Paranormal Pajama Party

Steph Summar

Isn't it weird how often the horrors in our favourite scary stories tend to look a lot like, uh… ladies? Join me as I dig up the social and cultural contexts behind classic ghost stories and legends to challenge the often one-dimensional portrayal of women in horror.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Episodes

Monster Girls of Greek Mythology
Yesterday
Monster Girls of Greek Mythology
Send me a text message!This week on “Paranormal Pajama Party”, we’re kicking off a two-part series on the fascinating and often unsettling “monster girl” trope. These characters are more than just staples of horror media and anime; they are complex symbols that reveal deep-seated societal fears and fantasies about women.Monster girls have long embodied dual roles as both objects of desire and figures of dread, reflecting and reinforcing patriarchal views about femininity and power.In today’s episode, we’ll examine the origins of this trope, tracing it all the way back to ancient Greek mythology. These myths established and perpetuated the image of women as monstrous beings, embodying chaos and nature that needed to be tamed by heroic men.From the snake-haired Medusa to the deadly Sirens, Greek mythology is rife with examples of women who were both alluring and terrifying.These ancient myths have left a lasting impact, shaping everything from social structures to medical care to presidential elections.Also, I have a bone to pick about She-Hulk.Key moments0:00 – Content warning1:05 – The Lernaean Hydra7:15 – The monster girl trope10:08 – Zeus and the monster girls15:39 – Men as the "default human"19:52 – Famous monster girlsIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
The Tower of London, Part 2: The Ghost of Anne Boleyn
Apr 14 2024
The Tower of London, Part 2: The Ghost of Anne Boleyn
Send me a text message!The Tower of London, Part 2: Ghost of Anne Boleyn | 13Welcome back, as we continue our ghost tour of the Tower of London, focusing on the notorious female phantoms and femme fatales who have left an indelible mark on its history.In our previous episode, we met the Countess of Salisbury Margaret Pole, Lady Arbella Stuart, and England's nine-day queen, Lady Jane Grey. But tonight, we turn our attention to one of history's most enigmatic figures and one of the most famous ghosts in the world: Anne Boleyn.Anne's tragic fate and complex legacy have captured the public imagination for nearly 500 years. From her rise as a bewitching presence at the English court to her tumultuous relationship with King Henry VIII and her eventual execution, her story is steeped in intrigue and scandal. But beyond the sensationalised narratives of seduction and betrayal lies a haunting question: who was the real Anne Boleyn?From the rise of Spiritualism in the 19th century to modern-day paranormal tourism, Anne Boleyn's ghostly presence continues to fascinate. Whether viewed as a victim, a seductress, a political pawn, or a feminist icon, her legacy lives on – and perhaps her ghost does, too.Key moments0:00 – Content warning1:16 – "The Ghost of Anne Boleyn"9:13 – All about Anne Boleyn15:08 – Anne is sent to the Tower19:40 – Anne Boleyn: Witch?20:09 – Anne Boleyn: Seductress?21:19 – Anne Boleyn: Feminist?22:44 – Anne Boleyn: Ghost!26:09 – The industry of Anne27:12 – OutroIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
Beatrice Cenci: Innocent Murderess
Mar 31 2024
Beatrice Cenci: Innocent Murderess
Send me a text message!Beatrice Cenci | 11The life of Beatrice Cenci, born into the noble Cenci family in 1577, is a tragic tale of abuse, desperation, and defiance. Subjected to unspeakable violence and cruelty at the hands of her father, Count Francesco Cenci, Beatrice orchestrated his murder alongside her family as a means of escape. Their plot, though successful, led to their arrest, torture, and eventual public execution in Rome.Beatrice's story has been immortalised in art and literature over the centuries, symbolising the struggle against oppression and the quest for justice. From Percy Shelley's romanticised portrayal of her life to Caravaggio's possible use of her execution as inspiration for his depiction of Judith slaying Holofernes, Beatrice continues to captivate audiences as a figure of courage and defiance.Beyond the myth and symbolism, her life reflects the harsh realities women face in a society governed by patriarchal norms. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the enduring fight for empowerment and justice.Key moments0:00 – Content warning0:48 – On the Ponte Sant'Angelo5:16 – Meet Beatrice Cenci10:08 – Francesco Cenci's murder12:03 – Arrests, torture, trial and executions16:54 – Beatrice's famous portrait21:14 – Beatrice, Judith, and CaravaggioIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
Felines, Females, and Fear: Witches and Their Familiars
Mar 10 2024
Felines, Females, and Fear: Witches and Their Familiars
