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Book 'em Brontes!

BITCH Call for Zines

Check out this article BITCH posted about their library, now including zines. I'm looking forward to their series of posts about the relationship between feminism and libraries. (Especially with our library in the making)

BITCH Library: Call for Zines

Look! A travelling library in France in the 1920's!!!

The Feminal Artery

Natasha just sent me a face book invite to a show she is in that opens this weekend called The Feminal Artery. So everyone get your act together and head down to the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Center This Saturday (May 8) in the afternoon to check it out.

The event features live music and performances along with visual art that showcases “a culturally diverse body of female talent” and raises funds to donate to charity. I am sure it will be most excellent and I am bummed out that I have to work all of Saturday because this would be well worth the hour long drive into the city to be able to attend.


“The purpose of the event is to give a voice to many different women, so that these women may share their talent in a way that promotes community and acceptance through the appreciation and acknowledgment of diverse forms of expression. We believe that much of Calgary's culturally specific talent is isolated to individual niches, and rarely do these isolated forms of expression have an opportunity to come together and be celebrated as part of the larger community. By showcasing talent from various ends of the cultural spectrum we hope to shed some light on talent that is often overlooked, and bring to attention the idea that we are all fundamentally human and can connect on this level.” –Pulled from the Feminal Artery website

Dana’s Summer Book List

For my Summer Book List I will be focusing my recommendation on fiction. The books that I have selected for this list will either deal with feminist issues of have feminist undertones and themes. I am going to try and make my summer book list a series of posts that feature reviews and links that will go up over the next four months rather than as a one off list list.

My first recommendation is The Weetzie Bad Books by Francesca Lia Block. The first Weetzie Bat Book (Weetzie Bat) was published in 1989 and the sixth and latest addition to the series, Necklace of Kisses came out in 2005. These days the first five books are sold in a single volume that goes by the name of Dangerous Angels and it can usually be found at Chapters.

I discovered The Weetzie Bat Books a decade ago through an online interview that gurl.com did with Francesca Lia Block. I did a bit of Googling and came up with this, although I have no idea if it is the same interview that caught my attention a babillion years ago. The next time I was in Calgary with my mom after reading the interview I made her stop at Chapters and I picked up a copy of Dangerous Angles. I finished the books by the next day and I can honestly say that they are still some of my favorites.

Recently I was listening to Bitch Media’s newest podcast initiative, Read My Bitch when my beloved Weetzie Bat was mentioned. This podcast featured Kjerstin Johnson reading Monica T. Nolan article “Harriet and Claudia, where have you gone? Notes on the gender divide in children’s literature” that was printed in issue 15 (winter 2002) of Bitch Magazine. The article discusses the lack of good YA fiction that features female protagonist and cites The Weetzie Bat Books as being one exception to this rule.

The series is a sort of magical contemporary fairytale with beautiful imagery and a poetic writing style. While the books are feature this slinkster cool aesthetic they also tackle some heavy issues. If you haven’t read them yet I would highly recommend this series.

<3’s

P.S. I just got my hands on a copy of Necklace of Kisses and will post a review on it soon.

FBC Summer Reading: Ain't I a Woman - Black Women and Feminism

Bell Hook's Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism

"This landmark work challenges every accepted notion about the nature of black women's lives. All progressive struggles are significant only when taking place within a feminist movement, which states that race class & sex are immutable facts of exist."

I've been meaning to read Bell Hooks for a while now, and as we haven't really discussed the exclusion of black women in second-wave feminism, it would definitely bring up some interesting ideas to reflect on. Other possible books by Bell Hooks we could read this summer are, "Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics," "Feminist Theory from Margin to Center,"Communion: The Female Search for Love."

FBC Summer Reading: Gender Trouble

Judith Butler's Gender Trouble

"Since its publication in 1990, Gender Trouble has become one of the key works of contemporary feminist theory, and an essential work for anyone interested in the study of gender, queer theory, or the politics of sexuality in culture. This is the text where Judith Butler began to advance the ideas that would go on to take life as "performativity theory," as well as some of the first articulations of the possibility for subversive gender practices, and she writes in her preface to the 10th anniversary edition released in 1999 that one point of Gender Trouble was "not to prescribe a new gendered way of life [...] but to open up the field of possibility for gender [...]" Widely taught, and widely debated, Gender Trouble continues to offer a powerful critique of heteronormativity and of the function of gender in the modern world."

