The Feminist Guide to Hollywood

We Need To Talk About Kevin

2012-01-25T12:30:00.000-08:00

Brilliant film by Lynne Ramsay. If you see only one film this year, this should be it. The Frisky did a very interesting interview with the film's young star Ezra Miller. If you haven't seen We Need to Talk About Kevin, I'd wait to read the interview. But if you have seen it, you should check it out because he has a complex and compelling perspective on the story and character.

Step Aside Bieber, Juliet is About to Take Your Throne

2012-01-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

Eat shit Disney!

Fotoshop, pro-pixel intensifying fauxtanical hydro-jargon microbead...

2012-01-15T13:03:00.000-08:00

Bridesmaids Wins Best Comedy at People's Choice Awards

2012-01-12T09:31:00.000-08:00

It's not often that I pay much attention to awards shows, but seeing Bridesmaids win the People's Choice Award for best comedy makes me happy. I recognize the importance of women artists being recognized as important by industry leaders, viewers and peers.

I know some feminist-minded thinkers thought Melissa McCarthy's character demonstrated offensive fat jokes, but I didn't take it that way. If there's ever an opportunity, I would really like to interview her or Kristen Wiig or Annie Mumolo to talk to them about that to hear what they have to say.

To me, the film was about friendship, rebuilding a life, a career and broken self-esteem. Minus the gross-out, pointless, man-pandering diarrhea scene, I was able to relate to it.

Even if this movie wasn't perfect (what movie is?), it shows that people appreciate funny women.

Hey, shut the fuck up boy, you are starting to piss me off

2012-01-06T13:25:00.000-08:00

This girl is awesome. I love the lyrics and the chorus is hilarious.

Hey, shut the fuck up boy

You are starting to piss me off

Take your hands off that girl

You have already had enough

Jesus Puts Rick Perry in His Place

2011-12-10T08:50:00.001-08:00

In case you haven't seen it, here's more evidence of Rick Perry's mental dysfunction, and unfortunately, of how there are still plenty of people in this country who are openly homophobic. This video has over 15,000 likes, but fortunately over 500,000 dislikes. Watch this and then watch second video where Jesus speaks from beyond the grave and puts Perry in his place.

I'm a pantheist, and I approve the following message.

Who knew Jesus was so funny?

Lizzie Miller's Sudden Fame Reminds Me That Real Women Come in All Shapes and Sizes

2011-12-09T13:57:00.001-08:00

When I was younger, I recall my mom once dismissing some fashion magazines saying, "I never look at those things; they just make me feel bad about myself." Although, I was more focused on my punk rock zines, and feminist reads like Bitch and Bust, I occasionally took a peek at the beauty-shaping booklets that tempt us with promises of hot sex tips. I realized at that moment, that those things made me feel the same way too.

Staring at a Jessica Alba's airbrushed pour-less skin, I'm intrinsically aware of the message of unattainability. The message is: you're not good enough the way you are. Being aware of it doesn't stop the message from entering your psyche and doing some serious damage to what your eyes see in the reflection and what your brain tells you about who you are. You can choose to not buy those magazines, but you can't escape them. They're everywhere you look -- if not in the magazines then on billboards and on TV. This message of "perfection," this relatively arbitrary ideal that media has collectively created, is staring you down hoping you'll break and believe the lie that you aren't good enough.

Most women's magazine's "health advice" often revolves around the idea of losing weight, along with pictures of women (Gisele Bundchen, or any of those Victoria's Secret women) who supposedly represent the ideal. The perpetuation of this message isn't an elaborate, orchestrated plot by some super villain hiding behind a curtain, scheming to drive women crazy with thinking they constantly need to improve every aspect of their appearance. It's more like a silent machine quietly moving things along, which makes it more dangerous. It's just something that's there, on its own. What can we do to change it?

Well, lots of things. Plant new seeds, to make something new grow. Here's one of them. Glamour magazine did an issue on body diversity. They included a model with clearly visible belly fat, which garnered a flood of positive responses from grateful women. The Glamour spokesperson in the video says that readers were emailing her saying after seeing the photo, "this was the first time I've looked at a magazine and felt good about myself."

This is what I love to see. This gives me hope for the future. However, the website where I stumbled across this story on feelgoodstyle.com did not make me feel so good. The title of the story is "Glamour magazine features (gasp!) -- a Real Woman." The article goes on to ask "Is healthy the new skinny?"

Um, okay...so am I not a real woman because I'm skinny? Do you have to put one group down in order to feel good about another?

The message I gleaned from the interview with the Glamour model and spokesperson is that women want and deserve to see themselves accurately represented in media. This means diversity -- add thicker women to the sea of slender women already out there, don't use them as replacements. Also, I look forward to the day that magazines don't have to do a "special issue" to feature women who wear higher than a size 6.

People often refer to super thin women as representing "unattainable standards". For many women, that's true. But for me, Lizzie Miller's body is unattainable. I could probably never look like that. This kind of language ("real women" vs skinny women) just shifts our thinking from one rigid ideal to another, when what we should be moving towards, is the idea that real women come in all shapes and sizes and it's normal to see all shapes and sizes in magazines -- not tell larger women they're too fat and tell skinny women they're not real.

This "real women have curves" mentality just reinforces this idea that you can only feel good about yourself if you're better than someone else. Whereas, in reality, you can feel good about yourself while still seeing other people as beautiful even if they're different than you.

They are both beautiful, and both real women.

Guest Post: One Man's Review of DRIVE by Jeff Carter Kussmann

2011-11-28T10:47:00.001-08:00

Recently, I finally sat down to watch DRIVE, Ryan Gosling’s new movie directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and co-starring Carey Mulligan, Ron Pearlman, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks and the scene-stealing Albert Brooks. Mr. Gosling stars as the most emo stuntman that has ever been. He’s a man with a dark past who mopes around from scene to scene occasionally driving cars and killing people in graphic detail.

After falling for his single mother neighbor, his romantic plans are put on hold when her convict husband is finally released from jail. Unable to escape his criminal past, the husband is literally beaten into one more job. His subtle machismo brimming, our Driver offers his services to the demanding gangsters in exchange for the family to be left alone and all debts paid. Without giving too much away, one can imagine that ~~hilarity ensues~~ everything goes wrong, and its up to the driver to make it right. The driving is few and far between, the violence is brutal and graphic, and an overwhelming stench of good old fashioned misogyny throughout.

I have three main problems with this movie. One: there is ZERO character development in any sort of manner that would lead me to care in even the slightest amount for these people. Two: there is ZERO story development. What the hell really happens in this movie? And third: the overwhelming tone of cool self-satisfaction that permeates this film.

Let me start from the top…

The characters in this movie feel as if they were pulled out of the pages of some trash novel the producers found in the gutter outside the production office. Gosling plays a man with a past, a man whose darkness is hidden beneath his soulful eyes (a conceit that is used throughout the movie). He is similar to Clint Eastwood’s character, William Munny from Unforgiven, a man who we only hear about, legends and stories muttered in passing, words that Munny brushes off and denies they’re very validity. This is where the similarities stop.

Eastwood’s character constantly reminds us of his inner struggle, not just by staring into the great beyond, but by openly acknowledging the things in his life that where good, that motivate his desire to be different, to be good. Our Driver has none of this. He stares longingly out windows and at his neighbor, just generally being a mope. Why? Does he WANT to get away from his past? Is he really even trying to? Gosling floats from scene to scene just going through the motions. Now I drive, now I fight, now I play with the kid, now I look out this window and so on, all the while trying to look his coolest.

His co-stars don’t fare much better. The amazing Bryan Cranston is wasted playing a character I think they pulled from a comic that ran in penthouse in the 70’s. Albert Brooks playing the delightfully playful ex-Hollywood producer-turned-crime-boss. He steals every scene he is in, but you can tell even he is struggling to do something with what he is given. Even the great Ron Pearlman is just a paper cut out. However, the one who gets the worst out of the whole mess is poor Carey Mulligan.

The movie plays her as a single mother so weak and mousey that she can’t possibly survive WITHOUT a man to help her get through. The movie hides its blatant misogyny by showing us longing looks between Mulligan and Gosling, broken only by small phrases. Phrases punctuated by such huge beats between them it would make William Shatner blush. "Oh they are in love, that’s all we need to know," I suppose is the idea they want us to go with. But here’s the thing, I have known a number of single mothers and all of them where strong proud women. They didn’t need a man to deal; they had it under control. Just from this alone I was offended by this characterization. She's not a new mother left alone in a world she isn’t ready for. THE KID IS LIKE 7 YEARS OLD. Any woman who raises a kid for that amount of time with a husband whose job involves him going to jail isn’t going to be so frail and weak. It was a blatant stereotype and a gross misrepresentation. The only thing missing was a drug addiction to really drive the helplessness home.

Continue reading after the jump...

She isn’t alone in her suffering; there are only two other scenes involving women. One takes place in a strip club, where naturally the women are all just objects, props to be placed around as set dressing. The second is a female con that, unlike all her male gangster counterparts, is played off as a complete amateur loosing her cool the moment things get out of hand. She is also the object of Ryan Goslings first violent outburst. In the context of the action, I understood why he does what he does. Yet I found it odd that the very first act of violence we see our "hero" do is to slap a crying female. I suppose the filmmakers thought that would illustrate how tough he is, how far he is willing to go. It does not. He has plenty of opportunity to hint at this prior to the event but they don’t. We only hear stories and are given small broken details to his violent past. It is the first brush stroke to your greater understanding that the main character you are on this ride with is nothing more than a psychopath.

The story isn’t much more together than the characters. The film sets off at a good pace with an interesting slow speed chase through downtown Los Angeles. Our Driver employs a few clever tricks to evade his pursuers and escape the scene. Mind you that none of these tricks come back into play later on. They are only there again to make our hero seem cool and to make the slow pace a bit more flashy. It is never explained why he does this career, nor how he got it. Is it even important? Apparently not.

Scenes drag on for what seems like forever thanks to the large amount of silence the actors like to put between each and every line. Yet these scenes hold nothing important. A couple bones are thrown our way so we have some sort of motivation for a story, but nothing ever feels solid. Because we have no sense of Ryan Goslings character as a person, these things are really just meaningless, as if the movie expects us to emotionally suspend our disbelief. Overall, it makes it feel soulless.

I know a number of people who have seen this movie 2-3 times in the theater. I asked them to point out any single scene that had elements of real character or serious story development in them. They could not. Instead I was told "it’s a style exercise" or "its not really that kind of movie." Films that flaunt style over substance are not new; in fact they have been around for some time. Most of these films would be called "experimental" or maybe even "art house". This movie was neither; I found it hard to understand why it would be any different than just watching youtube videos while listening to 80’s music.

When the movie finally gets going it dives into brutal and graphic violence that the filmmakers seem to relish in. I understand the reasoning; we need to understand the lengths this guy is capable of going to, fine. But in a movie so slow and boring for the first 30 minutes to then slap me in the face like that was jarring (and not in a good way). All the while the filmmakers seem to take joy in all the fine grisly details.

(SPOILER AHEAD)

In one scene, our driver dispatches two baddies finishing the last off with a nice shower rod to the throat. As he leans out of the bathroom, a slit of light shines on his face covered in blood his baby blues shining like jewels though the red, while the sputter and gurgle of his victim bleeding out can be heard in the background. Too much? Maybe not. Plenty of the people I know said they enjoyed that aspect of it that it showed who he really was. Yet as the violence escalates, he just comes off more like a psychopath; his acts becoming more gruesome as he unwinds. Am I supposed to forgive him for being crazy because he seems to be using his crazy for good?

The story dissolves into loose connections and pulpy storytelling until it reaches its final climax with a whimper. The lack of a substantial plot wasn’t the worst part. On the contrary, I enjoy a number of movies that have minimal or unconventional narratives. But this movie wasn’t that. I got the feeling that this lack of story was almost a total disdain for me as a viewer. As if I was so dumb that all I needed to stay connected was cool stuff flashing in my face to hide all the loose associations and clichéd character motivations. Which brings me to my final problem with this movie: Its overwhelming sense of coolness.

From frame one, this movie paints itself as cool. Colorfully saturated photography is laced with a thumping electro-pop soundtrack, courtesy of Cliff Martinez. It’s not a bad soundtrack, but when all the pieces move as one it pushes the cool factor to ridiculous heights. Ultimately, the movie used this coolness as a veil to hide the mess going on underneath. It was as if I would be too caught up in how cool it was to ever pay attention to the mess that was happening on the screen.

A couple months ago I went to a screening of another movie by the same director. During the Q & A afterwards I was shocked by how nonchalant he was about his filmmaking. He almost seemed to not even care about it, like he only did it to be that big shot director. He was in fact in town working on Drive and had such a blasé attitude about it, it was like he almost resented the work. Even my good friend who had been a big fan of his had to agree he was an ass. I mention this because the whole time I watched Drive I felt that attitude. The film seemed to dump itself on top of me, and I was just supposed to love it cause it was cool and looked like Ryan Gosling.

Watching this movie felt like the visual equivalent of hanging out with the most obnoxious hipster you could think of. Sitting in a corner telling me how lame I am and to just shut up and let it show me what cool is. Did I hate this movie? No. Are people stupid for liking it so much? No. While I am surprised by how passionately people rally around this movie ~~spending $36~~ seeing it multiple times in the theater. I asked myself afterwards if I was just playing devils advocate, am I just being ‘Captain Bring Down’ here? But those three things just kept coming back to me.

What is a movie without Character or Story? Should I pay money to see some guy ‘experiment’ with coolness? Does cool alone pass as something of merit when it comes to cinema? Is it worth the 12 dollars admission? Like I said, many movies favor style over substance, and there is nothing wrong with that, but in most cases those movie KNOW what they are. Ultimately, this movie is about a guy who like to drive around in a car sometimes and is supposed to be so much cooler than you that the filmmakers are hoping you wont notice the profound lack of depth and the lingering stench of clichéd misogyny.

Obvious Child, a short film about abortion

2011-10-26T23:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I'm just now discovering this amazing pro-choice short film, Obvious Child, from 2009, which stars former SNL cast mate Jenny Slate. The film is described as "a romantic comedy about an unplanned pregnancy, an abortion, and a great first date in an unlikely location." It's littered with abortion jokes that would piss-off even a half-assed anti-choice person. It's also a very realistic depiction of what having an abortion is like for a lot of women.

One of the viewer comments on the film's vimeo page says it's "pure uncomfortable joy," but I actually found it to be the opposite of uncomfortable joy. It was more like the totally-comfortable-this-is-how-it-should-be kind of joy. It's the hollywood depiction of abortion that is so uncomfortable -- it's filled with taboo, shame and falseness. Watching something honest should never feel uncomfortable. The abortion jokes in this short were effective in de-stigmatizing a totally legal and very common surgery because it was presented in a casual, non-clandestine way.

I discovered this gem in the newest issue of BUST magazine, where the co-writer of the film interviews Jenny Slate. Slate says of the film's theme, "A lot of times in movies or in books, when a normal likable person has to have an abortion, it becomes this huge thing: How will it define her? How is she going to make this decision? How are people going to react to it? But I don't think that's what the experience is like for most people."

I'll take Obvious Child over Juno and its phony depiction of an abortion clinic protest any day.

Obvious Child from Gillian Robespierre on Vimeo.

Actress Beaten and Lashed in Iran for Appearing in the Film, "My Tehran For Sale"

2011-10-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

My Tehran For Sale looks like a beautiful film, but unfortunately there is a sad story that comes out of it -- the real life story of the film's lead actress Marzieh Vafamehr. After the film's completion, it found its way around the black market of Iran, and Marzieh was sentenced by the Iranian government to 90 lashings and a year in jail for performing in this film. It's an Australian-funded film, shot in Iran and produced by Australians Julie Ryan and Kate Croser and directed by an Iranian-Australian woman Granaz Moussavi.

The producers have issued a statement:

We would like to express our deep shock and sadness at the sentence imposed by the Iranian government against actress Marzieh Vafamehr…And we continue to offer our support to Marzieh and her family by respecting their wishes to let the case and the appeal follow the proper legal channels.

The producers would like to emphasise that Marzieh’s involvement in the film was limited to her role as an actress and she was not in any other way involved in the behind-the-scenes filmmaking…The film was never intended to be distributed within Iran and its dissemination on the black market in Tehran had been totally outside their control.

I searched Google to find a petition for her and I found one here at Petition Online. Sign it and spread to the word to help free this woman.

Source: Women and Hollywood

SNL Mocks NYC Mayor Bloomberg's Handling of the Occupy Wall Street Protests

2011-10-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Even if this clip isn't mind-bendingly hilarious to you, it acknowledges what's important. You know that whatever the theme of the opening scene on SNL is, it's the biggest story in the country.

In a related note...check out NYC's latest first amendment rights debacle where a group of 25 citizens were arrested for attempting to close their Citibank accounts. The bank claims they were "being disruptive," but in actuality they were literally LOCKED inside by Citibank "until they could be removed." You can watch the video yourself. With the Bank Transfer Day coming up and an internationally growing anti-corporate movement, the 8th largest bank in the world must be getting nervous. I also read a story about a Citibank employee in Indonesia who beat a man to death for not being able to pay his debt.

