Came for that correction, as someone who lives 8 minutes from the Emily Dickinson house 🙂. Thanks for doing this video, I honestly never knew and the area her house is in is ironically so gay.
@@helRAEzzzer that's exactly what I figured happened. Western Massachusetts, Eastern coast of the country. Western mass in general is a place of opposites. Lol
I’m in a women’s history class, and our textbook talks a lot about “homo social” relationships between women in the 1800s. I couldn’t help but wonder if that term was accurate or just erasing lesbian relationships.
@@TheMags4life it really depends on each individual couple. Some were in what we would consider sexual relationships, some were not, and many were in between. Unfortunately, since much of the evidence has been destroyed by a society that felt the need to censor such things,it's hard to truly know.
@@emmaduncan2991 And then the same Historian will look at another situation in the same time period with gay guys and go "people were more openly affectionate back then! especially men!"
Could just hear John Mulaney's voice saying "College was all about your opinion, it's just you raising your hand and saying 'I think Emily Dickinson is a lesbian' and they're like 'partial credit' and it's a whole thing"
It means centered around the clitoris. In freudian terms this can be a criticism implying that a woman prefers a clitoral orgasm to a vaginal orgasm and external stimulation to internal. But who cares what Freud says
I just want to say thank you for acknowledging the possibility of her being bisexual. 90% of the time when historians are arguing over whether a person was gay or straight, no one even considers bisexuality as an option. There are so many times that there’s evidence of male and female lovers, and each side says that one piece of evidence invalidates the other evidence. It just drives me crazy, because they were probably romantic with both men and women but nooooo that can’t be right bisexuality wasn’t invented yet. Ughhhh.
It makes me mad, specially with Hans Christian Andersen. We have literal love letters and heartbroken diary entries talking about both men and women but noooooooo he was either straight and very close to his male friends or gay and everything else is a red herring. My man was (most likely) bi! Also gay icon Freddie Mercury? Probably bi too according to those closest to him
@@Mikael-bv4dw Evidence points to way higher possibility of Emily being gay rather than bi, while the show implies she was boy-crazy, it's pure homophobia. I don't think female bisexuals are underrepresented so there's a need to change orientation of lesbian historical figures to accomodate men. Judging from your name I assume you're a man, so maybe you don't know that there's huge difference between the representation of bisexual women and men. While there's lots of out gay male celebrities and few bi ones, it's completely reversed for women. There's dozens out bi female celebs, and like 5 lesbian ones.
I see your queer poet and I raise you a willing ally brother conspiracy: What if Austin was in on it and agreed to a marriage of convenience knowing that he could use male privilege to still have a mistress? Emily and Susan could be together even though they could actually marry each other, Austin could still be with Mabel, everyone’s happy (or should be), except for Mabel who felt like she was getting the short end of the stick; she didn’t get any of the real power and authority of being a married woman, and the man she loved was already married to someone who doesn’t even want to be with him; she probably blamed Susan for taking away her happily-ever-after, so she took revenge in classic mean girl fashion.
The affair with Mabel somewhat invalidates that simply because during that time infidelity was very scandalous and ultimately was extremely harmful to Susan and the children. Though I do think it is fair to say that Austin "knew" about Emily and her attachments to Susan and a woman named Kate, who the subject of the Rebecca Patterson book 'The Riddle of Emily Dickinson'. There was an understanding most definitely but I don't think Austin was so in on it.
One of my favorite Dickinson poems, that really highlights the level of pure snark she was able to reach: “Faith” is a fine invention For Gentlemen who _see_ ! But Microscopes are prudent In an Emergency! ...Oh, yeah. that was totally written by a depressed and repressed broken woman... _Sure_ it was! (eyeroll)
@@bubbles4897 What I'm "on about" is a snarky rebuttal to how Emily Dickinson is typically taught in American high schools, which paints her as *only* sad, a recluse, and asocial, with no other opinions on things -- certainly not as a woman with a favorable opinion of *Modern Science* (Because science and poetry are diametrically opposed, don't you know... And anyway, science is a Man's Domain). In other words, I'm trying to provide further evidence to back up the main points that Jesse made in this video, by again, drawing on Emily Dickinson's own words.
Capri-Omni Emily was great wasn’t she? but hm I haven’t learnt much about her but I certainly didn’t think she was only this sad being. I’ve read her poetry and she has a very vibrant mind
@@bubbles4897 I am of the firm opinion that learning about poets and poetry in school ruins them in most people's mind, because school curricula are set by school boards who must be very careful never to teach anything that might offend the sensibilities of the conservative parents. So all spirit is drained out of everything until it's dry and bland. That's why I think anyone who only learns about poetry outside of school to be very lucky indeed. (and yes, Emily was Great).
I don’t know if I remembered to comment on your migraine video, but thanks so very much. I have a son who is deaf to whom I recommended your channel. However my other son has migraines and recommended you. You gave him a lot of insight. There aren’t a lot of people in the world who talk about chronic pain. Thanks for helping my kids.
I live like a mile from Emily Dickinson's home (now a museum) and I've never had much interest in checking it out before... But now I'm going to go visit, and watch Wild Nights, and furthermore look forward to the new Dickinson series that's coming up.
