Well, my tremendous high I described earlier just got higher. TODAY was THE PANEL...the one that had been consuming my thoughts and actions all month! Now it is over, and all I can say is WOW.
We got a fabulous turnout and a beautiful room in the union. The room had hanging lights, painted portraits, and mirrors lining it, and there were lots of little tables and chairs. I made use of one of those little tables to put my pro-choice goodies and email listing. We nearly filled the room. It's a little hard to tell exactly how many people were there because some left early and some came late, but I am not complaining.
The panel got off to a rocky start because one of the presenters didn't show up. I was a little nervous when I went up to speak, but I got some good applause and the presenters all thanked me. We had two folks from the Office of Women's Programs, one from RCS, and one from the Sexual Health peers. They were great! They had a great dynamic and really played off of one another's views really well. Pat from OWP told some of her personal stories, and she was really aggressive and driven. Suzanne and Kim were more calm and rational. And Ross was just his male-feministic self. They briefly discussed some of the basics of being pro-choice, and then the questions came fast and furious! There were people from all kinds of political/experience/age/past backgrounds, and it was neat hearing what they had to say. Even the pro-lifers in the audience. I'm not into their viewpoint, but they were nice and polite about it, which is good. The chairman of the Champaign County Democrats, Tony Fabri, even showed up and it seemed like he was really getting into it (of course I know him from my many events with those Dems, and he's even on the Fem Maj listserv). It was more of a discussion than one or both of us standing up and screaming our heads off! My favorite part was when Pat began talking about comprehensive sex education and Plan B accessibility and legal abortions, because she then said, "And I am especially grateful to ALEX here, who has been fighting ceaselessly to get these for all of us!" I'm in the front row, so I'm sure she saw my face-cracking grin! And there were lots of plugs for the fabulous Feminist Majority Foundation, and lots of them thanking me for bringing them out. Afterward, I made the rounds, thanking people for coming, and I got a lot of people thanking me for hosting the panel (including those Illini For Lifers, who said that it was interesting and that they'd like to have me discuss my views with them). After the panel, I gathered up my stuff and met my friends Celine, Lihy, and Amy at Espresso Royale, where we discussed all sorts of liberal topics over coffee until the late hours of the night. Celine and Amy really came through; Amy by offering extra credit to her students for coming and Celine by making enormous banners for it at Allen.
Then, today, my inbox was flooded with emails from people thanking me for putting on the panel. Tony wrote that there was a lot of stuff covered that even he didn't know. The other panelists seemed to enjoy being there. We got several new prospective members for Fem Maj, who wrote to inquire about it. All in all, a night to remember and definitely something to put on for next year!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
May the memory be eternal
So my favorite music store EVER is set to close its doors. That's right, Dog Ear Records is closing and everything's going--the store, the recording studio, and the film festival the owner puts on. That might not mean anything to you folks outside The LC, but for me, it's a big deal. Dog Ear was what facilitated my audiophilia, my love of music. When I started getting into my fabulous classic rock artists, I was halfway through sixth grade. Twelve years old and a budding audiophile. My sister and dad and I got our hair cut at Images in Libertyville, and after the trim, it was fun to drive a minute or so to Dog Ear and pick out some new-to-us CDs. Dog Ear was owned by a married couple, and they were running the whole show (including Rainbow Recording Studio in the basement and the fall film festival they sponsored). To add to the cool factor, they were also HUGE contributors to LaCASA (as I found out from my stint with them over the summer). As I initially started off liking classic rock, bands that had been around for a while, it was really easy to find the CDs I wanted. I can remember some of the first ones I ever purchased: Different Light (Bangles), Dreamboat Annie (Heart), Kindred Spirit (Kindred Spirit), Tangled and Fur (Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's), and Pleasure Victim (Berlin). You know how much I love music, and it's probably easy to tell why I'm going to miss that place so much. It's really sad to hear of it going, and a real loss for The LC. Now there are no more used record stores at all. Music Recyclery in Gurnee Mills closed, only to re-open very briefly as the horrendous mess known as "Fourth-Price Media" (a remainder store lacking the organization, variety, and nice mohawked-and-pierced salespeople). FPM didn't last more than a few months. Then Play By Play in Waukegan switched to mostly new stuff and mostly rap (yecchhh...). There's Borders Outlet in Gurnee Mills, but that's all overstock (and the CD selection isn't good at all--mostly the Christmas albums they couldn't sell during the winter. Which is fine for Christmas, but that only happens once a year!). Dog Ear remained as the only used record store. Now wherever will I find my rare and cheap CDs and merch?