FBC Summer Reading: The Bell Jar

I've already read this novel two times, heavily relating to it as a teenager. I feel it would be interesting to discuss as a group because of how autobiographical the story is and because of the immense feminist following Sylvia Plath had after her death and the feminist loathing of her husband, Ted Hughes.

"Plath was an excellent poet but is known to many for this largely autobiographical novel. The Bell Jar tells the story of a gifted young woman's mental breakdown beginning during a summer internship as a junior editor at a magazine in New York City in the early 1950s. The real Plath committed suicide in 1963 and left behind this scathingly sad, honest and perfectly-written book, which remains one of the best-told tales of a woman's descent into insanity."

We could even look at some of her poems like "Daddy."

FBC Summer Reading: Orlando

My first summer reading suggestion for the FBC is 'Orlando' by Virginia Woolf.

"Written for Virginia Woolf's intimate friend, the charismatic, bisexual, writer Vita Sackville-West, Orlando is a playful mock 'biography' of a chameleon-like historical figure who changes sex and identity at will. First masculine, then feminine, Orlando begins life as a young sixteenth-century nobleman, then gallops through three centuries to end up as a woman writer in Virginia Woolf's present day."

FBC Summer Reading!

With another year of art school under our belt, we can now enjoy four whole months of freedom!

I figured with all of the extra time we’ve got, why not keep the book club going throughout the summer? So that’s what we’re going to do folks. Keep it going.

Over the next two weeks, feel free to post some books/short-stories/magazine articles/movies/etc you think the FBC should be looking at over the course of the summer. Depending on the number of blogger responses to the posted submissions, we’ll decide as a group what books we should be reading and discussing this summer over the blog and in person. Submit whatever you’d like!

Also… I recently joined GoodReads, and recommend it for keeping track of the books you’ve been reading, and finding new books!

Happy reading!

I think that this is worth reiterating

Justin Waddell was nice enough to post this little bit of awesomeness to the FBC face book page. It’s about how Anya Liftig, a young performance artist in New York, played stare down with Marina Abramovic during her performance the artist is present at MoMA. I have a bit of an infatuation with Marina Abramovic, and I think that Liftig’s idea was brilliant. Worth a read.

Also, if your not in the know, just search Feminist Bookclub on facebook to find us 

Bluebeard

After recently reading Angela Carter's The Bloody Chamber, I stumbled across this! If you haven't read The Bloody Chamber, you should, it's wonderful. The short story is a feminist retelling of Charles Perrault's Bluebeard.

Bake Sale Extravaganza!

The Feminist Book Club had a Bake Sale.

It was a lot of fun.

If you were there: Thanks for the support!

If you weren't: We wish you could have been!

P.S. Sorry half of the pictures are blurry!

Issue 2 of XX, the Feminist Book Clubs official publication, is now available for sale! This issue explores the theme of Girlhood with 8 awesome features from 8 awesome contributors. Please help support the FBC by purchasing a copy at ACAD’s Spring Show + Sale for $3.00.

Personalized Lipstick

I found a great blog site that discusses all kinds of issues regarding menstruation. The site re: Cycling. led me to an art project of interest. The art piece entitled Red is the Colour, by Ingrid Berthon-moine, 2009, features different women wearing their own menstrual blood as lipstick.

Feminist Rapper

Feminist SNL ladies at it agian...

I'm a little too excited about this:

Spring Break Movie Trailer

Hijab Vs Short Shorts

HIJAB VS SHORT SHORTS

ARE WE REALLY FREER THAN THEM?

I came across this article while looking at old archives of Vice magazine online. It was publish in August of 2002, so it's a little outdated, however I still found it to be an interesting read. Check it out. (click on article title for link)

Trim your bush

Lost in Utero

I watched the short film The Big Empty starring Selma Blair. The story features Alice, a young woman with an ‘inner ache’ coming from her vagina. In search of a cure for the ache, she goes from gynecologist to gynecologist with no luck... until she meets the Specialist.

In the story, Alice’s vagina/uterus is perceived as an icy tundra where no one can live and nothing can grow. I’m curious to see how others have interpreted this, as I have a few ideas of my own.