I don't know what the popular interpretation of the poem is, but I always have interpreted "come slowly-eden" to be Emily Dickenson musing about going down on a woman. Just my opinion, but reminds me of the pathetically gay poetry i wrote as a teenager where I'd use metaphors and analogies in an attempt to hide the fact that the poems were just me lusting over a girl 😂 I mean, I guess you could argue it's just about sex, but the lack of gender pronouns (the only pronouns refer to the bee) make me go "THIS IS GAY": Come slowly - Eden! Lips unused to Thee - Bashful - sip thy Jessamines - As the fainting Bee - Reaching late his flower, Round her chamber hums - Counts his nectars - Enters - and is lost in Balms. Like, how is this NOT about someone going down on a woman? I don't know if Emily was thinking about going down on a woman, or wanting someone to go down on her, but I don't see how this poem can be interpreted as anything other than longing and lustful, and definitely about cunnilingus. Also, throughout the entire video I just kept resisting the urge to just comment "partial credit" because I'm pretty much incapable of not quoting john mulaney
@@czarownicatko the poem is so insanely sexual that I can't believe it's read in high schools 😂 like I remember reading it as a sophomore in high school. I didn't realize how graphic the imagery is until I rediscovered the poem a couple weeks ago. I love the fact that so many people read this unknowingly. I'm pretty sure my teacher was like "it's about spring" 😂 Hell, I think one of the AP english exams 6 or 7 years ago had questions about this poem.
The new Dickinson series did Emily's life at very best. As far as I've known, Sue was whom Emily had trusted to read most of her poems. In the show, Sue would be jealous when someone reads Emily's poems before she does. The show showcased how both Emily and Sue shared romantic relationships as such evidently shown on most of Emily's letters and poems subjected to Sue. As much as I love their romance, I also greatly adored the humor they put into Emily's story - though I'm very sad it ended sooner, yet it was enough to portray Dickinson's life as a huge importance in historical literature. Also, when Emily died, Lavinia (Emily's sister) decided to let Sue perform the intimate act of washing Emily's body. Emily died years before Sue did. I can't imagine the years of sadness and loneliness Sue felt after Emily's death as Emily was the only one she could trust.
As someone who has read every single published letter Emily wrote to Susan and is now reading the Rebecca Patterson book 'The Riddle of Emily Dickinson' - Emily was definitely not straight. Many of the family and friends in Emily's life, including Mabel, cousins, Susan, and Susan's daughter, went to great pains to obscure timelines and to prevent certain poems from publication due to the more suggestive or revealing nature of the poems or letters. Susan herself was hesitant to publish poems that she felt were too revealing, or even censored them herself, so to a certain extent some of this was created as an attempt to protect Emily and Susan - as well as Kate Scott who is the woman the book 'The Riddle of Emily Dickinson' focuses on. Notably, Kate went on to live somewhat openly as a gay woman in Europe and so Emily's attachment to her is a lot more difficult to then perceive as anything other than romantic. Most of Mabel's erasures were mentions of Susan in other letters that were published, but the letters that Emily wrote to Susan remained untouched; they simply were neglected and unstudied while people focused on three letters known as "The Master Letters" - the basis for many claims toward Emily's "fixations" on men. Some of her poems do contain reference to men, but some of these exist as two versions: the first more private editions have female pronouns, the versions she herself prepared for publishing have male pronouns. Which suggests to me an understanding of herself as a woman whose love for women was not the conventional "romantic friendship" as so many scholars characterize relationships to women especially before the 1950's. Her attachments were passionate and erotic and she knew it. Too, she speaks of marriage to a woman, "her bride", and other notable references. Emily's legacy is fascinating because of how complicated it is and while a lot of it was intentional gay-erasure, some of that was even occurring as a means of protections and survival but I am so happy that now she is known as a full and vibrant human being who lived an incredibly passionate life Also, Wild Nights With Emily is one of my all time favorite films and I think everyone should see it.
Mabel Loomis Todd was an overall despicable human being, rejoicing at the death of Austin and Susan's little boy and continuosly wishing harm on Susan (her letters prove so), all out of sheer jealousy. She tried to entice Emily with gifts more than once, hoping to get to see her, but Emily always refused a meeting, keeping to herself upstairs and throwing poem-based shade at her. Like: Their dappled importunity Disparage or dismiss - The Obloquies of Etiquette Are obsolete to Bliss - She was a badass.
He...didn’t...have time?! So, he would rather put out a lie. No, thank you. Besides, Molly Shannon is a hilarious actor! I need to put “Wild Nights...” in my queue to watch! Thank you for posting. 🥰❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
I'm so in love with your little cherries! Are they a brooch or a necklace? side note enjoying your video while on bed rest after a nightmare spinal tap.
I wrote a few term papers on her and I am so glad you're sharing the truth with people (: there is so much more to get than in the history books and it is so sad.
Hello Jessica Kellgran Fozard, Have you seen "Dickinson" yet? It is funny, heartwarming, sad & it finally puts the romance between Emily & Sue at the center of the show. They are the reason the show works & the chemistry between Hailee Stienfeld & Ella Hunt is electrifying Trust me. If you haven't seen it yet, please do. You won't be disappointed.
Your asides to the second camera are making me laugh like crazy, and also reminding me of Gentleman Jack’s fourth wall breaks (although Gentleman Jack is taking up approximately 80% of my gay brain lately).
honestly thank god for "dickinson" (apple tv+'s rendition of her life). it depicts her love for sue in a very non-platonic way and centers it as a core aspect of her life -- as it should. by all accounts, sue was her lifelong muse, her one constant love. while it's true that it would be difficult to categorize emily under any of the labels we use today, it's absolutely 1000% clear that she was NOT, in any sense of the word, heterosexual. it's no surprise that so many historians dismiss the romantic significance of emily and sue's relationship though, because history has long been one of the most prominently and consistently heteropatriarchal spheres of academia worldwide. still, i'm glad we have so many content creators and cultural commentators like yourself who are calling bullshit on the near-two centuries of erasure of emily's queerness -- and the subsequent galpaling of emily and sue. i look forward to the day where we can discuss the importance of romantic relationships between women in history as the rich pillars of their lives that they were. hopefully that comes around the same time when lesbian/wlw relationships will stop being delegitamized by society as a whole as well.