Here's a picture I took at the peaceful, police-free, city-supported protest yesterday in downtown LA.

The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl

2011-10-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

I just stumbled across this hilarious webseries, The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl. It's a clever take on the awkward situations of everyday life. She uses the word 'bitch' a lot to describe women, which I really don't like, but the show is funny and relatable. It has a bit of a Curb Your Enthusiasm/Seinfeld vibe.

The show is produced and directed by the star actress, Issa Rae, who describes her character as a "black Liz Lemon." In an interview with CNN she explains what motivated her to create the series,

“I didn’t see myself represented on screen, in television or film, and I love these shows like “Parks and Recreation,” “30 Rock,” just because they have this awkward humor,” Rae told CNN’s Fredrick Whitfield yesterday. “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Seinfeld,” these shows represent my type of humor, and I thought it’d be funny to have a series based on this African-American girl who goes through everyday awkward situations.”

You can watch the totally unawkward interview at the source, where she describes how the show came together.

Source: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/63364826.html#cutid1#ixzz1aEhzGMew

The Creative Genius Defense of Roman Polanski

2011-10-07T03:44:00.000-07:00

This jackass Polanski has won yet another award with celebrities giving him standing ovations. This cartoon pretty much sums up the usual defense against him. This guy is a f'n pedophile rapist people. I believe in redemption, but this guy is a scumbag, who should not be celebrated just because he made some movies people like. If you want to go watch his movies and indulge in the mind of a rapist, then go for it.

Just remember, when you watch another movie of his, the words coming out of the actors' mouths, and everything about the film that you're eating up with pleasure was created by a man who thinks it's totally okay to drug and anally rape children, because "everybody wants to fuck little girls." (that quote is a paraphrase, but we know what he meant.)

Source

The Importance of Jon Hamm

2011-10-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

Jon Hamm is different. Hollywood needs more guys like him. He has a look like he's straight out of a Paul Newman film, rugged, handsome masculinity -- the kind that we're used to seeing in Hollywood films. But he's not the brutish, emotionally distant tough guy, or the womanizing player; he's accessible, friendly, sensitive, caring, and occasionally expresses feminist sentiments. He cares about rape prevention not "getting laid." He's in a committed relationship, not playing the field.

There are some advice books for men on how to "pick-up" women or "seduction techniques" that generally involve manipulation, lying and put downs (If you don't know what I'm talking about read up on a book called The Game.) Guys who embrace this kind of thinking associate the idea of being a ladies man with being a liar, manipulator and verbal abuser. A real "ladies man" should be a guy who can get attention, dates, or sex while being honest and respectful. If you have to lie or manipulate to get it, you don't have much. (And that could apply to a lot of things in life.)

Most male sex symbols in today's pop culture are cold, unavailable men who "won't commit" like George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio. There are some shades of gray like Twilight guy, Robert Pattinson. But in general, the association with sexy men in Hollywood is not guys who talk about the importance of rape prevention. Seeing our culture celebrate the masculinity of men who embrace being sensitive and caring feels like a serious shift in the way we define gender, in terms of what's "ideal" (the ideal man, the epitome of sexiness).

Ryan Gosling is another example of a progressive guy being somewhat of a sex symbol. He's spoken out against the MPAA for perpetuating a "patriarchy-dominant society, which tries to control how women are depicted on screen". Despite that he is attractive, I don't think he has the same traditional good looks as Jon Hamm, but women like him. And, maybe it's just me but, his attitude is a big reason why.

Jon Hamm makes an effort to distance himself from the misogyny of his character Don Draper saying, "I’ve never treated any women as badly as Don Draper treats them, with his lies, his affairs, his sexism and chauvinism, and I’d hate [for] anyone to think I was like him." It's very important that he said this. Media has a profound impact on our subconscious minds, causing us to process images and ideas into how we perceive or value various aspects of life -- like what makes a man desirable. Despite the obviousness that Don Draper is a bad guy, an anti-hero, I have come across guys who say they would want to be him or be like him on some level. So Jon Hamm speaking out in opposition to that type of guy (hopefully) makes some kind of a difference.

Seeing men like Jon Hamm and Ryan Gosling as symbols of male sexuality is so exciting to me because it's a change in what society values in men. People have role models whether they realize it or not. People emulate what is popular, what is acceptable and what is 'normal'. Everyone wants to be seen as sexually attractive, even if it is not a main focus in their life, so people adjust to fit what our society defines as sexually attractive. If the idea of "sexy" is culturally defined as treating other people with genuine respect, then we have a culture of love and peace, which, to me, is what feminism is all about.

------

(On a side note: You know who never spoke out against revering a "sexy" misogynistic character? Adrian Grenier from Entourage, who played a douchey movie star named Vince. Jon Hamm is the anti-Entourage. Entourage (which is maybe a little passe now anyway) is flanked by fans who think those guys are actually good role models -- they get girls, they have money, they're famous and adored. And the actors on that show -- at least one or two of them -- eat it up! They are proud of representing those characters and attitudes, as if their womanizing and vapid, self-centered lifestyle is something to aspire to.)

Miss Representation: a documentary about media and culture

2011-10-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

Miss Representation 8 min. Trailer 8/23/11 from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

There are so many amazing, insightful comments in this video. It says so much about media gender, race, sex and the future of the world. From what I understand it will be airing on Oprah's new network OWN.

A Brief Glimpse at the Kathleen Hanna Documentary "The Punk Singer"

2011-09-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

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20 Years After Grunge and Where is the Celebration of Women?

2011-09-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

Lately, on the radio I've heard an excess of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Collective Soul, Live, and all of those grunge-era bands. I've realized this is due to the recent 20 year passage of grunge and revisiting the impact it has had on our culture. That's cool and all, but I have yet to hear Hole, who was HUGE during that time, or any of the other girl bands that were playing during the 90's.

So in honor of the grunge era girl bands that are getting over-looked by mainstream radio, I'm featuring a few 90's girl bands or bands with a girl in them that were on MTV and radio back in the hey day of 90's rock bands.

Hole, Doll Parts

Garbage, Stupid Girl

Veruca Salt, Seether

Luscious Jackson, Naked Eye

Elastica, Connection

I have read some articles highlighting the impact of riot grrrl, which is great, but riot grrrl was an underground movement. Women in mainstream rock should be recognized too.

Why Jane Lynch is a Lesbian

2011-09-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

And why I've considered it as well.

Kevin Dillon complains that her joke is "not fair". Marky Mark seems to be laughing it off. But we know what she speaks is the truth -- that show is full of douchbag misogyny and those guys soak it up like it's the coolest thing they could ever be. Srsly, I've had my own issues with the guys from Entourage, in person I might add, so I can say first hand for at least a couple of those guys that she's right.

Rape Prevention Tips For Guys

2011-09-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

This man has some excellent advice for men who seem to lack the ability to restrain themselves when they're having sexual urges around uninterested women. So fellas, next time you leave the house thinking you might want to force yourself onto a girl who is saying she doesn't wanna get it on with you, call a friend and ask him to look out for you. In case you can't see the writing well, the sign says, "Rape prevention tip: use the buddy system! If you’re not able to stop yourself from sexually assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you’re in public!"

The only thing I would change is that instead of "while you're in public" it should be "at all times." Since rape happens in private too. These rapists need constant supervision, to have their friends look out for them until the day when they can take off the training wheels and go it alone, without the possibility that they might sexually assault someone.

I'm assuming this photo was taken at a Slut Walk somewhere. As the caption from Take a Look at Your Life says, "This guy was awesome, he even wore a mini-skirt."

Source: Fuck Yeah Feminists via Take a Look at Your Life

Jay-Z Refused to Clap for Chris Brown

2011-09-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of Jay-Z's lyrics, but if he really didn't stand or clap as a statement against supporting an unapologetic abuser, then props to him.

Gloria Steinem in Miss Representation: What's New is Old

2011-08-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

The following is Gloria Steinem in an outtake from the documentary Miss Representation, written/directed/produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, which I believe will air on Oprah's new network OWN. In the clip she talks about other cultures that do not have a language-based concept of gender, how older societies were about consensus and circles vs hierarchies.

Learn more at: www.missrepresentation.org

Equating Beauty and Sexual Desire With Youth

2011-08-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine being a photographer hired to take photos of a 15 year old model for a clothing company and asking her to pose with her legs spread? Gross. But I guess that's par for the course in the predictable current fashion industry. That's what LA photographer Jason Lee Perry did. And now he, along with Urban Outfitters, is getting sued for using a skeevy come-fuck-me picture that was not approved by the minor's parents.

I know this photographer. I used to live with him. So I am fairly familiar with his style, which often revolves around tits and ass shots of skinny girls with small boobs which he seemed to interpret as some kind of cutting-edgy, pseudo-hipster art. Generally speaking, I have no problem with sexual pictures of women, but the impact or affect it has lies in its context. For example, when that woman is not a woman but a young girl, and the photographer is a guy whose photographic perspective perpetually revolves around framing young female subjects in a way that amounts to little more than her being a sexual stimulant for your libido, then the photograph takes on a whole new meaning. It's not about a young girl having fun in Urban Outfitters clothing; it's about how you want to fuck this young girl in Urban Outfitters clothing.

This kind of photography is re-enforcing an ideal that equates beauty and sexual desire with extreme youth. Young teenage girls should be free to be young without pressure to be sexy all of the time. I understand that teenagers are sexual beings, and they should be free to express that, but it can be done in a way that isn't so exploitative. A more interesting, healthy and honest expression of a teenagers sexuality would have been to show her engaged in something like playing an instrument or making art or fixing a bike or anything playful besides a crotch shot on a motorcycle.

It's really not surprising to me that this photographer would be involved in something that perpetuates a boring, clichéd, sexist standard for women. I recall a conversation we had once where he was going on and on about how "you don't want to be the kind of girl who has sex on a first date because guys don't respect women who do that." (But of course he professed he has done it.) So let me get this straight Jason, it's okay for a 15 year old to pose with her crotch saying hi to the camera for purposes of you exploiting her sexuality for the sake of your art and pocket book, but it's NOT okay for a woman to have sex on her own terms, something that would give her physical pleasure. Got it.

source

Paper Snow Flakes are Not Feminist

2011-08-19T18:25:00.000-07:00

For those of you familiar with the webseries Vag Magazine, you might be excited to hear about the new spin-off video blog "That's Not Feminist," hosted by Vag Magazine actor Nicole Drespel, who plays Fennel on the show. In short, Vag Magazine is a parody webseries about the office dynamics of a third-wave feminist magazine and it's hilarious.

Since the inception of the show, they have conjured up an off-season spin-off, "That's Not Feminist," which airs every Thursday.

Here, Fennel answers questions from viewers on what's feminist and what's not. I would highly recommend watching an episode or two of Vag Magazine first so that you get the tone...and then check out her take on "unfeminist crafts" in the video below.

What do we have to thank for the invention of the vibrator? Hysteria!

2011-08-17T15:09:00.001-07:00

In the 19th century "Hysteria" was a common term used to describe women who were having any kind of emotional or psychological issue, and "pelvic massages" were used to calm them. The pelvic massages led to the invention of the vibrator, as the film Hysteria, starring Maggie Gyllenhall, demonstrates. I wrote about this once before with a bit of history, but for now, enjoy the trailer. It's not really what I was expecting.

A Brief Guide to Being a Feminist Boy

2011-08-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

For more on male involvement in feminism, check out this Huffintong Post article on a Men's Feminist Book Club.

source: feministing.com via youtube

Gloria Steinem Documentary on HBO Tonight, Gloria: In Her Own Words

2011-08-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Legendary feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who has championed women's rights since the 60's, will be the focus of a documentary that is airing tonight on HBO called Gloria: In Her Own Words. This is an epic event!! You must find a way to see this tonight. She was a leader and a revolutionary, fighting for abortion rights, the passage of the ERA and basic human rights for women and minorities.

She once posed undercover at the Playboy Club as a Playboy Bunny, which she recently spoke about in regard to the soon-to-premiere NBC show, The Playboy Club, which has received some harsh criticism (from me and others as well).

The show creators have attempted to sell the show as "empowering to women," but Steinem says, "Clearly The Playboy Club is not going to be accurate. It was the tackiest place on earth. It was not glamorous at all." The show "normalizes a passive dominant idea of gender. So it normalizes prostitution and male dominance...I just know that over the years, women have called me and told me horror stories of what they experienced at the Playboy Club and at the Playboy Mansion."

As part of her undercover investigation, through her expose, the club was forced to remove its requirements that Bunnies undergo internal exams and STD tests. Aside from fighting for the passage of and helping to create laws that protect women, she played a prominent role in the "Free Angela Davis" campaign, and also founded the first feminist magazine, Ms, which has reached a global readership. Through her 77 years on earth, she has accomplished quite a lot.

Check out the trailer:

Trailer

For a bit more, check out the video below, which explains her insights, experiences, views on 3rd wave feminism, the Playboy experience, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and more.

She also recently did an interview with Stephen Colbert.

Stephen Colbert vs Obama's Army of Flesh Thirsty Sluts

2011-08-09T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Recognizing female artists: A documentary on Juanita Guccione

2011-08-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

I would love to see this film produced and have Juanita's contributions preserved and recognized. The history of documented women in art is so sparse. She Had Many Faces is raising funds on kickstarter.

Roseanne Barr for President, "I declare patriarchal politics obsolete!"

2011-07-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

Source: Roseanne World

Brit Marling, Surpassing the Hollywood System

2011-07-25T14:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to know what the typical Hollywood experience is like for a young unknown actress just getting started? In an interview with movieline.com Writer/Director/Actor Brit Marling sums up perfectly what the experience is like and how she surpassed it. Here is a brief snippet from that interview:

Since moving to L.A. have you been doing the regular aspiring actor thing, sending out head shots and resumes and hitting auditions?

It’s funny, right when I got out to L.A. I realized pretty quickly that one, it’s just difficult to go on auditions as a young unknown. And then even if you can get an audition, what you’re auditioning for is probably garbage. I mean, it’s just horror films, the torture porn genre, or it’s just bad comedies, girlfriend characters, girl in bikini running from man with chainsaw. I thought to myself, “Oh my gosh, I don’t know how I can do this stuff.” People said to me you just have to start somewhere, everybody’s got this kind of work, the skeletons in their closet, and eventually you’ll get to the other side and you’ll get to do substantive work. I remember thinking to myself, nobody says to an aspiring heart surgeon, “One day you’ll get to operate on patients at Cedars-Sinai — but for now, come over to this back alley and remove kidneys illegally and sell them on the black market.” Nobody asks that of any other profession, that you wade through this morally-corrupt swamp.

She completely hits the nail on the head. This is exactly what auditions were like when I first went. It was dauntingly uninspiring. I can't tell you how many horror film/girlfriend auditions I went on that ended with, "So how do you feel about nudity?"

She continues with her answer:

Also what I felt really strongly about was that I didn’t want to play these roles where women are constantly in these submissive positions or being sexually abused or harassed or just sexual objects. I did not want to do that. I didn’t want to be responsible for putting storytelling into the world that other young girls would watch and think, that’s what it means to be a woman. Hell no. So writing became a way to get to act in things that I thought were meaningful, and hopefully write stronger roles for other women. The Lorna character, to write [SOMV character] Carol Briggs, to create work for other women that wasn’t like the stuff I was reading.

Her line of thinking is completely right. Why sit back and wade through audition after audition of crap scripts that don't include female characters unless they're naked, scantily clad or being chased by someone, when you can just take the reigns and join forces with other like-minded people to create your own voice?

That approach has worked out pretty well for Brit. She has co-written, produced and starred in two highly praised films, which both went to Sundance -- Another Earth and Sound of My Voice. Getting a film into Sundance is not an easy accomplishment, but the world makes way for the woman who knows what she wants.

Check out the trailer for Another Earth.

I highly recommend reading the rest of the Movieline interview.

From the Back of the Room, Women in Punk Documentary

2011-07-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

Feature length documentary Produced by Amy Oden. Co-produced by Brian Kruglak. Directed and shot by Amy Oden. Edited by James Branscome and Amy Oden.

www.fromthebackoftheroom.com

By the way, "from the back of the room" is a Bikini Kill lyric from their song Strawberry Julius. I wonder if that was the inspiration for the title.

Men: shave and get drunk, because you're already brilliant

2011-07-11T12:28:00.000-07:00

Do you ever watch commercials about women and start to feel like there is perpetually something to be embarrassed about, ashamed of, or that there is always something that needs fixing on your body? This hilarious BBC parody by the show That Mitchell and Webb Look depicts the absurdities of advertisements aimed at women, with a brief cameo for men's commercials, and exemplifies exactly what is so ridiculous about a consumer culture that panders to people's insecurities and need for perfection.

This is a couple of years old, but it's a great example of how using humor (or humour as they say) is a really effective way to point out the ridiculousness of sexism.

