A thought-provoking interrogation of power, lust and learning.

The professor who whispers sweet nothings into his students’ ears, makes sweet nothings out of them.

In Sweet Nothings Madison Griffiths turns her keen eye to romantic relationships between university students and their professors, how they operate, and how individuals navigate desire, agency and ambition.

Through the stories of four women she explores what these relationships tell us about power and interrogates how class and gender are expressed and exploited in our academic institutions. It’s an unflinching critique of the hierarchies that distort relationships and can leave lasting scars on students. 

About the Author

Madison Griffiths is an author, artist and producer. Her debut book Tissue (Ultimo Press) was released in 2023, and is a boldly poetic meditation on abortion and what it has the power to represent. She is the co-producer of Tender, a podcast that tracks the journey of individuals as they decide to leave an abusive relationship. In 2022, she was awarded the Walkley Foundation Our Watch Award for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women, alongside co-producer, Beth Atkinson-Quinton. Her work largely centres around the lived experiences of women, especially those whose realities are shrouded in stigma, opposition and rebellion.