One of my favorite poets. I struggle to be succinct and Emily was a master !! She said so much in a short short poem and I will forever be grateful for her wise, lyrical and brilliant poems. If she was gay, it only deepens my respect for her and how she coped.
I went to Mount Holyoke for a year and, fun fact, all of the students were watched during a sermon upon entering the seminary to determine how fervently they believed in God. Emily was one of the few students deemed "Beyond Hope" of ever being saved.
We read one of her poems in school and ive known a a lot about her because of my grandpa. My teacher said her poem that we were reading was about a man and i raised my hand and went "no its about her secret female lover susan who was married to her brother"
Have you heard of the new tv series "Dickinson" yet? Apparently it describes Emily as being in love with "her best friend, and her brother's fiance, Sue". :O
This is Amazing! My schooling program had me read a few of Emily's works, and I instantly thought to myself "is she gay?" And then they told me that she was a reclusive lonely unmarried woman. Which made me think "OMG she's probably gay!" But not wanting to start telling everyone my opinion and then find out that she had written several letters to a man that people consider her lover, I didn't express my thoughts. Now I Know I can tell people without the fear of humiliation. Thank you!
I'm very happy that my true introduction to Emily Dickinson's body of work came in college. I actually took an LGBT poetry course a few years ago taught by the very Professor Smith you mention in this video. So, much of the class was spent discussing just how gay her poems would get. It was super fun considering more than half of the class were gay and bi girls.
the thing is this was one of the first videos i watched of you and when i first watched it i found it so hilariously funny how you spoke so formal in front of the camera and when you turn your head in a somewhat formal voice use modern day “slang” and i still do find it funny
Thank you for this video! I’ve loved her poetry since I was a child and was delighted to find out that being gay was something we have in common when I was older. I had never heard of a film addressing it and I’m so excited to watch it now!
OK, yes, even by the supposedly more touchy-feely female friendship standards of the time period, that letter is incredibly sexually charged and was not written by a heterosexual woman.
As a teacher in Florida, I always chuckle since Dickinson and Whitman are always in the same unit. I subtly tell my students “they were born in the wrong time, and weren’t allowed to be themselves”, it’s a…IYKYK moment
Yay, you told me alot of unknown information about one of my favorite female poets!! I really enjoyed this alot and it was an interesting topic, because i have never heard anything about her sexuality. All i kept hearing was how shy and quiet and weird she was, there was even a book that mentions she would only talk to people behind a wall.
i just had someone say on another video comment section that " lesbians can't be feminine because attraction to women is masculine" so i am here to watch jessica who is 10 times more feminine than my straight ass will ever be and laugh.
This brings me even more problems with how my sixth grade teacher taught poetry. I never understood the description of her as a recluse after reading some of her poems and some of her letters.
I've always loved Emily's poems, and it makes me so glad to think she had a happy and fulfilling life instead of what we were taught in school. Thank you, Jessica, for giving us this info! And yes, no one can take it away! :)
Thank you for bringing up this discussion. After reading Dickinson's letters I would agree that she was probably bi sexual. She had to be in love with Susan to speak of her so romantically. It's hard to tell exactly because we don't have Susans responses to the letters. Also, I love you clearing up her stereotype of being boring and reclusive. Emily was a comedian....she was really funny and childlike in her demeanor. She knew how to have fun. She didn't take life to seriously like most stuffy people back then.
Just in time for Apple TV to advertise their new Dickson series! I really hope they actually show her real relationship with Susan. If the girl she’s talking to in the very beginning of the trailer is Susan, than the strange sexual tension makes sense lmao
I am having another Dickinson phase after reading a number of her poems for college (more than i was supposed to) and GOOD LORD is her gayness apparent. How do people disregard it s easily????
I’ve never read or heard of Emily so thought that watching the movie (the miserable one) was a good idea. So glad you did this video so I can watch the other one!
I was taught she was in love with another woman and got rejected, hence her bitter retreat from the world. Now I wanna find whoever told me that and shake them. Thanks for the wonderful video! Must hunt down those uncensored letters and movie now.
I’m a little bit late, but it would be incredible If you react/ review the Apple+ TV show “Dickinson”. I would like yo hear your approach and opinion about it in relation with the real events of Emily’s life.
The only issue I have with the word “partner” is when it is automatically assigned to married LGBTQ couples. If that’s what the couple wants that is amazing, but I love that finally FINALLY Gay couples can assert their love legally and happily call their spouse Wife or Husband. Partner sounds like a business relationship in my mind though,
Edit: pls ignore this because I just re-read what you wrote and it says you only dislike it when it's automatically assigned to gay people 🤦🏽♀️ I actually tend to use it in reference to my long term partner and he's a cis man and I'm a cis woman (although I am bi so idk if that matters) . But I use partner because we're not married and it feels silly to call him boyfriend after being together for so long.
@@legioxciicorvus5917 marriage isnt between just a man and a woman NOW. I mean i guess it depends on where you live but its legal for any two people everywhere in the US. So i dont know what you are on about. Im not sure how any of your comments make ant sense in any context. Why do you explain what you are upset about.
'Dickinson' is an upcoming American comedy web television series created by Alena Smith and produced for Apple TV+. It is scheduled for release on November 1, 2019. Dickinson takes place "during Emily Dickinson’s era with a modern sensibility and tone. It takes viewers into the world of Emily, audaciously exploring the constraints of society, gender, and family from the perspective of a budding writer who doesn’t fit in to her own time through her imaginative point of view. Dickinson is Emily’s coming-of-age story - one woman’s fight to get her voice heard."