Margaret Thatcher Biopic: The Iron Lady

2011-07-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

To watch more, visit tag

Women's Magazine Cover Decoded

2011-07-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure who created this, but Susan Arendt tweeted this on her twitter account.

Female Armor Sucks

2011-06-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

Pixar's First Female Lead in 'BRAVE'

2011-06-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not too familiar with Pixar, other than their standing as one of the current leading film animation production companies, but I just read over at Think Progress that their newest feature Brave is the first of their films to have a female lead. Apparently Pixar, has a "track record...[of] movies that beautifully encapsulate universal human values and experience: loneliness, aging, love, ambition." It's great to see a film that represents young girls in this light and gives girls something to look up to. The voice over suggests the theme of the film saying, "...born of our legends, and when we are put to the test, it is the one thing we must always be..." BRAVE. These aren't your mother's fairy tales.

As one of the commenters pointed out on the Think Progress page, why must the voice-overs for these films about powerful warriors always be male? I guess that will be the next step...

The Sexist Beatdown of Megan Fox

2011-06-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Apparently the new Transformers movie sucks. Not that the first two didn't also suck. But this one must suck especially bad considering the producer and director of the film are starting their publicity tour by bashing former Transformers star Megan Fox, instead of actually talking about the movie or its current stars.

Michael Bay spoke to GQ magazine and worded his diatribe in a manner that gives the impression that Megan Fox was fired from Transformers instead of what she has said, which is that she walked away and that she "wishes the franchise the best."

Who are you to believe and why does it matter? I'm more inclinded believe Megan Fox and it matters because of the sexism involved in the situation. The reason they want you to believe that she was fired is because they want to perpetuate a status quo that keeps women silent, that punishes outspoken women so that the men in power can continue to revel in their own egos, and prevent the industry from evolving in a way that benefits women in any small amount.

At the time Megan publicly announced she was leaving the franchise, neither Michael Bay nor Steven Spielberg contradicted that. A while later, another actor on the franchise, Shia Labeouf, described how uncomfortable Megan Fox was with Michael Bay's treatment of women on set.

Immediately following this insight from Shia, Michael Bay is now suddenly coming out with this "Steven Spielberg told me to fire Megan Fox" because of her "Michael Bay is like Hitler" comment. This seems surprising considering that following the publication of her Hitler comment, Michael Bay publicly invited Megan Fox back into the franchise. This was long before it was announced that she would no longer be in Transformers 3. Why would they wait over a year to fire her for that?

New quotes from Bay and the Transformers people in GQ magazine come off as unnecessary and bullying. If they are picking on her NOW a year after she left the franchise, I can't imagine how stressful it must have been when she was actually on set.

Ehren Kruger (screenwriter, Transformers series): She was there for rehearsals. But she seemed like an actress who didn’t want to be a part of it. She was saying she wanted to, but she wasn’t acting like it.

Michael Bay: She was in a different world, on her BlackBerry. You gotta stay focused. And you know, the Hitler thing. Steven [Spielberg] said, “Fire her right now.”

Shia LaBeouf: Criticism is one thing. Then there’s public name-calling, which turns into high school bashing. Which you can’t do. She started sh-t-talking our captain.

Bay: I wasn’t hurt, because I know that’s just Megan. Megan loves to get a response. And she does it in kind of the wrong way. I’m sorry, Megan. I’m sorry I made you work twelve hours. I’m sorry that I’m making you show up on time. Movies are not always warm and fuzzy. [Editors note: Fox declined to comment for this article.]

Ian Bryce (producer, Transformers series): On the plus side of the column, Rosie has done an enormously wonderful job for being a newcomer.

Bay: Listen, I mean, Rosie came in and she would say hello to the crew. She would acknowledge the crew. She’d say thank you.

Julie White (actor, Transformers series): I texted [Megan] and was like, “Come back, Lassie!” Because I think she’s magic. She is the My Little Pony of Transformers.

Did you read that last quote? "Come back, lassie." That implies she left. Either way though, this egomaniac, Michael Bay, seems absolutely intent on destroying the career of a young starlet who dared to speak her mind. If she had truly been fired, then wouldn't these men would have felt vindicated and content? Why would they be talking about her now? They remind me of the catty girls I hung out with in the 8th grade. The fact that they have to beat her while she's down and publicly humiliate her shows how much she probably stood up too Bay's "verbal abuse."

The website The Wrap reported about an "inside" perspective on the matter:

And while Deal Central was skeptical at first that Fox would walk away from such a lucrative role, persistent whispers around Hollywood indicated that there was another side of the story.

Bay has a history of demeaning his leading ladies, including "Pearl Harbor" star Kate Beckinsale; an individual close to the actress recalled that the director "wasn't very nice" to her on the set, either.

Apparently, Fox wasn't the only "Transformers" cast member affected by Bay's rude behavior. TheWrap also learned that "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" star Isabel Lucas chose not to join her co-stars on a publicity tour for the film because she didn't get along with the director, who was described as being "too powerful" and "not well-liked" by the female talent community.

This view point rarely gets reported on as much as this "he told me to fire her" stuff that's coming out. But whether she really was or wasn't fired, either way, why are they talking about it? They are just out to destroy her and using the new Transformers movie as an opportunity to trash an actress who didn't put up with a sexist director -- a really pathetic and immature tactic for grown men.

If his accusations of her supposed contempt for "showing up on time" are true, then why have many other directors and actors who have worked with her and spoken of working with her done nothing but sing her praises? The whole thing just seems like one big PR move that's backfiring.

I wrote another article a while ago about how Hollywood loves to call women stupid, which was largely inspired by watching the endless, mean-spirited media attack of calling Megan Fox "dumb". This treatment is also part of that sexist beat down. Even trashing her acting skills, which are not nearly as bad as people claim, is part of it.

Take a look at her Transformers audition tape. I think she's pretty decent, even good.

Despite "making an enemy of Steven Spielberg," her career seems to be in strong form with a movie starring Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm coming out, as well as a Judd Apatow film. I have a feeling this girl is going to come out on top. I at least hope she does, because it will say a lot about what it means to be an outspoken woman in an industry where outspoken women are targets to be taken down.

Lastly, the fact that Megan Foxsaid she "wishes the franchise the best" and has declined to comment and participate in this conversation about what happened two years ago, shows, between all of them, who the truly professional one most likely is.

Girl Hate + Boys Club = Hollywood System

2011-06-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

Not too long after Tina Fey's book about herself, Bossypants, came out, I read a comment that she made during an acceptance speech for an award she received from NY magazine. The statement was about why she is not interested in giving other women advice, support or help who are working in the same male dominated field as her.

“A lot of young women come up to me and ask, ‘What advice do you have for me? How can I get where you are?’ And I tell each of those women the same thing… ‘Back off bitch, I’m working this corner.’” That joke previewed a theme of her book: ”You’re not in competition with other women. You’re in competition with everyone.“

I guess this is the competition that Bridesmaids actress Rose Byrne feels when she's on set. She was recently quoted describing how unfriendly women can be to each other due to this competition and lack of support.

She says, "It may be a negative cliche to say that women together are competitive, but it's true - and actresses are insanely competitive! Some actresses have outright contempt for each other. If someone's doing better, they're envious. You feel it on set. And I've worked with so many women like that. They're cold and unwelcoming and yet change completely around men."

The good ole boys club women are still tryin' to be a part of instead of forming their own. Her take on the experience of Hollywood implies that women are in competition with women -- not with men. I guess Rose Byrne has a different experience than Tina Fey.

This is really disappointing to hear. It also makes me wonder, do men embrace this same attitude of not wanting to help other people who are working their way up? Are they cold towards men who are more successful but friendly to the women, regardless of how successful those women are?

It seems to me that fostering a sense of community would be more useful than blind ambition in a land where men dominate. But this is Hollywood, where egos rule.

Part of the reason this tension among women exists in Hollywood is because there aren't enough damn roles to go around for them. When Bridesmaids came out, everyone acted like it was revolutionary to have a movie that starred a lot of women. This should be the norm.

These actresses should start getting pissed off at the producers who refuse to produce films that star more women, instead of getting pissed off at each other.

Source

For Animal Lovers: Na Nai'A, Legend of the Dolphins, a Documentary + Megan Fox Receives the Iris Award

2011-06-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

I recently signed a petition to call for the release of one of the most intelligent creatures on the planet, the dolphin. The researchers at Resorts World in Sentosa, Singapore who hold these highly intelligent, and human-friendly marine mammals hostage, claim dolphin capture is essential for "helping" this species and understanding their habitat. However, according to Change.org, many dolphins live an average of 45 years, "yet half of all captured dolphins die within their first two years of captivity."

I tell you this because there is a new documentary coming out, which exhibits an exciting exploration into the deep sea world of dolphins. It's called Na Nai'A Legend of the Dolphin. Many celebrity actors are involved in the narration of the film: Kate Winslet, Ellen Page, Gerard Butler, Megan Fox, Janes Franco, Julian Lennon, Diego Luna, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, Isabella Rossellini and Daryl Hannah. This is a documentary that has been "five years in the making" by Director and Producer Jonathan Kay.

The film screened at the Maui Film Festival this week where Megan Fox presented the film, right after she was given the very honorable Iris Award due to her involvement in animal rights charities.

The following is a description of the film from the website:

For fifty million years they've been roaming the oceans of the Earth. The dolphins of the world unite in this fantastic story of their power, their message to humanity, and their survival.

They lived on land and then took over the sea, forming the Great Dolphin Tribe. One day, the sea trembled and middle earth rose up in volcanoes, spilling lava and splitting the land. There was fire in the water, the continents shifted and the tribe became divided. They evolved to become many species and traveled to eight corners of the world. Touched with humor and alive with thrills, breathtaking cinematography captures the incredible beauty and staggering you are there dramatic journey of the dolphins, through the oceans of Hawaii, The Bahamas, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mozambique, and the Amazon River of Brazil. Predators hunt them, Pollution of their environment endangers them, but these intelligent beings continue to live effortlessly as the guardians of the sea.

It looks like a beautiful film and I can't wait to see it. The sound track is pretty impressive as well, with a sound scape that apparently includes The Rolling Stones and John Lennon, among others. Take a look at the trailer:

Below is a clip of Megan Fox receiving the Iris Award and introducing the documentary. It's nice to see her focusing more on her work and causes.

!Women Art Revolution! Trailer UPDATE

2011-06-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

This documentary was filmed and directed by artist Lynn Hershamn Leeson and the sound track was scored by Carrie Brownstein.

A description from youtube,

An entertaining and revelatory "secret history" of Feminist Art, !Women Art Revolution deftly illuminates this under-explored movement through conversations, observations, archival footage and works of visionary artists, historians, curators and critics. Starting from its roots in 1960s antiwar and civil rights protests, the film details major developments in women's art through the 1970s and explores how the tenacity and courage of these pioneering artists resulted in what is now widely regarded as the most significant art movement of the late 20th century.

Right now I believe it is only screening in New York. Hopefully, there will be one in LA too.

UPDATE: It IS screening in LA, Tuesday the 14th.

Slut Walk in Los Angeles

2011-06-04T20:46:00.000-07:00

I love what these protesters had to say. Did anyone go? I'd love to hear how it was or what you thought. West Hollywood is already a pretty progressive place, but it's still an important event in terms of bringing awareness to ideas about equality in sexuality between men and women and feminist thinking.

Source

Speak, a Powerful Film About High School and Rape

2011-06-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Through the suggestion of a really funny and smart guy I know, I recently watched a film called Speak. It's about a girl who is sexually assaulted at a party on the last day of 8th grade, calls the cops and is subsequently abandoned by her friends. She enters high school an outcast as she struggles to deal with the after effects of the rape and to find new life from within.

This film was really powerful. It felt real. It looked like what high school actually looked like, not the American Pie version of being a teenager. The story sounds depressing on the surface, and I'll admit that it did make me cry, but it was inspiring. The perspective is one that is not often told, but is maybe more often than we realize felt.

The main character suffers in silence in a way that gives us insight into what it's like to be weak yet implicitly determined to bring strength back into her life. It's about not giving up, finding new hope, new passion and believing in something even when it seems like you have nothing. Speak stars Kristen Stewart and came out in 2004 on Showtime.

It's not a new film, but it's powerful and worth watching. This trailer really doesn't even do it justice. More people should see this film. It's up on youtube, so there's no excuse to not give it a look.

Shia LeBeouf Mocks Megan Fox for Feminist Thinking

2011-06-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

For a while on my blog, I had the pleasure of highlighting various men who were espousing impressive feminist rhetoric in the Hollywood landscape. Today, I do not have that pleasure. Actor Shia LeBeouf, who worked on the Michael Bay franchise, Transformers, with Megan Fox, spoke to L. A. Times about how the vibe on the set of the newest Transformers is different and why. The reason is because Megan's replacement, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, doesn't have a problem with Michael Bay being a total douchebag.

This is the quote:

Huntington-Whiteley is equipped for Bay’s brusque shooting style in a way that Fox (who in the media likened her director’s on-set behavior to Napoleon and Hitler) was not, according to LaBeouf.

“Megan developed this Spice Girl strength, this woman-empowerment [stuff] that made her feel awkward about her involvement with Michael, who some people think is a very lascivious filmmaker, the way he films women,” LaBeouf said. “Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality. It’s summer. It’s Michael’s style. And I think [Fox] never got comfortable with it. This is a girl who was taken from complete obscurity and placed in a sex-driven role in front of the whole world and told she was the sexiest woman in America. And she had a hard time accepting it. When Mike would ask her to do specific things, there was no time for fluffy talk. We’re on the run. And the one thing Mike lacks is tact. There’s no time for [LaBeouf assumes a gentle voice] ‘I would like you to just arch your back 70 degrees.’”

Huntington-Whiteley, on the other hand, must have arched her back just right when Bay shot her in a Victoria’s Secret ad in 2009, because months after Fox’s trash-talking peaked, the director cut the actress’ character, Mikaela Banes, from the third Transformers movie and replaced her with the newcomer.

“Rosie comes with this Victoria’s Secret background, and she’s comfortable with it, so she can get down with Mike’s way of working and it makes the whole set vibe very different,” LaBeouf said.

First of all, it's hilariously stupid that Shia equates feminist thinking with the Spice Girls. It's a braindead and belittling comparison. Second of all, where it says "woman-empowerment [stuff]," I'm guessing the magazine redacted a more offending word -- shit or bullshit. I wish they hadn't, because it would have been a more honest reflection of Shia's true feelings.

It's surprising that Fox never trashed him too, given his apparent contempt for the concept of female empowerment. "It's summer. It's Michael Bay's style." So...during the summer and when around Michael Bay women should just throw out their copies of The Feminine Mystique and do their best pouty lip? You can have a sexy character without being degrading to the actress. I'm guessing the vibe on Jennifer's Body and Jonah Hex, both films where Fox plays a sexy vixen, was pretty different too, different in that she wasn't treated like another slice of ham on the directors Lazy Susan.

Where Shia says there is no time for "fluff" and Bay "lacks tact," what he probably means is, Bay says things like, "Megan, in this scene I want you to stick your tits and ass out," then she would get pissed off, tension would arise on the set, and everyone would blame Fox. That's my guess. While I'm sure that type of "direction" wasn't written into the script, she must have had an inkling of Bay's "lasciviousness."

It's been reported far and wide and openly admitted to that Michael Bay made Megan Fox wash his Ferrari in her bikini while he video taped her as part of her "audition." That's not great for Fox, but big money and big career opportunities don't come around often. This is what makes Hollywood a complicated place for some women. Where do you draw the line? Obviously, Megan Fox had enough. But that's rarely the way it's framed in media.

This article is claiming that Megan Fox was "cut" from the film because she "trash-talked" her boss. It sounds more to me like Megan Fox walked away from Transformers because she was sick of her sexist boss. Most media outlets want to frame her situation in a way that makes it look like "see what happens little girls when you back talk". When in reality, she spoke out against a man known for offending the women he works with and basically for being a sleazy, power-happy misogynist.

Would it be a stretch to call Megan Fox a trailblazer? She really took a beating from the media, who's response to her unabashed honesty was to call her dumb and difficult.

Megan Fox deserves props if she really walked away from Transformers, and I respect her for speaking out about her boss, although, I think publicly trashing people who you plan to keep relationships with (your boss) is not the best approach. If she had worded it more carefully in interviews, it could have had a very different impact. For instance, she could have talked about the dynamic between playing a sexy character and how her director takes liberties with her because of that. And how it's complicated to be a pin up girl, but to also want to be treated like a full human...or something along those lines. But there is no play book on "How To Deal With a Sexist Boss While Working in the Public Eye."

She has, however, expressed ideas similar to this that rarely get reported on. One of my favorites is when she was discussing sexism in Hollywood,

"I've worked with people who have been difficult to work with, but have been male, and there is never a complaint made about them. There is never an issue made about them. I have friends who are actresses, who if they go to work one day and they show up on set and they don't have a smile on their face they're tagged a bitch and that is really unfortunate. But I can't single-handedly change that process, but I'm trying."

With that said, Megan Fox is in a upcoming movie called Friends With Kids staring Jon Hamm and Kristen Wiig! I can't wait.

