I picked up the first book in Stephanie Meyer's 'Twilight' series a few weeks ago, and read most of it in the space of one (long) afternoon. I had suspected, from reading the reviews on Amazon, that I would probably not like the book. I wanted to read it, however, because it's something of a publishing phenomenon and I have a bunch of nieces who are smack bang in the middle of the 'Twilight' demographic.
Firstly, I'm going to say up-front that 'Twilight' is an easy read. It'd be a great book for a plane trip, or for a 'the weather's crap outside and I have nothing else to do' kind of day - you get immersed in the story straight away, the narrative moves fairly quickly, and the language used is pretty light. It's not the most stunningly written artistic piece of literature ever written, but it is aimed at teenagers.
Now - onto my whinges about 'Twilight!' (Oooooh goody - the fun part!).
It really is THE most appalling piece of Mary-Sue writing that I think I've ever read. Bella, the protaganist, is a fairly ordinary teenaged girl, who has 'never had a boyfriend' and describes her appearance as non-remarkable (although she totally notices how boys want her). And yet, Edward, her vampire love interest, is completely obsessed with her.
This isn't so much a criticism, as it is perhaps an understanding of why the book has such massive appeal with teenage girls, and why they might see Bella as a main character they can identify with. I think the logic goes something like this....
"OMG, Bella is SO like me! She's a good student, and doesn't think she's pretty! And boys don't chase her! That is, except that totally hot vampire-guy Edward... It takes a superhuman, otherworldly, totally hot, immortal special creature of the night to truly recognise Bella's special special-ness, because ORDINARY boys are too ORDINARY to understand her!"
That's okay. I think most teenage girls feel unpretty and unrecognised. And my imagination runs along very similar lines every time I fantasise about Viggo Mortenson. So I can empathise. Really.
The more disturbing aspect of the novel, is that it seems to eroticise the dynamic of a violent relationship. Edward is often at pains to point out to Bella how physically dangerous he is to her, but she seems to almost get off on the fact that he loves her enough to constantly fight his blood-sucking, murderous natural impulses and not er, kill her... What's more, the fact that he could turn into a lethal madman at the sight or smell of spilt blood seems to make Bella think that this just makes the whole thing all the more sexy and verboten and blah blah. Seriously, he could just SNAP!! At ANY MOMENT!!! Actually, it just occurs to me as I'm writing this that the author never suggests what might happen anytime Bella gets her period...? But that would mean having to deal with that icky sex stuff...
It's important to note, in this context, that Meyer is a devout Mormon, and I have no doubt that this also bears a heavy influence on her narrative. Traditionally in vampire literature, the vampiric bite is metaphor for penetrative sex. Ergo Edward's abstinence from 'biting' Bella represents abstinence in a more general sense. How romantic! He loves and respects Bella enough to resist his natural urges and NOT bite/penetrate her! How convenient that he gets to declare his pure and undying love for Bella, but he'll never actually do anything as gross as getting his scary man-penis out of his pants and having sex with her, or ejaculating, or all the rest of that 'unclean' stuff that will cast a stain upon Bella's purity.
It is, for what it's worth, a fairly clever telling of the vampire fantasy to represent the sexual dilemma of teenage girls. Boys are seen as something to get excited about, and emergent sexuality makes the whole thing terribly exhilirating, but at the same time there is a sense of danger regarding the actual consequences of what happens if you get 'too close' to a guy ie actual sex. Sex, in all of its wonderful, messy sexy goodness is still seen as something dangerous if one isn't emotionally or physically equipped for it - as some teenaged girls might not be.
I guess my overall impression of the book could be summed up with - meh. I won't be reading the rest of the series.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
The Fairy-Girl's Rough Guide to Buying Dirty Movies
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
Monday, August 25, 2008
An uncomfortable sense of deja vu...
This week's top sporting headline sees yet another footballer embroiled in a case of assault.
The perp this time is Cronulla player Greg Bird, who has allegedly glassed his girlfriend in the face, leaving her in hospital and waiting to have surgery on her eye-socket.
