Howard Ashman's queer Disney legacy with Daniel Lammin

Explicit content warning

05/20/21 • 84 min

Icons are a dime a dozen here at Aural Fixation (that's what we do... it's what we live for) but heroes are a different kettle of sea-witch – and they don't get more queer-oic than Howard Ashman.
For better and for worse, the animated motion pictures produced by the Walt Disney Animation Studios have profoundly shaped the media consumed by children since 1928. Like any entertainment behemoth, quality and fortune has ebbed and flowed, but it was the sheer and singular talent of one queer man that steered Disney’s legacy from their lowest trough to their highest peak.
Through a kaleidoscope of Broadway magic and animation mastery, Howard's indelible fingerprints on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin now reveal, in adulthood, tropes of the queer experience we can all understand. The ostracisation of the 'other'... turning that otherness into a superpower... and wanting to be part of that world.
To help us navigate Howard's legacy across mermaids, beasts and magic carpets, we're joined by Daniel Lammin, a theatre director, writer and producer of Ink + Paint, a joyous podcast deep-dive into Disney's animation history.
We also want to acknowledge Don Hahn, the producer of The Lion King and Hunchback of Notre Dame, who created the two documentaries that have revived the current interest in Howard and his work – Waking Sleeping Beauty (2010) and Howard (2018).
Visit our online home at auralfixationpodcast.com, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, or go old school and email us at [email protected]. You can follow Andy on @andrewdoyouthinkyouare, Drew on @with.all.drew.respect, and Daniel at @dlammin. And don't forget to make this episode's playlist part of your world.
Our big gay thanks to Anthony Garvin and the team at Forbes Street Studios in Sydney.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land this podcast episode was recorded on, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Previous Episode

Taking apart 'Take Me Apart' by Kelela

Over the past six cycles of Aural Fixation, we have discussed many artists who have either eluded to their queerness without directly acknowledging it, or generated a vast queer fanbase without actually being qard qarrrying queers themselves. However sometimes there are artists that we deeply revere who just so happen to be out and proud, which makes our hearts burst because it means that we can fast track them straight to the front of the queue.
Enter stage left, Kelela whose debut album Take Me Apart is a delicious blend of R&B, electronic and garage music. Scroll down to the Personal Life section on her Wikipedia and... BINGO! "Kelela openly identifies as queer." You're in, toots!
In this episode, Andy and Drew discuss not only Kelela's 2017 debut but also the follow up TAKE ME A_PART, THE REMIXES and pontificate on post break-up enlightenment, the loaded pressure of "black excellence" and the sound of high heels click-clacking through a multi-story car park.
Visit our online home at auralfixationpodcast.com, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, or go old school and email us at [email protected]. You can follow Andy on @andrewdoyouthinkyouare and Drew on @with.all.drew.respect.
Our big gay thanks to Anthony Garvin and the team at Forbes Street Studios in Sydney. Don't forget our companion playlist on Spotify.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land this podcast episode was recorded on, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Next Episode

Breathing new life into Florence and the Machine's 'Lungs' with Peach Fuzz

No matter what hemisphere you’re in, a solstice is upon us. And what better way to ring it in than with a heart-to-rabbit heart on British pop music’s sacred moon child, Florence Welch (and, of course, her Machine).
In Cycle 7’s premiere episode, Andy and Drew are accompanied by Sydney drag monarch Peach Fuzz (aka Anthony Severino) to tackle the band’s debut offering Lungs. From the celestial rapture of "Cosmic Love" to the vigorous uproar of "Kiss With a Fist", the trio share their elemental experiences of the album and examine why us queer folks are so attracted to the esoteric.
Light a candle, drape yourself in chiffon and get ready to howl at the night sky because, bitch, the dog days ain’t over.
Visit our online home at auralfixationpodcast.com, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, or go old school and email us at [email protected]. You can follow Andy on @andrewdoyouthinkyouare, Drew on @with.all.drew.respect, and Peach at @peachykween_. And don't forget to check out this episode's big, blue, beautiful playlist.
Our big gay thanks to Anthony Garvin and the team at Forbes Street Studios in Sydney.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land this podcast episode was recorded on, and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.