Funny Bridesmaids Outtakes

2011-05-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

This shows you just how much of the dialogue or jokes were improvised by the actors. Someone needs to turn the Melissa McCarthy montage of jokes in this clip into a song, starting at the 1:53 mark. I can hear a beat in there.

Bridesmaids Outtakes - watch more funny videos

Obsessed With This Song

2011-05-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

Can anyone recommend something similar? It makes me wanna dance around and lay back at the same time. The vocals are Mira Billotte, who used to be in Slant 6, one of my all time favorite bands.

Fun Facts About Abortion

2011-05-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

Okay, so some of these facts are not necessarily "fun" but they are educational and education is fun. This is video explains why abortion should be covered under heath care and why it should be considered a part of basic health care needs.

I went to the OBGYN recently and the co-pay was quite a bit more expensive than the "regular" doctor because it was considered "specialty". Pretty ridiculous to consider something that ALL women need "specialty."

Seth Meyers and Obama Rip Into Donald Trump

2011-05-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

My favorite line of Meyers: "Donald Trump owns the Miss USA pageant, which is good for Republicans because it will streamline their search for a Vice President."

All-Star Tribute Album to The Runaways!!

2011-04-28T23:30:00.000-07:00

From Kick Axe Music:

On June 7, Main Man Records will release Take It or Leave it - A Tribute to The Original Queens of Noise THE RUNAWAYS with The Donnas, Peaches, Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill/Le Tigre) collaborating for the first time with her husband Ad-Rock (Beastie Boys), Care Bears On Fire, Kittie, Bebe Buell, David Johansen (NY Dolls) The Adolescents and White Flag as well as members of Generation X, Smashing Pumpkins, Monster Magnet and many more including 2 Original members Cherie Currie American Knights , Sandy West - Dirty Magazines , The Runaways are Joan Jett, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, Jackie Fox, Sandy West, Vicki Blue, Kim Fowley

In honor of Sandy West who lost her fight with cancer in 2006, Main Man Records will be donating a portion of the proceeds from “Take It Or Leave It” to the American Institute For Cancer Research.

Main Man Records is releasing “Take It Or Leave It: A Tribute To The Original Queens of Noise: The Runaways”. This 2-Disc collection features 36 tracks and over two hours of music which spans the entire Runaways catalog. Their best known songs like “Cherry Bomb”, “Queens of Noise” and “California Paradise” are all represented as well as obscure fan favorites like “Dead End Justice”, “Born To Be Bad” and “Yesterday’s Kids”. “Take It Or Leave It” also features two songs from original Runaways band members Cherie Currie (American Nights) as well as Sandy West in her last recording (Dirty Magazines).

Fuck yeah! Can't wait for this. The first time I heard a Runaways song it was as a cover version of Cherry Bomb on Bratmobile's first album.

Punk Singer Poly Styrene Has Passed to the Great Beyond

2011-04-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Poly Styrene, born Marianne Joan Elliott-Said in Kent, England, was a trailblazing, power house, braces-clad singer way ahead of her time in the British punk band X-ray Spex. She once echoed a line that was going to reverberate for decades as a classic battle cry, "Some people think little girls should be seen and not heard, but I think OH BONDAGE, UP YOURS!"

This was punk rock feminism before punk rock feminism existed. Clearly, a pre-cursor to riot grrrl. She was an inspiration and X-Ray Spex was one of my favorites growing up. Poly is a true icon and pioneer. Despite the fact that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she said once that she was "an observer, not a suffering artist writing from tortured experiences. I was playing with words and ideas. Having a laugh about everything, sending it up."

While the band only released two albums, 1978′s seminal Germ Free Adolescence and their 1995 follow up Conscious Consumer, their impact on the underground scene is undeniable. They were unique in multiple ways, that they had a pretty un-punk instrument, a saxaphone, in their mix, that they had a girl singer in a totally male dominated punk movement and that they were way ahead of their time lyrically and conceptually. She once stated, "If anybody tried to make me a sex symbol I would shave my head tomorrow."

Styrene later went on to release solo albums, Translucent in 1980, Gods and Goddess in 1986, Flower Aeroplane in 2004 and even as recent as this past March released Generation Indigo. Unfortunately, she died on Monday after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 53. I'm really sad she's gone and my heart goes out to her family and friends. Her legacy will carry on. R.I.P. Marianne Elliot.

Here is a great little piece on her....

Source and 2nd Source

Girltastic Dance Party at Part Time Punks

2011-04-25T19:04:00.000-07:00

Come enjoy a nite of jangly/garagy/gorgeous girl-fronted tunes this Sunday, May 1st at Part Time Punks with VIVIAN GIRLS + SWEATER GIRLS. For those of you who don't know, Part Time Punks is a regular Sunday night event at the Echo, 1822 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles. The vibe is a DIY sashay of indie music from post-punk, synth-punk/pop, New Wave, etc. I've only been a couple of times, but it's always a good vibe. Since this upcoming PTP will focus on girl-fronted jams, it should be extra special this round.

VIVIAN GIRLS

SWEATER GIRLS

Bridesmaids Review: The girl comedy of all girl comedies

2011-04-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

If you need to laugh for two hours straight, then go see Kristen Wiig's new comedy Bridesmaids. When I went to an advanced screening of it, that's pretty much what me and the rest of the audience did. From the opening scene, which is a hilarious romp in bed with Kristen Wiig and John Hamm, to the final scene, which is a romp in bed with Melissa McCarthy and a very long ham sandwich, Bridesmaids is two hours of perpetual laughter.

The film is lead by Kristen Wiig, who plays Annie, a broke and lovelorn, soon-to-be maid of honor, who attempts to mend her low self-esteem through sex with a hot, rich asshole. The hot, rich asshole, Ted, played by Jon Hamm, fancies himself a Casanova, much more than he really is, yet Annie can't stop going back to him. The bride is played by Maya Rudolph, who's new pretty, perfect friend, Helen, played by Rose Byrne, is threatening to take Annie's place as the bride's BFF.

The supporting cast is full of laughs as well, particularly Melissa McCarthy, who plays Megan, the butch sister of the groom. The film is set up with long gags, like a speech-off between Annie and Helen and a drunken airplane fiasco, which all keep you laughing, while also actually adding depth to the characters. Anyone who says Bridesmaids is "the female Hangover" is, well, wrong. Bridesmaids makes The Hangover look like it was done by comedy amateurs.

This isn't one of those films where all of the funny parts are in the trailer. The funny parts were basically in every single scene. What's so brilliant about it, was its ability to be both laugh out loud funny and have depth and meaning. It touches on friendship, self-esteem, marriage, dating, love, careers, family and every other thing in between, which makes it very relatable.

When the pretty girl cries out "I don't have any female friends," I felt myself welling up; I could feel her pain, yet five seconds later found myself laughing at a Kristen Wiig's genius humor. Seriously, the girl can be wacky, physical and over the top, yet also be hilariously dry and deadpan. With all these "bromances" out, maybe it's time for some sisterhood comedies...(womance, girltionship, sistership? We need a phrase too.)

The fact that I liked this film so much, makes me wonder if other people will share my love, because my taste in film usually goes against the grain. For example, I think Nolan sucks. But I did like Knocked Up, which was a huge hit. So maybe with comedies, I'm more in line with the masses. And I hope so, because Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig's script is brilliant, and this film deserves to be seen by many, many people. Paul Feig deserves kudos for his directing too.

So, yes, Bridesmaids is the girl comedy of all girl comedies, but one that anyone will die laughing at. The only thing that disappointed me is that some of the scenes in the trailer aren't in the movie! I hate when they do that. But still, it is freaking hilarious and also a good example of why you shouldn't date rich, arrogant assholes who drive Porsches...even if they look like John Hamm.

Kathleen Hanna Talks About the Herstory of Riot Grrrl and Bikini Kill

2011-04-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Riot Grrrl pioneer, punk rock activist, artist and musician Kathleen Hanna spoke at Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA on March 30, 2011. The event was called “Herstory Repeats.” She spoke about punk rock politics and what it was like to become singled out as an individual and as a band when they were working with the purpose of trying to create community and how complicated that made things.

Just a few highlights that struck me...

She explains the basics of what Bikini Kill's goal was: "We were selfishly trying to build a community where there were other girls and women to play with." That's what I feel Hollywood needs: a community where like-minded women can meet, collaborate and create films together and do something to put a stronger feminist influence on pop culture through making film. As a screenwriter, I'm always on the look out for feminist-minded directors. (There was a female filmmaker networking thing called Joanie 4 Jackie that director Miranda July started a while ago. Please bring it back Miranda!)

She explains the inception of Bikini Kill's battle cry, "Revolution, Girl Style Now!": "If Coca-Cola was gonna get to have good slogans, I wanted punk rock, radical feminism based on ending oppression of all people to have its slogans too. So we came up with Revolution, Girl Style Now." I have to admit, when I first listened to the opening song on the first Bikini Kill record and heard Double Dare Ya, I thought she was saying "Revolution, girls don't know." I was very happy when I read the lyrics and realized what it really was.

She describes her thinking for Le Tigre's evolution and how pop culture influenced her creative choices for the band, "When we were first playing in 1999 that band N'SYNC was on TV all the time and...they had costumes and video and were doing dances and I was like, 'I want that'. And then I was like 'you can't have that you're an underground punk rock feminist artist. People are gonna be totally pissed if you do that,' and then I said, 'that's exactly what I should do then'....I wanted to be in a band that was a feminist version of N'SYNC."

ONE WORD:

During what appears to be the Q and A, she talks about how there was a time period where people were reluctant to acknowledge being influenced by other artists and musicians. If she's thinking of the same time period I am, then I remember this. I remember reading interviews with bands I liked (around 2001ish) who seemed completely resistant to giving props to bands who influenced them. They would openly state they hated the "who are your influences?" question. I didn't understand this. I was excited to tell other people what music I thought was cool and was eager to give props to the people who influenced my life and music making. I think, fortunately, the tide has changed on that.

Source

Jane Curtin Talks About John Belushi and Sexism on SNL

2011-04-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

Jane Curtin decided to go and become new newest hero and crush this past weekend. She put the smack down on John Belushi during an SNL special on Oprah. Oprah asked about women on the show during her time and Curtin described how misogynistic it was thanks to Belushi, who was one of the central and star players of SNL back then.

From NY Mag and LA Times:

"[The women writers] were working against John, who said women are just fundamentally not funny," Curtin told Oprah. "You'd go to a table read and if a woman writer had written a piece for John, he would not read it in his full voice. He would whisper it. He felt as though it was his duty to sabotage pieces that were written by women."
This seemed to really upset Tracy Morgan, who jumped in, shouting, "Tina Fey ~~would have been~~ put me on!"
Curtin said that resistance reflected what was happening far outside the writers' room. "Women's liberation happened in the '60s, and so women were going out into the workforce and challenging men," she said. "Well, it was not necessarily embraced by the male population — understandably so. They were threatened by the fact that there were all these women going out into the workplace and they were going to have to compete with them as well as the other men.

I love that Tina Fey totally gives Curtin and the other women of SNL's early days props for paving the way, fighting for their right to work, to be funny and to have a voice, so that she, and others like her, can experience and enjoy success and acclaim in the comedy field. I love that Oprah asked this question. I love that Curtin gave an awesome side eye and roll to Chevy Chase. I love that Tracy Morgan is being supportive. I love that things have changed.

So John Belushi, you can go to hell! Oh wait...you're already there. Okay, stay there. Go Tina, Jane, Tracy and Oprah!

Source

Kristen Schaal on Egypt's Exclusion of Women in Government Reform

2011-04-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

"Told to go home and mop on International Women's Day? That's why we mopped so hard on International Women's Day Eve -- so we can enjoy the day...It's time women had their own holyland...the Female Republic of Vagistan"

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Are Men Funny?

2011-04-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

IMMA HOMO - Gay Hip Hop Toeing the Line for Mainstream Appeal

2011-04-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

Usually when you hear the word "gay" anywhere near "hip hop" it's being used as a homophobic slur, but Rainbow Noise is a record label that's bringing some LGBT mainstream representation to hip hop with the song Imma Homo.

The description from youtube is this:

Rainbow Noise Entertainment is a lesbian owned record label specializing in LGBTQ music artist with an independent name and mainstream appeal; But it doesn't stop there... We are also committed to representing LGBTQ dancers, models, comedians, and entertainers with something to be proud of.

That's great and all but what's up with these lyrics by Jay Squared, "beat that pussy up, ya call me Dyke Turner." And another one by Stud Phamous, "after shows grab hos." There's lots of talk about "bitches" and "hos". It's great to see the word homo being destigmatized and reclaimed, but when lyrics about fucking "bitches and hos" and metaphors about domestic violence for sex are infused in with it...it's hard to totally get behind it.

Is this what it takes to get mainstream acceptance in hip hop? To talk about women like they're just sexual toys? Ugh. I like songs about sex too, but it can be done without acting like a misogynistic douche bag. Even Snoop Dog, who is not someone I think of as progressive, has something better in his Sensual Seduction song.

Songs like U.N.I.T.Y. by Queen Latifah or Public Enemy's Fight the Power are lot more progressive and inspiring than some of the lyrics in Imma Homo. However,
Endivisual, who appears about mid-way through the song, is probably the one I liked the most, whose rap was more along the theme of putting down homophobia, "I'm not a perv or a fag, or any other name you have."

And as far as lesbian owned record labels go, Mr. Lady did it better. I'm glad you exist Rainbow Noise, cuz hip hop needs this diversity, but...yeah...you could really learn a thing or two from Kaia Wilson.

Scarlett Johansson Stands With Planned Parenthood

2011-04-07T22:32:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already yet, please take a minute to go sign the petition! Repost the link and ask your friends and family to sign it as well.

Slut Walk, Women March to Protest Slut Shaming

2011-04-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

Almost 2,000 people turned out in support of a woman's right to dress however the heck she wants in a march held in Toronto, on April 3. This was in response to some bonehead police officer giving a lecture at a college on how to avoid violence. His suggestion to women, "Don't dress like a slut." Right, because all these eons of violence against women would never have happened if us girls just hadn't been so damn slutty.

Rightly so, this inspired a revolutionary response and the citizens of Toronto took to the streets to demonstrate that sexual harassment and rape are not instigated by how a woman dresses. Whether someone is covered in a burka or running around butt naked, there is never justification for rape or sexual harassment or sexual assault.

There have been one too many court cases where the judge defends the rapist by blaming the victim for what she was wearing. This march truly demonstrates a rebellion that is much needed. Can we please bring this to America and the rest of the world?

And you should go click "like" on the youtube video. It is almost half like/dislike. Give their voice support and say NO to slut shaming.

Dead Men Don't Rape - a Token of My Riot Grrrl Youth

2011-04-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

In Hollywood, having "the right connections" is about who can help you with your career or help you get into a club, depending on what your priorities are. In Atlanta, back in my high school days, having the right connections was about having a friend who works the late shift at Kinko's and will hook you up with free copies for your zine.

Fortunately, I had this hook up. Late one night, my best friend and I delivered our first zine, 'Kazoo,' to the hands of our Kinko's comrade, a tall, lanky, vegan, hardcore kid with glasses named Josh, who was always going off to me about the connection between sexism and dairy.

After he spent the night stapling like 500 copies of our zines together with some other kids, our new little treasures were handed over to us in a ginormous box we could barely carry. Upon digging through our zine creation all giddy-like, we discovered a surprise; he had made hundreds of stickers from two of the images in our zine -- "Dead Men Don't Rape, We Will Defend Ourselves" with an image of a gun and, the other, a female sign with the words "Inherit the Earth." Amazingly enough, we somehow managed to sell all 500 of the copies of Kazoo and distribute all of our stickers until they were gone.

That was long, long ago though, and I hadn't really thought about Kazoo in a while. But the other day, in the midst of riffling through my book collection in an attempt to find usable magazines for a collage-making session, I stumbled across my copy of The Second Sex. I noticed the corner of a bookmark peaking out the top of my book and flipped it open to where I left off over ten years before and low and behold, it was our sticker.

I used to wear this as a patch on my hoodie too, which totally scared the shit out of my boyfriend's dad. I didn't design this image though, nor did my friend. I think we stumbled across it in another zine and included it in 'Kazoo' with some kind of "this would make a great sticker to put up around town with your friends" message.

We did actually design another one, which has been stuck to the side of my 8-track-equipped record player for the past ten years.

Imagine if these kinds of feminist messages were dominating Hollywood's landscape...a girl can dream.

RIP Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011

2011-03-23T20:13:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time lately to dedicate to my blog since I've been overwhelmed with school and work, but I didn't want this day to pass without acknowledging the passing of legendary actress and activist, Elizabeth Taylor. Several years back, I found my interest in her mysteriously piqued and read a couple of biographies on her. I also watched her mini-series, The Elizabeth Taylor Story, which I obsessively recorded off of the TV onto VHS to sustain my passing fixation. She lived a full and fascinating life, and there isn't enough time for me to say all that I could.