Rest in peace, Dog Ear. You live on in my heart and in my CD player.
Rest in peace, Dog Ear. You live on in my heart and in my CD player.
Just what I needed
Maybe some good old grl-powered discussion is just what I've been needing all along. I'm on this tremendous high from (1) discussing Female Chauvinist Pigs with my friend Liz at the Feminist Majority book club and from (2) meeting the campus organizer from said national organization. She's a nice lady and had some good ideas for the group.
Tomorrow is the panel we've been working really hard with. I'm looking forward to that.
Tomorrow is the panel we've been working really hard with. I'm looking forward to that.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Blood on their hands
I sent out two emails to two of the local galleries to see if they wanted to consign me. I figure someone will be interested sooner or later. Both were looking for artists, and they seemed pretty legit from my research, so I sent out some emails to inquire.
This brings me to the whole concept of the production and materials used in my jewelry. Most of the Revel accessories are made with glass beads, but I've come to market them as "mixed media." I'll experiment with just about any kind of material. Some of it works and some doesn't, but at the very least, I can't say anyone's failed to notice it. I've prided myself on making things that nobody else has and that always manage to get attention.
The most common metals and stones I use are sterling silver and hematite. Sterling is the default metal because people don't usually have allergies to it, and it's relatively easy to come by. Hematite just makes everything look better. I don't usually add gemstones unless they come in the charms or settings I pick up. Many are WAY out of my price range, but there are times when I need to use them to create the piece. So I pick them up wherever they are sold. Personally, I don't like diamonds. Don't much like wearing them and I find them a little too bland for what I make. Plus, they're extremely expensive. But there are times when I get a commission, and the person has a very clear idea of what they want. I had a friend have me make her something to match a bridesmaid dress, and it required gemstones to match her sparkly gown. I donated a set to an auction that had little diamonds in it because the auction's theme was James Bond 007 in '07 (diamonds are forever--get it?). Most of the ones I use are smaller and a lower quality because they're easier to come by. That's just the way my budget works, and the people I design for don't have a problem with it.
But here's where a socially conscious artist has problems. We had to watch the Blood Diamond movie in one of my classes, and in another, we watched The Diamond Empire. I liked them both, but it was really shocking to see just how gemstones (not just diamonds but gems in general) are mined and marketed. Many of them have child laborers, and the profits don't even go to the laborers but rather to cartels or kleptocratic governments. They just go to finance conflicts (hence the term blood diamond). A kleptocratic government is a government whose policy is generally one of theft. And that is exactly what the gemstone marketers do. They make contracts with these governments to control the market. The most famous company, De Beers, has a monopoly on the market for diamonds because they control exactly what goes into the stores. Of course, it doesn't help that they've got a very ingenious marketing campaign and partnerships with Hollywood to put their products into movies. Their business practices are hardly what you would call ethical, and it was pretty gross to see all of that.
Now this calls into question as to what I should do to make my jewelry. I know I don't often use diamonds or really expensive gemstones, but there are certainly times when I do. It's not that much, but still, the items I purchase could be supporting something nasty. And being a member of all sorts of human rights organizations, it would be hypocritical to just ignore the issue. I wonder if there is a way the companies could market their gems to say if they were conflict-free or something like that. If worst comes to worst, I'll just switch to secondhand ones. They're the real thing, and the money doesn't go anywhere near financing conflicts. It just goes to the seller.
This brings me to the whole concept of the production and materials used in my jewelry. Most of the Revel accessories are made with glass beads, but I've come to market them as "mixed media." I'll experiment with just about any kind of material. Some of it works and some doesn't, but at the very least, I can't say anyone's failed to notice it. I've prided myself on making things that nobody else has and that always manage to get attention.
