Smut Girl Summer

We made it - it’s officially a Smut Girl Summer! This week, Jamie is stripping down the stigma and taking a deep dive into the fascinating history of romantic fiction. Far from just "cheap thrills," modern smut is a masterclass in character-driven storytelling, emotional intimacy, and intentional world-building. We’re breaking down exactly why and how the genre offers a level of depth, agency, and nuance that mainstream pornography often leaves behind. It’s also pride months, so we explore why the queer community has championed romantic fiction as a vital playground for representation, exploration, and self-discoveryWhether you're a seasoned romance reader or just book-tok curious, this episode is your ultimate guide to the genre.ReferencesSmutes. (2023, November 7). What is smut: Complete guide. https://smutes.com/blog/what-is-smut-complete-guideFeel Good Shop. (n.d.). What’s going on with smut books? https://fgs-shop.com/blogs/our-book-blog/whats-going-on-with-smut-booksDe Blecourt, J. (2023, November 28). I was wrong about smut. The Post-Calvin. https://thepostcalvin.com/i-was-wrong-about-smut/Damiata, N. (2024, May 15). How romance, romantasy, and smut took over the book world. Statistical Significant. https://www.statsignificant.com/p/how-romance-romantasy-and-smut-tookDopp, O. (2024, November 25). Smutory: A history of smut. SMUNTH. https://www.smunth.com/the-blog/smutory-a-history-of-smutccg84. (2013, April 22). Wedding night terror: The uneducated virgin and Victorian England (Exhibits Archive). NINES. https://nines.org/print_exhibit-861/Harrison, C. (2024, May 1). On smut over self-help for personal growth. Kindman & Co. https://www.kindman.co/blog/reading-smut-over-self-help-for-personal-growthBanks, E. (2022, June 9). A history of queer printed erotica. Maude. https://getmaude.com/blogs/themaudern/a-brief-history-of-queer-printed-eroticaNithila. (2022, November 7). Erotica, but like…Queer: An insider perspective. Unicorn Zine, (9). https://unicornzine.com/issue-009/erotica-but-like-queer-an-insider-perspective/Satviki. (2020, September 14). How fanfiction helped me come to terms with my queer identity. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-fanfiction-helped-me-come-to-terms-with-my-queer-identityStrapagiel, L. (2019, October 15). Smutty fanfiction taught me more about queer sex than school ever could. BuzzFeed News. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/fan-faction-queer-sex-education