Read the original story The Specialist by Alison Smith here. aaannnd watch the 2005 movie adaptation.

look what came in the mail today (no, that's not a euphemism)

I will be posting a review early next week!

www.nataliedee.com

go Johnny go!

My love for the Winter Olympics is a conflicted one. Spending that much money on a month of activities that drains the arts/culture budget of Vancouver for years to come, not good. Radically altering land that belongs to the First Nations people, and trying to make it seem like Canada is far further along the road of reconciliation and recognition of our Indigenous citizens - really not good. And yet... I got misty eyed every time I heard Donald Sutherland telling me to 'believe' in those dopey commercials. I kept up with the medal counts. My heart broke for Joannie Rochette, the figure skater whose mother died suddenly of a heart attack, and then soared when she competed and won a bronze medal. And I really enjoyed watching the Canadian women mop up the ice with the American hockey team. But my favourite part of the games this year was the interview Johnny Weir gave to address homophobic comments made by two commentators. Here's part of Johnny has to say:

“There’s a whole generation of people that aren’t defined by their sex or their race or by who they like to sleep with. I think as a person you know what your values are and what you believe in, and I think that’s the most important thing.”

Click here to read the story & see the video of Weir's press conference; here to read more about the First Nations issues. And then watch this:

Ladeez' Olimpik

I found this on Bitchmagazine.org.

Too perfect.

Feminist Kitten.

Gender Equality in the Olympics

Melinda had pointed out to me that women are still not allowed to ski jump in the Olympics. I was not aware of this at all.

It shouldn't be long now...

Part of a Modess feminine Hygiene educational video. Watch!

International Women's Day in Calgary

The Calgary Public Library is hosting an event in honour of International Women's Day on Friday March 5th at the Central Library location. The event features a themed panel discussion, "Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for all," held between five acclaimed Albertan women of different work fields. The discussion will be held from 11:30-1:30 p.m. in the John Dutton Theatre. For more information on the talk, check out the library website. I believe registration is required.

The final (hopefully) word on the ridiculous Focus on Family Superbowl Ad

Like many people in the blogosphere, my reaction to the Focus on the Family sponsored commercial has ranged from indignant, to irritated, to really?, to enough already. If you somehow managed to miss the brouhaha, here's the gist: Tim Tebow is a super successful American college football player who is also a conservative evangelical christian. These should be mutually exclusive, but they aren't in Tebow's case because he uses one as a platform for the other. The buzz around the ad for the Superbowl was in regard to concerns that the ad had an overt anti-choice message and also that CBS, which had previously not accepted 'controversial' advertisements for the Superbowl, was ok with political agendas in ads as long as they were conservative ones. I was all riled up, but when I saw the ad, I didn't think it was that awful. It was mawkishly sentimental. Pam Tibow is shown against a white background and basically says "I'm Tim's mom & he is awesome!" and then he tackled her...which was weird.

Anyway - I'm over it, and this struck me as hilarious. If you want to see the original ad - and an array of ads that are horrifying click here.

Cocorosie sings a rap song.

A different kind of Disney Princess

Claire Huxtable

I have been a big fan of the Cosby Show for years. I laughed, I cried and I danced right along with Cliff, Claire, Vanessa, Theo, Rudy, Denise, and all the rest of the gang. Although I loved them all, Claire always impressed. She was classy, funny, smart, fashionable (man was she fashionable), and she always stood up for herself. I believed she was what all the women in the world should be.

I still believe that she has a lot of redeeming qualities. However, she was almost TOO good of a woman. She seemed to always have it covered. She was a wife, a mother, a lawyer. She always looked good, always cooked, and always had time to have drinks with the girls. I don't know any woman that could pull off that type of lifestyle with such ease and poise.

Claire really did tell it how it is. The video below is a clip of Claire responding to Elvin when he asks "Did you ask Dr. Huxtable if you could purchase that painting?" It is a quick response, but it sure gets her point across!

WTF?

Apparently Australia has decided that showing small breasts in porn encourage pedophelia.
Here is the Yeah What She Said article, and Here is the Feminisistings article.

...what?!

"The radical feminism behind these [women's studies] courses has done untold damage to families, our court systems, labour laws, constitutional freedoms and even the ordinary relations between men and women."