She was a passionate, talented woman with a very giving heart. Despite her own physical alignments that plagued her throughout her life, she still managed to focus on helping others. After her friend Rock Hudson died of AIDS in the 80's, she launched The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which still exists to this day and has raised over $200 million since its inception.

She was nominated several times for various acting roles, won two Oscars and was the first actress to be paid a million dollars for a movie. In her prime, she was the most desired woman of her day and has remained an icon of beauty, while simultaneously demonstrating herself to be a powerful, complex, engaging force to be reckoned with. She died today after a long battle with congestive heart failure at the age of 79.

Here are some of her quotes:

I suppose when they reach a certain age some men are afraid to grow up. It seems the older the men get, the younger their new wives get.

I am a very committed wife. And I should be committed too - for being married so many times.
I don't think President Bush is doing anything at all about AIDS. In fact, I'm not sure he even knows how to spell AIDS.
If someone's dumb enough to offer me a million dollars to make a picture, I'm certainly not dumb enough to turn it down.

It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting.

You find out who your real friends are when you're involved in a scandal.

I can't sit back and be complacent, and none of us should be. I get around now in a wheelchair, but I get around.

I believe in mind over matter and doing anything you set your mind on.

****

My recommended film viewing: National Velvet, Giant and Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe?

Hilarity Ensues on the Feminist Web Series, Vag Magazine

2011-03-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

vagmagazine: Vag Magazine Episode 1: "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy": "Vag Magazine Episode 1 from Vag Magazine on Vimeo. Vag Magazine founders Sylvie, Fennel, and Bethany lay out their editorial vision for Vag..."

The other day when I was contemplating ideas for my own feminist web series, I stumbled across this amazing and hilarious show called Vag Magazine. It's basically a parody of feminists who work at a feminist magazine, a la Bust or Bitch. It's very "third wave" and if you're not familiar with feminist lingo, and ideas you might not get some of the jokes. For instance, in one episode, one of the Vag Magazine writers shows the editors a collection of skirts for a potential fashion feature. But the editors are unimpressed and proclaim that the skirts need to be "more feminist." The writer doesn't understand and asks "longer?...shorter?....pants?". The girls gasp in offense and then declare "vintage!"

In another episode, they contemplate who should be in charge, but then contend, "but we don't believe in hierarchies!" Every episode made me laugh; it's very witty, well written. You should really just watch it instead of me trying to reiterate the humor here.

The show is based out of New York, which means I will probably not have an opportunity to be a part of it. But I think LA needs its own feminist web series. Any feminist and riot grrrl writers, actors and film makers out there in lala land looking to collaborate? Do let me know! I have my own show I'm working on and want to find other feminists who work on film in some capacity to make something happen with.

What I've Been Reading When I Haven't Been Posting

2011-03-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Young Americans tell you they have sex, or they plan to have sex, and why Planned Parenthood is so incredibly necessary.

Kate Winslet was photoshopped into oblivion in a really cheesy commercial.

Creepy New York Times reporter James C. McKinley Jr. blames an 11 year old girl for being raped, and people call him out.

USC Frat guy reinforces stupid stereotypes about treating women as "targets" not "actual people" in a weird, long disturbing email that is so ridiculous it almost seems like a parody.

So, there was this earthquake in Japan....

A review of the tribute to director Kathryn Bigelow for International Women's Day.

Texas law makers approvel a bill requiring an ultrasound before an abortion.

Le Tigre annouce the release of their DVD: Le Tigre On Tour: Who Took the Bomp?

The VP of NOW speaks out against Chris Brown for trivializing his domestic violence as a "mishap."

The most typical face on the planet is a 28 year old Chinese man.

This is the Kind of Man I Get Along With

2011-03-07T21:04:00.001-08:00

I've come to realize that feminism is a good barometer for knowing if I'll get along with a guy based on how he reacts when I mention it. Earlier today I joyfully posted a note on my facebook page about the Kathryn Bigelow event that's happening in Hollywood tomorrow night. Soon after, two Hollywood industry guys I barely know shitted all over it because I posted a statistic about the discrepancy in female film students and female film directors along with it. They were trying to imply that 1. it doesn't matter who makes movies (male or female) therefore, putting an emphasis on women as directors is pointless, and 2. that there is not as much discrimination as I think there is (I must be "crazy" right?).

Oh, you star bellied boring boys, you're no different than the rest. Gimme more of this guy in the video and less of those. This guy, in case you can't tell, is the current James Bond, Daniel Craig. Kind of ironic though, that a movie known for its womanizing hero is doing a feminist-themed PSA. I'll take it though, 'cause it's pretty fucking awesome.

Also, from the youtube description:

JAMES BOND SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2011
www.weareequals.org / www.weareequals.org/blog
The two-minute short, specially commissioned for International Women's Day, sees 007 star Daniel Craig undergo a dramatic makeover as he puts himself, quite literally, in a woman's shoes.

Directed by acclaimed 'Nowhere Boy' director/conceptual artist Sam Taylor-Wood, scripted by Jane Goldman ('Kick Ass') and featuring the voice of Dame Judi Dench reprising her role as 'M', the film will be screened in cinemas and streamed online in a bid to highlight the levels of inequality that persist between men and women in the UK and worldwide. It is the first film featuring Bond to be directed by a woman.

The EQUALS partnership and Annie Lennox would like to thank all the production team, cast and crew that donated their time, vision and energy in the hope of a more equal world for women and girls.

Cyndi Lauper Spontaneously Breaks Out Into Song

2011-03-06T13:38:00.000-08:00

Airports are one of my least favorite places in the world, but I wouldn't mind them so much if I could have Cyndi Lauper serenading me during my hours of frustration after a canceled flight. This is what happened to the frustrated passengers at Jorge Newbery Airport in Buenos Aires after the airport canceled several flights. Cyndi took to the mic and frustration turned to joy, as everyone sang along. All stressful situations should be dealt with in anthemic celebratory song like this.

Cyndi Lauper =1, Autotune-dependent pop stars = 0.

Source

Kanye's 'Monster' Video Rejected by MTV

2011-03-06T09:17:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago I wrote about Kanye West's collaborative song and music video "Monster," which was a strange array of girls hanging from nooses, or looking drugged out in underwear, inciting something creepily close to sexual violence. There were many who criticized his video for its treatment of women and a petition made its way around the 'net to acknowledge just how many people didn't want to see it on MTV, where it was set to air.

MTV listened to the criticism, watched the video and it was rejected! An article at theybf says, "MTV has banned it, thanks to protests from feminists groups." However, I prefer to say they "rejected it due to feminist interpretations," because "banned due to protests" sounds like censorship, when really it's just a matter of having taste, of acknowledging the impact of messages like this video and a matter of knowing what kind of art and content they want to be associated with.

Considering the current movement against against sex trafficking and the awareness surrounding the exploitation of women and children in the sex trade, his video seems especially ignorant and uninspiring. After feminist activists Sharon Haywood and Melinda Tankard Reist submitted a petition with 1600 signatures to MTV, the network chose not to air the video.

According to the article at change.org:

"Monster" is not the usual scantily-clad, hyper-sexualized women washing expensive cars with even more expensive champagne. The video features West, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Nikki Minaj surrounded by the "sexy" corpses of women in lingerie. Other women dangle from the ceiling by chains. Behind Jay-Z, a dead, naked woman lies with her mouth wide open, bluntly indicating her last act was a sexual one. Ross erotically eats a plate of raw meat from between a female corpse's legs. And West practically rapes the dead bodies of two women in bed. The message of the video is pretty clear: women are sex objects and it can be erotic when they are killed in violent, sexual ways.

"The mainstreaming of videos like this increases desensitized and callous attitudes toward violence against women," said Reist, one of the campaign originators. "Young people are seeing images and absorbing harmful messages which glamorise misogyny and brutalise women. Women are reduced to sex-doll like playthings. So great is the level of desensitization that the barbaric treatment of women and girls is seen as normal and to be expected. We decided to run this campaign because we wanted to challenge the status quo."
And challenge they have. This week MTV contacted Haywood and Reist to say they will not air "Monster" in it's current version. The decision is consistent with MTV's strong commitment to fighting violence against women through their excellent EXIT campaign, which addresses human trafficking and sexual violence against women around the world.

As the article suggests, you can tweet @kanyewest, (you might want to tweet the others involved with the video too) asking him to stop glorifying violence against women in his "Monster" video...and other videos he might do as well.

Speaking of Youth, Young Rapper Girls Calls Out Lil Wayne on Misogyny

2011-03-04T09:58:00.000-08:00

Guest Post: Where Youth Meets Punk at LA's DIY Venue The Smell, by Jamie Beth Rosenberg

2011-03-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

When I was nine years old, I’m pretty sure I was caught doing ordinary activities like building forts and participating as a Brownie or other common things one might expect a nine year old to do. Sure, I had hoped for other outlets that would satiate my creative + overactive mind, but that didn’t come to fruition until a few years later when I started playing guitar. That’s why I was elated to see a pre-teen DJing (vinyl only, mind you) last week’s VIVIAN GIRLS + AUSTRA + CATWALK + COLD SHOWERS show at LA’s all-ages DIY venue, THE SMELL.

Upon walking in, I was greeted with this:

This little girl was perhaps no taller than my waist and definitely younger than the finger count on both of my hands. My smile beamed, most definitely lighting up the concrete space. This was a sight I'd never seen: an empowered young girl, obviously still in elementary school dolling out the evening's tunes for hipsters (aka creators of and those who appreciate music/culture/art...) of all ages! Her vibrant spirit, subtle dance moves, old-school headphones and a display of original zine coloring books (complete with a choice from a plethora of individualized bookmarks!) got the best of me, I had to meet her.

The original plan was to film my bandmate's pre-planned interview with the VIVIAN GIRLS, but the DJ and her dad were gracious enough to grant me an impromptu one with NICO, pre-teen DJ extraordinaire (even though it was a school night...)

J: Hi, I’m Jamie, what’s your name?

N: My name is Nico.

J: This is Nico and she was just DJing inside and I thought it was really cool cause there are all of these older people in there... and you’re an up-and-coming DJ so I was just wondering... I heard you play some Beach Fossils, Stone Roses, Best Coast... Who else do you like these days?

N: Beach Boys.

J: How long have you been DJing?

N: Well, a very long time but I do it very rarely.

J: So you’re a special rare occasion DJ. How do you decide what shows you’re gonna DJ?

N: Well, I usually just do it at the smell, but it’s a school night... so I can’t really... always do that.

J: Well you had a really good set. What grade are you in?

N: 4th.

J: So you’re...

N: Nine, almost ten.

J: Cool. How do you feel about women in the music scene, is everybody kind of on the same level right now in your grade, are you or your friends learning instruments?

N: Not really.

J: What do you like to do besides listen to music?

N: Do art.

J: Art? Cool. She was selling some zines in there. Can you tell us about that?

N: Well I was selling these books, that I made up which are called “Drawing with Help” and they are shapes of people which you can draw faces in.

J: Oh, cool! So it helps people who aren’t so artistic get their creative side out?

N: Or just friends.

J: Have you seen Best Coast play before?

N: I think so. (((looks to dad)))

Michael, her dad (and also part-time punks DJ) interjects: The last time she DJed was Vivian Girls + Best Coast...

N: and Animal Style!

M: She made the poster for that show too.

J: Well, you are definitely an innovator and a pioneer for your age, and I admire that.

(((she smiles shyly.)))

J: We look forward to hearing more of your DJ sets. Thank you!

N: You’re welcome. (((shakes hand)))

J: Have a good night.

N: Goodnight to you, too! (she says in a kooky voice and does a cute little dance jig)

Nico also occasionally co-hosts a radio show with her ever-so-supportive father, on 88.9:KXLU, which airs every thursday from 3-6.

Here is a link to her most recent on air co-hosted show, the Snowy Christmastime Special @ http://parttimepunks.com/static/mixtapes/Part-Time-Punks-2010-12-23.mp3

Parents, or those of you planning to be parents, take note! Give your kids creative outlets and they will thrive. They will be the ones who change the world and make it a radder place.

Jamie Beth Rosenberg is an animal rights activist and musician living in Los Angeles. She can be reached at itslikethathuh@gmail.com.

Dior, John Galliano, Natalie Portman and a Clusterfuck of Hypocrisy

2011-03-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

Anyone who follows celebrity gossip or fashion has most likely heard about Dior designer John Galliano and his racist pro-Hitler rant that was exposed in a video and spread all over the internet. Galliano went from suspended to fired today, the day after Natalie Portman, who represents as the face of Dior perfume, issued a statement distancing herself from him -- because, you know, she's so moral and everything.

“I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano’s comments that surfaced today. In light of this video, and as an individual who is proud to be Jewish, I will not be associated with Mr. Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.”

Strong words coming from a gal who defends a man who drugged and sodomized a 13 year old girl. The man I'm speaking of, of course, is Roman Polanski. Isn't raping children part of "the opposite of all that is beautiful"? Also, if she's proud to be Jewish, then why did she change her last name? Her disingenuous hypocrisy really gets to me.

Natalie's Worldview: saying racist things = bad, raping children = totally forgivable.

Speaking of Polanski, I recently learned he is making a film with Kate Winslet & Jodie Foster. I guess they too don't mind working with the artistic vision of a pedophile rapist. I look forward to the day the feminists take over and those men are put to shame instead of being given awards and millions of dollars to make more art. Let's give money to artists who actually deserve it. Someone needs to start a petition over at Care2 to decry Polanski's next film to let Kate and Jodie know how we feel about it.

Source

Guys, Photoshop May Be Causing Your Flaccid Penis

2011-03-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

Last week was National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. While I'm a little behind on posting something about it, I did participate in it. I saw Feminist Fatale blogger and professor Melanie Klein speak at my school. I walked in late, but made it just in time as she was highlighting some of the effects of photoshop.

The obvious effects include a poor self-image for women, who may endlessly attempt to live up to an ideal that doesn't exist in real life. But there is another effect I have never heard discussed: the erection. Apparently, there are studies showing that men who look at images of "perfected" women have trouble keeping it up when it comes to getting it on with a girl in real life.

After the Katy Perry Rolling Stone cover came out, I posted angrily on a website about how terrible it is that they needlessly photoshopped her boobs and thighs. Some guy responded saying, "we want our spank bank women to not have imperfections." My guess is this guy hasn't seen a real live nude woman in a few eons if all he can rely on is photoshopped images of Katy Perry in a magazine. By the time he does meet a woman who might disrobe in front of him, he'll be shocked to discover that women have lines, creases, veins, moles, birth marks, scars, pores, or a body that doesn't fit the exact dimensions that magazines seem to photoshop every woman into.

So, Rolling Stone (and all you other glossies), you're not doing guys any favors with your photoshopped women. This goddess of perfection you've created that he's been spanking to, he will never encounter her. She may as well be a cartoon. He'll criticize the real women he meets for having, you know, a real body. And, Guys, you're not doing yourselves any favors by gazing at Katy Perry's photoshopped boobs -- unless of course you don't mind erectile dysfunction.

It seems like we are expected to be skinny, but not bony, so we can't have a clavicle, ribs or hip bones. But we also have to be curvy, but we can't have any fat on our stomach or thighs. Our boobs have to be the perfect shape, size and perkiness. And we have to have an ideal nipple to boob size ratio. Our butt has to have the right curvature... I mean Jesus...if these are the standards men expect, then maybe Mr. Spank Bank guy should just stick to rubber dolls or something -- they don't have bones or fat.

Even Playboy center folds are not ideal enough for the ideal. Jezebel recently posted on an auction of pre-photoshopped images of Playboy models. The writing on each photo details the changes that must be made before they're considered spank bank worthy. Just see for yourself. The images speak more clearly than I could explain.

Anyway...Melanie Klein's speech was fantastic. You can read a re-cap at her site.

DGA Hosting A Tribute to Director Kathryn Bigelow for International Women's Day

2011-03-01T14:10:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Hanna Speaking at Women's Health Rally: "Planned Parenthood helped me and I didn't have to sideline my dreams."

2011-02-28T11:09:00.000-08:00

There is another version where you can actually see her speaking, but I didn't want to put that one up because there are some weird boos at the end when a huge "pro-life" banner floats by. The video above has better sound anyway. Her speech was great! Very inspiring.

Photo source: Chris la Putt via Brooklyn Vegan

Bad Teacher, Staring Cameron Diaz

2011-02-24T20:14:00.002-08:00

I once read an interview with Amy Poehler where she talked about how one of her guy friends said he didn't know how to write funny characters for women. She told him something to this basic affect, "When you write the film, call the characters John, Mark and Kevin. When you're finished, change their names to Jenny, Angela and Marie." This is basically what Bad Teacher is. Most of the jokes revolve around her being brain dead, crude and sleazy -- does it or does it not sound like 90% of the comedies about guys that have come out in the past few years?

I realize Poehler's point -- the humor that men and women share isn't necessarily much different. However, I knew this movie was written by a man before I even looked it up. I hate to stereotype how women or men write, because obviously there is no uniform style, but somehow I knew. Despite the Apatow-like feel of this film, Bad Teacher was written by the guys who do The Office and who did Year One. It seems to be getting a really good response too; just about everyone is pumped to see it.

