Alison Bechdel Parodies Her Fame in Comic Novel ‘Spent’

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 27 May 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Perhaps you’ve been following Alison Bechdel’s work since her comic strip “Dykes to Watch Out For,” which invented the now ubiquitous Bechdel test (does a movie have two women who speak to each other about something other than a man?). Maybe you came to know her through her graphic memoir “Fun Home,” which was adapted into a Tony-award winning musical. Her latest comic novel, “Spent,” is a work of autofiction that grapples with and parodies Bechdel’s own popularity. We’ll talk with Bechdel about being famous in a world on fire— and the funny side of it, too. Guests: Alison Bechdel, graphic novelist and cartoonist, author of "Spent: A Comic Novel." Her previous books include "The Secret to Superhuman Strength" and "Fun Home," which was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Support for KQED podcasts comes from San Francisco International Airport.
0:05.3	You can fly back in time and visit SFO's Aviation Museum and Library to learn about the history of commercial aviation.
0:12.3	No boarding pass needed. Learn more at flysafo.com slash museum.
0:17.3	Switch to Comcast Business Mobile and save hundreds a year in your wireless bill.
0:21.5	Comcast Business, powering possibilities.
0:24.0	Restrictions apply.
0:24.7	Comcast Business Internet required.
0:26.0	Comparates two unlimited intro lines and lowest price 5D plans of top three carriers.
0:29.0	Tax on fees extra, reduced speeds after 30 gigabytes of usage.
0:31.4	Data thresholds may vary.
0:33.7	From KQED.
0:49.9	Music From KQED. From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Nina Kim.
0:53.2	Coming up on forum, acclaimed writer and cartoonist Alison Bechtel.
0:57.3	Perhaps you've been following her work since her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out for,
1:00.9	which featured the now-famous Bechtel test.
1:03.2	Or maybe you came to know her through her graphic memoir, Fun Home,
1:06.2	which was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical.
1:09.2	Bechtel's latest comic novel spent is a work of auto-fiction
1:12.4	that grapples with the effects of wealth and fame
1:14.8	and how to make art when the world is on fire.
1:18.0	Listeners, what do you want to ask her tell Alison Bechtel
1:20.6	about her work or the impact it's had on you?
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 16 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KQED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.