If this isn't bad enough, he's also colluded with his manager and solicitor to pin it on his so-called 'friend', Brent 'Patsy' Watson.
I barely know where to begin with pointing out what is wrong with this picture. A word of advice to Brent Watson first...
Brent - a man who commits a violent crime against his girlfriend, and then attempts to get you to take the rap for it and cop a criminal record in the process, is not a friend or a mate. The correct word for a person in your life who does this is 'arsehole.' And if you help him out of this one, you're perpetuating the idea that Greg getting to play sport next weekend is more important than the fact he committed a violent crime.
I'm also disgusted by the efforts of people around Bird to help him weasel his way out of this. Where the hell are people's priorities? One would think that more effort to make sure his (hopefully about to be ex) partner has somewhere to go and appropriate support at this time would take more importance than helping a criminal wriggle off the hook.
I know I'm living in a dream world here. Not a single footballer has done jail time over the last decade, despite all the various assaults and acts of thuggery they've been implicated in. I would love to see the legal system prove me wrong, but I doubt that anything is going to change in this case. What's more, statistics would indicate that the first thing Ms Milligan will do when being discharged from hospital is run straight back to Bird in order to try and 'sort things out.'
I don't have anything particularly bad to say about football players as individuals. I work out at the same gym as half the Carlton AFL team, and although they are predictably noisy and boisterous, and swear a blue streak when talking between themselves, they are always unfailingly polite to me. But when a football code closes ranks in order to protect one fucktard in the group, it only helps them get away with it.
Bullshit.
The perp this time is Cronulla player Greg Bird, who has allegedly glassed his girlfriend in the face, leaving her in hospital and waiting to have surgery on her eye-socket.
If this isn't bad enough, he's also colluded with his manager and solicitor to pin it on his so-called 'friend', Brent 'Patsy' Watson.
I barely know where to begin with pointing out what is wrong with this picture. A word of advice to Brent Watson first...
Brent - a man who commits a violent crime against his girlfriend, and then attempts to get you to take the rap for it and cop a criminal record in the process, is not a friend or a mate. The correct word for a person in your life who does this is 'arsehole.' And if you help him out of this one, you're perpetuating the idea that Greg getting to play sport next weekend is more important than the fact he committed a violent crime.
I'm also disgusted by the efforts of people around Bird to help him weasel his way out of this. Where the hell are people's priorities? One would think that more effort to make sure his (hopefully about to be ex) partner has somewhere to go and appropriate support at this time would take more importance than helping a criminal wriggle off the hook.
I know I'm living in a dream world here. Not a single footballer has done jail time over the last decade, despite all the various assaults and acts of thuggery they've been implicated in. I would love to see the legal system prove me wrong, but I doubt that anything is going to change in this case. What's more, statistics would indicate that the first thing Ms Milligan will do when being discharged from hospital is run straight back to Bird in order to try and 'sort things out.'
I don't have anything particularly bad to say about football players as individuals. I work out at the same gym as half the Carlton AFL team, and although they are predictably noisy and boisterous, and swear a blue streak when talking between themselves, they are always unfailingly polite to me. But when a football code closes ranks in order to protect one fucktard in the group, it only helps them get away with it.
Bullshit.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Acne sucks, but abortions are evil.
I was left laughing my head off reading this article in the SMH, titled 'Acne drug 'may lead to more abortions.''
The upshot of this one is that extending prescribing rights of Roaccutane to GP's is going to lead to a sudden up-surge in young women seeking abortions. Come again? A brief note about Roaccutane, if you bear with me.
Roaccutane is basically a massive dose of Vitamin A, and it is very effective in treating certain kinds of acne. But Vitamin A, in large doses, also causes birth defects. For this reason, females prescribed Roaccutane are also put on the oral contraceptive pill as a matter of course - because you CANNOT be pregnant while taking Roaccutane.
Presumably, any GP's looking at prescribing Roaccutane for a patient would be issued with such a strict guideline, and hopefully anyone smart enough to qualify in medicine would be able to retain this rather large and important piece of information. Roaccutane - contraindicated in pregnancy. Not so tricky, is it?