The most common metals and stones I use are sterling silver and hematite. Sterling is the default metal because people don't usually have allergies to it, and it's relatively easy to come by. Hematite just makes everything look better. I don't usually add gemstones unless they come in the charms or settings I pick up. Many are WAY out of my price range, but there are times when I need to use them to create the piece. So I pick them up wherever they are sold. Personally, I don't like diamonds. Don't much like wearing them and I find them a little too bland for what I make. Plus, they're extremely expensive. But there are times when I get a commission, and the person has a very clear idea of what they want. I had a friend have me make her something to match a bridesmaid dress, and it required gemstones to match her sparkly gown. I donated a set to an auction that had little diamonds in it because the auction's theme was James Bond 007 in '07 (diamonds are forever--get it?). Most of the ones I use are smaller and a lower quality because they're easier to come by. That's just the way my budget works, and the people I design for don't have a problem with it.
But here's where a socially conscious artist has problems. We had to watch the Blood Diamond movie in one of my classes, and in another, we watched The Diamond Empire. I liked them both, but it was really shocking to see just how gemstones (not just diamonds but gems in general) are mined and marketed. Many of them have child laborers, and the profits don't even go to the laborers but rather to cartels or kleptocratic governments. They just go to finance conflicts (hence the term blood diamond). A kleptocratic government is a government whose policy is generally one of theft. And that is exactly what the gemstone marketers do. They make contracts with these governments to control the market. The most famous company, De Beers, has a monopoly on the market for diamonds because they control exactly what goes into the stores. Of course, it doesn't help that they've got a very ingenious marketing campaign and partnerships with Hollywood to put their products into movies. Their business practices are hardly what you would call ethical, and it was pretty gross to see all of that.
Now this calls into question as to what I should do to make my jewelry. I know I don't often use diamonds or really expensive gemstones, but there are certainly times when I do. It's not that much, but still, the items I purchase could be supporting something nasty. And being a member of all sorts of human rights organizations, it would be hypocritical to just ignore the issue. I wonder if there is a way the companies could market their gems to say if they were conflict-free or something like that. If worst comes to worst, I'll just switch to secondhand ones. They're the real thing, and the money doesn't go anywhere near financing conflicts. It just goes to the seller.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
I like pina coladas but NOT getting caught in the rain
Okay, Your Humble Narrator has had enough of talking in Nadsat for now. You know how some writers/comedians can sound either really cool or really annoying when they just throw snippets of some language into their lines? Well, after reading my last post, I sound like the latter! So no more Nadsat, for now...You sloochy?
Typical fall weather. I am running late to class, so I snatch my backpack, hurriedly toss my books into it, and run like hell to the psychology building where the class is. In my hurry, I have failed to bring my coat. Not that it matters, I've got on two shirts and a fleece, so it shouldn't be so bad...
After class, I am walking back with a friend who lives nearby, when ALL OF A SUDDEN it just DUMPS BUCKETS AND BUCKETS of SLANTY RAIN! You cannot escape because it's slanted and gets under everything! So needless to say, my three tops and pants and shoes were all drenched and soaked through. The friend I was walking with had on a black jacket, and by the time we got inside the union to try to wait out the rain, his coat looked all shiny like it was made of leather. The dye on his shirt had started to drip. My eyeshadow was running down my face like a midnight blue river of redemption. And since neither of us had an umbrella, we had our books and texts and everything in our backpacks dripping from the rain.
I can almost hear my mother now. She's always saying, "Make sure you bring a coat!"
Typical fall weather. I am running late to class, so I snatch my backpack, hurriedly toss my books into it, and run like hell to the psychology building where the class is. In my hurry, I have failed to bring my coat. Not that it matters, I've got on two shirts and a fleece, so it shouldn't be so bad...
After class, I am walking back with a friend who lives nearby, when ALL OF A SUDDEN it just DUMPS BUCKETS AND BUCKETS of SLANTY RAIN! You cannot escape because it's slanted and gets under everything! So needless to say, my three tops and pants and shoes were all drenched and soaked through. The friend I was walking with had on a black jacket, and by the time we got inside the union to try to wait out the rain, his coat looked all shiny like it was made of leather. The dye on his shirt had started to drip. My eyeshadow was running down my face like a midnight blue river of redemption. And since neither of us had an umbrella, we had our books and texts and everything in our backpacks dripping from the rain.