Send me a text message!Felines, Females, and Fear | 8The relationship between women, cats, and darkness is as ancient as human civilisation itself – and that’s not just the toxoplasmosis parasites in my brain talking. Tonight, we’re diving deep into the connections between cats, women, and evil… or at least, male fear.The episode begins with a whirlwind meet-and-greet of cat goddesses of the ancient world, from Lilith to Bastet to Hecate, then shifts to early Christianity, where cats were associated with pagan practices and seen as suspicious minions of Satan.We’ll cover the witch-hunts of medieval Europe, when many accused witches claimed to have familiar spirits in the form of a cat, and the way these superstitions persisted into the Puritan era in America, where cats and women were both seen as symbols of evil and sexuality.But we’re not done yet. We’ll also talk about the modern stereotype of the "crazy cat lady" – and Taylor Swift's decision to pose with her cat on the cover of Time's Person of the Year issue.Key moments0:00 – Content warning1:21 – Mary Shelley's "On Ghosts"3:15 – Welcome to the party!7:59 – Anatolian caves8:59 – Inanna in Sumeria10:31 – Lilith (again!) in Mesopotamia11:52 – Durga in the Indus Valley12:52 – Bastet in Ancient Egypt15:07 – Artemis in Ancient Greece16:31 – Hecate20:09 – Cats and the Virgin Mary22:33 – Meanwhile, in Japan...23:29 – Cats are creepy little jerks... and so are cat lovers26:28 – Witches and familiars30:38 – Cat ladiesIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
The Headless Mule: Brazil's Cautionary Tale
Feb 25 2024
The Headless Mule: Brazil's Cautionary Tale
Send me a text message!26.2.24Paranormal Pajama PartyThe Headless Mule | 6Tonight’s episode tells the story of Brazil’s headless mule, or mula sem cabeça, Argentina’s almamula, and their older sister, the muladona of Catalan mythology. Hold on – we’re in for a wild ride with this one.Imagine being cursed for eternity because you dared to defy societal norms. These aren't your run-of-the-mill monster stories – they're cautionary tales straight out of the patriarchy's playbook.Cautionary tales are carefully crafted to serve a purpose, usually to keep people in line and reinforce the status quo. And in the case of the headless mule and her friends, they're a warning shot fired by the colonial Catholic church and the powers that be, reminding women to stay in their lane or face the horrific consequences.Beneath the surface of these tales lies a rebellious spirit, a refusal to bow in shame and repent for actions we don’t regret. It's a middle finger to the powers that be in defiance against a narrative designed to perpetuate subjugation.By digging into the origins of these tales, we're shining a big, bright spotlight on the power dynamics at play.Key moments0:59 – Cursed by God6:23 – The headless mule and the almamula12:49 – The muladona14:44 – Horror as a cautionary tale17:59 – Colonial Catholic patriarchal order23:28 – Cautionary tales as a control mechanismIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
“The Boarded Window”: 'The Oregon Trail' Lied to Us
Feb 18 2024
“The Boarded Window”: 'The Oregon Trail' Lied to Us
Send me a text message!19.2.24Paranormal Pajama Party“The Boarded Window” | 5⚠️ This episode contains spoilers ahead for “The Boarded Window”, which I read at the beginning. You can read it here (for free!) first if you’d prefer. ⚠️In Ambrose Bierce’s popular short story, “The Boarded Window”, the mysterious former pioneer Murlock lives out his solitary existence in a one-room cabin, the standout feature of which is a single boarded-up window.But tonight’s episode isn’t about Murlock. It’s not even about the shocking twist that made this story an instant classic. Believe it or not, this episode is about a woman. Tough, resilient, and ultimately meeting her demise in a harrowing way, she’s the epitome of the strength and courage of women on the American frontier. And, of course, that means someone is scared of her.In this episode, we’re talking about everything from the 19th-century fear of premature burial (taphophobia, for those in the know), to the lack of autonomy for pioneer wives, to the inadequate representation of women in literature.We also run through the biography of Bierce, who would’ve been offended by any feminist analysis of his work. I’m fine with this.Key moments0:40 "The Boarded Window" by Ambrose Bierce12:09 Welcome to the party!15:29 All about Ambrose19:39 Taphophobia20:42 A blank canvas?30:25 The real hero(Some) Sources The Boarded Window (Wikipedia) Ambrose Bierce (Wikipedia)Ambrose Bierce's The Boarded Window: A Detailed Summary and a Literary AnalysisA Summary and Analysis of Ambrose Bierce’s ‘The Boarded Window’The Premature Burial  (Wikipedia)Klein, M. San Francisco and Her Hateful Ambrose BierceWoman's Embodied Self: Feminist Perspectives on Identity and ImageTalley, S. Childhood and the Fear of Death in Ambrose Bierce's "The Parenticide Club" and "Visions of the Night"Devil's DictionaryIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
Sweet Dreams: The Night Hag, the Mare, and the Succubus
Feb 11 2024
Sweet Dreams: The Night Hag, the Mare, and the Succubus