However, Dr Stephen Shumack, who is head of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, manages to come out with this stupefying piece of logic;
"The college fears that appropriate people may not be given it, inappropriate people may be given it, and the side-effects may not be managed appropriately.
"And, overall, far more people will be given it, which increases the risk of pregnancies, especially if this is not properly screened for, and then there's more abortions."
What the...? Increase in prescriptions for acne medication have a direct causal link to an increase in rates of conception? At any rate, I doubt that a dermatologist is likely to have any greater skill in 'properly screening' for pregnancy than a GP would do. And I would think that a risk of unwanted pregnancy would be substantially LOWER in a sector of the population who were given explicit information about, and access to, various methods of contraception, than it would in the wider populace.
Yes, Roaccutane is associated with some unpleasant side effects and there is no doubt it should be a prescription-only medication, and not avaialble as an over-the-counter option at the pharmacy. But not everyone in Australia lives in an area where access to a dermatologist is easily available - and that doesn't preclude them from having problems with acne. If I was sixteen years old and living four hours away from the nearest prescribing dermatologist, and my social development and confidence was being hampered by a severe case of acne, I would damn well hope I could get something from my GP that is proven to actually work.
Methinks that Dr Shumack may well be whipping out the old 'ABORTIONS ARE VERY BAD' public moral panic whisk in order to hang onto what is likely to be a lucrative part of private medical practice.
The upshot of this one is that extending prescribing rights of Roaccutane to GP's is going to lead to a sudden up-surge in young women seeking abortions. Come again? A brief note about Roaccutane, if you bear with me.
Roaccutane is basically a massive dose of Vitamin A, and it is very effective in treating certain kinds of acne. But Vitamin A, in large doses, also causes birth defects. For this reason, females prescribed Roaccutane are also put on the oral contraceptive pill as a matter of course - because you CANNOT be pregnant while taking Roaccutane.
Presumably, any GP's looking at prescribing Roaccutane for a patient would be issued with such a strict guideline, and hopefully anyone smart enough to qualify in medicine would be able to retain this rather large and important piece of information. Roaccutane - contraindicated in pregnancy. Not so tricky, is it?
However, Dr Stephen Shumack, who is head of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, manages to come out with this stupefying piece of logic;
"The college fears that appropriate people may not be given it, inappropriate people may be given it, and the side-effects may not be managed appropriately.
"And, overall, far more people will be given it, which increases the risk of pregnancies, especially if this is not properly screened for, and then there's more abortions."
What the...? Increase in prescriptions for acne medication have a direct causal link to an increase in rates of conception? At any rate, I doubt that a dermatologist is likely to have any greater skill in 'properly screening' for pregnancy than a GP would do. And I would think that a risk of unwanted pregnancy would be substantially LOWER in a sector of the population who were given explicit information about, and access to, various methods of contraception, than it would in the wider populace.
Yes, Roaccutane is associated with some unpleasant side effects and there is no doubt it should be a prescription-only medication, and not avaialble as an over-the-counter option at the pharmacy. But not everyone in Australia lives in an area where access to a dermatologist is easily available - and that doesn't preclude them from having problems with acne. If I was sixteen years old and living four hours away from the nearest prescribing dermatologist, and my social development and confidence was being hampered by a severe case of acne, I would damn well hope I could get something from my GP that is proven to actually work.
Methinks that Dr Shumack may well be whipping out the old 'ABORTIONS ARE VERY BAD' public moral panic whisk in order to hang onto what is likely to be a lucrative part of private medical practice.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Girl (maybe) gets laid, makes headlines....
I can't believe this story is still getting grift in the news press.
I don't give a crap about what Tania Zaetta may or may not have done with some men in uniform while touring in Afghanistan. If anything, I actually hope she did have sex with a few of those hot soldier guys - I know would've, in her shoes. What the hell is the big deal anyway? The 'allegations' are that she may have had consensual sex with one or more other consenting individuals - it's not a murder rap, people.
