Alanis: Thirty Years of Jagged Little Pill
Presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Science Festival and Wisconsin Public Radio.
The ground-breaking legacy of Alanis Morissette's iconic album Jagged Little Pill is celebrated and explored in the new book Alanis: Thirty Years of Jagged Little Pill by music journalist and author Selena Fragassi. On June 13, 1995, 21-year-old Alanis Morissette released Jagged Little Pill, an existential awakening of sexuality, a rail against sexism, and a confessional catch-all of topics related to anxiety, depression, angst, eating disorders, religious dogma, and beauty standards. The raw emotion and introspective lyrics of tracks such "You Oughta Know," "Ironic," and "Hand in My Pocket” struck a chord with fans around the world. Alanis became a voice for millions of young women, providing both a sense of identity and inspiration.
Selena Fragassi
Selena Fragassi is a 17-year music journalist who is currently a featured contributor for the Chicago Sun-Times as well as SPIN and Loudwire. Her bylines have also appeared in The A.V. Club, Paste, Nylon, Popmatters, Blurt, Under the Radar, and Chicago Magazine, where she was previously on staff as Pop/Rock Critic. Artists she’s interviewed include Jennifer Hudson, Andra Day, Chrissie Hynde, Demi Lovato, Debbie Harry, Slash, Deftones, Evanescence, Alice Cooper, Jack White, The Black Keys, Charlie Puth, Bon Jovi, and Bonnie Raitt, among many others. Selena’s work has been anthologized in That Devil Music: Best Music Writing and she has appeared on televised panels regarding music matters for WTTW’s Chicago Tonight program. She is the author of the books New Kids on the Block 40th Anniversary Celebration; NSYNC 30th Anniversary Celebration; and The Work, Life, and Style of Greta Gerwig, with more to come. Selena is also a member of The Recording Academy.