You Don't Own Me: The Myth and Magic of Bizet's Carmen

About this episode

This episode explores the character of Carmen, examining her role as an icon of sensuality and self-determination while also addressing the stereotypes associated with Romani culture.

Carmen is perhaps the most famous heroine in all of opera: an icon of sensuality and self-determination — and a full-blown stereotype of Romani culture.

Topics covered

• Carmen
• opera
• Romani culture
• sensuality
• self-determination

Keywords

• Bizet
• heroine
• stereotype

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: You Don't Own Me: The Myth and Magic of Bizet's Carmen

More episodes of Aria Code

• Introducing Classical Music Happy Hour with Emanuel Ax · March 25, 2026 · 4 min
• Introducing Our Common Nature with Yo-Yo Ma · November 12, 2025 · 44 min
• Love and Other Drugs: Gounod's Roméo et Juliette · January 17, 2024 · 54 min
• Revisiting Mozart’s Queen of the Night: Outrage Out of This World · December 13, 2023 · 27 min
• Love Takes Flight: Catán's Florencia en el Amazonas · November 29, 2023 · 53 min
• Davis’s X: The Life and Legacy of Malcolm X · November 15, 2023 · 46 min