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Spongeworthy: The Casual Feminism of Ms. Elaine Marie Benes

What's the Deal With This Hiatus?

In this episode, we talk about "The Deal," in which Jerry and Elaine attempt to resume having sex with each other and maintain their friendship at the same time.

The Deal

TW: Extensive conversation about drug-assisted sexual assault and rape. In this episode we cover "The Revenge,"  we talk about revenge fantasies, Elaine's weaponization of her feminine wiles, the history of slipping Mickeys, and the beginnings of girlie feminism.

The Revenge

In this episode we discuss two back-to-back episodes from Season 2, "The Phone Message" and "The Apartment." We talk about when men turn hostile in dating, leaving yourself an "out" in a sexual encounter, and the coveted rent-controlled apartments of New York City.

The Phone Message / The Apartment

In this episode, we talk about "The Jacket," which is the first and only appearance of Elaine's father, Alton Benes. We discuss the evolution of masculinity between generations and the tension that creates, fathers and daughters, and fathers and their daughters' boyfriends.

The Jacket

In this episode, we take a look at "Male Unbonding," in which Jerry attempts to break up with an old childhood friend he really can't stand. We talk about loneliness in men, adult male friendships or the lack thereof, and the impact it has on women. Links to our source articles and the homepage for the Evryman support group below.   https://www.evryman.com/ https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a27259689/toxic-masculinity-male-friendships-emotional-labor-men-rely-on-women/   https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/05/mens-emotions-women-labor-patriarchy.html   https://www.menshealth.com/uk/mental-strength/a759609/the-truth-about-male-loneliness/

Male Unbonding

In this episode, we talk about "The Stakeout," in which we are introduced to Elaine's character for the first time. We talk about how the Elaine character came to be, light stalking, and the uncharted territory of trying to be friends with an ex.

The Stakeout

In our first episode we take a look at the pilot episode of Seinfeld, discuss the origins of the show, the absence of the Elaine character, and what was happening to feminism in the U.S. in 1989 when the show debuted.

Pilot (The Seinfeld Chronicles)

A preview of the new podcast Spongeworthy. Hosted by Caitlin Dinoski and Amy Kessler, Spongeworthy revisits the iconic TV show Seinfeld and the character of Elaine Benes and analyzes episodes from a feminist standpoint.

Spongeworthy Preview episode

We take a look at the original pilot for Seinfeld and discuss the show's beginnings, the absence of the Elaine character, and the gaps in communication between men and women.

Episode 001. The Seinfeld Chronicles

We take a look at The Stakeout, the first episode of Seinfeld in which Elaine appears. We talk about the background and casting of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, women in comedy, and trying to be friends with an ex.

Episode 002. The Stakeout

An examination of the iconic TV show Seinfeld through a feminist lens.

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Spongeworthy: The Casual Feminism of Ms. Elaine Marie Benes

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