quite a stir in the 1960s and the "Revisited" version updates some of the information and facts for the 1990s.
P.S.
*tryping
adjective
when you are trying your best but not quite making it.
Thanks for subscribing and commenting, Samantha! I love tryping--might have to adopt that one for myself!
It's my favorite typo I'm made ever. Tryping covers all manner of sins.
I love the idea of your thesis. So interesting. I love the "story" in history. Being able to drop into the lives of individuals in the past who moved the needle of our world, whether for good or ill (usually both), is endlessly illuminating. At the moment, I'm writing a book on Gandhi's Salt March in 1930. It set the standard for non-violent peace movements, including the civil rights campaign here in the US. Thanks for inviting us to introduce ourselves!
Oh thank you! That sounds like a really fascinating topic, thanks for sharing!
I come to history from a slightly odd vantage, or it feels like it at least. I studied Classics with Latin and Ancient Greek and have a penchant for Late Republican Rome. And then as a queer and disabled activist & advocate I've developed a real fascination with 19th and 20th century medicalisation and what I belive is the shared history of queer and disabled people in the eugenics movement and subsequent medical model. Plans for the weekend? Read about Sappho and write some more newsletters, or something.
I don't think that's odd at all! I absolutely agree that the rise of the medical field in the 19th and 20th century did a lot to medicalize anything "not normal" including disability and queerness. And we still use that language today!
That sounds like an EXCELLENT weekend!
Hey Writers. It's Shareef Mazibuko from South Africa. I'm a new kid in the block. Thanls for making this place a welcoming one. Hope to interact more here and share some inspirational stuff. Already have two reads, check them out and criticize constructively. Much love.
Hi Shareef! Welcome to Substack!
I love reading and listening to history especially those off the beaten path. I don't have any degrees in history, I was a bookkeeper until I had to retire for my disabilities. I spend my days with my birds reading, listening to podcasts and doing needlework.
Sounds lovely.