The Archive & The Studio

Why have women so often been portrayed as monsters in literature, and what do those representations reveal about historical ideas of gender, power, and morality?Sandra Huaringa from University College London explores monsters in early modern Spanish theatre, examining how female characters were frequently represented through monstrous imagery and compared to mythological figures such as sirens and Lamia.Focusing on plays from the 16th and 17th centuries, Sandra combines classical theory with post-structuralist approaches to better understand how ideas of gender, power, and morality were constructed within these works.The conversation also explores how these historical portrayals continue to resonate today, and how Sandra hopes her research can support new interpretations and performances of early modern Spanish theatre for contemporary audiences. She reflects on the importance of making these plays more visible in both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking contexts, while encouraging wider discussion around the representation of women as “monstrous” figures in art and literature.This is a Research Podcasts production. You can access a transcript of this conversation here.Episode Credits:Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuests: Sandra Huaringa Niño, University College LondonEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsMusic: Podcast Interview Intro Music by Dmitrii Spis, Pixabay

What happens when the technologies designed to keep children safe also change the way families care for and relate to one another?Jun Zhao from the London School of Economics explores family surveillance and the ways technology mediates relationships between adults and children. Using a qualitative and multi-method approach, Jun combines interviews, video recordings, and ethnographic observations to examine how children aged 8–12 respond to being monitored through home camera technologies.Her work investigates how wider public conversations around technology influence its use within the home, and how these technologies shape everyday family dynamics and care practices.The conversation also explores the broader social implications of digital surveillance, including different forms of caregiving such as solo parenting and transnational care arrangements in China.Jun reflects on the methodological challenges of researching intimate family spaces and her hopes that the project will encourage greater awareness of how technology influences real-life relationships and experiences of care.This is a Research Podcasts production. You can access a transcript of this conversation here.Episode Credits:Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research PodcastsGuests: Jun Zhao, London School of Economics and Political ScienceEditor: Anton Jarvis, Research PodcastsMusic: Podcast Interview Intro Music by Dmitrii Spis, Pixabay