I can almost hear my mother now. She's always saying, "Make sure you bring a coat!"
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
So what's it gonna be then, eh?
After meeting with my droogs at the dorm and changing my platties for the night, I made up my rassoodock and figured that I would practice my makeup and costume on my oddy knocky so I would have it down all horrorshow for the Halloween dance. I began to paint up my right glazzy with drawn-on false lashes. I don't like actual falsies because they stick to my litso, so I figured I would paint them on with the same effect. What is that fake luscious glory even made of, anyway? It was going pretty choodessny for Your Humble Narrator, o my brothers and sisters, until this devotchka from my floor comes into the bathroom. She nachinats to wash her hands, acting all nonchalant-like, when she viddies my right glazzy all painted up and beauteous. She does the old elevator-glazzball, viddying me up and down, and the expression on her litso was totally precious! A look I can totally kopat, much less never forget! She's got her gulliver all craned up to try and figure out just why I look this way, and she's looking like she's just beholding something from another planet!
I sure do love attention. I'm not the best at swing dancing because every time I forget the moves, but it'll be horrorshow to see the reactions of the other droogies! That poor cheena in the bathroom. Guess she's never heard of A Clockwork Orange!
(*Oh yes, my brothers and sisters, if you're of the poor deprived bunch who hasn't read it either, I'd suggest you get your paws on a copy. I'm going as a grl version of Little Alex for Halloween, and it just ain't complete without talking in Nadsat! I figure it'll be fun because Little Alex is absolutely nothing like me.)
I sure do love attention. I'm not the best at swing dancing because every time I forget the moves, but it'll be horrorshow to see the reactions of the other droogies! That poor cheena in the bathroom. Guess she's never heard of A Clockwork Orange!
(*Oh yes, my brothers and sisters, if you're of the poor deprived bunch who hasn't read it either, I'd suggest you get your paws on a copy. I'm going as a grl version of Little Alex for Halloween, and it just ain't complete without talking in Nadsat! I figure it'll be fun because Little Alex is absolutely nothing like me.)
Sunday, October 21, 2007
It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me...
...AND I'M FEELIN' GOOD!
This semester sure is going by fast. I was looking for costume ideas for my Halloween costume, and it's hard to believe that the end of October is so close! It's certainly an exciting one. I've got three folders by my desk, one for each of my big organizations: the crisis intervention, the Democrats, and the feminists. I have the blog for the Krannert bookmarked so I can contribute to it. My inbox is always crowded with emails from all my clubs. My three programs of study are going amazingly, and my GPA has never been better. One of my professors is trying to convince me to make one of the minors into a major. (Three majors?? Aieee!!!) Then one of the staff at the office of the women's programs has been asking me to become a fycare facilitator because he says I'd be good at it. That will probably have to be for senior year.
I feel like a powerhouse. Nothing can stop me. I feel like I'm just gathering steam. The more I know, the more I want to know. Don't know how long this high is going to last, but it feels good when it's there.
This semester sure is going by fast. I was looking for costume ideas for my Halloween costume, and it's hard to believe that the end of October is so close! It's certainly an exciting one. I've got three folders by my desk, one for each of my big organizations: the crisis intervention, the Democrats, and the feminists. I have the blog for the Krannert bookmarked so I can contribute to it. My inbox is always crowded with emails from all my clubs. My three programs of study are going amazingly, and my GPA has never been better. One of my professors is trying to convince me to make one of the minors into a major. (Three majors?? Aieee!!!) Then one of the staff at the office of the women's programs has been asking me to become a fycare facilitator because he says I'd be good at it. That will probably have to be for senior year.
I feel like a powerhouse. Nothing can stop me. I feel like I'm just gathering steam. The more I know, the more I want to know. Don't know how long this high is going to last, but it feels good when it's there.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A feminist and a lady?
Interesting. All I can say is interesting.