I cannot wait to see how they portray her in the new movie Dickinson with Hailee Steinfeild! The movie is only on Apple TV so idk if I’ll be able to watch it. It looks really cool though showing her more adventurous and fun side
First, Love it!! Second. I must know the font you used in the sign you held up. It was very easy to read. Also the grey text was a nice touch making it ever so slightly easier to read. Asking as a dyslexic.
There a new TV series staring Hailee Steinfeld that is about the life of Emily Dickinson coming out on appletv+ on November 1st called Dickinson it looks pretty good from the trailer. Thought y'all might like to know.
I avoided Emily Dickinson's poetry up until now (it's not sth we are taught in schools where I live) because of this image of a lonely, sad, "pure" woman. I have read especially the word "pure" describing her a dreadfull amount of times and it always made me... not that interested, you know? But, well- I am going to the library tomorrow.
I so look forward to these! So important to spread how and why history just isn't history- like some unchangeable thing carved into stone! Perspective, information, and people straight up interfering is such a thing! "Do your homework kids!"
I am 100% here for your literary sass. Many belly laughs at your perfectly timed asides, that exquisite sign, and your concluding, ‘Nyah-na-na-na-na.’ Thank you, Jessica!
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Oh dear...I know that Massachusetts is on the East Coast of America, I just misspoke! [facepalm]
as a massachusetts resident, we all forgive you ♡
Its fine
We all do it
Also i love your channel
Came for that correction, as someone who lives 8 minutes from the Emily Dickinson house 🙂. Thanks for doing this video, I honestly never knew and the area her house is in is ironically so gay.
Shit happens. Lol! I'd imagine Amherst being in western MA could tongue tie anyone outside of the US when explaining the area! 😊❤
@@helRAEzzzer that's exactly what I figured happened. Western Massachusetts, Eastern coast of the country. Western mass in general is a place of opposites. Lol
Any two women in the history of time: "We're deeply, madly in love with one another."
Historian: "Ah, just gals being pals."
And it's a mood!
r/Sapphoandherfriend
I’m in a women’s history class, and our textbook talks a lot about “homo social” relationships between women in the 1800s. I couldn’t help but wonder if that term was accurate or just erasing lesbian relationships.
@@TheMags4life it really depends on each individual couple. Some were in what we would consider sexual relationships, some were not, and many were in between. Unfortunately, since much of the evidence has been destroyed by a society that felt the need to censor such things,it's hard to truly know.
@@TheMags4life it is, indeed. I started writing fantasy novels because I was so frustrated about it
There's no heterosexual explanation for that letter
"Ghosts!"
It could be a forgery. I'm not saying it is or isn't, but it is a heterosexual explanation.
Oh but, "people were more openly affectionate back then! especially women!"
@@emmaduncan2991 And then the same Historian will look at another situation in the same time period with gay guys and go "people were more openly affectionate back then! especially men!"
Yes, but only if Emily was actually a straight transman. It's possible.
emily dickinson: *is clearly gay*
historian: wait that's illegal
Historians on Ancient Greece be like
How the new season of Dickinson is looking like
" ah! Roomates!"
2020 showrunner version: let's make her bisexual as an excuse to throw cohorts of men at her, will silence any criticism with accusation of biphobia.
@@corabosse342 oh my god they were _roommates!_
Could just hear John Mulaney's voice saying "College was all about your opinion, it's just you raising your hand and saying 'I think Emily Dickinson is a lesbian' and they're like 'partial credit' and it's a whole thing"
Might not work in a Physics class, though.
Disabled Diaries I can too
@@JohnZ117 not with that attitude
Yeah I thought of that immediately when I saw him in the new series about Emily! 😂😍
reminder he actually played a small character on the new apple tv show about emily
“College was just like I think Emily Dickinson was a lesbian and that was like a whole thing “
I haven’t watched the video yet, and without punctuation that sentence can be read so many ways :D
Partial credit!
🤣🤣🤣
@@Paulinemoke It is a John Mulaney joke
Is there a clip of that on RUclips?
“Lesbians: we’re really intense” is such a mood omg 😂
And such an acurate description lol
History class but it's just Jessica telling us everyone was gay.
I love that
History oops all gay
It's a vibe
My favorite genre.
OHMYGOD THEY WERE ROOMMATES.
*gay laughter intensifies *
👀
Besties
FRIK YEAJDMKEKR
gAl PaLs
Me be like: 🙋♀️ I think Emily Dickinson is a lesbian
My college professor be like: Partial credit
Meghan i love finding a fellow culture viewer
john mulaney is so intellectual
Ah yes. I see that you too are a man most aquainted with misery. Making your living in murder and all.
@@fionamagill3461 Are you not a spoon full of sugar kind of guy?
“Cliterocentrecism” needs to be printed diagonally in front of a rainbow on a soft pink T-shirt and passed out to the masses because amazing.
what does it mean?
@@ViviKlave Clitoris Centered :D
I want it on a T-shirt right now!
I'd wear that
It means centered around the clitoris. In freudian terms this can be a criticism implying that a woman prefers a clitoral orgasm to a vaginal orgasm and external stimulation to internal. But who cares what Freud says
I just want to say thank you for acknowledging the possibility of her being bisexual. 90% of the time when historians are arguing over whether a person was gay or straight, no one even considers bisexuality as an option. There are so many times that there’s evidence of male and female lovers, and each side says that one piece of evidence invalidates the other evidence. It just drives me crazy, because they were probably romantic with both men and women but nooooo that can’t be right bisexuality wasn’t invented yet. Ughhhh.
Susan was (almost) openly bisexual. I don't believe Emily was.
