Introducing: Civics & Cocktails

Summary

Civics & Coffee: A History Podcast

Host: Alycia Asai
Episode: Introducing: Civics & Cocktails
Release Date: August 28, 2024

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Overview of the Episode

This special bonus episode marks a turning point for the Civics & Coffee podcast, as host Alycia Asai announces the launch of a Patreon page and debuts an exciting new series: Civics & Cocktails. This “after-dark” edition aims to blend engaging, adult-leaning historical topics with spirited conversation—both figuratively and literally—featuring guests and historical cocktails. The inaugural Civics & Cocktails episode offers a cheeky preview by exploring the unexpected prevalence of erotica during the U.S. Civil War.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Patreon Launch & New Series Introduction

Timestamp: 00:05 – 01:48

• Alycia announces the creation of the Civics & Coffee Patreon, providing supporters with extra content and helping the main show remain ad-free.
• The flagship bonus feature on Patreon is Civics & Cocktails, described as the “grown-up sibling of Civics and Coffee.”
• Alycia underscores the family-friendly focus of the main podcast, making this new series a chance to explore mature themes:

  “When you sign up for the Patreon, you will get what I am calling the Civics and Coffee After Dark version. Civics and Cocktails.” (Alycia, 00:52)

2. Format of Civics & Cocktails

Timestamp: 01:48 – 02:23

• Each month, Alycia plans to discuss a history topic with one or more guests over a thematic cocktail.
• Listeners get “the same great history, just with an adult twist."
• She promises candid conversation, a relaxed atmosphere, and community input on Patreon topics.

3. Setting the Scene: Civil War-Era Erotica

Timestamp: 02:23 – 04:53

• Alycia is joined by friends Shadra and Val for a lively discussion.
• The group recognizes common Civil War associations like “soldiers, gangrene, Gettysburg” before pivoting to the rarely discussed topic of wartime erotica.
• Alycia surprises her guests with insights on the role of erotica in Civil War soldier culture:

  “Ironically enough, erotica became a force to be reckoned with. Men who were far from home and entrenched in the grim reality of battle frequently sought solace in the illicit allure of porn. They became tools of camaraderie shared among soldiers to forge bonds in the face of death.” (Alycia, 02:43)

• Attempts to regulate these materials failed until the crusading Anthony Comstock entered the scene.

4. The Cocktail Connection: Old Fashioned

Timestamp: 03:47 – 05:10

• Shadra selects the Old Fashioned as their drink of the episode, tying its “old-timey” character to the historic subject matter.
• Light banter ensues over alternative options (“Naked and Famous”) and the challenge of using mezcal.
• Conversation on the Old Fashioned’s history—traced back to the 1830s—and its status as a “classic” cocktail:

  “Classic is defined as a drink that was popular immediately and has remained popular, which the Old Fashioned has...” (Shadra, 04:25)

5. A Lighthearted, Candid Tone

Timestamp: 05:08 – 10:39

• Alycia admits her trepidation as a non-bourbon drinker but toasts the spirit of the series:

  “To getting historically hydrated.” (Alycia, 05:10)

• The hosts dive into the evolution of porn in America, tracing its European roots and the blurry line between art and obscenity.
• Early American erotica:
  • Initially imported from Europe, notably France and Italy, until U.S. customs law banned “lewd material” in 1842.
  • Debates about criteria for what was truly “erotica” or “art.”
  • Bans fueled the rise of homegrown American erotica, typically under pseudonyms to avoid prosecution.
• On the material’s production and distribution:
  • Printed on cheap yellow paper, openly sold at newsstands, railroad stations, and docks.
  • Despite secrecy around authorship, public distribution was commonplace—leading to humorous contrasts:

    “Just the secrecy around writing it versus, like, distributing it and publishing it. That's interesting.” (Val, 08:10)

• Restrictive laws drove distribution via mail by 1851—though mail carriers were sometimes accused of “confiscating” risqué materials for their own pleasure.