So last weekend was the big political social. I went to the one in the spring, and since I had such a good time at that one, I had to go to the fall event. Because I've been so active in the planning committee, the county board decided to reward me and nine of my fellow planning buddies with an invitation. So off we went to the union hall for some tasty catered food and beverages, music, and liberal-flavored fellowship.
It was good seeing so many people I remembered from last year. I know several of the public figures of the county, and they remembered me. Several planning buddies who graduated were also there. They took it upon themselves to introduce the current members to everyone. Which was nice of them, since they have the "insider's" view on the current local government.
But one of the graduate friends made a statement that really confused me. When he was introducing me to one of the county board members, his statement went like this, "And this is my friend Alex, a feminist and a lady."
This statement really confused me. I think he meant it as a compliment, but from what he said, it sounds like he thought the two are mutually exclusive. What does that mean, anyway? I mean, yes, I am a feminist and a very outspoken one at that. I'm active in one of the premier women's organizations on campus, I've acted in The Vagina Monologues for two years, I have dedicated my time and energy to the rape crisis movement, and I've been to women's conferences and fundraisers. Everyone there knew that. But I'm still trying to figure out what he meant by a lady. It's not pointing out my gender (anyone can tell that just by looking at me). Is it to say that one cannot be both and that I've managed to reconcile the two? Or is it to "excuse" the fact that I am strong and successful on my own terms (i.e. it's okay to be like that as long as I subscribe to accepted gender norms)? I do have manners, I try to dress appropriately (hell, I know I'm a fashionista), and I try to treat everyone well. But I know lots of people who do that too, so there's proof that the two are not exclusive. And what about guys who are for women's causes? Do we have to "excuse" their views by pointing out the fact that they behave according to societally determined gender norms? I mean, there was a male member of NOW there, but I didn't hear anybody introducing him as "a feminist and a man," or even more ridiculous-sounding, "a feminist and a gentleman."
Well, according to this introduction, I am a feminist and a lady--and both of them are confused. I'm still trying to figure out what that meant.
So last weekend was the big political social. I went to the one in the spring, and since I had such a good time at that one, I had to go to the fall event. Because I've been so active in the planning committee, the county board decided to reward me and nine of my fellow planning buddies with an invitation. So off we went to the union hall for some tasty catered food and beverages, music, and liberal-flavored fellowship.
It was good seeing so many people I remembered from last year. I know several of the public figures of the county, and they remembered me. Several planning buddies who graduated were also there. They took it upon themselves to introduce the current members to everyone. Which was nice of them, since they have the "insider's" view on the current local government.
But one of the graduate friends made a statement that really confused me. When he was introducing me to one of the county board members, his statement went like this, "And this is my friend Alex, a feminist and a lady."
This statement really confused me. I think he meant it as a compliment, but from what he said, it sounds like he thought the two are mutually exclusive. What does that mean, anyway? I mean, yes, I am a feminist and a very outspoken one at that. I'm active in one of the premier women's organizations on campus, I've acted in The Vagina Monologues for two years, I have dedicated my time and energy to the rape crisis movement, and I've been to women's conferences and fundraisers. Everyone there knew that. But I'm still trying to figure out what he meant by a lady. It's not pointing out my gender (anyone can tell that just by looking at me). Is it to say that one cannot be both and that I've managed to reconcile the two? Or is it to "excuse" the fact that I am strong and successful on my own terms (i.e. it's okay to be like that as long as I subscribe to accepted gender norms)? I do have manners, I try to dress appropriately (hell, I know I'm a fashionista), and I try to treat everyone well. But I know lots of people who do that too, so there's proof that the two are not exclusive. And what about guys who are for women's causes? Do we have to "excuse" their views by pointing out the fact that they behave according to societally determined gender norms? I mean, there was a male member of NOW there, but I didn't hear anybody introducing him as "a feminist and a man," or even more ridiculous-sounding, "a feminist and a gentleman."
Well, according to this introduction, I am a feminist and a lady--and both of them are confused. I'm still trying to figure out what that meant.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Gather round for a sing-a-long!
I'm drenched with sweat like a day in the sun.
I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the test won.
I needed luck cause I feared I had none.
I took the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
Scared about my score, and it feels so bad.
Before I see it, I better run.
If my parents hear of this, they're gonna get real mad.
Cause I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the--
Stayin' up late cramming is no fun.
Then I took the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
Scanning the pages and drinking coffee by the ton,
I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the test won.
I'm freaked about my score, and it feels so bad.
I had to rush to get it done!
My fingers are screaming 'bout the torture they just had.
I took the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the--
~To be sung to the tune of "I Fought the Law" by The Clash. Preferably done in as raucous a manner as possible with pencils and pens banging out the beat.
I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the test won.
I needed luck cause I feared I had none.
I took the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
Scared about my score, and it feels so bad.
Before I see it, I better run.
If my parents hear of this, they're gonna get real mad.
Cause I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the--
Stayin' up late cramming is no fun.
Then I took the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
Scanning the pages and drinking coffee by the ton,
I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the test won.
I'm freaked about my score, and it feels so bad.
I had to rush to get it done!
My fingers are screaming 'bout the torture they just had.
I took the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
I fought the test and the test won.
I took the test and the--
~To be sung to the tune of "I Fought the Law" by The Clash. Preferably done in as raucous a manner as possible with pencils and pens banging out the beat.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Living in a time of inconvenience at an inconvenient time
If anything else, my job is making me learn all about just how cruel and heartless and downright repulsive people can be.
But other parts of it are making me realize just how good and kind and understanding people can be as well.
No training today due to Columbus Day/Dia De La Raza/the day everyone else got off but us. When you've got a lull between training sessions, it gives you time to think and digest just what you've been learning. You really learn a lot when you go into crisis intervention.
But other parts of it are making me realize just how good and kind and understanding people can be as well.
No training today due to Columbus Day/Dia De La Raza/the day everyone else got off but us. When you've got a lull between training sessions, it gives you time to think and digest just what you've been learning. You really learn a lot when you go into crisis intervention.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
I don't want my MTV
Finished my homework early today! Since I've become the queen and tyrant of scheduling, and now that I've got training, I have become insanely good at getting exactly what I want done.
So I checked my email and found that one of my friends had sent me a link to the MTV website, as they were having a special on the "first ladies of rock." She knows I like my chick rockers, which I suppose was a nice gesture...
But after watching the special online, I've come to a disappointing conclusion. Programs like MTV and VH1 and even certain magazines that promote the newest and hottest rock songs are showing all the intelligence of, well, a rock.
How else do you explain their pathetic choice in "women in rock?" Okay, I'll concede that Christina Aguilera has a very talented stylist and that Shakira is indeed wearing a Guns N Roses tee in the photo shoot, but the last time I checked, they weren't what anyone would call "rock" in the least. Maybe I'm a little naive to expect any glimmer of musical credibility OR sense from programs whose main features are reality shows featuring actors who appear to have seen too many reality shows themselves. The thing is, as a musician and self-proclaimed audiophile, it's incredibly hard to find any kind of recognition or respect for real talent. Especially if the performer with said real talent happens to have two X chromosomes. So, like so many times before, I find myself short thirty minutes of my precious time and majorly annoyed!
Okay, so Lindsay Lohan tries to sing and then gets into trouble for her drug use. So now she's "the voice of the rebellious youth?" Are you kidding me?? And can someone please explain to me why everyone keeps on referring to Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson as rock? Weren't they doing that whole ballad belting routine on American Idol a minute ago? Yeah, Kelly's started wearing a studded belt and picking up the tempo on her new album. Big deal. She was wearing an evening gown and crooning "A Moment Like This" before that. Whatever is trendy, I guess. But who cares? Their poor choice of "first ladies of rock" reminded me a lot of those asinine Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions. I suppose there's nothing necessarily wrong with the airbrushed models inside, but we all know they have, well, nothing to do with sports. Which is not doing anything for women who may be interested in sports or who play them for a living.
Amy Lee from Evanescence was the only actual "rock" artist featured on that program, and she was treated more like a novelty than a serious act. Fergie and Jessica Simpson, who have always been billed as "dance," were featured in greater depth and more seriously.
If the special had been called "First ladies of pop" or "Some cute young girls with new records out right now," I wouldn't have any problem with it. Call me crazy, but using the word rock is still taken seriously by some of us. Use it to describe Lindsay Lohan, and you've just turned your program into the joke of the century.
And by the way, I don't want my MTV.
So I checked my email and found that one of my friends had sent me a link to the MTV website, as they were having a special on the "first ladies of rock." She knows I like my chick rockers, which I suppose was a nice gesture...
But after watching the special online, I've come to a disappointing conclusion. Programs like MTV and VH1 and even certain magazines that promote the newest and hottest rock songs are showing all the intelligence of, well, a rock.
How else do you explain their pathetic choice in "women in rock?" Okay, I'll concede that Christina Aguilera has a very talented stylist and that Shakira is indeed wearing a Guns N Roses tee in the photo shoot, but the last time I checked, they weren't what anyone would call "rock" in the least. Maybe I'm a little naive to expect any glimmer of musical credibility OR sense from programs whose main features are reality shows featuring actors who appear to have seen too many reality shows themselves. The thing is, as a musician and self-proclaimed audiophile, it's incredibly hard to find any kind of recognition or respect for real talent. Especially if the performer with said real talent happens to have two X chromosomes. So, like so many times before, I find myself short thirty minutes of my precious time and majorly annoyed!
Okay, so Lindsay Lohan tries to sing and then gets into trouble for her drug use. So now she's "the voice of the rebellious youth?" Are you kidding me?? And can someone please explain to me why everyone keeps on referring to Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson as rock? Weren't they doing that whole ballad belting routine on American Idol a minute ago? Yeah, Kelly's started wearing a studded belt and picking up the tempo on her new album. Big deal. She was wearing an evening gown and crooning "A Moment Like This" before that. Whatever is trendy, I guess. But who cares? Their poor choice of "first ladies of rock" reminded me a lot of those asinine Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions. I suppose there's nothing necessarily wrong with the airbrushed models inside, but we all know they have, well, nothing to do with sports. Which is not doing anything for women who may be interested in sports or who play them for a living.
Amy Lee from Evanescence was the only actual "rock" artist featured on that program, and she was treated more like a novelty than a serious act. Fergie and Jessica Simpson, who have always been billed as "dance," were featured in greater depth and more seriously.
If the special had been called "First ladies of pop" or "Some cute young girls with new records out right now," I wouldn't have any problem with it. Call me crazy, but using the word rock is still taken seriously by some of us. Use it to describe Lindsay Lohan, and you've just turned your program into the joke of the century.
And by the way, I don't want my MTV.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
It's time for a few small repairs
Sunny came home to her favorite room.
Sunny sat down in the kitchen.
She opened a book and a box of tools.
Sunny came home with a mission.
She said, "Days go by, I don't know why
I'm walking on a wire.
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire."
Sunny came home with a list of names.
She didn't believe in transcendance.
"It's time for a few small repairs," she said.
Sunny came home with a VENGEANCE.
She said, "Days go by, I'm hypnotized.
I'm walking on a wire.
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire."
Get your kids and bring a sweater.
Dry is good and wind is better.
Count the years you always knew it.
Strike a match--GO ON AND DO IT!
Oh light up the sky, and hold on tight.
The whole world is burning down.
She is out there on her own and she's all right.
Sunny came home.
Sunny comes home.
--"Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin (whom I saw at the Wall to Wall Guitar Festival)
I love this song. I think I have at many times in my life felt like I could identify with the story of Sunny. No, I'm not an arsonist, and I don't have kids. But there are several times when I've wanted to set fire to everything I ever was and completely emerge as something new. And many times, I have. After grade school, I didn't want to be known as the shy girl who got picked on, so I tried making more of an effort to be outgoing and to try to get to know everyone from every "social strata" of high school. It got me lots of invitations and social plans. There were still some people who didn't like me, but don't you find that everywhere? Both of those places, unfortunately, were extremely whitebread and conservative, so I still didn't feel as comfortable or fitting in as I could have. Like the song, I felt that I literally had to "walk on a wire" to stay in line and not get stigmatized or picked on. Plus, in high school, you see the exact same people day after day, so any efforts to change yourself would be noticed and looked down on. Enter college. I finally discovered a place (or several places in the college) where I could be exactly as I wished. Yeah, not everyone is my friend, but at least I can choose not to be around those people. I could be proud to be pro-choice instead of keeping it hushed up (and I could talk about that debate in any of my organizations). I could participate in several demonstrations and rallies and meet all kinds of cool people like me. The shy girl from grade school wouldn't recognize the over-the-top activist who cites talking about vaginas on stage as one of her crowning achievements! (And she would probably be wondering who those people were in the audience! Not to mention wondering who would ever write a play about the vagina.) The girl I was in high school wouldn't have the nerve to try going to a cluster event with people she didn't know--much less wind up joining said cluster and making friends with everyone there! And NEITHER of them would have the nerve to staff an event called SEX OUT LOUD or the passion to advocate for sexual assault survivors. You see? I'm not the type to be impulsive, but there are times when a change is needed.
And these changes are mostly good ones. I've been happy with all of them, and all of my friends have been so supportive of me. My parents have called me "heroic" from time to time, even though I don't consider myself the hero/role model type. (Then again, no matter what you do, some one is going to see you as a role model.) They've even tried doing some of the events I've participated in so they can see just what all the fuss is about! And all of this change has brought about so much opportunity for me it's amazing. It really is. But why settle for anything less?
Sunny sat down in the kitchen.
She opened a book and a box of tools.
Sunny came home with a mission.
She said, "Days go by, I don't know why
I'm walking on a wire.
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire."
Sunny came home with a list of names.
She didn't believe in transcendance.
"It's time for a few small repairs," she said.
Sunny came home with a VENGEANCE.
She said, "Days go by, I'm hypnotized.
I'm walking on a wire.
I close my eyes and fly out of my mind
Into the fire."
Get your kids and bring a sweater.
Dry is good and wind is better.
Count the years you always knew it.
Strike a match--GO ON AND DO IT!
Oh light up the sky, and hold on tight.
The whole world is burning down.
She is out there on her own and she's all right.
Sunny came home.
Sunny comes home.
--"Sunny Came Home" by Shawn Colvin (whom I saw at the Wall to Wall Guitar Festival)
I love this song. I think I have at many times in my life felt like I could identify with the story of Sunny. No, I'm not an arsonist, and I don't have kids. But there are several times when I've wanted to set fire to everything I ever was and completely emerge as something new. And many times, I have. After grade school, I didn't want to be known as the shy girl who got picked on, so I tried making more of an effort to be outgoing and to try to get to know everyone from every "social strata" of high school. It got me lots of invitations and social plans. There were still some people who didn't like me, but don't you find that everywhere? Both of those places, unfortunately, were extremely whitebread and conservative, so I still didn't feel as comfortable or fitting in as I could have. Like the song, I felt that I literally had to "walk on a wire" to stay in line and not get stigmatized or picked on. Plus, in high school, you see the exact same people day after day, so any efforts to change yourself would be noticed and looked down on. Enter college. I finally discovered a place (or several places in the college) where I could be exactly as I wished. Yeah, not everyone is my friend, but at least I can choose not to be around those people. I could be proud to be pro-choice instead of keeping it hushed up (and I could talk about that debate in any of my organizations). I could participate in several demonstrations and rallies and meet all kinds of cool people like me. The shy girl from grade school wouldn't recognize the over-the-top activist who cites talking about vaginas on stage as one of her crowning achievements! (And she would probably be wondering who those people were in the audience! Not to mention wondering who would ever write a play about the vagina.) The girl I was in high school wouldn't have the nerve to try going to a cluster event with people she didn't know--much less wind up joining said cluster and making friends with everyone there! And NEITHER of them would have the nerve to staff an event called SEX OUT LOUD or the passion to advocate for sexual assault survivors. You see? I'm not the type to be impulsive, but there are times when a change is needed.
And these changes are mostly good ones. I've been happy with all of them, and all of my friends have been so supportive of me. My parents have called me "heroic" from time to time, even though I don't consider myself the hero/role model type. (Then again, no matter what you do, some one is going to see you as a role model.) They've even tried doing some of the events I've participated in so they can see just what all the fuss is about! And all of this change has brought about so much opportunity for me it's amazing. It really is. But why settle for anything less?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