Read more: The National Post

One Woman's Journey into Understanding Islam + Gender Equality

There's going to be a "Writer's Weekend" coming up at the Calgary Public Library on February 6th-7th, where you are given an opportunity to have your work critiqued, and meet local authors, etc. One of the workshops may be interesting to check out,

Unveiling the Breath - One Woman's Journey into Understanding Islam and Gender Equality
Author Donna Kennedy-Glans discusses changing gender roles in a globalized world, and gender within the Islamic world.
Saturday, Feb 06
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Main floor South - New and Notable

If you're interested, you can register through the Calgary Public Library Website.

LOL theorists: LOL cats for academic jerks

I recently discovered LOL theorists through my favorite art blog, Art Fag City. There are not as many feminist theorist as I would like (perhaps this will beckon me to use my handy photoshop skillz) but they're pretty funny regardless.

anyone want to go to Philadelphia?

"Young Woman's Blues" by Joyce Wieland, 1964, mixed media, 17 1/2 x 13 x 9 inches, University of Lethbridge Art Gallery

Seductive Subversion: Women Pop Artists 1958 - 1968 is an exhibition at the University of the Arts Rosenwald-Wolf, Hamilton Hall & Borowsky Galleries is on view from now until March 15.

From an Associated Press Story by Joann Loviglio:

Sid Sachs, director of the university's Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, was inspired to create the show after curating a 2002 retrospective of dancer and experimental filmmaker Yvonne Rainer. Why, he wondered, were she and other female artists of the 1960s not included in the art canon alongside Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Claes Oldenburg and Roy Lichtenstein?

"It was like an entire generation of women artists was missing," he said. It took more than six years of researching the women and tracking down their work from museums, private collections and estates to assemble the show.

A Gentle Reminder…

The Deadline for submissions for issue 2 of XX is coming up (Jan 30!!!!)

The theme is Girlhood. Submissions can come in most forms imaginable (if your not sure send me an email). Keep your submissions to 0.5-2 pages; format all images to 300 dpi. All submissions should relate to the theme, and have a feminist slant or perspective. Email your submissions and questions to Dana at xx.zine@gmail.com

Today is Martin Luther King Day

Yes, it is an American holiday, but it commemorates one of the great civil rights activists of all time. Having spent the last semester in Memphis, where Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, I was able to see first hand some of the successes and failures of the Civil Rights Movement in the US. As an atheist, it is difficult for me to reconcile the idea of a benevolent, omniscient entity with past and current world events, but nonetheless, I find many of Dr. King's words move me to tears with their ideas of possibility and hope.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" - I Have a Dream Address at the March on Washington, August 28, 1963.

The difference between being offensive & being hateful

When I call people out for making sexist/homophobic/racist/ableist remarks, the response is often "I didn't mean to offend you." This annoys me for two reasons - 1) I haven't reacted inappropriately, they said something wrong, and 2) it's not offensive, it's hateful.

On his blog Fineness & Accuracy, Scott Madin wrote an excellent post about the difference that struck a chord with me.

Check it out here.

FBC Takes Over Room 371

FBC Takes Over Room 371 is an exhibition of the recent artistic works of our individual core members, Martha Affleck, Dana Buzzee, Natasha Jensen, Julia Kansas, Kelly Jacqueline Smith, melinda topilko, Kali Urquhart, and Jasmine Valentina.

Exploring the current state of feminist thought, each artist has submitted a piece based on their exploration of gender, race, and class, with the intention of stimulating critical and educational discussion and overall, promoting a stronger sense of community.


FBC Takes Over Room 371 is an exhibition of the recent artistic works of our individual core members, Martha Affleck, Dana Buzzee, Natasha Jensen, Julia Kansas, Kelly Jacqueline Smith, melinda topilko, Kali Urquhart, and Jasmine Valentina.

Come check it out!

Room 371 - ACAD
Exhibition runs from January 11th - January 16th 2010
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 14th 5:30-7:30 p.m.

XX issue 2: Girlhood, Call for Submissions!!

The deadline for submissions has been extended! Submissions can take any form (essays, reviews, fiction, poetry, ect.) and should be ½ a page to a page(ish) in length . Submissions should have a feminist slant and somehow pertain to the idea of girlhood . Also send in your girlhood best of list’s. The new deadline for submissions is January 31, 2010. Email you submissions or questions to xx.zine@gmail.com. Also contributors get a free copy of the zine.