'When I'm bad, I'm better' – The revolutionary Mae West
6/10/202654 min
Mae West shocked audiences and infuriated censors for more than 70 years. She was pop culture’s original blonde bombshell sex-symbol comedienne provocateur. But she was more than just a corseted sex pot with an affinity for word play. She was a trailblazer, transgressive, funny, smart, sassy, lively, a genius. And she got away with all of it. IDEAS contributor Lynda Shorten explores the legacy of the eccentric Mae West.
Guests in this episode:
Linda Hutcheon is a professor emerita of English and comparative literature at The University of Toronto.
Ramona Curry is an associate professor emerita of English at The University of Illinois.
Pamela Wojeck is a professor of film studies at The University of Notre Dame
Scott C. Miller is a make-up artist and retired undertaker
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSteve Patterson0:00
Hi, Steve Patterson here, host of The Debaters. And while I love a funny fight, there's one thing that's not up for debate. The Stratford Festival is world-class theater right here in Canada. Whether you're a fan of Shakespeare, musicals, or classics like Death of a Salesman or Waiting for Godot, there's no better time to experience Canadian talent and no better place to see it than the Stratford Festival. So get your tickets now at stratfordfestival.ca and experience world-class performance the whole family can enjoy. You know, we even take The Debaters there once, so I guess we're world-class now.
Speaker 20:30
[upbeat musical tone] This is a CBC podcast.
Linda Shorten0:34
This voice I've been [laughs] hearing in my head, I want you to hear it.
Mae West· Soundbite0:38
When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad, I'm better.
Nahlah Ayed· Host0:42
[upbeat piano music] Welcome to Ideas. I'm Nahlah Ayed.
Linda Shorten0:49
I found that it's impossible to talk about Mae West without imitating her.
Nahlah Ayed· Host0:53
So can you do her?
Linda Shorten0:55
[laughs] Well, you start.
Nahlah Ayed· Host0:57
Oh, I start, okay.
Linda Shorten0:58
Yeah.
Nahlah Ayed· Host0:58
"Well, when I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad, I'm better."
Mae West· Soundbite1:04
[laughs] [laughs] [sultry music] Oh. Oh. Oh.
Nahlah Ayed· Host1:17
There's never been anyone quite like Mae West. Her campy performances and wicked double entendres shocked and mocked and entertained her public for more than 70 years.