It makes me mad, specially with Hans Christian Andersen. We have literal love letters and heartbroken diary entries talking about both men and women but noooooooo he was either straight and very close to his male friends or gay and everything else is a red herring. My man was (most likely) bi!
Also gay icon Freddie Mercury? Probably bi too according to those closest to him
Yea I mean,probably Alexander Hamilton was Bisexual
Ikr, and I’m glad she’s portrayed as bisexual in the tv+ series “Dickinson” casting Hailee Steinfeld
@@Mikael-bv4dw Evidence points to way higher possibility of Emily being gay rather than bi, while the show implies she was boy-crazy, it's pure homophobia. I don't think female bisexuals are underrepresented so there's a need to change orientation of lesbian historical figures to accomodate men. Judging from your name I assume you're a man, so maybe you don't know that there's huge difference between the representation of bisexual women and men. While there's lots of out gay male celebrities and few bi ones, it's completely reversed for women. There's dozens out bi female celebs, and like 5 lesbian ones.
YYYAAAASSSS BISEXUALS EXIST!
I LOVE so much that Jessica is so supportive of and accepting of bisexual people! Warms my heart
Darn right we exist🥰
emily was definitely bi
do ppl think they dont!?
@Azure and that you automatically switch when in a monogamous relationship, so stupid.
"Whether you were possibly lied to in school" I mean,,, I learned as a kid that Columbus was a hero so,,,
I see your queer poet and I raise you a willing ally brother conspiracy:
What if Austin was in on it and agreed to a marriage of convenience knowing that he could use male privilege to still have a mistress? Emily and Susan could be together even though they could actually marry each other, Austin could still be with Mabel, everyone’s happy (or should be), except for Mabel who felt like she was getting the short end of the stick; she didn’t get any of the real power and authority of being a married woman, and the man she loved was already married to someone who doesn’t even want to be with him; she probably blamed Susan for taking away her happily-ever-after, so she took revenge in classic mean girl fashion.
have a similar theory about Austin being part of some sort of an arrangement... the fact that they had children gives me hesitation however
The affair with Mabel somewhat invalidates that simply because during that time infidelity was very scandalous and ultimately was extremely harmful to Susan and the children. Though I do think it is fair to say that Austin "knew" about Emily and her attachments to Susan and a woman named Kate, who the subject of the Rebecca Patterson book 'The Riddle of Emily Dickinson'. There was an understanding most definitely but I don't think Austin was so in on it.
😂😂😂
Emily Dickinson went to my college Mount Holyoke and we are all gay here so...
I was about to comment something to this effect.
Between mount Holyoke and Smith, Massachusettes, is pretty much "state 'o lesbo!" (I need to move!)
That comment knocked me of my sofa ;-))
😂
I wanted to go to this school soooo bad when I was 17 applying to colleges
Speaking from experience, going to Mount Holyoke also counts as "gay stuff."
BIG YUP
Isn't that the one where Mary Emma Woolley was President and had a relationship with Jeanette Marks?? (a European here lol)
@@nikakozar832 Yes. The LGBTQ campus center is actually called the Jeannette Marks House (I know as I spend much of my time there).
@@nikakozar832 But honestly the Marks house isn't as necessary as it once was as a large percentage of the student body is out.
Title: "was she gay???"
Jessica: "obviously, why do you even ask?"
//loved the video!
69 likes
Steamy gay history and literature, by a very lovely gay lady.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart mentioning bisexuality and that it's real. Can you do a video about this sometime?
One of my favorite Dickinson poems, that really highlights the level of pure snark she was able to reach:
“Faith” is a fine invention
For Gentlemen who _see_ !
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency!
...Oh, yeah. that was totally written by a depressed and repressed broken woman... _Sure_ it was! (eyeroll)
you can be depressed and have a humor, and also you can be at least happy at times what are you on about?
@@bubbles4897 What I'm "on about" is a snarky rebuttal to how Emily Dickinson is typically taught in American high schools, which paints her as *only* sad, a recluse, and asocial, with no other opinions on things -- certainly not as a woman with a favorable opinion of *Modern Science* (Because science and poetry are diametrically opposed, don't you know... And anyway, science is a Man's Domain).
In other words, I'm trying to provide further evidence to back up the main points that Jesse made in this video, by again, drawing on Emily Dickinson's own words.
Capri-Omni Emily was great wasn’t she? but hm I haven’t learnt much about her but I certainly didn’t think she was only this sad being. I’ve read her poetry and she has a very vibrant mind
@@bubbles4897 I am of the firm opinion that learning about poets and poetry in school ruins them in most people's mind, because school curricula are set by school boards who must be very careful never to teach anything that might offend the sensibilities of the conservative parents. So all spirit is drained out of everything until it's dry and bland.
That's why I think anyone who only learns about poetry outside of school to be very lucky indeed. (and yes, Emily was Great).
Capri-Omni i also love that one!!
The title of this video: was Emily Dickinson gay?
The thumbnail of the video: How gay was Emily Dickinson?
Jessica: So gay
"DO YOUR HOMEWORK KIDS!" Gah I loved this video. And I absolutely adore the little cherries collar (?) Thingy. Fantastic as always Jessica
Sleep overs with my girl friend as teenagers I laughed so incredibly hard
I don’t know if I remembered to comment on your migraine video, but thanks so very much. I have a son who is deaf to whom I recommended your channel. However my other son has migraines and recommended you. You gave him a lot of insight. There aren’t a lot of people in the world who talk about chronic pain. Thanks for helping my kids.