Yes, it's shitty and unfair that these statements about Ms Zaetta's possible sexual proclivities ever made news. But I also feel that Tania's decision to sue The Daily Terror for damages to her professional and personal reputation is pretty much what people mean when they say; "You don't have to make a federal case out of it." I would have considerably more sympathy and respect for her if she had just said at the time; "It shouldn't matter if I lined up the entire SAS and fellated the whole lot of them - the real point is, it's nobody's business."
The whole thing just looks like a grown-up version of shaming a girl in the school-yard by calling her a 'slut' for daring to have any sort of sexual agency. I wish Ms Zaetta the best of luck, and hope her court action gives her the closure she seeks.
I don't give a crap about what Tania Zaetta may or may not have done with some men in uniform while touring in Afghanistan. If anything, I actually hope she did have sex with a few of those hot soldier guys - I know would've, in her shoes. What the hell is the big deal anyway? The 'allegations' are that she may have had consensual sex with one or more other consenting individuals - it's not a murder rap, people.
Yes, it's shitty and unfair that these statements about Ms Zaetta's possible sexual proclivities ever made news. But I also feel that Tania's decision to sue The Daily Terror for damages to her professional and personal reputation is pretty much what people mean when they say; "You don't have to make a federal case out of it." I would have considerably more sympathy and respect for her if she had just said at the time; "It shouldn't matter if I lined up the entire SAS and fellated the whole lot of them - the real point is, it's nobody's business."
The whole thing just looks like a grown-up version of shaming a girl in the school-yard by calling her a 'slut' for daring to have any sort of sexual agency. I wish Ms Zaetta the best of luck, and hope her court action gives her the closure she seeks.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Crapping on about sexuality...
The posted clip of Martha Wainwright earlier this month has really had me thinking about the concept of 'looking sexy' versus actually 'being sexual.'
All bodies have the wonderful capacity to both give and experience the joys of sexual pleasure. This concept seems like a complete no-brainer, and conceptually I've understood it for a looooong time. I'm a smart girl, I've read 'The Beauty Myth!' I get it!
But I've also been out with guys who engaged in sex as power play, and rolled their eyes and told me I was 'boring' in bed if I refused anal sex. I've had boyfriends in their early twenties who had been with a lot of girls, yet with limited sexual knowledge who asked me if I had 'a physical problem' when they realised I wouldn't come from straight intercourse. I've stood in an upmarket bar in Sydney at a girlfriend's birthday gathering, trying to pretend I belonged in a sea of tanned cleavages and glossy, GHD-styled hair while two guys held a conversation over the top of my head (as I tried to chat with them) about which girls in the group they thought were 'hot' and wanted to try and 'do.' I have definitely had my share of experiences where I have been relegated to being a sexual non-entity due to not looking or behaving the way 'sexy' is supposed to look and behave.
I know I'm pretty fortunate in the looks department. I have no complaints about my physical lot in this life. But I am short, pale, and dark-haired, with small breasts and have been regarded as 'too skinny' by myself and others for much of my thirty years. I don't wax, get manicures, wear high heels (except on special occasions where I expect to be doing a LOT of sitting down), lighten my hair, fake tan, wear g-strings or push-up bras, and I don't think I look especially good in a bikini. And actually, I don't think doing any of those things would make my orgasms any better.
Because I do have great sex. It's taken me a long time to stop putting on an act in bed of what I thought great sex should look like, as opposed to just experiencing what should be a mutual exchange of absolute pleasure (and sometimes love). I don't feel like I have to prove a point about being a 'wild and crazy girl' in the sack in order to manufacture sexual allure - it's innate in all people anyway, and the best sex happens when the chemistry is just right.
I wish I'd known this level of ease in my twenties when I was dating and, well... sleeping around. I'd have suffered less anxiety over my appearance both in social situations, and with my clothes off. I'd have been less likely to put up with guys who tried to imply it was somehow a failing on my part if they had no idea what they were doing. I'd have suffered less embarrassment over what I did and didn't like in bed. I'd have been much stronger and more assertive about saying no, and about saying yes.
Every person's sexuality is a continual evolution of their most personal self, and most personal beliefs. Sexuality isn't a commodified product that one can purchase and put on, and it's not a sport to be mastered. I wish I could neatly tie this entry up into a proper conclusion, but I expect that my lack of ability to do so is reflective of the subject matter. There is no current conclusion, because my development as a person, and by extension, my development as a sexual person, is ongoing...
PS I am absolutely not trying to imply that beautiful girls in their 20's with manicures, fake tans and highlighted hair who wear high heels and g-strings don't enjoy their sex lives. I'm sure they do! I only attempt to relay my own experience in this post. Cheers.
All bodies have the wonderful capacity to both give and experience the joys of sexual pleasure. This concept seems like a complete no-brainer, and conceptually I've understood it for a looooong time. I'm a smart girl, I've read 'The Beauty Myth!' I get it!
But I've also been out with guys who engaged in sex as power play, and rolled their eyes and told me I was 'boring' in bed if I refused anal sex. I've had boyfriends in their early twenties who had been with a lot of girls, yet with limited sexual knowledge who asked me if I had 'a physical problem' when they realised I wouldn't come from straight intercourse. I've stood in an upmarket bar in Sydney at a girlfriend's birthday gathering, trying to pretend I belonged in a sea of tanned cleavages and glossy, GHD-styled hair while two guys held a conversation over the top of my head (as I tried to chat with them) about which girls in the group they thought were 'hot' and wanted to try and 'do.' I have definitely had my share of experiences where I have been relegated to being a sexual non-entity due to not looking or behaving the way 'sexy' is supposed to look and behave.
I know I'm pretty fortunate in the looks department. I have no complaints about my physical lot in this life. But I am short, pale, and dark-haired, with small breasts and have been regarded as 'too skinny' by myself and others for much of my thirty years. I don't wax, get manicures, wear high heels (except on special occasions where I expect to be doing a LOT of sitting down), lighten my hair, fake tan, wear g-strings or push-up bras, and I don't think I look especially good in a bikini. And actually, I don't think doing any of those things would make my orgasms any better.
Because I do have great sex. It's taken me a long time to stop putting on an act in bed of what I thought great sex should look like, as opposed to just experiencing what should be a mutual exchange of absolute pleasure (and sometimes love). I don't feel like I have to prove a point about being a 'wild and crazy girl' in the sack in order to manufacture sexual allure - it's innate in all people anyway, and the best sex happens when the chemistry is just right.
I wish I'd known this level of ease in my twenties when I was dating and, well... sleeping around. I'd have suffered less anxiety over my appearance both in social situations, and with my clothes off. I'd have been less likely to put up with guys who tried to imply it was somehow a failing on my part if they had no idea what they were doing. I'd have suffered less embarrassment over what I did and didn't like in bed. I'd have been much stronger and more assertive about saying no, and about saying yes.
Every person's sexuality is a continual evolution of their most personal self, and most personal beliefs. Sexuality isn't a commodified product that one can purchase and put on, and it's not a sport to be mastered. I wish I could neatly tie this entry up into a proper conclusion, but I expect that my lack of ability to do so is reflective of the subject matter. There is no current conclusion, because my development as a person, and by extension, my development as a sexual person, is ongoing...
PS I am absolutely not trying to imply that beautiful girls in their 20's with manicures, fake tans and highlighted hair who wear high heels and g-strings don't enjoy their sex lives. I'm sure they do! I only attempt to relay my own experience in this post. Cheers.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Advertising my Friendship Services
I’ve just recently moved to Melbourne due to a job relocation, and although I love it here I don’t really know anyone, so I am offering my services for friendship, to anyone who has a gap to fill in their social circle!
A bit about me: I am a 30-year-old female Capricorn, and I enjoy the company of other women of pretty much any age. I’m aware that ‘30’ makes me seem frighteningly mature (to me), but I actually have managed to resist most trappings of ‘adultification.’ I rent a small but cute apartment, and I live alone, so I have no flatmates to contend with if I wish to allow friends to crash out on the couch! My politics are distinctly leftist, and I subscribe to a ‘sex-positive’ brand of feminism. I consider myself fun and easy to be around, a good listener, and a supportive and loyal friend. I live in the inner north-west of Melbourne, and although I don’t own a car, I am handy to the city, and to the suburbs of Collingwood, Fitzroy, Brunswick and Carlton. I have no issues with addiction or substance abuse, and have never been in trouble with the law (not so much as a parking fine here!).
