We live in an era of cacophony: clamoring ‘opinions’ on social media, trolls upstaging sincere moments, outrage at the ready. We could almost call it the Age of Offensiveness. Someone is upset somewhere by every action, every verbal exchange. The Unruly duo examine speech and action and art as they navigate the lines between acceptable or offensive. Context, as always, sets the stage. We expect our comedians to be offensive. But our religious and political leaders? Or our bosses in work situations? No offense but…offensiveness is a slippery slope.
Song 1: “The Nasty Song” composed and sung by Dave Merrill with instrumental and vocal help from John V. Modaff and Vaughn Deel. (1984)
Poem 1: “Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home” by Mikki Aronoff. First published in Love’s Executive Order (background music Hail to the Chief by James Sanderson)
Short story excerpt: “Everyday Monsters” by Lynn C. Miller. Her new collection, The Lost Archive, came out in April, 2023: https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/6155.htm
Feed the Cat Break: "News From The Cat Network" by JVM (1997)
Poem 2: “What is Offensive” by Hilda Raz. Her latest book is Letters from a Place I’ve Never Been: Collected and New Poems. University of Nebraska Press, 2021. https://hildaraz.com/
Song 2: "Didja Want Toast Wit Dat?" composed & performed by TBone Kelly, registered France, 2015.
Episode artwork by Lynda Miller
Show theme and incidental music by John V. Modaff
The Unruly Muse is Recorded in Albuquerque, NM and Morehead, KY.
NEXT UP: Episode 27, “Friendship”