6. Social Context: Soldiers & Smut

Timestamp: 10:20 – 10:39

• Among Civil War soldiers, possessing erotica was not sanctioned, but rarely got them in trouble unless combined with other offenses.
• Alycia wraps with a teaser, hinting at more risqué stories and community engagement to come for Patreon supporters.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the “After Dark” Concept:
  “With Civics and Cocktails, you still get the same great history, just with an adult twist.” (Alycia, 00:54)

• On the Social Power of Erotica in War:
  “They became tools of camaraderie shared among soldiers to forge bonds in the face of death.” (Alycia, 02:43)

• Shadra’s Cocktail Justification:
  “Old Fashioned feels old timey, kind of like the porn we're going to talk about.” (Shadra, 03:47)

• On Censorship & Distribution:
  “Original attempts at curbing the dissemination of porn date back to 1842, when the U.S. customs law banned importation of what they considered, quote, unquote, lewd material.” (Alycia, 06:13)

• Humor in Historical Context:
  “I just keep going to Leo and Titanic like, you know, draw me like one of your French girls.” (Shadra, 06:17)

• On Mail Distribution:
  “Mail, though, it was not necessarily a secure and guaranteed way that that material would arrive, as there were several complaints about carriers, quote, unquote, confiscating the lewd material, some even claiming that it was for the carrier's own personal enjoyment.” (Alycia, 09:38)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:05 – Patreon and Civics & Cocktails Announcement
• 02:23 – The Civil War and Unexpected Topics: Erotica
• 03:47 – Historical Cocktails: The Old Fashioned
• 05:10 – The Origin and Spread of American Erotica
• 06:13 – Censorship Laws and the Gray Area Between Art and Porn
• 08:10 – Publishing, Secrecy, and Distribution
• 09:38 – Mailing Erotica and Postal Confiscations
• 10:20 – Soldiers, Porn, and Military Discipline

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Tone & Atmosphere

• The episode is friendly, candid, and humorous, reflecting the relaxed spirit of the Civics & Cocktails spinoff. The historical discussion is peppered with banter and pop culture references (Leo in Titanic!), making adult history approachable without sacrificing substance.

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Summary Takeaways

• Civics & Cocktails marks a bold, fun expansion for Civics & Coffee, offering adult-themed, in-depth explorations of overlooked history—starting with the peculiar story of Civil War–era erotica and its surprising role in American culture.
• Listeners interested in lively, uncensored dives into U.S. history—cocktail in hand—are encouraged to join the Patreon community for the full experience.

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For history fans “ready to get historically hydrated” and enjoy a saucy side of the past, Civics & Cocktails is set to deliver both brains and bravado—with a twist.

Transcript

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

Hey everyone. Welcome back to another bonus episode.

[Alicia]

As you know, I have been celebrating.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

Four years of Civics and Coffee by launching extra content each Wednesday in August. I've been teasing that I had a bit of a big reveal at the end of the month and I'm so happy to finally let the cat out of the bag, so to speak. I have officially launched a Civics and Coffee Patreon by signing up. Not only are you joining the Civics and Coffee community and helping the show stay ad free, you also get a few perks. The biggest perk of all is extra content. I try to keep Civics and Coffee family friendly so episodes can be used in classrooms and by parents looking to share a bit of history with their children. When you sign up for the Patreon, you will get what I am calling the Civics and Coffee After Dark version.

[Alicia]

Civics and Cocktails.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

With Civics and Cocktails, you still get the same great history, just with an adult twist. Each month I will chat about a topic from history and will be joined by a guest or two who will bring a cocktail to share while we dive into the stories of our past. I am so excited to give you a preview of what you'll get by joining the Patreon community with this week's bonus episode reviewing Civil War era Erotica. If you like what you hear and you want more, be sure to head over to the website and sign up for the patreon at www.civicsandcoffee.com. thanks peeps. I'll see you Saturday. Welcome to Civics and Cocktails, the grown up sibling of Civics and Coffee. On this special series, I will be diving into the stories of our past with a side of spirited conversations.