Send me a text message!12.2.24Paranormal Pajama PartyThe Night Hag, the Mare, and the Succubus | 4Chances are good, I'm sorry to say, you've already had a run-in with the old hag, also known as the Night Hag. She's haunted the dreams of many across cultures for thousands of years.She's strongly connected to the mare, a spirit known for riding sleepers, horses, and even trees. To understand the cultural origins of the mare, we also have to understand the outlook of some rural farming communities, where misfortune was attributed to external forces, often targeting vulnerable individuals like older, unmarried women.There's one more famous lady of the night to cover in tonight's episode – the succubus, who's plagued dreams since at least the Middle Ages. Tonight's entities are also the first we've dealt with with a real-world body count: The story of the dab tsog, and the tale of Bridget Bishop and the Salem Witch Trials show how cultural beliefs can impact lives.Key moments0:50 My paranormal run-in10:29 What is sleep paralysis?12:08 The night hag13:46 The mare19:31 The succubus24:56 The Hmong and the Dab Tsog28:06 Bridget Bishop at Salem(Some) Sources"Contemporary Cauchemar: Experience, Belief, Prevention""Narratives and Rituals of the Nightmare Hag in Scandinavian Folk Belief", Catharina RaudvereMare (Wikipedia)Night Hag (Wikipedia)"Sleep Paralysis and Folklore", Ann M Cox"The Nightmare Experience, Sleep Paralysis, and Witchcraft Accusations", Owen Davies"The Dark Side of the Placebo Effect: When Intense Belief Kills""The Nightmare – A Riding Ghost with Sexual Connotations", Eivind Haga"Why the Nightmare Hag? Points of Departure", Catharina RaudvereIf you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
Bloody Mary: A Slumber Party Classic
Feb 4 2024
Bloody Mary: A Slumber Party Classic
Send me a text message!5.2.24Paranormal Pajama PartyBloody Mary | 3If you've been a preteen at a slumber party, chances are you've heard the chilling tale of Bloody Mary. Today, we'll dissect the origins of Bloody Mary and the various interpretations surrounding her name.Bloody Mary, the spectral figure said to appear in mirrors when her name is called 3-13 times (it's unclear and not a risk I'm willing to take), has been a staple of sleepovers and late-night dares. While some might dismiss it as a simple game, we're taking a closer look into the mirror tonight, and into the possible inspirations behind this eerie tale.One theory ties the legend to Mary Tudor, Queen of England, whose tumultuous life and reign left a legacy of fear and brutality. Other contenders include an accused Salem witch and infamous Hungarian serial killer Countess Elizabeth Báthory.Beyond Mary's identity, it's interesting to learn why this game is so appealing to the 10-13-year-old PJ-party crowd.Is it a ritual for girls anxious about the transition into womanhood? Or might she represent a way for young girls to reclaim a sense of power in a world where they often feel powerless?Key moments3:29 Who is Bloody Mary?11:02 Why do we play?14:42 The history of the gameSourcesBloody Mary story (Snopes)Bloody Mary (folklore) (Wikipedia)Bloody Mary: The Mystery of Ritual and MythJanet Langlois, Confessions of a Legend Hunter in the U.S.AJanet Langlois (interview transcript)Dundes, A. (1998). Bloody Mary in the Mirror: A Ritual Reflection of Pre-Pubescent Anxiety. Western Folklore, 57(2/3), 119–135.The Forgotten Halloween Games That Predict Who You'll Marry—And When You'll Die‘Bloody Mary’: Is an English Queen Behind the Haunting Urban Legend?The True Story Of Bloody Mary, The Woman Behind The MirrorThe Salem Witch Trials Victims: Who Were They?If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.
The Vanishing Hitchhiker: Sibyls, the Oracle of Delphi and an Urban Legend
Jan 21 2024
The Vanishing Hitchhiker: Sibyls, the Oracle of Delphi and an Urban Legend
Send me a text message!22.1.24The Vanishing Hitchhiker | 1Welcome to the Paranormal Pajama Party! I'm so glad you could join. Get cozy, because we’re kicking off our first-ever party with a campfire standard — the vanishing hitchhiker.In this classic urban legend, a male driver picks up a seemingly innocent passenger, but the journey upends life — and death — as he knows it.This episode examines the surprising connection between this modern legend and historical or mythological female figures of old. Where did the story of the vanishing hitchhiker come from? And what's her connection to the Oracle of Delphi, the New Testament, and even to Ancient Egypt's snake-headed goddess Wadjet? Join the party and uncover the fears that society projects onto women with help from this urban legend.Key moments:Picking up the hitchhiker [00:26]A prophetic ghost [04:36]Subverting expectations [06:43]Sibyls [10:31]Back to the backseat [18:03]Sources from today's episode:Snopes Fact Check: The Vanishing HitchhikerBeardsley, R. K., & Hankey, R. (1943). A History of the Vanishing Hitchhiker. California Folklore Quarterly, 2(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.2307/1495651Beardsley, R. K., & Hankey, R. (1942). The Vanishing Hitchhiker. California Folklore Quarterly, 1(4), 303–335. https://doi.org/10.2307/1495600Sibyl (Wikipedia)SibylsDelphic Sibyl (Wikipedia)Wadjet (Wikipedia)Oracle (Wikipedia)A transcript of today's episode is available here.If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcipt here.Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram.