While we're on a health kick, let's do some aerobics with Le Tigre! Or more specifically, let's do the Aerobicon.
This is LT's video for "Deceptacon," which is traditionally projected behind the band during live performances of the song.
(Or check out a higher-res version on the band's site here. Quicktime player needed.)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
We've Come A Long Way, Baby? Maybe Not.
A new report about from the Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, an advocacy group fighting tobacco use, shows that despite what Virginia Slims might say, women and girls haven't come very far at all, at least when it comes to sexism and tobacco. Among other things, the report shows that tobacco companies are experiencing a resurgence in specifically targeting women, and even more alarmingly, girls, through pink packaging, marketing tie-ins with other women's products, and advertising geared towards women and girls. What are some of the most obvious examples?
- The "purse pack", a pack of cigarettes designed to look like a purse.
- Camel No. 9, a pack designed to throw back to the perfume Chanel No. 9
- Since 1987, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths among women.
- Female smokers are twice as likely to have cervical cancer than non-smokers
- Female smokers have increased risk of heart disease, especially if they are also taking birth control pills
- Teenage girls who smoke have decreased lung growth, and begin to lose lung function in early adulthood
- Older women who smoke are at much greater risk of bone loss and osteoperosis
- Smoking is far more devastating on women's reproductive health than men's - it can cause fertility problems, increased complications during menopause, and even pregnant women who have quit smoking are at a greater risk for stillbirth, miscarriage, and other problems with fetal growth
- Smoking may make eating disorders more difficult to recover from
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Women on Women Music Program - Tune in every Tuesday, 8-10pm! 88.7 in Chicago, wluw.org everywhere else.
It's the Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras party show!
Irma Thomas - "Backwater Blues" V/A: Our New Orleans 2005 (Nonesuch)
The Gossip - "Standing in the Way of Control" Standing in the Way of Control (Kill Rock Stars)
The Go! Team - "Universal Speech" Proof of Youth (Sub Pop)
Prototypes - "Je Ne Te Connais Pas" S/T (Minty Fresh)
M.I.A. - "Paper Planes" Kala (Interscope)
The Chubbies - "Dirty Days, Dirty Nights" American Swagger (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Tracy Thorn - "It's All True" Out of the Woods (Astralwerks)
Anna Oxygen - "Dreams. Dreams. Dreams." This is an Exercise (Kill Rock Stars)
Ladytron - "The Last One Standing" Witching Hour (Ryko)
Yoko Ono with Le Tigre - "Sisters O Sisters" Yes, I'm a Witch (Astralwerks)
Lesbians on Ecstasy - "Sisters in the Struggle" We Know You Know (Alien8)
Chicks on Speed - "Wordy Rappinghood (w/ Tina Weymouth)" 99 Cents (Chicks on Speed Records)
Scream Club - "Don't Mess with My Babies" Don't Bite Your Sister (Retard Disco)
Concrete Blonde - "Because I Can" Mojave (Eleven Thirty)
Bang! Bang! - "Move" Do You Like It? (Heads Up Records)
The B-52's - "Private Idaho" Nude on the Moon: the B-52's Anthology (Rhino)
Quintron & Miss Pussycat - "Love is Like a Blob" Swamp Tech (Tigerbeat 6)
The 1900s - "Bring the Good Boys Home" Plume Delivery (Parasol)
Blondie - "Atomic" Eat to the Beat (Chrysalis)
Polysics - "My Sharona" Polysics or Die! Vista (Myspace)
The New Pornographers - "Myriad Harbor" Challengers (Matador)
Broken Social Scene - "Stars and Sons" You Forgot it in People (Arts and Crafts)
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Peek-A-Boo" Best of (Polydor UK)
Deerhoof - "The Perfect Me" Friend Opportunity (Kill Rock Stars)
Lee Dorsey - "Go-Go Girl" V/A: New Orleans Hit Story (Instant)
The Pipettes - "Really That Bad" Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me EP (Memphis Industries)
All Girl Summer Fun Band - "Broken Crown" Summer of '98 (Magic Marker)
The Slits - "Typical Girls" Cut (Island)
The Beautys - "Hello Floor" Thing of Beauty (Cheetah's)
Irma Thomas - "Backwater Blues" V/A: Our New Orleans 2005 (Nonesuch)
The Gossip - "Standing in the Way of Control" Standing in the Way of Control (Kill Rock Stars)
The Go! Team - "Universal Speech" Proof of Youth (Sub Pop)
Prototypes - "Je Ne Te Connais Pas" S/T (Minty Fresh)
M.I.A. - "Paper Planes" Kala (Interscope)
The Chubbies - "Dirty Days, Dirty Nights" American Swagger (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Tracy Thorn - "It's All True" Out of the Woods (Astralwerks)
Anna Oxygen - "Dreams. Dreams. Dreams." This is an Exercise (Kill Rock Stars)
Ladytron - "The Last One Standing" Witching Hour (Ryko)
Yoko Ono with Le Tigre - "Sisters O Sisters" Yes, I'm a Witch (Astralwerks)
Lesbians on Ecstasy - "Sisters in the Struggle" We Know You Know (Alien8)
Chicks on Speed - "Wordy Rappinghood (w/ Tina Weymouth)" 99 Cents (Chicks on Speed Records)
Scream Club - "Don't Mess with My Babies" Don't Bite Your Sister (Retard Disco)
Concrete Blonde - "Because I Can" Mojave (Eleven Thirty)
Bang! Bang! - "Move" Do You Like It? (Heads Up Records)
The B-52's - "Private Idaho" Nude on the Moon: the B-52's Anthology (Rhino)
Quintron & Miss Pussycat - "Love is Like a Blob" Swamp Tech (Tigerbeat 6)
The 1900s - "Bring the Good Boys Home" Plume Delivery (Parasol)
Blondie - "Atomic" Eat to the Beat (Chrysalis)
Polysics - "My Sharona" Polysics or Die! Vista (Myspace)
The New Pornographers - "Myriad Harbor" Challengers (Matador)
Broken Social Scene - "Stars and Sons" You Forgot it in People (Arts and Crafts)
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Peek-A-Boo" Best of (Polydor UK)
Deerhoof - "The Perfect Me" Friend Opportunity (Kill Rock Stars)
Lee Dorsey - "Go-Go Girl" V/A: New Orleans Hit Story (Instant)
The Pipettes - "Really That Bad" Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me EP (Memphis Industries)
All Girl Summer Fun Band - "Broken Crown" Summer of '98 (Magic Marker)
The Slits - "Typical Girls" Cut (Island)
The Beautys - "Hello Floor" Thing of Beauty (Cheetah's)
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Book Review: Getting Off
When I heard that Robert Jensen was speaking at my campus, I decided to finally read his book, Getting Off. I had heard mixed things about it, but the premise - a self-defined feminist man's take on pornography - sounded like it could have potential. Instead, Jensen has re-packaged classic anti-pornography arguments in a text that adds little to the conversation, and does many of the things he claims he is trying to prevent.
Jensen's main thesis is this: heterosexual, industrial pornography, largely in the United States, is becoming more violent in terms of the sex acts performed on women, which leads to the objectifiaction, degredation and abuse of women. This argument is essentially everything Andrea Dworkin ever said or wrote, and while he gives her some credit, the bulk of his book is comprised of her theories stated in a male voice. The idea that women in the United States are objectified, discriminated against and harmed in astonishing numbers is not radical, or something I disagree with. I don't even disagree with Jensen on the point that pornographic movies are becoming more degrading and that watching them could, potentially, desensitize men to seeing women as, you know, people. That said, I found his book to be borderline misogynist, unclear on its points and all around a bad read. Here's why:
First, Jensen believes that he has the unique ability to enlighten women about sexism. In one of the opening chapters, he discusses having female friends who stated to him that they use pornography themselves and don't find it all to be offensive. In response to this, Jensen describes one of the films he has seen, one which he claims is "tame" (but, in my assessment, is not tame by industry standards), to which his friend reponds "That wasn't fair." About this, Jensen writes "....it wasn't fair to push it...if I were a woman, I wouldn't want to know that. Life is difficult enough without knowing things like that...[that] you are something to be fucked and laughed at and left on the side of the road by men. Because you are a woman...Pornography forces women to face up to how men see them (pg. 15)."
He writes this as if being seen as an object is news to women and his graphic description of pornography is the only reality check his female friends, or women in general, will get about it. That we are in the dark about sexism and if we just ignore porn, we can ignore our frequent status as second class citizens. Because surely the cat calls from men on the street, requests from judges that female attorneys wear skirts to court, and "ladies nights" at bars didn't give us a hint at all. To summarize: according to Jensen, women cannot genuinely enjoy consuming pornography or even have an opinion on it that deviates from his. Women who do state things contrary to his beliefs are only saying such because they do not want to "face" sexism. Got it. Check.
Second, Jensen uses his status as a "feminist" to also become a psychic and to speak for all women. Getting Off is noticeably without much commentary from women involved in the industry. I can only assume that this is because the book is intended to focus on men and their involvment. When Jensen does speak of female performers (there is next to no mention of female directors or producers), every quote is bookended with a statement similar to this one "When pornography performers speak in public they typically repeat a standard script that emphasizes tha they have freely chosen this career....[a performer stated her career was chosen....as an exploration in sexuality] this framing of participation as a feminist act of women taking control of their own lives is common....whatever the reality of [their] description of [their] own life (pg.122)" and a claim that he respects what these women are saying and they have the right to their opinion.
After his disclaimer, he will launch into an anaylsis of their quote, or flim clip, or even just facial expression, always coming to the conclusion that they are not telling the truth and that if they were to be alone with a feminist like him, the real story would come out. Jensen's degrees in media and journalism have, apparently, also given him the ability to discern the real meaning behind women's statements and to attach his own interpretation to them as the Truth. It was disturbing to read in a book that is proclaiming that all women have the right to say "no" that we do not have the right to say "yes". Afraid to sound like the misgynists that he so loathes, Jensen gives lip service to women being able to have their "opinions" and then launches right back into his real meaning: women cannot think for themselves, and need an educated male to tell them what they are really experiencing and how to be an appropriate feminist. Your "yes" doesn't count in the academy just like your "no" doesn't count in the bedroom.
Finally, the book is just plain poorly written. The tone of the book is smug and self-congratulatory, with anecdotes mixed in about his "weeping" over the destruction of women and his bravery in standing up to a man he felt was inappropriate because the man's girlfriend wasn't saying anything (once again, needing to be the voice for a woman). His chapter on casual sex as another tool of the destruction of women is simplistic and heterosexist, as is his call to feminists to stop using pornography entirely. The start and finish of the book, where he depicts men at the Adult Entertainment Expo as being either a mob of rapists or pathetic fools, is histrionic and essentialist.
Men's voices are certainly needed in the feminist and anti-violence movement. Most of the perpetrators of violence against women are men, so they need to a) stop hurting us and b) tell their friends to cut it out, too. What we don't need, however, is another man telling us what we think, how we should behave or how to be a feminist.
Jensen's main thesis is this: heterosexual, industrial pornography, largely in the United States, is becoming more violent in terms of the sex acts performed on women, which leads to the objectifiaction, degredation and abuse of women. This argument is essentially everything Andrea Dworkin ever said or wrote, and while he gives her some credit, the bulk of his book is comprised of her theories stated in a male voice. The idea that women in the United States are objectified, discriminated against and harmed in astonishing numbers is not radical, or something I disagree with. I don't even disagree with Jensen on the point that pornographic movies are becoming more degrading and that watching them could, potentially, desensitize men to seeing women as, you know, people. That said, I found his book to be borderline misogynist, unclear on its points and all around a bad read. Here's why:
First, Jensen believes that he has the unique ability to enlighten women about sexism. In one of the opening chapters, he discusses having female friends who stated to him that they use pornography themselves and don't find it all to be offensive. In response to this, Jensen describes one of the films he has seen, one which he claims is "tame" (but, in my assessment, is not tame by industry standards), to which his friend reponds "That wasn't fair." About this, Jensen writes "....it wasn't fair to push it...if I were a woman, I wouldn't want to know that. Life is difficult enough without knowing things like that...[that] you are something to be fucked and laughed at and left on the side of the road by men. Because you are a woman...Pornography forces women to face up to how men see them (pg. 15)."
He writes this as if being seen as an object is news to women and his graphic description of pornography is the only reality check his female friends, or women in general, will get about it. That we are in the dark about sexism and if we just ignore porn, we can ignore our frequent status as second class citizens. Because surely the cat calls from men on the street, requests from judges that female attorneys wear skirts to court, and "ladies nights" at bars didn't give us a hint at all. To summarize: according to Jensen, women cannot genuinely enjoy consuming pornography or even have an opinion on it that deviates from his. Women who do state things contrary to his beliefs are only saying such because they do not want to "face" sexism. Got it. Check.
Second, Jensen uses his status as a "feminist" to also become a psychic and to speak for all women. Getting Off is noticeably without much commentary from women involved in the industry. I can only assume that this is because the book is intended to focus on men and their involvment. When Jensen does speak of female performers (there is next to no mention of female directors or producers), every quote is bookended with a statement similar to this one "When pornography performers speak in public they typically repeat a standard script that emphasizes tha they have freely chosen this career....[a performer stated her career was chosen....as an exploration in sexuality] this framing of participation as a feminist act of women taking control of their own lives is common....whatever the reality of [their] description of [their] own life (pg.122)" and a claim that he respects what these women are saying and they have the right to their opinion.
After his disclaimer, he will launch into an anaylsis of their quote, or flim clip, or even just facial expression, always coming to the conclusion that they are not telling the truth and that if they were to be alone with a feminist like him, the real story would come out. Jensen's degrees in media and journalism have, apparently, also given him the ability to discern the real meaning behind women's statements and to attach his own interpretation to them as the Truth. It was disturbing to read in a book that is proclaiming that all women have the right to say "no" that we do not have the right to say "yes". Afraid to sound like the misgynists that he so loathes, Jensen gives lip service to women being able to have their "opinions" and then launches right back into his real meaning: women cannot think for themselves, and need an educated male to tell them what they are really experiencing and how to be an appropriate feminist. Your "yes" doesn't count in the academy just like your "no" doesn't count in the bedroom.
Finally, the book is just plain poorly written. The tone of the book is smug and self-congratulatory, with anecdotes mixed in about his "weeping" over the destruction of women and his bravery in standing up to a man he felt was inappropriate because the man's girlfriend wasn't saying anything (once again, needing to be the voice for a woman). His chapter on casual sex as another tool of the destruction of women is simplistic and heterosexist, as is his call to feminists to stop using pornography entirely. The start and finish of the book, where he depicts men at the Adult Entertainment Expo as being either a mob of rapists or pathetic fools, is histrionic and essentialist.
Men's voices are certainly needed in the feminist and anti-violence movement. Most of the perpetrators of violence against women are men, so they need to a) stop hurting us and b) tell their friends to cut it out, too. What we don't need, however, is another man telling us what we think, how we should behave or how to be a feminist.
Feminist Bruhaha
Media outlets in the United Kingdom are in a tizzy over Amanda Palmer's "Oasis" single. I won't recap the situation, but instead will encourage you to check out her blog post and the comments that follow over at Huffington Post.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Setlist 2/17/09 Women On Women Music Program on WLUW 88.7fm and wluw.org
It's the second of our two-part Valentine's Day series! This week, we're playing sad, angry, bitter breakup songs about love lost (and the best way to exact your revenge).
Donna Lynn - "I'd Much Rather Be With the Girls" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
The 5.6.7.8's - "I Don't Need You No More" S/T (Time Bomb)
Bratmobile - "Cheap Trick Record" Ladies, Women and Girls (Lookout!)
The Peechees - "I Could Have Loved You" Do the Math (Kill Rock Stars)
Detroit Cobras - "Bad Girl" Mink Rat or Rabbit (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Nouvelle Vague - "Ever Fallen In Love?" Bande a Part (Luaka Bop)
Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys - "Any-Kind-A-Man (Would Be Better Than You)" Paradise Wobble (Coeur de Jeanette)
Belle & Sebastian - "I Don't Love Anyone" Tigermilk (Matador)
Lush - "Single Girl" Ciao! (4AD)
Nancy Sinatra - "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time"
Eleni Mandell - "Pauline" Thrill (Space Baby)
Juliana Hatfield - "Universal Heartbeat" Only Everything (Atlantic)
Annie - "Chewing Gum" Anniemal (Big Beat/Ada)
The Fabulettes - "Try the Worryin' Way" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
That Dog - "Ms. Wrong" Totally Crushed Out (DGC)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - "My Man is a Mean Man" Naturally (Daptone)
April March - "Chick Habit" V/A: Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof" (Warner)
The Magnetic Fields - "Meaningless" 69 Love Songs Vol. 3 (Merge)
The Dresden Dolls - "The Jeep Song" S/T (8 Ft.)
The Pipettes - "Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me" Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me EP (Memphis Industries)
Cub - "It's True" Betti-Cola (Mint)
The Ronettes - "He Did It" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
Go Sailor - "Fine Day for Sailing" S/T (Lookout!)
All Girl Summer Fun Band - "Cut Your Hair" S/T (K Records)
Josie Cotton - "Johnny Are You Queer?" Johnny Are You Queer? 12" (Bomp!)
Sleater-Kinney - "Dig Me Out" Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
X - "Johny Hit and Run Paulene" Los Angeles (Slash)
The Donnas - "Too Fast For Love" Get Skintight (Lookout!)
The Au Pairs - "Dear John" Equal But Different: BBC Sessions 79-81
Edith Frost - "It's a Game" It's a Game (Drag City)
PJ Harvey - "Legs" Rid of Me (Island)
Liz Phair - "Divorce Song" Exile in Guyville (Matador)
Cathy Saint - "Big Bad World" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
Deerhoof - "Dummy Discards a Heart" Apple O (Kill Rock Stars)
Delta 5 - "You" Singles & Sessions 1979-81 (Kill Rock Stars)
Donna Lynn - "I'd Much Rather Be With the Girls" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
The 5.6.7.8's - "I Don't Need You No More" S/T (Time Bomb)
Bratmobile - "Cheap Trick Record" Ladies, Women and Girls (Lookout!)
The Peechees - "I Could Have Loved You" Do the Math (Kill Rock Stars)
Detroit Cobras - "Bad Girl" Mink Rat or Rabbit (Sympathy for the Record Industry)
Nouvelle Vague - "Ever Fallen In Love?" Bande a Part (Luaka Bop)
Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys - "Any-Kind-A-Man (Would Be Better Than You)" Paradise Wobble (Coeur de Jeanette)
Belle & Sebastian - "I Don't Love Anyone" Tigermilk (Matador)
Lush - "Single Girl" Ciao! (4AD)
Nancy Sinatra - "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time"
Eleni Mandell - "Pauline" Thrill (Space Baby)
Juliana Hatfield - "Universal Heartbeat" Only Everything (Atlantic)
Annie - "Chewing Gum" Anniemal (Big Beat/Ada)
The Fabulettes - "Try the Worryin' Way" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
That Dog - "Ms. Wrong" Totally Crushed Out (DGC)
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - "My Man is a Mean Man" Naturally (Daptone)
April March - "Chick Habit" V/A: Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof" (Warner)
The Magnetic Fields - "Meaningless" 69 Love Songs Vol. 3 (Merge)
The Dresden Dolls - "The Jeep Song" S/T (8 Ft.)
The Pipettes - "Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me" Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me EP (Memphis Industries)
Cub - "It's True" Betti-Cola (Mint)
The Ronettes - "He Did It" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
Go Sailor - "Fine Day for Sailing" S/T (Lookout!)
All Girl Summer Fun Band - "Cut Your Hair" S/T (K Records)
Josie Cotton - "Johnny Are You Queer?" Johnny Are You Queer? 12" (Bomp!)
Sleater-Kinney - "Dig Me Out" Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
X - "Johny Hit and Run Paulene" Los Angeles (Slash)
The Donnas - "Too Fast For Love" Get Skintight (Lookout!)
The Au Pairs - "Dear John" Equal But Different: BBC Sessions 79-81
Edith Frost - "It's a Game" It's a Game (Drag City)
PJ Harvey - "Legs" Rid of Me (Island)
Liz Phair - "Divorce Song" Exile in Guyville (Matador)
Cathy Saint - "Big Bad World" V/A: One Kiss Can Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds, Lost & Found (Rhino)
Deerhoof - "Dummy Discards a Heart" Apple O (Kill Rock Stars)
Delta 5 - "You" Singles & Sessions 1979-81 (Kill Rock Stars)
Monday, February 16, 2009
R.I.P. Estelle Bennett of The Ronettes
We share the sadness of fans across the generations and around the globe at the death of Estelle Bennett, one of the iconic Ronettes. Rest in peace Estelle.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Hi-Fi Haberdashery
As both a seamstress and a DJ, I am nerding out so hard over this right now:
Sonic Fabric!
From the website: "Sonic Fabric (tm) is woven from 50% recycled prerecorded audiocassette tape and 50% cotton. [It] is not only strikingly beautiful and durable, it is also audible: the sounds contained in the weave can be heard by drawing a tape head over its surface.... Sonic Fabric (tm) was inspired by the use of small strands of cassette tape used as wind indicators, or "tell-tails" on sailboats, and by Tibetan prayer flags inscribed with wind-activated blessings." How cool is that?
Although if you'd like your music a little more direct and a little less esoteric (or if you just want to have your own personal soundtrack/arsenal of sound effects/walk around pretending to be John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever), you could always invest in ThinkGeek's Personal Soundtrack shirt. (They also have a neat interactive Electronic Drum Kit shirt, but as a girl... with breasts... yeah, you see where I'm going with this. Probably not the wisest wardrobe choice I could make. They should do the same thing with a pair of pants, for those of us who practice drumming on our thighs.)
Sonic Fabric!
From the website: "Sonic Fabric (tm) is woven from 50% recycled prerecorded audiocassette tape and 50% cotton. [It] is not only strikingly beautiful and durable, it is also audible: the sounds contained in the weave can be heard by drawing a tape head over its surface.... Sonic Fabric (tm) was inspired by the use of small strands of cassette tape used as wind indicators, or "tell-tails" on sailboats, and by Tibetan prayer flags inscribed with wind-activated blessings." How cool is that?
Although if you'd like your music a little more direct and a little less esoteric (or if you just want to have your own personal soundtrack/arsenal of sound effects/walk around pretending to be John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever), you could always invest in ThinkGeek's Personal Soundtrack shirt. (They also have a neat interactive Electronic Drum Kit shirt, but as a girl... with breasts... yeah, you see where I'm going with this. Probably not the wisest wardrobe choice I could make. They should do the same thing with a pair of pants, for those of us who practice drumming on our thighs.)
Video Fridays: "Come Again"
In honor of Valentine's Day, and in anticipation of our angry/bitter breakup songs show this upcoming Tuesday, this Friday's video is a classic by the Au Pairs, "Come Again":
Ah, the Au Pairs. So romantic. Celebrating female sexuality, challenging traditional stereotypes of gender, questioning the construction of power dynamics within relationships... Swoon!
Ah, the Au Pairs. So romantic. Celebrating female sexuality, challenging traditional stereotypes of gender, questioning the construction of power dynamics within relationships... Swoon!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Dance, Dance Revolution
Revolutionary acts. They can be big or small, personal or public. And they can come out of the most unexpected places.
For me, a body revolution has come out of burlesque dancing. Yes, it is that kind of dancing. Bump and grind, booty shakin', striptease dancin'. When I enrolled in the class, I heard the cries from activist friends and family that what I was doing was anti-feminist. I've found it to be anything but.
Like many women in the United States, I've battled both an eating disorder and survived an abusive relationship. I began keeping a food journal at age 8, took my first diet pill at age 12 and was in a controlling, violent relationship for a year in my early twenties. By the time I hit 21, my relationship with my body was detached, complicated and disjointed. I did not associate my mind or my spirit - "me" - with my actual physical being. It felt as though my body existed only for others and had very little to do with me.
I was aware of the disconnect, partly from really being aware and partly from reading literature on eating disorders and abuse. Aside from a few failed attempts at yoga, however, I never conciously tried to fix it. In fact, I don't think I ever realized how deep it ran until I started my burlesque classes in August.
Burlesque is a lot of what you would imagine: a bump and grind here, a hip thrust there, lots and lots of tease. But it isn't just about the sexy stuff. It requires a fair amount of athleticism or, at least, some strength. Ulitmately, it is the combination of what our bodies can do, our creativity and the aesthetics of our physical selves, no matter what the physical self looks like.
This combination has been incredibly powerful. It is the first time that I've realized what combining my "me" and the parts I live in can do when they are joined. Seeing and feeling my body grow stronger has shown me that it can do so much more than just be a shell for others to look at and appreciate or criticize. This is due in no small part to the instructor of the class, who will encourage us to do just one more crunch or hold a balance for a few seconds longer not because we have to but because she wants to show us that we
can.
These classes are, quite literally, the only time in the last ten or so years that I have been physically active and have not been concerned with how I look to others. Weird, I know. It would not be an unfair assumption to think that the exact opposite would occur - the tease is ultimately meant for an audience. But that's the thing about burlesque. The tease element is really all about the dancer. I get to decide when and how and where anything is removed, all the while getting to embrace my creativity, femininity and strength. It isn't about just appearance or the audience at all.
So, while it may not be the most obvious form of feminism, burlesque has cauterized some old wounds and taught me to love and appreciate my body which, in my opinion, is a hell of a revolutionary act.
For me, a body revolution has come out of burlesque dancing. Yes, it is that kind of dancing. Bump and grind, booty shakin', striptease dancin'. When I enrolled in the class, I heard the cries from activist friends and family that what I was doing was anti-feminist. I've found it to be anything but.
Like many women in the United States, I've battled both an eating disorder and survived an abusive relationship. I began keeping a food journal at age 8, took my first diet pill at age 12 and was in a controlling, violent relationship for a year in my early twenties. By the time I hit 21, my relationship with my body was detached, complicated and disjointed. I did not associate my mind or my spirit - "me" - with my actual physical being. It felt as though my body existed only for others and had very little to do with me.
I was aware of the disconnect, partly from really being aware and partly from reading literature on eating disorders and abuse. Aside from a few failed attempts at yoga, however, I never conciously tried to fix it. In fact, I don't think I ever realized how deep it ran until I started my burlesque classes in August.
Burlesque is a lot of what you would imagine: a bump and grind here, a hip thrust there, lots and lots of tease. But it isn't just about the sexy stuff. It requires a fair amount of athleticism or, at least, some strength. Ulitmately, it is the combination of what our bodies can do, our creativity and the aesthetics of our physical selves, no matter what the physical self looks like.
This combination has been incredibly powerful. It is the first time that I've realized what combining my "me" and the parts I live in can do when they are joined. Seeing and feeling my body grow stronger has shown me that it can do so much more than just be a shell for others to look at and appreciate or criticize. This is due in no small part to the instructor of the class, who will encourage us to do just one more crunch or hold a balance for a few seconds longer not because we have to but because she wants to show us that we
can.
These classes are, quite literally, the only time in the last ten or so years that I have been physically active and have not been concerned with how I look to others. Weird, I know. It would not be an unfair assumption to think that the exact opposite would occur - the tease is ultimately meant for an audience. But that's the thing about burlesque. The tease element is really all about the dancer. I get to decide when and how and where anything is removed, all the while getting to embrace my creativity, femininity and strength. It isn't about just appearance or the audience at all.
So, while it may not be the most obvious form of feminism, burlesque has cauterized some old wounds and taught me to love and appreciate my body which, in my opinion, is a hell of a revolutionary act.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
WOW Setlist for 2/10/09 on WLUW 88.7fm
It's the pre-Valentine's Day happy, sappy, love love love show!
Glass Candy - "Love Love Love" Love Love Love (Troubleman Unlimited)
Go Sailor - "Together Forever in Love" S/T (Lookout)
Shonen Knife - "Top of the World" V/A: If I Were a Carpenter (A&M)
Magnetic Fields - "Sweet-Lovin' Man" 69 Love Songs: Vol. 1 (Merge)
Blossom Dearie - "Someone to Watch Over Me" My Gentleman Friend (Verve)
Dressy Bessy - "If You Should Try to Kiss Her" Pink Hearts Yellow Moons (Kindercore)
The Butchies - "She's So Lovely" Make Yr Life (Yep Roc)
All Girl Summer Fun Band - "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Troublemaker" 2 (K)
Cub - "Cast a Shadow" Betti-Cola (Mint)
Velvet Underground - "I'm Sticking With You" VU (Verve)
The Moldy Peaches - "Anyone Else But You" S/T (Rough Trade)
The Shaggs - "I'm So Happy When You're Near" Philosophy of the World (RCA Victor)
The Shangri-Las - "Give Him a Great Big Kiss" Myrmidons of Melodrama (RPM)
The Breeders - "Divine Hammer" Last Splash (4AD)
Bitesize - "BTO" Sophomore Slump (Packing Heat)
The Slits - "Love und Romance" Cut (Island)
"Cool Rider" Grease II: Soundtrack to the Film (Polydor)
Glass Candy - "Love Love Love" Love Love Love (Troubleman Unlimited)
Go Sailor - "Together Forever in Love" S/T (Lookout)
Shonen Knife - "Top of the World" V/A: If I Were a Carpenter (A&M)
Magnetic Fields - "Sweet-Lovin' Man" 69 Love Songs: Vol. 1 (Merge)
Blossom Dearie - "Someone to Watch Over Me" My Gentleman Friend (Verve)
Dressy Bessy - "If You Should Try to Kiss Her" Pink Hearts Yellow Moons (Kindercore)
The Butchies - "She's So Lovely" Make Yr Life (Yep Roc)
All Girl Summer Fun Band - "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Troublemaker" 2 (K)
Cub - "Cast a Shadow" Betti-Cola (Mint)
Velvet Underground - "I'm Sticking With You" VU (Verve)
The Moldy Peaches - "Anyone Else But You" S/T (Rough Trade)
The Shaggs - "I'm So Happy When You're Near" Philosophy of the World (RCA Victor)
The Shangri-Las - "Give Him a Great Big Kiss" Myrmidons of Melodrama (RPM)
The Breeders - "Divine Hammer" Last Splash (4AD)
Bitesize - "BTO" Sophomore Slump (Packing Heat)
The Slits - "Love und Romance" Cut (Island)
"Cool Rider" Grease II: Soundtrack to the Film (Polydor)
Friday, February 6, 2009
WOW Valentine's Day Shows!
This year, Valentine's day falls on a Saturday. Good for date night, bad for WOW... we couldn't decide if it would be better to do our Valentine's Day show four days before V-Day, or three days after. Luckily for you, we decided to do both.
On Tuesday, February 10th, we'll get you in the mood with the happiest, sappiest love songs.
On Tuesday, February 17th, we'll appeal to your bitter, angry side and bring you our favorite breakup songs.
Make sure to tune in for both! (And if you have any requests, get 'em in now!) Listen live in Chicago from 8 to 10pm CST on 88.7 fm, or online at wluw.org everywhere else.
Video Fridays: "Kiss Them for Me"
A lot of people might poo-poo Siouxsie's middle-to-later period stuff, but as for me, I forgot how much I liked this song.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
R.I.P. Lux Interior
Cramps singer Lux Interior dead at 62.
We here at WOW have long loved the Cramps for many reasons... for their embodiment of sex and sleaze, for their embracing of kitsch and camp, for Poison Ivy's guitar prowess, for Lux Interior's leopard print panties, for their raw, no bullshit, rock and roll sound, for the way they challenged, tore down, and redefined gender roles in rock. Lux, you will truly be missed.
For an excellent write-up of the life and times of Lux Interior and the Cramps, check out Owen Adam's music blog at the Guardian.
We here at WOW have long loved the Cramps for many reasons... for their embodiment of sex and sleaze, for their embracing of kitsch and camp, for Poison Ivy's guitar prowess, for Lux Interior's leopard print panties, for their raw, no bullshit, rock and roll sound, for the way they challenged, tore down, and redefined gender roles in rock. Lux, you will truly be missed.
For an excellent write-up of the life and times of Lux Interior and the Cramps, check out Owen Adam's music blog at the Guardian.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
WOW Setlist for 2/3/09 - Tune in every Tuesday from 8-10pm central time on 88.7fm in Chicago, wluw.org everywhere else!
Flossie & the Unicorns - "Underwater Dance Club" LMNOP (Skin Graft)
X - "The World's a Mess, It's In My Kiss" Los Angeles (Slash/Rhino)
The Delta 72 - "Go Go Kitty" The Soul of the New Machine (Touch & Go)
The Amps - "Just Like a Briar" Tipp City EP (4AD)
The Personals - "Bored Stiff" S/T EP (Sumo Pogo)
Little Red Car Wreck - "Brush Your Teeth" Motor Like a Mother (Yoyo Recordings)
The Cardigans - "Iron Man" First Band on the Moon (Mercury)
Saint Etienne - "Lose That Girl" Travel Edition: 1990-2005 (Sub Pop)
Papas Fritas - "Way You Walk" Pop Has Freed Us (Minty Fresh)
18th Dye - "Poolhouse Blue" Tribute to a Bus (Matador)
Mecca Normal - "Who Shot Elvis?" Who Shot Elvis? (Matador)
The Triffids - "Beautiful Waste" Australian Melodrama (White)
Heavenly - "Cool Guitar Boy" Heavenly vs. Satan (K)
Beat Happening - "Hot Chocolate Boy" Dreamy (K)
Mekons - "Axcerpt" V/A: Lounge Ax Defense & Relocation Compact Disc (Touch & Go)
Delta 5 - "Now That You've Gone" Singles & Sessions 1979-81 (Kill Rock Stars)
Deerhoof - "My Pal Foot Foot" V/A: Better Than the Beatles: a Tribute to the Shaggs (Animal World)
OOIOO - "Niko Niko Niko" Kila Kila Kila (Bathing Ape/Thrill Jockey)
Blectum From Blechdom - "Jump Jo Bones (Live at Bottom of the Hill)" V/A: The Structure of Scientific Misconceptions, The System of Scientific Misconstructions (Toyo)
Puffy Ami Yumi - "Planet Tokyo" Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi Soundtrack (Epic)
The Primitives - "Crash" V/A: Modern Rock 1988: Hang the DJ (Rhino)
Cub - "Pillow Queen" Mauler (Au-go-go)
Pretenders - "Tattooed Love Boys" S/T (Sire/Real)
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Kiss Them for Me" The Best of (Polydor UK)
Sonic Youth - "Superstar" V/A: If I Were a Carpenter (A&M)
Electrelane - "The Greater Times" No Shouts, No Calls (Too Pure)
John Parish & Polly Jean Harvey - "Dance Hall at Louse Point" Dance Hall at Louse Point (Island)
Mika Miko - "Capricorinations" C.Y.S.L.A.B.F. (Kill Rock Stars)
X-Ray Spex - "I Can't Do Anything" Germfree Adolescents (Caroline)
The 5.6.7.8's - "Barracuda" Pinheel Stomp EP (Time Bomb)
The Pipettes - "Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me" Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me EP (Memphis Industries)
Dressy Bessy - "In Your Headphones" Holler and Stomp (Transdreamer)
Fastbacks - "Book of Revelation" Win Lose or Both (Pop Llama)
Yo La Tengo - "Don't Worry, Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow) Yo La Tengo is Murdering the Classics (Egon)
X - "The World's a Mess, It's In My Kiss" Los Angeles (Slash/Rhino)
The Delta 72 - "Go Go Kitty" The Soul of the New Machine (Touch & Go)
The Amps - "Just Like a Briar" Tipp City EP (4AD)
The Personals - "Bored Stiff" S/T EP (Sumo Pogo)
Little Red Car Wreck - "Brush Your Teeth" Motor Like a Mother (Yoyo Recordings)
The Cardigans - "Iron Man" First Band on the Moon (Mercury)
Saint Etienne - "Lose That Girl" Travel Edition: 1990-2005 (Sub Pop)
Papas Fritas - "Way You Walk" Pop Has Freed Us (Minty Fresh)
18th Dye - "Poolhouse Blue" Tribute to a Bus (Matador)
Mecca Normal - "Who Shot Elvis?" Who Shot Elvis? (Matador)
The Triffids - "Beautiful Waste" Australian Melodrama (White)
Heavenly - "Cool Guitar Boy" Heavenly vs. Satan (K)
Beat Happening - "Hot Chocolate Boy" Dreamy (K)
Mekons - "Axcerpt" V/A: Lounge Ax Defense & Relocation Compact Disc (Touch & Go)
Delta 5 - "Now That You've Gone" Singles & Sessions 1979-81 (Kill Rock Stars)
Deerhoof - "My Pal Foot Foot" V/A: Better Than the Beatles: a Tribute to the Shaggs (Animal World)
OOIOO - "Niko Niko Niko" Kila Kila Kila (Bathing Ape/Thrill Jockey)
Blectum From Blechdom - "Jump Jo Bones (Live at Bottom of the Hill)" V/A: The Structure of Scientific Misconceptions, The System of Scientific Misconstructions (Toyo)
Puffy Ami Yumi - "Planet Tokyo" Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi Soundtrack (Epic)
The Primitives - "Crash" V/A: Modern Rock 1988: Hang the DJ (Rhino)
Cub - "Pillow Queen" Mauler (Au-go-go)
Pretenders - "Tattooed Love Boys" S/T (Sire/Real)
Siouxsie & the Banshees - "Kiss Them for Me" The Best of (Polydor UK)
Sonic Youth - "Superstar" V/A: If I Were a Carpenter (A&M)
Electrelane - "The Greater Times" No Shouts, No Calls (Too Pure)
John Parish & Polly Jean Harvey - "Dance Hall at Louse Point" Dance Hall at Louse Point (Island)
Mika Miko - "Capricorinations" C.Y.S.L.A.B.F. (Kill Rock Stars)
X-Ray Spex - "I Can't Do Anything" Germfree Adolescents (Caroline)
The 5.6.7.8's - "Barracuda" Pinheel Stomp EP (Time Bomb)
The Pipettes - "Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me" Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me EP (Memphis Industries)
Dressy Bessy - "In Your Headphones" Holler and Stomp (Transdreamer)
Fastbacks - "Book of Revelation" Win Lose or Both (Pop Llama)
Yo La Tengo - "Don't Worry, Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow) Yo La Tengo is Murdering the Classics (Egon)
Dance This Mess Around
Everybody goes to parties
They dance this mess around
They do all 16 dances
They do the Shu-ga-loo
Do the Shy Tuna
Do the Camel Walk
Do the Hip-o-crit
Everybody goes to parties
They dance this mess around
They do all 16 dances
Do the Coo-ca-choo
Do the Aqua-Velva
Do the Dirty Dog
Do the Escalator
Last week on the show, I was chastizing the B-52's for only naming 8 of the supposed 16 dances in the song "Dance This Mess Around." (Seriously B-52s, what ARE the other 8 dances? Although to be fair, I suppose they did do better than Wilson Pickett, who claimed there was a "Land of 1000 Dances," yet left us hanging on the names of 994 of them.) Naturally, this led to Jenny and I ruminating on whether any of these dances even existed in the first place, and if so, how were they done?
Well, my little waltzing matildas, it's time to do 'em right!
First and foremost, the Camel Walk most definitely exists. Heck, we've even played a song by Southern Culture on the Skids called "Camel Walk"! You can read more about the history of the dance here, get step-by-step directions here, see a video of James Brown doing it here, or check out the belly dance version here.
The Dirty Dog gets a brief name drop as a dance craze from the 50s here and the 60s here, but sadly, no instructions. The name, however, resurfaces periodically, suggesting that it's a common/popular name for a dance, rather than one enduring dance move in and of itself.
Unfortunately, the rest of the songs are either complete fabrications, or were fad dances so localized and/or short lived that they've ceased to exist outside the lyrics to this song. Rumor has it, however, that the B-52's have been known to demonstrate the steps to the Shy Tuna and others on stage from time to time... but until you can witness this for yourself, you'll just have to be content to Mess your Dance Around freeform style.
They dance this mess around
They do all 16 dances
They do the Shu-ga-loo
Do the Shy Tuna
Do the Camel Walk
Do the Hip-o-crit
Everybody goes to parties
They dance this mess around
They do all 16 dances
Do the Coo-ca-choo
Do the Aqua-Velva
Do the Dirty Dog
Do the Escalator
Last week on the show, I was chastizing the B-52's for only naming 8 of the supposed 16 dances in the song "Dance This Mess Around." (Seriously B-52s, what ARE the other 8 dances? Although to be fair, I suppose they did do better than Wilson Pickett, who claimed there was a "Land of 1000 Dances," yet left us hanging on the names of 994 of them.) Naturally, this led to Jenny and I ruminating on whether any of these dances even existed in the first place, and if so, how were they done?
Well, my little waltzing matildas, it's time to do 'em right!
First and foremost, the Camel Walk most definitely exists. Heck, we've even played a song by Southern Culture on the Skids called "Camel Walk"! You can read more about the history of the dance here, get step-by-step directions here, see a video of James Brown doing it here, or check out the belly dance version here.
The Dirty Dog gets a brief name drop as a dance craze from the 50s here and the 60s here, but sadly, no instructions. The name, however, resurfaces periodically, suggesting that it's a common/popular name for a dance, rather than one enduring dance move in and of itself.
Unfortunately, the rest of the songs are either complete fabrications, or were fad dances so localized and/or short lived that they've ceased to exist outside the lyrics to this song. Rumor has it, however, that the B-52's have been known to demonstrate the steps to the Shy Tuna and others on stage from time to time... but until you can witness this for yourself, you'll just have to be content to Mess your Dance Around freeform style.
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