In this first episode of Season 2, Alex and Steven discuss the film version of Edward Albee's iconic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf starring two of the great actors from the Golden age of Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Topics explored include: the reasons behind the antagonism between the couple; was the playwright making a social and political critique of America with his portrayal of Nick, the ambitious young academic?; why have the couple clung to the illusion of having a son and is Albee right about the death of grand narratives leading to either fantasy or an examination of the self?; was the relinquishing of the illusion a positive step forward for the couple?

Further Resources:

• The movie version can be watched on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVyZ6cooxc&ab_channel=TheKremlin 
• A copy of the play can be found here on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Afraid-Virginia-Woolf-Vintage-Classics/dp/009928569X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=who+s+afraid+of+virginia+woolf&qid=1671048823&s=books&sprefix=who%27s+afraid+of+virginia+%2Cstripbooks%2C508&sr=1-1
• Michael Bennett examines in his book some of the influences that shaped this work: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edward-Albees-Afraid-Virginia-Fourth-ebook/dp/B07FF832DV/ref=sr_1_2?Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.x=0&Adv-Srch-Books-Submit.y=0&__mk_en_GB=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1671048983&refinements=p_28%3Aedward+albee&s=books&sr=1-2&unfiltered=1
• A 2005 interview with Edward Albee surveying his life and work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEKgDWTitpA&ab_channel=ManufacturingIntellect