Picture a history teacher. You may imagine a cranky old woman with a ruler. But with Sovereign Syre and Ela Darling from the YouTube show Boss Bitches of History, you would be dead wrong.
Think more “hyper-feminine, adorable and proper looking young ladies at a tea party cursing and talking about pussy power and boss bitches,” as Darling described to iDigital Times.
Boss Bitches of History launched June 30 featuring Sovereign Syre and Ela Darling discussing several notable female figures throughout history. The show has already profiled such names as Cleopatra and Marie-Josèphe dite Angélique.
In the YouTube comments you will get a snapshot of just why a show like Boss Bitches of History is sorely needed. In the profile of Marie-Josèphe dite Angélique alone, several commenters berated Syre and Darling for selecting Angélique, a Portuguese slave, known for burning down half of Montreal, instead of a “tamer” black historical figure, such as Rosa Parks.
But the Boss Bitches of History hosts say they won’t give a status quo history lesson. They intend profile not only lesser know figures but also well known figures from a lens rarely looked upon.
“In history books there’s not a lot of room for nuance,” Syre told iDigital Times. “Public school education doesn’t allow for [us] to delve very deeply into certain subjects; specifically women, just seem to get totally shut out of the narrative. ”
Boss Bitches of History is the brainchild of Syre and YouTube production team Wisecrack. The team reached out to Syre, to host a show about the humanities after seeing her enthusiasm on Twitter for the popular literature-based Wisecrack show “Thug Notes.” Darling joined the show later on, bringing her charisma and lots of frilly outfits.
Syre and Darling are well known for their work in adult entertainment, but outside of their stage names and a few innuendoes; Boss Bitches of History is completely separate from pornography.
“As an adult performer, you get used to people thinking you’re stupid, not listening to you, trying to hit on you and making what you do a joke,” Syre said. “I hope that people are able to look past it or able to enjoy [Boss Bitches of History] more because of it.”
Many have tried to make light of their profession within the comments on YouTube, but neither Syre nor Darling is fazed by it because they know what to expect. “People really want to dichotomize women, you’re either the virgin or the whore, you’re either the MILF or you’re barely legal,” Darling said.
It was Darling’s idea for the two to capitalize on their stage names, instead of using their real names for the show. “I thought it important for us to use the brands that we’ve crafted and not run away from that,” she said.
Future Boss Bitches of History episodes will include profiles on Thérésa Tallien, who Darling described as a figure of the French Revolution who “changed French law with her pussy,” and others such as Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, Queen Isabella of Castile and Joan of Arc. There will also be a profile on Rosa Parks, but don’t expect the traditional -- tired old woman who didn’t want to give up her seat on the bus – narrative.
“[She’s] an example of a modern woman, who everyone’s familiar with but a lot of people don’t know that she was an incredible activist before and after the bus incident,” Syre said.
Syre and Darling are just as multifaceted as the women they profile. They are both accomplished scholars, Darling in the library sciences and Syre in creative writing. Syre is a self-professed history buff and her love for history helped shape the direction of Boss Bitches of History. Darling is a life-long nerd who has attended Comic Con since she was a toddler. She also has the Dewey Decimal number for Harry Potter tattooed on her back.
Syre is in the process of writing a historical non-fiction novel, while Darling is a co-owner of the virtual reality porn company VRtube.
* Edited to correct the Web address of VRtube.