🙏🙏❤️❤️
I would LOVE to see an update to this once Apple's "Dickinson" drops. Love your historical videos, they are so informative. And sassy :)
Jessica was Susan in her past life. That's why she knows everything 😂
I live like a mile from Emily Dickinson's home (now a museum) and I've never had much interest in checking it out before... But now I'm going to go visit, and watch Wild Nights, and furthermore look forward to the new Dickinson series that's coming up.
I've been seeing ads for that show and I'm like, "But I didn't want Apple TV!" Damn it.
@@fairynerdy Yeah same but I'm hoping to figure a way around it... Maybe convince a family member to go in on it. Dickinson just looks so good.
"I'm claiming her as a seminal queer poet and you cant take that away from me so na na na na na na" such an iconic mood
I don't know what the popular interpretation of the poem is, but I always have interpreted "come slowly-eden" to be Emily Dickenson musing about going down on a woman. Just my opinion, but reminds me of the pathetically gay poetry i wrote as a teenager where I'd use metaphors and analogies in an attempt to hide the fact that the poems were just me lusting over a girl 😂
I mean, I guess you could argue it's just about sex, but the lack of gender pronouns (the only pronouns refer to the bee) make me go "THIS IS GAY":
Come slowly - Eden!
Lips unused to Thee -
Bashful - sip thy Jessamines -
As the fainting Bee -
Reaching late his flower,
Round her chamber hums -
Counts his nectars -
Enters - and is lost in Balms.
Like, how is this NOT about someone going down on a woman? I don't know if Emily was thinking about going down on a woman, or wanting someone to go down on her, but I don't see how this poem can be interpreted as anything other than longing and lustful, and definitely about cunnilingus.
Also, throughout the entire video I just kept resisting the urge to just comment "partial credit" because I'm pretty much incapable of not quoting john mulaney
I told this my teacher as I thought the same! She firstly had horrified face, then rode the poem again and agreed.
@@czarownicatko the poem is so insanely sexual that I can't believe it's read in high schools 😂 like I remember reading it as a sophomore in high school. I didn't realize how graphic the imagery is until I rediscovered the poem a couple weeks ago.
I love the fact that so many people read this unknowingly. I'm pretty sure my teacher was like "it's about spring" 😂
Hell, I think one of the AP english exams 6 or 7 years ago had questions about this poem.
Sorry to nitpick, but the second stanza says "his" and "her" which would seem to indicate hetero sex. But I agree that it's very sexual.
Bonnie A remember her manuscripts were censored and the views on homosexuality back then were awful
It’s a sex power mode right! But the term “cum“ or, come was not used. Perhaps climax. Nonetheless, it’s very sexual
The new Dickinson series did Emily's life at very best. As far as I've known, Sue was whom Emily had trusted to read most of her poems. In the show, Sue would be jealous when someone reads Emily's poems before she does. The show showcased how both Emily and Sue shared romantic relationships as such evidently shown on most of Emily's letters and poems subjected to Sue. As much as I love their romance, I also greatly adored the humor they put into Emily's story - though I'm very sad it ended sooner, yet it was enough to portray Dickinson's life as a huge importance in historical literature.
Also, when Emily died, Lavinia (Emily's sister) decided to let Sue perform the intimate act of washing Emily's body. Emily died years before Sue did. I can't imagine the years of sadness and loneliness Sue felt after Emily's death as Emily was the only one she could trust.
As someone who has read every single published letter Emily wrote to Susan and is now reading the Rebecca Patterson book 'The Riddle of Emily Dickinson' - Emily was definitely not straight. Many of the family and friends in Emily's life, including Mabel, cousins, Susan, and Susan's daughter, went to great pains to obscure timelines and to prevent certain poems from publication due to the more suggestive or revealing nature of the poems or letters. Susan herself was hesitant to publish poems that she felt were too revealing, or even censored them herself, so to a certain extent some of this was created as an attempt to protect Emily and Susan - as well as Kate Scott who is the woman the book 'The Riddle of Emily Dickinson' focuses on. Notably, Kate went on to live somewhat openly as a gay woman in Europe and so Emily's attachment to her is a lot more difficult to then perceive as anything other than romantic. Most of Mabel's erasures were mentions of Susan in other letters that were published, but the letters that Emily wrote to Susan remained untouched; they simply were neglected and unstudied while people focused on three letters known as "The Master Letters" - the basis for many claims toward Emily's "fixations" on men.
Some of her poems do contain reference to men, but some of these exist as two versions: the first more private editions have female pronouns, the versions she herself prepared for publishing have male pronouns. Which suggests to me an understanding of herself as a woman whose love for women was not the conventional "romantic friendship" as so many scholars characterize relationships to women especially before the 1950's. Her attachments were passionate and erotic and she knew it. Too, she speaks of marriage to a woman, "her bride", and other notable references.
Emily's legacy is fascinating because of how complicated it is and while a lot of it was intentional gay-erasure, some of that was even occurring as a means of protections and survival but I am so happy that now she is known as a full and vibrant human being who lived an incredibly passionate life
Also, Wild Nights With Emily is one of my all time favorite films and I think everyone should see it.
Mabel Loomis Todd was an overall despicable human being, rejoicing at the death of Austin and Susan's little boy and continuosly wishing harm on Susan (her letters prove so), all out of sheer jealousy.
She tried to entice Emily with gifts more than once, hoping to get to see her, but Emily always refused a meeting, keeping to herself upstairs and throwing poem-based shade at her. Like:
Their dappled importunity
Disparage or dismiss -
The Obloquies of Etiquette
Are obsolete to Bliss -
She was a badass.
Our wedding cake had a Dickinson quote on it: “Love is life, and life hath immortality”
He...didn’t...have time?! So, he would rather put out a lie. No, thank you. Besides, Molly Shannon is a hilarious actor! I need to put “Wild Nights...” in my queue to watch! Thank you for posting. 🥰❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
I dearly want this whole queer poets thing to become a series! So lovely and funny with added educational bonus ❤️❤️
I'm so in love with your little cherries! Are they a brooch or a necklace?
side note enjoying your video while on bed rest after a nightmare spinal tap.