What’s in it for you: I enjoy hosting friends in my own home, so I usually have wine on hand for visitors, and I enjoy cooking for others. I am a good cook, and I studied naturopathy for some time, so I can cater easily (and tastily!) for most dietary requirements. I have a large collection of books that I am very non-stuffy about lending out, and I generally prefer playing music to watching TV. I also have the entire ‘Sex and the City’ TV series on DVD, for repeated viewings at girly gatherings! I have a steady boyfriend who I love very much, so I will be unlikely to disrupt any ‘man dynamics’ on a night out. I love shopping for homewares in second-hand and retro furniture stores, and this is only equalled by my love for shopping for make-up! I am emotionally low-maintenance, and can usually be relied on to be a fun and goofy companion in a variety of social situations.
Stuff I like: Books on human sexuality, being up-to-date on current events, vintage clothing, jeans, flat shoes, doing cross-stitch, making earrings, sex toys, positivity, self-responsibility, Audrey Hepburn, art, Vogue and Rolling Stone magazines, floor cushions, glitter, candles, apple martinis, Oolong tea with dark chocolate, fresh flowers, kitty cats, the smell of rain on hot concrete, lip balm, sleeping in, bananas.
Stuff I can do without: Racism, intolerance, whinging, chewing gum, breast implants, the politics of John Howard, Scarlett Johansson, wearing a bra, bad coffee, sexism, doing the dishes, stepping in dog-poo, that ‘Tully’ book by Paullina Simmons, Hinder, irresponsible sexual health practices, and home decorating palettes based around the colour beige.
If you have further questions, would like references, or would like to see a photo, please feel free to email me on urban.fairygirl@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you and taking our communication to the next level in the friendship journey!
A bit about me: I am a 30-year-old female Capricorn, and I enjoy the company of other women of pretty much any age. I’m aware that ‘30’ makes me seem frighteningly mature (to me), but I actually have managed to resist most trappings of ‘adultification.’ I rent a small but cute apartment, and I live alone, so I have no flatmates to contend with if I wish to allow friends to crash out on the couch! My politics are distinctly leftist, and I subscribe to a ‘sex-positive’ brand of feminism. I consider myself fun and easy to be around, a good listener, and a supportive and loyal friend. I live in the inner north-west of Melbourne, and although I don’t own a car, I am handy to the city, and to the suburbs of Collingwood, Fitzroy, Brunswick and Carlton. I have no issues with addiction or substance abuse, and have never been in trouble with the law (not so much as a parking fine here!).
What’s in it for you: I enjoy hosting friends in my own home, so I usually have wine on hand for visitors, and I enjoy cooking for others. I am a good cook, and I studied naturopathy for some time, so I can cater easily (and tastily!) for most dietary requirements. I have a large collection of books that I am very non-stuffy about lending out, and I generally prefer playing music to watching TV. I also have the entire ‘Sex and the City’ TV series on DVD, for repeated viewings at girly gatherings! I have a steady boyfriend who I love very much, so I will be unlikely to disrupt any ‘man dynamics’ on a night out. I love shopping for homewares in second-hand and retro furniture stores, and this is only equalled by my love for shopping for make-up! I am emotionally low-maintenance, and can usually be relied on to be a fun and goofy companion in a variety of social situations.
Stuff I like: Books on human sexuality, being up-to-date on current events, vintage clothing, jeans, flat shoes, doing cross-stitch, making earrings, sex toys, positivity, self-responsibility, Audrey Hepburn, art, Vogue and Rolling Stone magazines, floor cushions, glitter, candles, apple martinis, Oolong tea with dark chocolate, fresh flowers, kitty cats, the smell of rain on hot concrete, lip balm, sleeping in, bananas.