Comedy is kind of my genre these days. And this does look funny to me, despite the fact that half of the humor is based on her using the words fuck, cock and ass a lot and despite the fact that the character herself isn't a great representation for women. But I think that's the point -- she's bad. She's obsessed with landing a rich man and doing so by getting a "tit job". And of course, there is a female rivalry too -- competing for the affection of a man and for their careers (but ultimately it's about a man.)

Even though it's refreshing to see women in ridiculous, playful, over the top roles, maybe Poehler was only partially right. If a guy doesn't know how to write funny female characters, without writing her as a man first, then maybe he has a sexism ingrained in him that prevents him from seeing women as funny -- as women. Interchanging men and women characters can lead to creating female characters who don't sound like women -- at least not any I know. She reminds me of guys I know. Is that what empowering women into great comedic roles means? To be more like men? I'm not totally convinced this is the way I'd like to see women in comedies go...but I'll give it a chance, because it did make me laugh. Plus, it's nice to see a funny actress like Cameron Diaz still potentially pulling through with a possible hit.

(and just to be clear, I do not mean to imply that women cannot be crude, sleazy or obnoxious, because I have known plenty who are.)

'House' Actress Lisa Edelstein Stars In 'Coat Hanger' Abortion Ad

2011-02-21T22:10:00.000-08:00

Looking back nostalgically on the 1950's, can be a great source of inspiration for creativity in fashion, architecture or home decor. However, what that era also represents is a time when women had fewer options and fewer rights.

Some recent anti-choice legislation, including attempts to redefine rape, make it legal to murder an abortion doctor and to strip Planned Parenthood of its funding, has shown us a window into that past. In the video, House actress Lisa Edelstein walks nervously down a long hallway, donning a 50's style dress until she comes to a door. When she opens that door, a lone coat hanger dangles from the closet rack.

Her voice over say, "Only decades ago, women suffered through horrifying back alley abortions. Or, they used dangerous methods when they had no other recourse. So when the Republican Party launched an all out assault on women's health, pushing bills to limit access to vital services, why is the GOP trying to send women back ... to the back alley?"

Source

Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP War on Women

2011-02-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, this list is cause for alarm. It's shocking actually. Sometimes it seems like the United States is going backwards -- one step forward, five steps back. If we look away for too long, we're going to look back and find that things have change and not for the better. I just signed the Planned Parenthood petition to defend their funding, but there's a lot more coming up.

The following is a MoveOn.org letter my friend forwarded me. Keep in mind, this is only the top ten.

Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP War on Women

1) Republicans not only want to reduce women's access to abortion care, they're actually trying to redefine rape. After a major backlash, they promised to stop. But they haven't.

2) A state legislator in Georgia wants to change the legal term for victims of rape, stalking, and domestic violence to "accuser." But victims of other less gendered crimes, like burglary, would remain "victims."

3) In South Dakota, Republicans proposed a bill that could make it legal to murder a doctor who provides abortion care. (Yep, for real.)

4) Republicans want to cut nearly a billion dollars of food and other aid to low-income pregnant women, mothers, babies, and kids.

5) In Congress, Republicans have proposed a bill that would let hospitals allow a woman to die rather than perform an abortion necessary to save her life.

6) Maryland Republicans ended all county money for a low-income kids' preschool program. Why? No need, they said. Women should really be home with the kids, not out working.

7) And at the federal level, Republicans want to cut that same program, Head Start, by $1 billion. That means over 200,000 kids could lose their spots in preschool.

8) Two-thirds of the elderly poor are women, and Republicans are taking aim at them too. A spending bill would cut funding for employment services, meals, and housing for senior citizens.

9) Congress voted yesterday on a Republican amendment to cut all federal funding from Planned Parenthood health centers, one of the most trusted providers of basic health care and family planning in our country.

10) And if that wasn't enough, Republicans are pushing to eliminate all funds for the only federal family planning program. (For humans. But Republican Dan Burton has a bill to provide contraception for wild horses. You can't make this stuff up).

Please share this email today. Just click the links to post on Facebook and Twitter.

Sources:

1. "'Forcible Rape' Language Remains In Bill To Restrict Abortion Funding," The Huffington Post, February 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206084&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=6

"Extreme Abortion Coverage Ban Introduced," Center for American Progress, January 20, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205961&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=7

2. "Georgia State Lawmaker Seeks To Redefine Rape Victims As 'Accusers,'" The Huffington Post, February 4, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206007&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=8

3. "South Dakota bill would legalize killing abortion doctors," Salon, February 15, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206102&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=9

4. "House GOP Proposes Cuts to Scores of Sacred Cows," National Journal, February 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206103&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=10

5. "New GOP Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Let Women Die Instead Of Having An Abortion," Talking Points Memo, February 4, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205974&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=11

6. "Republican Officials Cut Head Start Funding, Saying Women Should be Married and Home with Kids," Think Progress, February 16, 2011
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/16/gop-women-kids/

7. "Bye Bye, Big Bird. Hello, E. Coli," The New Republic, Feburary 12, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206104&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=12

8. "House GOP spending cuts will devastate women, families and economy," The Hill, February 16, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/144585-house-gop-spending-cuts-will-devastate-women-families-and-economy-

9. "House passes measure stripping Planned Parenthood funding," MSNBC, February 18,2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206122&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=13

"GOP Spending Plan: X-ing Out Title X Family Planning Funds," Wall Street Journal, February 9, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206105&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=14

10. Ibid.
Birth Control for Horses, Not for Women," Blog for Choice, February 17, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206106&id=26177-18608667-Mx7WaIx&t=15

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

'Forcible Rape' Language Remains In Bill To Restrict Abortion Funding

www.moveon.org

WASHINGTON -- After significant public blowback, House Republicans last week promised to drop a controversial provision in their high-priority No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act that would redefine rape. But almost a week later, that language is still in the bill.

Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast Teams Up With MTV to Raise Awareness on Human Trafficking

2011-02-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

According to Youtube,

"In an exclusive collaboration, MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) and music collective Black Iris featuring Best Coast's lead Bethany Cosentino have partnered with leading global advertising agency, Y&R, to produce a music video which raises awareness of human trafficking. When Will I Feel Love hauntingly highlights the dangers and impact of trafficking for sexual exploitation, particularly of young women.

The video will be seen across all MTV platforms in 161 countries, and has the potential to reach more than 640 million households worldwide.

When Will I Feel Love is an animation by Edouard Salier, who has also directed music videos for Air, Massive Attack and Raphael Saadiq. The sound design has been produced by Brian Emrich of The Black Swan, Requiem of a Dream and The Wrestler fame. The original song was written exclusively by Black Iris featuring Bethany Cosentino of indie rock band, Best Coast, one of the most inspirational bands of 2010. The creative concept was developed by leading global advertising agency Y&R, and provides insight into the realities of human trafficking, in particular the trafficking of young women into forced prostitution. A link is provided for information on how viewers can help to end exploitation and human trafficking."

Go to MTVexit.org for more info.

Also, for anyone in Los Angeles, Best Coast is playing next Thursday February 24 at Music Box in Hollywood.

Source

Thanks to Jamie for the tip!

V-Day: The Vagina Monologues at USC

2011-02-14T11:13:00.000-08:00

Back in 1994, playwright Eve Ensler launched her theater piece The Vagina Monologues, which is a series of hilarious, haunting and heart-felt monologues told by women. They range on everything from slut-shaming to OBGYN humor to a love of pubic hair.

A few years after the initial success of the play, she and a group of friends in NYC established "V-Day" as an alternate to Valentine's Day. The purpose of renaming the day is to bring awareness to domestic violence against women and girls. Ensler allows groups to perform her monologues so that proceeds can be donated to various charities and women's shelters.

According to the website: "V-Day's mission is simple. It demands that violence against women and girls must end. To do this, once a year, in February, March, and April, Eve allows groups around the world to produce a performance of the play, as well as other works created by V-Day, and use the proceeds for local individual projects and programs that work to end violence against women and girls, often shelters and rape crisis centers. What began as one event in New York City in 1998 today includes over 5,400 V-Day events annually."

There are performances in LA right now at, I believe, USC. Check out a review and buy tickets. Proceeds to go a good cause, A Window Between Worlds (AWBW), a non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic violence express themselves through art.

Here is one of the monologues, My Short Skirt. This girl owns it! Love it!

Kristen Schaal on the "Rainbow of Rapes" as Seen by Republican Leaders

2011-02-10T10:45:00.000-08:00

The Daily Show
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Altering the Reality of Beauty: Part 2, Screw You Rolling Stone

2011-02-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

I wasn't gonna do this. I didn't want to post on this, because just looking at this photo gets me in a irritated mood. I have a lot more fun posting about Jon Hamm being awesome. But I feel it needs to be done. We have to talk about this, because if we don't, it won't stop.

Rolling Stone magazine continues to prove how irrelevant and totally unprogressive it is by photoshopping the hell out of Katy Perry's image. I understand doing a little tweaking --pumping up the lighting, removing a pimple or even taking out unflattering shadows-- but what they've done here is pointless and unnecessary--just like Rolling Stone!

In case you cannot tell, they have made the following alterations:
1. changed her hair line 2. removed the moles on her chest 3. made her right thigh smaller 4. made her left calf smaller 5. removed a sock 6. change the position of her fingers 7. removed the shadows on her face 8. made her boobs bigger 9. removed the crease by her armpit 10. removed the lines on her stomach

Katy Perry is the ultimate lust fantasy of just about every teenage and adult guy's dream right now. She is the height of what's considered lust-worthy. So why change her so much? It doesn't make sense.

Can you imagine if they had done this to John Lennon and Yoko Ono for their nude cover? Maybe not the best comparison, but the point still remains. Obviously, Rolling Stone is not the same magazine it once was. Too bad Venus and Rockrgrl both went out of print. At least we still have Spin for a better take on women in music.

Jon Hamm Disassociates Himself From the Sexism of His Character on Mad Men

2011-02-05T11:28:00.000-08:00

Jon Hamm did an interview with the Daily Mail and explained how he is nothing like his womanizing, lying character Don Draper on his acclaimed AMC show Mad Men. My brain and body get confused lusting after this guy when I watch the show, since he's so handsome but plays this awful character.

It is a testament to his character (meaning integrity, not character on the show) that he makes an effort to speak out about playing a douchebag, rather than embracing that as if being a womanizer is something to be proud of, like some actors do.

These are his thoughts on the depiction of society in the 1960s, the era the show is set in:

‘Men ruled the roost and women played a subservient role [in the 1960s]. Working wives were a rarity, because their place was in the home, bringing up the kids. The women who did work were treated as second class citizens, because it was a male-dominated society. That was a fact of life then. But it wouldn’t be tolerated today, and that’s quite right in my book. Everyone smoked and drank all day. There were no rules, no health concerns, no political correctness. People look back on those days through a thick veil of nostalgia, but life was hard if you were anything other than a rich, powerful, white male. The show is a curious phenomenon, I suppose, given my character’s moral turpitude. People like to watch other people doing this, relieved that they don’t have to deal with the consequences — there is a vicarious thrill. It is exciting, watching people do bad things, and they kind of root for them to get away with it. All Mad Men is doing is reflecting those times, but for some reason a chord has been struck with the viewers. I’ve never treated any women as badly as Don Draper treats them, with his lies, his affairs, his sexism and chauvinism, and I’d hate anyone to think I was like him’.

Could I have a bigger crush on this guy? He also talks about being loyal to his girlfriend, "I’m very loyal, I’ve never strayed, and never wanted to. I don’t need to be married, because I feel married." In a culture of famous cheating men, he is a great role model, if you can call him that, for being the kind of guy to represent any sense of masculinity in Hollywood. Honest, smart and speaking out for equality.

Oh yeah, and he is appearing in the new Kristen Wiig penned comedy Bridesmaids.

Read the full article at The Daily Mail.

Lea Michele Vilified for Acting Like an Adult, Being Sexual

2011-02-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

When I was 25 pretty much every role I ever auditioned for or was cast in was to play a 15, 16, or 17 year old. I also did promotional photos in bikinis, work-out clothes or nice dresses...or less if I felt like it. And I'm not the only one. Any actress working on her career is going to do some kind of promotional photoshoot or interview, and she's not going to stay in character when she does it. This includes 24 year old Glee actress Lea Michele, who plays a teenager on the show.

I've never seen more than a few clips of the show, but apparently kids watch it, and some of their parents are all in a tizzy that Lea Michele does not stay in character at all times in her life and sometimes actually acts like an adult. She recently did a photoshoot for the illustrious and totally-not-for-kids magazine Cosmo, in which you can (dun, dun, dun) see part of her breast and stomach (shocking!).

Fox News reported a quote from one of the offended parents:

“I think Lea Michele is sending the wrong message. She plays such a ‘good girl’ on ‘Glee’ and a lot of kids look up to her persona. Then she poses very provocatively on two magazine covers which makes my almost-13-year-old son very confused and offended,” said New York mom Kim Trefcer. “ I find it frustrating as a parent who is trying to teach right from wrong to their kids and then you have things like this happen which is showing middle schoolers things like sex sells and all that goes along with that.”

Since when do 13 year olds read Cosmopolitan and not know the difference between an actress and a fake character on a TV show? And what is the wrong message? That adult women have boobs and talk about sex sometimes? Maybe the message is that she is a grown woman and she can wear a plunging neck line if she wants to. I'm also really sick of this good girl/bad girl dichotomy about women and sex. This parent's message is more offensive to me; She's basically saying if you're a girl and you act sexy, you're BAD.

This mom, who also has a parenting blog, says, “It’s irresponsible to be using an adult who represents a minor dressed in provocative clothes.” What she really means is, it's "irresponsible" for girl. Why is it that this adult young woman gets called out for showing cleavage, but Twilight actor Taylor Lautner does sexy, ab-heavy photoshoots, and we're all allowed to lust over him? Twilight has tons of teen fans, but one of its main characters, who plays a high school student, is still allowed to be sexy. It's like when 16 year old Justin Beiber did a "sexy" chest baring photoshoot and no one batted an eyelash. Miley Cyrus did something very similar, at only a year younger than him, and everyone freaked out.

Fox News thinks that another offending message is that "Michele gushes that her perfect night involves sitting on Skype with her boyfriend, while drinking a glass of wine." What is she suppose to do, sit at home and crochet? Enjoying a drink and an internet conversation with your boyfriend is about as tame as it gets. That's actually a good message.

Some "pop culture expert" interviewed in the Fox New article says "Lea Michele may be an adult, but to pretend that she doesn’t know her fans are 11 is just ignorance." What's ignorant is not realizing that she actually has fans of all ages and that she probably doesn't want to spend the rest of her career catering to pre-teens. Even if Glee's audience is as young as 11, it's not exactly Sesame Street; I know adults who watch that show.

If the magazine she posed for was a kid's magazine, it would be different, but as Cosmo has said themselves, "Michele is a grown woman and Cosmopolitan is a magazine is for adults" and that is what parents should be telling their kids.

Source

Judd Apatow's Female Centric Comedy, Bridesmaids

2011-02-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

I think this looks pretty funny. It was written by two women too, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo.

RIP Gladys Horton, Singer of Motown's First Girl Group The Marvelettes

2011-01-28T21:50:00.000-08:00

Sad news tonight in reporting that Motown singer Gladys Horton has passed away. She was a member of The Marvelettes, a band which she started in high school with her friends. She sang lead vocals on Motown Records first number one single "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961.

Gladys' health had been in decline for sometime when she suffered from a stroke and did not recover. She passed away in Sherman Oaks, CA on Wednesday. She was 65 years old, although according to the article her age is not certain.

Here is a brief history of her and the band:

Ms. Horton was in a high school glee club in Inkster, Mich., outside Detroit, when she recruited three of her classmates — Katherine Anderson (now Schaffner), Georgeanna Tillman and Juanita Cowart — as well as a friend who had recently graduated, Georgia Dobbins, and formed a quintet. They called themselves the Casinyets — a contraction of the words “can’t sing yet,” an acknowledgment of their lack of experience.

Competing in a talent contest whose winners were to receive an audition for Motown, they didn’t win, but got the audition anyway. Motown executives, including Berry Gordy Jr., the label’s founder, were impressed but said they needed to come up with original material. A friend of Ms. Dobbins, William Garrett, had just written a blues song, and with his permission Ms. Dobbins rewrote the song, about a girl aching for mail from her far-away boyfriend, casting it in a pop vein, though she kept the title, “Please Mr. Postman.”

After Ms. Dobbins left the group because her mother was ill and her father wanted her at home, she was replaced by Wanda Young, another graduate of the same high school in Inkster, leaving Ms. Horton to sing the lead vocals, including the memorable line “De-liver de let-ter, de sooner de bet-ter.”

On Dec. 11, 1961, after three months on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, “Please Mr. Postman” reached No. 1. The song would later be recorded by the Beatles and, in 1975, the Carpenters, for whom it was also a No. 1 hit.

Ms. Horton stayed with the group until 1967, when she became pregnant with her first child. She sang on a number of hit recordings, including “Playboy,” “Beechwood 4-5789” and Mr. Robinson’s tunes “Don’t Mess With Bill” and “The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game.”

