LARB Radio Hour: Love and Jealousy with Giulia Sissa

Giulia Sissa, Professor of Classics and Political Science at UCLA, joins us to discuss her new book "Jealousy: A Forbidden Passion."

By LARB Radio HourFebruary 16, 2018

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    On this Valentine's week, we celebrate jealousy! Giulia Sissa, Professor of Classics and Political Science at UCLA, joins hosts Eric, Kate, and Medaya to discuss her new book Jealousy: A Forbidden Passion, and elucidate how jealousy, though much maligned, is in fact central to our greatest desire, passionate amorous love. Sure, jealousy can hurt like hell, can be an unstoppable force of (creative) destruction; indeed, the soul-wrenching tales of Medea and Othello have universal resonance — but, as Sissa explains, jealousy is much more than fearful agony. Jealousy operates whenever we desire another, for then we are desiring to be desired by someone who is free to shun us or choose another, and that vulnerability both heightens, and is elemental to, love.

    LARB Contributor

    The LARB Radio Hour is hosted by Eric Newman, Medaya Ocher, and Kate Wolf.

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