[Alicia]

Sip, listen and enjoy.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

My guests and I uncover the flavors of America's past.

[Alicia]

Hey everyone. Welcome to the first episode of Civics.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

And Cocktails, the adult version of Civics and Coffee.

[Alicia]

I am your favorite local historian, Alicia. While I normally host Civics and Coffee solo, I thought it might be fun to invite a guest or two while chatting about history and thought what better way to con people into joining me.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

Than by the offer of booze?

[Alicia]

With me today are Shadra and Val. Say hello ladies.

[Val]

Hello ladies.

[Alicia]

And for the inaugural episode, I thought I'd talk about something a little spicier than my normal Civics and Coffee content. Ladies, what comes to mind when you think about the Civil War?

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

Shadra?

[Shadra]

Soldiers. Gangrene. Gettysburg.

[Alicia]

Normally, erotica isn't going to be on the list and as a country tore itself apart during The Civil War. Ironically enough, erotica became a force to be reckoned with. Men who were far from home and entrenched in the grim reality of battle frequently sought solace in the illicit allure of porn. They became tools of camaraderie shared among soldiers to forge bonds in the face of death. But despite the popularity of these materials, they were quickly deemed as obscene, prompting the government to try to regulate their distribution. All efforts proved futile until Anthony Comstock, a figure whose crusade against quote, unquote obscenity would change the game forever. Get ready to sip, learn, and get historically hydrated. Let's do this. As I'm doing civics and cocktails, I thought, I'm going to bring the history, and I'll let my guests bring the drinks. So I gave them a little bit of a synopsis of what they could expect and let them choose. So what are we drinking today, ladies? I think, Shadra, you came up with this one, so why don't you tell the audience what. What we're drink.

[Shadra]

We're drinking an Old Fashioned. I came to this because Old Fashioned feels old timey, kind of like the porn we're going to talk about. I was going to do a naked and famous, as was suggested, because that also makes sense since we're talking about pornography. But you don't like mezcal. I didn't have yellow chartreuse or limes, so I decided to stick with the Old Fashioned. A little bourbon, a little simple syrup, some bitters, and away we go.

[Alicia]

All right, and there's a. This is a historic cocktail, right? But Old Fashioned has been around since the 1830s, I think we figured out.

[Shadra]

I was reading the Death and Company cocktail book, which is amazing, and they gave a little bit of a history of what is classic versus vintage. And classic is defined as a drink that was popular immediately and has remained popular, which the Old Fashioned has, along with the Manhattan. There's other drinks that are just kind of of the time. Like, the last word was very popular, but it's faded. So that was a little bit of interesting history.

[Alicia]

Tying it all together. Tying it all together.

[Shadra]

You're welcome.

[Alicia]

Okay, so I full disclosure to the audience, I am not a bourbon drinker, so I am a little afraid of what this Old Fashioned is going to do to me and trying to get through this history. But here we go. Cheers, ladies.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

Let's do this.

[Alicia]

To getting historically hydrated. All right, so let's get. Let's dive in. Let's first talk about porn, where it.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

How we.

[Alicia]

How it came to America. So, like, everything porn was originally imported, and it came from across the seas in Europe. Import what?

[Shadra]

We didn't. We couldn't even come up with our own porn?

[Alicia]

No, no, no. It was originally imported.

[Shadra]

Seems so unpatriotic.

[Val]

My guess would have been France.

[Shadra]

Yes, I agreed.

[Alicia]

And then America really followed Europe's example. So as the. As Europe kind of passed laws, kind of trying to curtail porn and porn distribution, so too did America. And, of course, like it stands today, right. There's never really been a clear parameter or clear definition of what constitutes erotica or porn. It's always in the eye of the beholder. Original attempts at curbing the dissemination of porn date back to 1842, when the U.S. customs law banned importation of what they considered, quote, unquote, lewd material.