Stuff I can do without: Racism, intolerance, whinging, chewing gum, breast implants, the politics of John Howard, Scarlett Johansson, wearing a bra, bad coffee, sexism, doing the dishes, stepping in dog-poo, that ‘Tully’ book by Paullina Simmons, Hinder, irresponsible sexual health practices, and home decorating palettes based around the colour beige.
If you have further questions, would like references, or would like to see a photo, please feel free to email me on urban.fairygirl@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you and taking our communication to the next level in the friendship journey!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Martha Wainwright and Dan Kelly on 'RockWiz'
This is an oldie, but a goodie. Those of you who keep even half an eye on my on-line profile will be aware that I have referenced this clip of Martha Wainwright duetting with Dan Kelly before - but hey, I'm working on the premise that one can never have too much of a good thing! This appeared on an episode of Australian musical quiz show 'RockWiz' back in 2005, and it's a fantastic performance from Martha, back in the day before her image got 'Delta Goodremed' (ie generically sexified) for her current album release.
I actually think Martha, while not being the best of songwriters, is unequalled among current young female music artists in her ability to perform and interpret the songs of others on stage. I agree completely with comments I saw Rockwiz host Julia Zemiro make about seeing Martha in this act - I am paraphrasing heavily here, but she remarked that we are now SO used to seeing young women in music being packaged and heavily choreographed in a way that sells an image of looking sexy. Martha, however, is apparently wearing a vintage frock that few other women could pull off, doesn't seem to be wearing a bra, has fluffy Marianne Faithfull-style hair happening, and she is one of the most draw-droppingly sexual creatures I've ever seen. The way she moves her body is incredibly free and un-prescribed, and yet her magnetism is so complete that watching her is enough to make me want to climb through my TV screen and touch her. I can only imagine what it was like for those who were lucky enough to actually be in the audience that night.
Martha vs The Pussycat Dolls? Give me Ms Wainwright over the whole lot of them!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Learning to Love Country Music
I’ve read a few RSVP profiles in my time, and if one memory about them stands out, it’s THIS statement;
“Favourite Music – My tastes are pretty broad. In fact, I’ll listen to pretty much anything. Except country.”
Oh dear, dear, dear… Why do people do this to themselves? Will they really, as they say, listen to anything, but bypass the entire country music section at the CD store and miss out on the wealth of talent and listening pleasure contained within? This might explain why Hinder actually made it to the top of the charts (whatever’s happened to those guys?).
I can only see this situation as terribly, terribly wrong. Folks, I can assure one and all that country music does not equal Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks. I’m not even talking about that ‘country crossover’ stuff we get from the likes of Keith Urban, or LeeAnn Rimes or Shania Twain (think I might be showing my age with that last one). Many, many excellent rock bands have their roots strongly ensconsed in the true country music sound, which has wide-reaching and pervasive influence in the USA. But anyway, here is the Fairy Girl’s brief guide to the best of country music.
Emmylou Harris – Emmylou has never truly been embraced as part of the country music community. She primarily identifies as a folk singer, and it was her collaboration with Gram Parsons that brought a country influence to her sound. Emms has had her biggest commerical success with 'Trio' recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, 'Boulder to Birmingham' is widely considered to be her most significant work. My personal pick is iconic 1995 release (and Grammy Award-winner) ‘Wrecking Ball.’ An unbelievable, beautiful gem of an album with not a dud track on it. Produced by Daniel Lanois, it also has his personal stamp all over it, with a big, echoey, atmospheric sound. And we have to love Emmylou for her incredible hair, and for being such a sexpot at sixty (see above)!
“Favourite Music – My tastes are pretty broad. In fact, I’ll listen to pretty much anything. Except country.”
Oh dear, dear, dear… Why do people do this to themselves? Will they really, as they say, listen to anything, but bypass the entire country music section at the CD store and miss out on the wealth of talent and listening pleasure contained within? This might explain why Hinder actually made it to the top of the charts (whatever’s happened to those guys?).