Ouuuuuch. How you feeling now?
I wrote a few term papers on her and I am so glad you're sharing the truth with people (: there is so much more to get than in the history books and it is so sad.
Love you Jessica! Love your historical videos! Keep making them!
And thank you for the bi shout-out!
Hello Jessica Kellgran Fozard,
Have you seen "Dickinson" yet? It is funny, heartwarming, sad & it finally puts the romance between Emily & Sue at the center of the show. They are the reason the show works & the chemistry between Hailee Stienfeld & Ella Hunt is electrifying Trust me. If you haven't seen it yet, please do. You won't be disappointed.
So true! they are the captains of the show
Your asides to the second camera are making me laugh like crazy, and also reminding me of Gentleman Jack’s fourth wall breaks (although Gentleman Jack is taking up approximately 80% of my gay brain lately).
honestly thank god for "dickinson" (apple tv+'s rendition of her life). it depicts her love for sue in a very non-platonic way and centers it as a core aspect of her life -- as it should. by all accounts, sue was her lifelong muse, her one constant love. while it's true that it would be difficult to categorize emily under any of the labels we use today, it's absolutely 1000% clear that she was NOT, in any sense of the word, heterosexual. it's no surprise that so many historians dismiss the romantic significance of emily and sue's relationship though, because history has long been one of the most prominently and consistently heteropatriarchal spheres of academia worldwide.
still, i'm glad we have so many content creators and cultural commentators like yourself who are calling bullshit on the near-two centuries of erasure of emily's queerness -- and the subsequent galpaling of emily and sue. i look forward to the day where we can discuss the importance of romantic relationships between women in history as the rich pillars of their lives that they were. hopefully that comes around the same time when lesbian/wlw relationships will stop being delegitamized by society as a whole as well.
Wonderfully worded comment! I agree completely.
Jessica: morse code gay eyes
Me: “yes yes mhm spill that tea sis”
One of my favorite poets. I struggle to be succinct and Emily was a master !! She said so much in a short short poem and I will forever be grateful for her wise, lyrical and brilliant poems. If she was gay, it only deepens my respect for her and how she coped.
I did actually learn in school that Emily Dickinson was (possibly) gay, but I had particularly cool English teachers
I went to Mount Holyoke for a year and, fun fact, all of the students were watched during a sermon upon entering the seminary to determine how fervently they believed in God. Emily was one of the few students deemed "Beyond Hope" of ever being saved.
As a booktuber and history graduate I thoroughly loved this video!
I mean the show Dickinson made Emily and Susan have volcanic sex so yeah I'm definitely here for it.
We read one of her poems in school and ive known a a lot about her because of my grandpa. My teacher said her poem that we were reading was about a man and i raised my hand and went "no its about her secret female lover susan who was married to her brother"
Me: *sees title*
Also me: I regret no second I ve spent watching Jessie
Have you heard of the new tv series "Dickinson" yet? Apparently it describes Emily as being in love with "her best friend, and her brother's fiance, Sue". :O
That little cherry bow is the most adorable thing ever btw
I love the “do your homework kids” part at the end. Lol I really need to do my homework. 😬
This is Amazing! My schooling program had me read a few of Emily's works, and I instantly thought to myself "is she gay?" And then they told me that she was a reclusive lonely unmarried woman. Which made me think "OMG she's probably gay!" But not wanting to start telling everyone my opinion and then find out that she had written several letters to a man that people consider her lover, I didn't express my thoughts. Now I Know I can tell people without the fear of humiliation. Thank you!
I'm very happy that my true introduction to Emily Dickinson's body of work came in college. I actually took an LGBT poetry course a few years ago taught by the very Professor Smith you mention in this video. So, much of the class was spent discussing just how gay her poems would get. It was super fun considering more than half of the class were gay and bi girls.
PLEASE give us some "Tea and Sleepover" merch someday! 💕💕💋
"And you thought roll out tippex was fancy" 😂😂😂
the thing is this was one of the first videos i watched of you and when i first watched it i found it so hilariously funny how you spoke so formal in front of the camera and when you turn your head in a somewhat formal voice use modern day “slang” and i still do find it funny
Taylor Swift watched this video and wrote ivy
Thank you for this video! I’ve loved her poetry since I was a child and was delighted to find out that being gay was something we have in common when I was older. I had never heard of a film addressing it and I’m so excited to watch it now!
OK, yes, even by the supposedly more touchy-feely female friendship standards of the time period, that letter is incredibly sexually charged and was not written by a heterosexual woman.
As a teacher in Florida, I always chuckle since Dickinson and Whitman are always in the same unit. I subtly tell my students “they were born in the wrong time, and weren’t allowed to be themselves”, it’s a…IYKYK moment
Yay, you told me alot of unknown information about one of my favorite female poets!! I really enjoyed this alot and it was an interesting topic, because i have never heard anything about her sexuality. All i kept hearing was how shy and quiet and weird she was, there was even a book that mentions she would only talk to people behind a wall.
I've been toying with the idea of writing my postgraduate dissertation on this very topic. Fascinating video! Thank you. x
We didn't learn about Emily when I was at school, but I have now! Thank you for the video Jessica. Keep up the good work!!!
thank you so much for this video, I think you have just inspired my dissertation topic!!
i just had someone say on another video comment section that " lesbians can't be feminine because attraction to women is masculine" so i am here to watch jessica who is 10 times more feminine than my straight ass will ever be and laugh.