[Shadra]

Ooh, like, what kind. What's lewd material?

[Val]

I was gonna ask for an example.

[Shadra]

Well, also, I just keep going to Leo and Titanic like, you know, draw me like one of your French girls.

[Alicia]

Jack.

[Shadra]

Would they have tried to stop that?

[Alicia]

Yes, actually, they would have. So back in the 1840s, the technology wasn't as great as it is in 2024, of course. So you're looking. You're thinking a lot of artwork that actually created a big rigmarole because there was some nude art that was imported from Italy, I believe, that the US had kind of a. An issue with. And people were getting upset, saying, you know, there is a line between what's considered erotica and what's considered art. And so with the kind of the attempt to manage the importation of erotic material, this is where we start to get our own homegrown porn. Because if they. If they couldn't import it, they were going to make it themselves. This many of these were, again, pirated versions of what was already being produced in Europe. As a layer of protection, many authors and creators of erotic material use pseudonyms. So to avoid any kind of legal blowback, the fake names served as code for readers who knew what author to look for when they wanted something spicy.

[Val]

I'm curious. Okay, so what about the publishers or the people that were printing out this material?

[Alicia]

I couldn't find anything about the printing process other than when they were packaging it. It was very discernible because it was printed on.

[Shadra]

Covered in plastic?

[Alicia]

No, it wasn't covered in plastic. Actually.

[Shadra]

It's keeping it clean.

[Alicia]

It was printed on, like, really cheap yellow paper. And actually it was sold pretty publicly. Newsstands, railroad stations, and the docks, which was a very major point of commercial activity.

[Val]

I Just the secrecy around writing it versus, like, distributing it and publishing it. That's interesting.

[Shadra]

It's like a whole Bridgerton lady Whistledown.

[Val]

Kinda like it's okay for this group, but not the gentleman that created it. Okay, thank you.

[Alicia]

Yeah, well, and this is the 1830s, 1840s, so printing operations weren't incredibly robust either. So you have to keep that in mind. You're dealing with probably a lot of local printers. Some of these authors might even have had their own printing. Printing press. So. And that. That probably helped. But. Yeah, no, that's a good. That's a good question. But trying to avoid any kind of legal blowback, they start to go and use the mail. So where this was usually publicly available on newsstands, not covered in plastic as, as Shadra mentioned, just out in the public for everybody to see. As things got more strict, they moved their distribution to the mail. And so books became eligible for shipping as early as 1851. So that really helped kind of solidify these distributors for kind of keeping their. Their business afloat. Mail, though, it was not necessarily a secure and guaranteed way that that material would arrive, as there were several complaints about carriers, quote, unquote, confiscating the lewd material, some even claiming that it was for the carrier's own personal enjoyment.

[Shadra]

Postal service, I thought was rain snow, but like, in the case of porn, we don't know. Delivering that porn on time, I can get it through sleep, but if it's born out, that might just disappear along the way. Okay, well.

[Alicia]

And again, because it was, I. I believe even though they were shipping it in books, it was still printed on that very cheap yellow, yellow paper. Not plastic, exactly. So in that sense, it was easily discernible. Right. When what it was. So they knew they wanted little something, something they could just.

[Shadra]

If I were a carrier, I'd be like, I'm just going to borrow this for a hot sec, and your mail's going to be a few days late.

[Alicia]

Oh, geez. In the field, owning porn in erotica was not an issue for soldiers. It was pretty widespread and prevalent. It only became an issue if the soldier got into trouble for something else. Then the kind of holding on to and having porn was used as kind of an extra strike against the record to show that they had bad judgment.

[Shadra]

Like, and also.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

All right, friends, there is your teaser.

[Alicia]

For civics and cocktails.

[Host (Civics and Coffee)]

There is so much more to this conversation that you can enjoy by heading on over to the website and signing up for the Patreon. By signing up, you will also get a say in what bonus content is shared with the community and get little treats from yours truly. Thank you all for a great four years. Here is to seeing you on the Patreon.