In high school I was secretly a lover of Motown girl groups like The Marvelettes and The Supremes. In between screaming along to Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney in my car, I'd seek out the oldies station to find a good 60's pop song when I was alone. Now, I'm not afraid to openly embrace my love of Motown and other girl groups from that era.

"Please Mr. Postman" has been high on my rotation many times. And I've been obsessed with finding more 60's girl groups for the past couple of years. In my excavation, I've discovered some gems like The Exciters and The Belles --both of which seem to be out of print! Totally sucks!! I'm a sucker for love lorn songs about crushes out of reach. The influence of The Marvelettes and the general influence of Motown's girl groups can been seen today in bands like the Vivian Girls, the Dum Dum Girls and Best Coast.

Source

Miranda July and The Future

2011-01-27T08:01:00.000-08:00

Miranda July is a performance artist, writer, director and actor with a distinct style and unique history. I saw her perform (I think it was called A Shape Called Horse) at Yo-Yo-A-Go-Go in 1999 in Olympia, WA where she fused stage performance and video in a one-woman show. A few years later, I went to a screening for a Q and A for her debut feature film Me and You and Everyone We Know in 2005. Now, she has a new film coming out called The Future, which premiered at Sundance last weekend.

Apparently, the film is about a couple as seen or told through the perspective of their talking cat and has a lot to do with growing up and being responsible--kind of like a coming of age story for adults. This is the description on imdb.com, "When a couple decides to adopt a stray cat their perspective on life changes radically, literally altering the course of time and space and testing their faith in each other and themselves."

I searched high and low on the interwebs but could not find a trailer. But I did find an interview with Miranda about her new film. In this interview, they talk about her performance art, interactive piece Things We Don't Understand and Definitely Aren't Going to Talk About. I actually volunteered to help her with that a few years ago when she was working on rehearsals for it. Part of it involved having members of the audience come on stage and do things with her -- I got to cuddle in a bed with her!

In the mean time, if you don't know Miranda's style or have not seen her first film, Me and You and Everyone We Know, here is a short film she made a while back to give you a sense of her work.

In anticipation of The Future I'd like to share this adorable short film shot from the perspective of a cat.

Kanye West and His Cohorts Fail to Inspire

2011-01-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

The purpose of art is to make the viewer see the world from the perspective of the artist. From what I can tell from Kanye West's new music video Monster, featuring an array of rapper friends, the perspective/message here is that they equate being powerful as a man to being surrounded with powerless women.

A couple of days ago I got an email from Care2 alerting me to a petition to stop the release of the full versjion Kanye West's new video, featuring Rick Ross, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj. It features dead-looking, half-naked women hanging from nooses, lying limply on beds while Kanye seductively touches them and the other men sit around like Kings smoking cigars and looking satisfied with their imagined powerfulness. Ugh, it's about as creepy as creepiness gets.

It's very fetishizing; all of the women have a similar look. The clip has a very sexual tone, yet all of the women look dead or drugged. In Kanye's attempt to be "edgy" and "twisted" he is neglecting having any kind of understanding what having an artistic vision actually means. Are we suppose to be inspired by this or find it profound on some level? The only thing profound here is the level of creep factor going on.

This is especially disturbing to me, because I've been posting a lot lately about human trafficking and sexual slavery. I'm not the only one who is disturbed. A petition by Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (Australia), Collective Shout: for a world free of sexploitation, and Adios Barbie has been created to stop the full release of this video. You can read and sign at the Care2 website if you want to stop the release of this.

As much as this video makes my stomach churn, I'm not generally in favor of banning "art" (as much as this creepy video could even be considered art). People should be able to freely examine the output of anyone who exists and then subsequently boycott it as they choose.

But at the end of the day, what it's all about is using disturbing, degrading images of women for the purpose of getting more youtube hits and album sales. That is all this video is: a cry for attention in the vein of controversy and selling more albums. Kanye likes to think of himself as some kind of brilliant artist, but at the end of the day his goal is to just get attention.

And he's getting it. I'm giving it to him, unfortunately.

I don't even want to respond by saying how offensive it is, because he'll just claim we don't get it. Saying this is boring will probably cause him to pause and retract what he's creating a lot more than saying this video/art is offensive. So, Kanye, Rick Ross and Jay-Z...your video really bores me.

I'd rather we were all examining the awesome nudity in Stereo Total's video 'I am Naked'. Here's something 100 times cooler, smarter and far more subversive than anything Kanye West and his cohorts could conjure up.

Amazing Shot in Women's College Basketball

2011-01-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

If I am forced to watch sports, at least let it be women's basketball. This girl Stephanie Quattrociocchi makes a seriously amazing shot with absolutely no hesitation. Seeing women's successes in sports being recognized is a nice and long overdue change.

"University of the Cumberlands' Senior Guard Stephanie Quattrociocchi (Quat-tro-chuckie) sinks an 86 foot buzzer beater with 0.7 left in the 1st half of the Patriot Ladies game with Campbellsville University on Jan. 22nd, 2011."

Source

Oprah Network to Air Transgender Documentary "Becoming Chaz" About Cher's Son

2011-01-20T22:56:00.000-08:00

This clip is from the documentary "Becoming Chaz," which will premiere this Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival. Oprah has stepped up to offer the documentary a place on TV on her new network OWN. This is a great stride in giving a voice and presence to transgender identity and visibility. I look forward to watching the documentary and learning more about her story. I also look forward to seeing more of what comes out of Oprah's network. Oprah is one of the most powerful women in media and pop culture. She can do just about anything she wants and people listen. That's a rare position to be in in Hollywood. It's great that she's using that position for something meaningful.

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Child Sexual Exploitation in America: Part II ~ The Playground Project

2011-01-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I transcribed hours of footage for a documentary
about child sexual exploitation called The Playground Project. It was heartbreaking to watch, but I found a new hero in Lydia Cacho, the reporter who played a big role in bringing down the Mexico City ring of child sex traffickers.

Most of the footage I transcribed was stories of women in non-US countries, which is where director Libby Spears first began investigating. She traveled through the Phillipines, South Korea and Thailand, where she faced death threats, to be basically "knocked-off" for only $10. Undeterred, she continued on her mission and eventually was shocked to discover that America plays a much larger role in human trafficking than she could have imagined. Since then, the documentary has narrowed its scope to the United States.

The Playground Project, directed by Libby Spears and Executive Produced by George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh, has finally come to completion and is currently screening. Watch the trailer and check their website to see if it may be playing in your area.

Child sexual exploitation and human trafficking isn't generally something that most people associate with America, but it is very much alive here. Actor Ashton Kutcher had an interesting perspective on the subject recently, calling attention to our underdeveloped sex education program and how it contributes to human trafficking of girls.

Child Sexual Exploitation in America: Part I ~ Human Trafficking at the Super Bowl

2011-01-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

Human trafficking at the Super Bowl? Who knew? This news is shocking to me.

Yesterday, I came across this petition that calls out the Super Bowl Host Committee to do something about the apparent vast amounts of young boys and girls being sold at the Super Bowl. It is part of a campaign called "I'm Not Buying It."

According to Change.org,

The trafficking of children for sale at the Super Bowl is well documented. Texas Attorney General Abbott is taking a stand and has prepared a task force to identify and respond to traffickers who plan to sell children at the Super Bowl....

...Countless children in the DFW region have benefitted by the commitment and opportunities provided by this program.

However, the children trafficked to DFW to meet the demand of the Super Bowl are being left to fend for themselves. According to the Dallas Police Department children exploited through sex trafficking have an average life expectancy is just seven short years. The average age a child is tricked and trapped in sexual slavery is just 13 years old. These children are beaten, brutalized and tortured for the profit and pleasure of others.

Football isn't typically known for sensitivity to such issues. Football star Lawrence Taylor was recently convicted of raping a girl and only sentenced to PROBATION. What is it with the entertainment industry getting a free pass on rape? It's sickening. I can see why people in this culture are so obsessed with fame -- when you're famous the rules and laws of society practically don't apply!

That's what we're doing here though, changing the rules. Join us and sign the petition.

When Did Allure Become the New Maxim? When Paying Homage to Brigitte Bardot Goes Wrong

2011-01-18T09:10:00.000-08:00

These pictures of Jennifer Aniston in Allure magazine are confusing, not to mention extremely photoshopped. What is the point of putting her in pajamas and having her hold a teddy bear, making her look like a young girl? She's a grown ass woman.

There's nothing wrong with playing a little dress-up, but there is a reason behind every theme, and I'm just not seeing this one. What artistic message is the photographer trying to convey, other than some mindless attempt to infantalize women. Yuck! Yawn. Bore me with your averageness.

I'm not surprised with this though. Allure, as with most fashion/beauty/women's magazines, isn't exactly known for inspiring women to do anything other than obsess over their appearance and find ways to attract men.

Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate fashion and beauty tips; it's just nice when it's not laced with photoshop and teddy bear photo themes. Fortunately, while we still have magazines like Bust for a healthier take on fashion and beauty, there are better things brewing than what Allure offers.

I read on another blog that this shoot is suppose to be an homage to actress Brigitte Bardot. According to Allure's website, "Allure creative director Paul Cavaco drew inspiration for Aniston's shoot from a 1960s photograph of Brigitte Bardot. Hairstylist Chris McMillan used clip-in bangs to fully replicate the look." (I haven't been able to find the photo they took inspiration from. Anyone have a link?) I love the 60's, but Chris and Paul -- you really bore me.

Hollywood photographers seem to perpetually miss the mark when it comes to paying homage to former screen queens. At least it's not another Marilyn Monroe theme. She's fun, but let's dig a little deeper, eh? Maybe a Marlene Dietrich or Anna Karina tribute is due.

Although I couldn't find the original shoot this was inspired by, I did find some other Bardot photos that I think would have been much more compelling and original than the Grown Woman on a Bed with a Teddy Bear theme that is way over used.

Brigitte Bardot had a gorgeous, stylish and lively presence on camera, so there is no reason to settle for teddy bears. These pictures of her would have been a much better choice to see any actress emulate, because they show her in a more engaged, emotional state.

Rock N' Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles ~ Volunteer Meeting!

2011-01-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

If you live in the Los Angeles area and are interested in volunteering for the Rock N' Roll Camp for Girls then here is your opportunity.

A meeting will be held at the Immaculate Conception School on February 1st from 7:00-9:00 pm. Their mission is "to reach out to girls and women from all walks of life."

According to their website,

"The very first Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls Summer Camp took place in August, 2001, on the Portland State University Campus. Since then, the organization has grown into a year round institute where girls learn music in a positive environment and develop into strong women who play awesome music.
Volunteers spent the better part of winter and spring of 2003 to prepare for that year's Summer Camp by cleaning, painting, building walls, and setting up rooms for instruction and band practice. As in '01 and '02, hundreds of girls between the ages of 8-18* sent in applications in hopes of getting accepted into the coolest summer music camps for girls in the world."

Go to their facebook page to learn more about the upcoming meeting.

Send an email to info@rockcampforgirlsla.org to confirm your attendance.

I'll be going! See you all there!

Portlandia: The Dream of the 90s is Alive in Portland

2011-01-14T23:46:00.001-08:00

The 90s are alive in Portland, as an alternative universe "where the Bush administration never happened and a place where young people go to retire," says Carrie Brownstein in her new online series Portlandia.

Who: Carrie Brownstein (of Sleater-Kinney) and Fred Armisen (of SNL)
What: 6-part IFC Original short-based comedy series. Each episode's character-based shorts draw viewers into "Portlandia," the creators' dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Oregon.
When: Friday January 21, 2011 at 10:30 PM ET/PT
Where: http://www.ifc.com/portlandia/
Why: Because you need to laugh.

The best part about it: The adult hide-and-go-seek league. The world needs that.

Source

Rosario Dawson on Sexism as a Norm in Hollywood

2011-01-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

When I was auditioning a lot in Hollywood, I often felt like the number one thing that mattered was my appearance, specifically my sex appeal. I blatantly had casting directors invite me to a call back and tell me to "look hotter" for my second audition. I even had one guy tell me I didn't get a job because my boobs weren't big enough. I've been denied an off-camera entertainment industry-related job because the guy told me he was attracted to me. I've been asked out by a director during a safe sex PSA audition where I had to act like I was having an orgasm while we were alone in the room, and subsequently denied a job for saying no. It can really make you go mad if you don't have a good support system to keep things in perspective.

Shortly after that PSA audition happened, I happened to meet the director of a Le Tigre video at the infamous Roosevelt Hotel bar, The Tropicana, and in an angry tirade, told him about my experience. He rolled his eyes at me and said something like "you're mad that someone asked you on a date?," as if being asked on a date is a normal thing to do during a fucking job interview...wtf? Even the director of a super-feminist band doesn't get it.

You see how Hollywood works? I turned the PSA director down and didn't get the job. If I had said yes, I most likely would have been $300 richer that month and furthered my connections, experience and exposure. Seems like you have to fuck someone to get anywhere in Hollywood as long as men are running the show (no offense to Le Tigre on that).

However, as the web of feminism builds in Hollywood, women will have more support to fall back on and more mentors to turn to. The more that women speak out and bring awareness to such issues, the sooner we can create an industry where women have more room to preserve their dignity without losing out on jobs. One such actress who has spoken out about this is Rosario Dawson, who described her experience and perspective about sexism in Hollywood and how discrimination against women is accepted as the norm:

"My whole job is mostly about feeling like I am discriminated against because I am a woman...It is completely OK to do it outright and out loud - it is wild, but I deal with it. I feel like being an actress, being told to lose weight and be younger - it's crazy, but it is part and parcel of the game...To say that looks or age or sex doesn't matter is ridiculous. But I feel lucky in that every single woman pretty much on the planet has to deal with that sense of how she looks, portrays herself, and this and that. We are scrutinized and compared and all of that kind of stuff...That is kind of what it is to be a woman, unfortunately, still to this day. Even with the coups of feminism we are still there. But at least every other woman is going through that. It's not something extra special that I have to go through. It is just part of my job."

She spoke about this while promoting her newest film Unstoppable.

I'd just like to add that, I realize that film is a visual medium and there is a visual aesthetic at play for filmmakers, who want it to be pleasing to look at. But there is a difference in choosing attractive people and creating impossible standards, or simply using your power to hire people just because you want to get them naked.

[The Daily Telegraph]

Rock N' Roll Mamas: A documentary about moms who rock

2011-01-10T10:50:00.000-08:00

This documentary needs less than $2000 donated to reach its goal and finish production. If you have $5 to spare, go to Kickstarter to contribute.

"Rock N Roll Mamas is a work-in-progress feature-length documentary about three indie rockers/mamas who strive to follow their creative dreams while also providing for their families in an alternative lifestyle that is often judged harshly by our society. Over the course of four years, award-winning filmmaker Jackie Weissman followed Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses, Zia McCabe of The Dandy Warhols, and hip hop artist, Ms. Su´ad. The film takes us into their daily lives as they struggle with economic instability, the rigors of touring with children, and "normalizing" home life, all interwoven with the blood, sweat, and personal fulfillment they find in performing. From the outside it seems like it should be easy, merging motherhood with making music; but there is always a sacrifice. The film is a reminder to us all that there is no one way to parent...."

[Kickstarer]

An Assortment of Clubs in Hollywoodland

2011-01-10T01:14:00.001-08:00

When I first moved to Hollywood I really could have used the guidance of another feminist on where to exercise my social skills, get my dance on and meet quality people. Instead of going to artist-friendly places like The Smell or Pehrspace, I ended up at ridiculous clubs like Playhouse and Hyde, upon which promoters instructed me to make sure I "look hot" in order to get in. Even places like Cinespace, which masquerades as a beacon of all things hip and youthful, still maintains that ridiculous elitism of keeping a line of people outside. Seriously, that place is like the Wal-Mart of hipster clubs -- a giant emporium of feathery haired girls in tight skirts and skinny jeans boys with strategically torn t-shirts.

I finally evolved from that part of my life in Hollywood, and this past weekend found myself at a dubious little karaoke dive bar on the east side called Smogcutter. It's like a less scenstery version of Little Joy, cash only and requires a two drink minimum as per their poster board sign. If you do not order a drink, or a second one, the bar tender will hunt you down and order you to wait outside, literally. To get around that, all you have to do is hold an empty beer bottle though. (Feel free to bring your underage friends too because they do not card.) There is also a 50 year old, gold-chain wearing asian pool shark who will take your money, so be careful. Although, he can sing quite well.

After my friends sang their songs, we headed over to Akbar, a very gay-friendly, straight-friendly dance spot in Silverlake whose slogan includes "we do not understand gay Republicans." We found our little nook in the corner directly under the hairy-chested dancer on the platform and the softcore gay porn that was projecting on the wall. The dancer was speed-o clad, with a 5 inch goatee, combat boots and a do-rag. Pretty much awesome. But I really knew I had found my new favorite spot when the DJ put on one of my all time favorite, underrated, underplayed dance songs, Do I Look Like a Slut? by Avenue D.