You should do Virginia Woolf. I just saw a movie called Vita & Virginia about her being wlw
I feel you, I'm so into that about their love story
This brings me even more problems with how my sixth grade teacher taught poetry. I never understood the description of her as a recluse after reading some of her poems and some of her letters.
Thank you for making Fridays so lovely. 💜
I've always loved Emily's poems, and it makes me so glad to think she had a happy and fulfilling life instead of what we were taught in school. Thank you, Jessica, for giving us this info! And yes, no one can take it away! :)
Thank you for bringing up this discussion. After reading Dickinson's letters I would agree that she was probably bi sexual. She had to be in love with Susan to speak of her so romantically. It's hard to tell exactly because we don't have Susans responses to the letters. Also, I love you clearing up her stereotype of being boring and reclusive. Emily was a comedian....she was really funny and childlike in her demeanor. She knew how to have fun. She didn't take life to seriously like most stuffy people back then.
Just in time for Apple TV to advertise their new Dickson series! I really hope they actually show her real relationship with Susan. If the girl she’s talking to in the very beginning of the trailer is Susan, than the strange sexual tension makes sense lmao
I am having another Dickinson phase after reading a number of her poems for college (more than i was supposed to) and GOOD LORD is her gayness apparent. How do people disregard it s easily????
The show Dickenson portrayed her SO GOOD OMG
I’ve never read or heard of Emily so thought that watching the movie (the miserable one) was a good idea. So glad you did this video so I can watch the other one!
Just had to say your hair is amazing
I cheered, laughed and subscribed in that order. After binging DICKINSON on Apple TV+, this is my French Vanilla Fantasy Come True. :D
I was taught she was in love with another woman and got rejected, hence her bitter retreat from the world. Now I wanna find whoever told me that and shake them. Thanks for the wonderful video! Must hunt down those uncensored letters and movie now.
how have i not found your channel before ?? about to binge every single video .
I’m a little bit late, but it would be incredible If you react/ review the Apple+ TV show “Dickinson”. I would like yo hear your approach and opinion about it in relation with the real events of Emily’s life.
Jessica could narrate anything and I would love it. Her voice is so soothing.
Is my homework just typing "is ______ gay?" Into google
The only issue I have with the word “partner” is when it is automatically assigned to married LGBTQ couples. If that’s what the couple wants that is amazing, but I love that finally FINALLY Gay couples can assert their love legally and happily call their spouse Wife or Husband. Partner sounds like a business relationship in my mind though,
Spouse and partner are both gender neutral, thus way more practical in most situations
Edit: pls ignore this because I just re-read what you wrote and it says you only dislike it when it's automatically assigned to gay people 🤦🏽♀️
I actually tend to use it in reference to my long term partner and he's a cis man and I'm a cis woman (although I am bi so idk if that matters) . But I use partner because we're not married and it feels silly to call him boyfriend after being together for so long.
@@thepeopleslast2579This. I totally feel like "partner" is the only option in that situation!
@@legioxciicorvus5917 what makes you think any of us are upset about being a woman? I'm certainly not.
@@legioxciicorvus5917 marriage isnt between just a man and a woman NOW. I mean i guess it depends on where you live but its legal for any two people everywhere in the US.
So i dont know what you are on about. Im not sure how any of your comments make ant sense in any context. Why do you explain what you are upset about.
'Dickinson' is an upcoming American comedy web television series created by Alena Smith and produced for Apple TV+. It is scheduled for release on November 1, 2019. Dickinson takes place "during Emily Dickinson’s era with a modern sensibility and tone. It takes viewers into the world of Emily, audaciously exploring the constraints of society, gender, and family from the perspective of a budding writer who doesn’t fit in to her own time through her imaginative point of view. Dickinson is Emily’s coming-of-age story - one woman’s fight to get her voice heard."
I cannot wait to see how they portray her in the new movie Dickinson with Hailee Steinfeild! The movie is only on Apple TV so idk if I’ll be able to watch it. It looks really cool though showing her more adventurous and fun side
First, Love it!! Second. I must know the font you used in the sign you held up. It was very easy to read. Also the grey text was a nice touch making it ever so slightly easier to read. Asking as a dyslexic.
JUST what I needed! Doing A-Level English Lit coursework on Emily Dickinson and couldn't find any proper sources on her gayness - thank you!!
There a new TV series staring Hailee Steinfeld that is about the life of Emily Dickinson coming out on appletv+ on November 1st called Dickinson it looks pretty good from the trailer.
Thought y'all might like to know.
And it's VERY gat
I don't know how I managed to miss this video when it came out, but I am thrilled to have finally seen it.
Why did I know Emily Dickinson was gay? I’m trying to remember where I learned this.
Wow, I had no idea! Great video as always Jessica!
I clicked as fast as I could because I always look forward to your videos
You have such a soothing voice! Makes the rest of the world melt away.
Well, Dickinson has been a real eye-opener to the whole Emily being gay thing. #Emisue
Lesbian Fever Dream is a band name waiting to happen
I avoided Emily Dickinson's poetry up until now (it's not sth we are taught in schools where I live) because of this image of a lonely, sad, "pure" woman. I have read especially the word "pure" describing her a dreadfull amount of times and it always made me... not that interested, you know? But, well- I am going to the library tomorrow.
I so look forward to these! So important to spread how and why history just isn't history- like some unchangeable thing carved into stone! Perspective, information, and people straight up interfering is such a thing! "Do your homework kids!"
My teacher got pressed when I brought this up during my project
I am 100% here for your literary sass. Many belly laughs at your perfectly timed asides, that exquisite sign, and your concluding, ‘Nyah-na-na-na-na.’ Thank you, Jessica!