Maybe I just didn't get out enough, but I have never heard this song played at Temporary Spaces, Cinespace, or any of the other so-called indie clubs. Akbar: 1 Hipster Clubs: 0

On another note, if I were a celebrity, who had some asshole ex-boyfriend leak naked pictures of me, and everyone started calling me a slut, this song would be my only response.

Ashton Kutcher on Teaching Girls About the Female Orgasm as a Means of Empowering Women and Reducing Human Trafficking

2011-01-09T20:21:00.000-08:00

Actor Ashton Kutcher recently spoke at a press conference about his new romantic comedy No Strings Attached. The basic premise for this film is a love story about two friends who have casual sex as "friends with benefits" and fall for each other. She's a workaholic with no time for romance.

Despite the fact that I see the billboard for this everywhere I go in LA, I have little to no interest in seeing this film, other than adding it to the back of my Netflix queue for when I feel like indulging in a mindless escape about sex and the Hollywood version of true love. However, Ashton makes a valiant effort to frame this film in a political feminist context as a story about a woman who owns her sexuality, and therefore, makes the world a better place. His argument is that the film depicts her sexuality as something for her, rather than it being a commodity for others, as female sexuality is often treated by our culture and media.

Here is the excerpt from Ashton in an interview with movieline.com, after his co-star and the screenwriter discuss the importance of condoms. It's a little awkwardly worded, but read the whole thing to see where he is going with this.

"I think there’s so much that’s not said about sex in our country, even from an educational level. I do a lot of work on human trafficking, and I connect a lot with girls that end up in this trade, if you will, partially because of a lack of education about sex in the country. Sometimes we get to make films that open things up that people can talk about, and one of the interesting things -- I don't want to veer off on a weird human trafficking thing, but -- is that, especially for women in the sex education process in schools, the one thing they teach about is how to get pregnant or how to not get pregnant, but they don't really talk about sex as a point of pleasure for women.

The male orgasm is actually right there and readily available to learn about because it's actually part of the reproductive cycle, but the female orgasm isn't really talked about in the education system. Part of that creates a place where women aren't empowered around their own sexuality and their own sexual selves, and from a purely entertainment point of view, to create a movie with a female lead that's empowered with her own sexuality is a powerful thing.

And if we can give teenage people something to think about from a sex perspective, I would say it would be to open a conversation where women are empowered with their own sexual experiences from an educational level as well as an entertainment level."

His wording is a little clumsy, but I think his main point is that there is less value placed on a woman's pleasure during sex, which is why women become targets for sexual exploitation. An underdeveloped sex education program -- one that doesn't acknowledge the role of the female orgasm in sex-- makes it is easier for people to become accustomed to the attitude that women are passive sex objects, a mind-set obviously embraced by people who engage in human trafficking. It is also something that perpetuates negative attitudes or stereotypes about women and ultimately perpetuates making women vulnerable to that industry.

Films about women who are empowered sexually, yet also have thriving careers, could ideally contribute to a shift in consciousness, one which treats a woman's right to enjoy and have pleasurable sex with respect and validity. A culture where women are fully empowered and both men and women are fully educated with respect to sexuality, is a culture where there is no room for sexual exploitation.

I remember having a discussion about this with a friend like ten years ago. I was trying to convince her they should include information about the female orgasm in sex ed. She thought I was crazy, but what is the point if we don't get the full story? Also, anything in media that puts women and sex in a non-judgmental light is a good thing, even if it's a cliched predictable romcom.

I vaguely recall hearing Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore speaking about their involvement in the fight to end the child sex industry. Demi and Kim Kardashian had some kind of diaglogue via twitter about Kim's use of the word "pimp" in a positive context. Demi tried to question her use of that word, but everyone made fun of Demi for being "old" and "uptight".

It says a lot about our culture that the word pimp is used to celebrate a sexually powerful man, when the original and actual meaning of the word is a man who controls and exploits women. Yet, a woman gets labeled a whore or a slut, which is meant to do nothing but degrade her. It's easy to dismiss the relevance or power of words when it's a trickle down effect, rather than an obvious cause and effect scenario. However, these words and how they are used reflects a lot about how we view, value, judge and treat people.

Is it just me, or is there a trend of men engaging in feminist dialogue in Hollywood? First Ryan Gosling and now Ashton Kutcher...who's next?

Source

Facebook COO Speaks About Lack of Women Leaders

2011-01-05T17:48:00.000-08:00

Here is a very inspiring, motivating TED speech by Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg: Why we have too few women leaders. She has great advice and insight for any working woman. It's nice to see a woman in power encouraging other women. It's worth the watch.

Source

R.I.P. Isabelle Caro 1982-2010

2011-01-04T09:14:00.000-08:00

Anorexia Nervosa has taken the life of another young woman. French model Isabelle Caro, who suffered from the disease, died on November 17th at a Tokyo hospital due to problems with acute respiratory disease. Her family, however, did not release the news of her death until December 29th. She was only 28 years old.

At the height of her illness, weighing only 59 pounds, she joined forces with Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani in 2007 as part of an ad campaign to raise awareness about the disease. Her very shocking and sickly image appeared on billboards everywhere, depicting her nude, emaciated body leaning back with the words "No Anorexia" written at the top.

Caro has suffered from the disease since she was 13 and even wrote a book that was published in France in 2008 entitled “The little girl who did not Get Fat.” In the book, she describes her stressful childhood, dealing with her critical, over-protective, depressed mother. This resulted in a self-imposed diet, that lead to comas, delirium and some degree of amnesia.

In 2006, at the suggestion of a psychologist, she stepped away from her parents and began documenting her struggle with anorexia on a blog. She also began working with a Swiss singer named Vincent Bigler on a song he wrote about anorexia called "J'ai Fin," which translates to "I am the end" but is pronounced the same as "I am hungry."

Caro was also interviewed by Jessica Simpson on her docu-reality show The Price of Beauty last year.

Source: The New York Times

MTV Sets a New Bar on Abortion

2010-12-29T12:23:00.000-08:00

Hollywood has always been scared of the A-word. Abortion. The procedure has been legally performed in the United States since 1973, yet has remained mysteriously missing from the Hollywood-version-of-life in the majority of TV shows and films. Characters who accidentally get pregnant in on-going television shows conveniently have a miscarriage, to avoid the subject and risk "offending" someone with the realities associated with being a sexually active female. If abortion is ever indirectly referenced, it's always without uttering the word.

Even in the relatively recent film Knocked Up, the female protagonist never discusses the option of abortion after she gets pregnant from a one night stand with a unemployed club guy. Only her "mean" friend, who only appears in that one scene, dismissively suggests she "just take care of it." The message is: anyone who suggests abortion, is a thoughtless, insensitive person, and regular people do not consider that an option. But we know this is not true. 1 in 3 women will have an abortion in their lifetime.

"Having an abortion is not uncommon, but talking about it publicly really is." - Celebrity psychologist Dr. Drew during MTV's No Easy Decision abortion special.

No Easy Decision was aired as some kind of follow up to an episode of 16 and Pregnant, which featured a girl choosing to have an abortion. I've never seen 16 and Pregnant and always vaguely assumed (or guessed) that it sort of glamorized or exploited these young girls who get pregnant. However, this abortion special really gave a safe and honest forum for girls to speak about their experience with abortion in a way that seemed empowering. It was their words, their thoughts, their emotions -- straight from the source, unedited.

Considering the existence of disturbed, religious "pro-lifers" who will take the life of an abortion doctor, it's very brave of these girls to put themselves at the forefront of abortion. There is also a website dedicated to giving them support, http://16andloved.com/.

Hopefully, this 30-minute, commercial free episode that shows the reality of abortion being a safe and common procedure will inspire more honest depictions in the stories being told about accidental pregnancy. Maybe in the future comedies like Knocked Up will include discussing abortion in a way that doesn't demonize anyone who suggests it.

I respect that, for some women, it really isn't an easy decision, as the title suggests. I sometimes hear people talk about having an abortion as if it were the biggest decision of their life, but for me, it wasn't a difficult decision at all. It was an extremely obvious decision. It was probably the easiest decision I've ever made, considering the implications of actually having a baby far out-weigh the implications of having an abortion. During the special, Dr. Drew asks one of the girls if she feels like she made the right decision, she says she has "mixed emotions" and feels confused. He tells her that's normal, but she responds, "society puts a lot of that on" women. So true.

You can watch some clips of No Easy Decision at Jezebel.

Rupert Everett Talks About Hollywood's "Club" and Discrimination Against Women and Gay Men

2010-12-29T09:14:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year, straight British actor Colin Firth spoke about the politics of coming out in Hollywood at the premier of his film A Single Man, for which he was nominated for his role as a gay college professor. He made some pointed comments about the complexity of coming out in Hollywood, that are rarely addressed.

"If you're known as a straight guy, playing a gay role, you get rewarded for that. If you're a gay man and you want to play a straight role, you don't get cast -- and if a gay man wants to play a gay role now, you don't get cast....I think we should all be allowed to play whoever -- but I think there are still some invisible boundaries which are still uncrossable."

Yesterday, Colin Firth operated as the guest editor on a BBC broadcast and asked Evan Davis to talk to actor Rupert Everett about the challenges faced by gays and women in America. The Huffington Post outlined his interview, which basically says Hollywood is an old fashioned, straight town run by straight men, who think that American viewers don't support older, alcoholic women and can't see gay men in straight roles. Europe is where he is cast in straight roles. Then for some reason, he decides to trash Jennifer Aniston for endlessly making crappy romcoms, even if they flop. She's in "the club". He wraps it up, in a strange ramble about being a sex maniac, and basically saying "don't come out."

Comparing his acting talent to that of Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, Everett said that producers would say they couldn't find a role that fit him, which he said came only because he was gay.
"I never got a job there, and I never got a job here, after [coming out]," he said. "I did a couple of films, I was very lucky at the beginning of my career... and then, I never had another job here for ten years, probably, and I moved to Europe."

It's not just him though; he thinks it's a problem for all gay -- and women -- actors.

"I think show business is ideally suited for heterosexuals, it's a very heterosexual business, it's run mostly by heterosexual men, and there's a kind of pecking order. I think the position of women is a pretty difficult one in show business. If you look at the idea of a drunk women in show business on the skids at the age of 50, and a drunken man in show business on the skids, the drunken man gets an awful amount of support, and the women is a slut."

The system is especially biased, he thinks, because the audience doesn't see actors as gay or straight.

"The audience has a completely perception of the performers than the business... But the business is what makes the stars, really. There are lots of women and lots of men in the business that the powers that be decide are the right people and they'll stand with them for quite a long time."

Still, Hollywood decides on its own who to support, even if its undeserved, Everett says. And to prove his point, he criticized the career of Jennifer Aniston:
"Like Jennifer Aniston will just have one too many total flops. But she's still a member of that club. And she will still manage to -- like a star forming in the universe -- a whole lot of things swirling around and suddenly solidifying into yet another vital tasteless romcom: a little glitter next to the Crab Nebula."

His advice for gay actors? As he's said before, perhaps not coming out is the best bet:
"There are many of them, and I don't blame them, it's very sensible. If I hadn't been someone who liked and if I hadn't been a kind of sex maniac and all those kind of things and wanted to go to raves and circuit parties, I don't think there's anything to wrong with it. It would have been too complicated for me to tell the lie."

Pretty depressing advice, but it's important that he's bringing his attention to this. I remember, in 1997, when Ellen came out on her show, moments before it aired the network flashed a "warning" about the content of the program. It was such a huge deal at the time that she was coming out. Now, it's a lot more common and readily accepted. I really admire her for breaking new ground and paving the way for others. Neil Patrick Harris is the only male actor who comes to mind, who is openly gay playing a distinctly straight character on the TV show How I Met Your Mother. I'm sure there are others. We may not be able to change Hollywood's "club" but we can form our own to offer room for diversity.

Our Hit Parade: Kathleen Hanna on the Origin of Smells Like Teen Spirit and the 90s

2010-12-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

Kathleen Hanna performed for something called Our Hit Parade this past Wednesday. In the video, she tells a hilarious story of how Nirvana's Smell's Like Teen Spirit came to be after a drunken night of vandalizing right wing pregnancy centers, Sharpie wall scrawlings and how it has haunted her ever since.

Thanks to Jamie for the link.

The Feminist Guide to Hollywood

We Need To Talk About Kevin

Step Aside Bieber, Juliet is About to Take Your Throne

Fotoshop, pro-pixel intensifying fauxtanical hydro-jargon microbead﻿...

Bridesmaids Wins Best Comedy at People's Choice Awards

Hey, shut the fuck up boy, you are starting to piss me off

Jesus Puts Rick Perry in His Place

Lizzie Miller's Sudden Fame Reminds Me That Real Women Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Guest Post: One Man's Review of DRIVE by Jeff Carter Kussmann

Obvious Child, a short film about abortion

Actress Beaten and Lashed in Iran for Appearing in the Film, "My Tehran For Sale"

SNL Mocks NYC Mayor Bloomberg's Handling of the Occupy Wall Street Protests

The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl

The Creative Genius Defense of Roman Polanski

The Importance of Jon Hamm

Miss Representation: a documentary about media and culture

A Brief Glimpse at the Kathleen Hanna Documentary "The Punk Singer"

20 Years After Grunge and Where is the Celebration of Women?

Why Jane Lynch is a Lesbian

Rape Prevention Tips For Guys

Jay-Z Refused to Clap for Chris Brown

Gloria Steinem in Miss Representation: What's New is Old

Equating Beauty and Sexual Desire With Youth

Paper Snow Flakes are Not Feminist

What do we have to thank for the invention of the vibrator? Hysteria!

A Brief Guide to Being a Feminist Boy

Gloria Steinem Documentary on HBO Tonight, Gloria: In Her Own Words

Stephen Colbert vs Obama's Army of Flesh Thirsty Sluts

Recognizing female artists: A documentary on Juanita Guccione

Roseanne Barr for President, "I declare patriarchal politics obsolete!"

Brit Marling, Surpassing the Hollywood System

From the Back of the Room, Women in Punk Documentary

Men: shave and get drunk, because you're already brilliant

Margaret Thatcher Biopic: The Iron Lady

Women's Magazine Cover Decoded

Female Armor Sucks

Pixar's First Female Lead in 'BRAVE'

The Sexist Beatdown of Megan Fox

Girl Hate + Boys Club = Hollywood System

For Animal Lovers: Na Nai'A, Legend of the Dolphins, a Documentary + Megan Fox Receives the Iris Award

!Women Art Revolution! Trailer *UPDATE*

Slut Walk in Los Angeles

Speak, a Powerful Film About High School and Rape

Shia LeBeouf Mocks Megan Fox for Feminist Thinking

Funny Bridesmaids Outtakes

Obsessed With This Song

Fun Facts About Abortion

Seth Meyers and Obama Rip Into Donald Trump

All-Star Tribute Album to The Runaways!!

Punk Singer Poly Styrene Has Passed to the Great Beyond

Girltastic Dance Party at Part Time Punks

Bridesmaids Review: The girl comedy of all girl comedies

Kathleen Hanna Talks About the Herstory of Riot Grrrl and Bikini Kill

Jane Curtin Talks About John Belushi and Sexism on SNL

Kristen Schaal on Egypt's Exclusion of Women in Government Reform

Are Men Funny?

IMMA HOMO - Gay Hip Hop Toeing the Line for Mainstream Appeal

Scarlett Johansson Stands With Planned Parenthood

Slut Walk, Women March to Protest Slut Shaming

Dead Men Don't Rape - a Token of My Riot Grrrl Youth

RIP Elizabeth Taylor 1932-2011

Hilarity Ensues on the Feminist Web Series, Vag Magazine

What I've Been Reading When I Haven't Been Posting

This is the Kind of Man I Get Along With

Cyndi Lauper Spontaneously Breaks Out Into Song

Kanye's 'Monster' Video Rejected by MTV

Speaking of Youth, Young Rapper Girls Calls Out Lil Wayne on Misogyny

Guest Post: Where Youth Meets Punk at LA's DIY Venue The Smell, by Jamie Beth Rosenberg

Dior, John Galliano, Natalie Portman and a Clusterfuck of Hypocrisy

Guys, Photoshop May Be Causing Your Flaccid Penis

DGA Hosting A Tribute to Director Kathryn Bigelow for International Women's Day

Kathleen Hanna Speaking at Women's Health Rally: "Planned Parenthood helped me and I didn't have to sideline my dreams."

Bad Teacher, Staring Cameron Diaz

'House' Actress Lisa Edelstein Stars In 'Coat Hanger' Abortion Ad

Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP War on Women

Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast Teams Up With MTV to Raise Awareness on Human Trafficking

V-Day: The Vagina Monologues at USC

Kristen Schaal on the "Rainbow of Rapes" as Seen by Republican Leaders

Altering the Reality of Beauty: Part 2, Screw You Rolling Stone

Jon Hamm Disassociates Himself From the Sexism of His Character on Mad Men

Fotoshop, pro-pixel intensifying fauxtanical hydro-jargon microbead...

!Women Art Revolution! Trailer UPDATE