I can only see this situation as terribly, terribly wrong. Folks, I can assure one and all that country music does not equal Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks. I’m not even talking about that ‘country crossover’ stuff we get from the likes of Keith Urban, or LeeAnn Rimes or Shania Twain (think I might be showing my age with that last one). Many, many excellent rock bands have their roots strongly ensconsed in the true country music sound, which has wide-reaching and pervasive influence in the USA. But anyway, here is the Fairy Girl’s brief guide to the best of country music.
Emmylou Harris – Emmylou has never truly been embraced as part of the country music community. She primarily identifies as a folk singer, and it was her collaboration with Gram Parsons that brought a country influence to her sound. Emms has had her biggest commerical success with 'Trio' recorded with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton, 'Boulder to Birmingham' is widely considered to be her most significant work. My personal pick is iconic 1995 release (and Grammy Award-winner) ‘Wrecking Ball.’ An unbelievable, beautiful gem of an album with not a dud track on it. Produced by Daniel Lanois, it also has his personal stamp all over it, with a big, echoey, atmospheric sound. And we have to love Emmylou for her incredible hair, and for being such a sexpot at sixty (see above)!
Lyle Lovett – I know most of us know Lyle as that dorky-looking guy who was married to Julia Roberts for a while back in the 1990’s. This is horribly unfortunate, because the guy is an amazing musician and has a complete gift of a voice. My recommendation would have to be ‘Lyle Lovett and his Large Band.’ A superb overall album, with overtones of blues and swing predominant (God, this is like writing wine-tasting notes). Favourite tracks (pour moi) are ‘I Married Her Just Because She Looks Like You’ and his cover of ‘Stand By Your Man.’ I also have to make a special mention for the song ‘North Dakota’ off his ‘Joshua Judges Ruth’ album – a song so beautiful that when I play it amongst friends we observe a period of respectful silence for the 5 mins 42 seconds it lasts. And then the magical spell is broken by the godawful song that follows it.
Johnny Cash – Poor Johnny. He had to die, and be played by Joaquin Phoenix in a movie before he received Cashthe fame and recognition he truly deserved. Johnny is a true giant of musical history, and so much has already been written about the freight-train rhythm of his music blah blah blah that there’s no point in me adding to it here. Johnny is another long-standing artist with a massive back catalogue, and choosing just one or two albums for your home music selection is like limiting yourself to a single sex position for life. I’m going to go REALLY against the grain here and recommend a later, lesser-known release called ‘American III; Solitary Man.’ The track list is mostly covers, but they really, really kick ass. Especially his version of Nick Cave’s ‘The Mercy Seat.’ I also love the track ‘Field of Diamonds’ sung with his wife June Carter Cash. Just lovely.
Alison Krauss – Alison has a voice that is so, SO beautiful that I can’t understand why she isn’t wider known as an artist unto herself. She has a lot of recognition for working on the ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou’ movie soundtrack, and deservedly so… To anyone who hasn’t listened to the song ‘Down To The River To Pray’ off this album – get thee to iTunes immediately! And for the country-nervous, the album that she and lover Robert Plant released together last year, ‘Raising Sand,’ is a nice, non-threatening intro to the genre. This is not to say that this isn’t another outstanding album, and old Bob and Ali do sound unexpectedly incredible together! Alison is also considered primarily a bluegrass artist, leaning towards pop and adult comtemporary, rather than being lodged firmly within the country genre.
A note on ‘The Re-Mains’ – these guys are an Australian band from Nimbin, and they are bloody fantastic live. Albums that they have released are mostly live cuts and unfortunately the sound production isn’t what it could be and this really doesn’t do them justice. But look out for them when they play a gig near you and try to get your butt along – good times are promised.
A further note on Junior Brown. This guy plays the weirdest-looking instrument I think I've ever seen - an electric guitar up top and a pedal-steel on the bottom - and his musical skills are unbelievable. Check out the youtube video for his 'Highway Patrol' single, and be astounded!
See further – Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Grant-Lee Phillips (not strictly country, but very country influenced) and Gram Parsons
Monday, June 23, 2008
Review: 'Princesses and Pornstars' by Emily Maguire
GREAT book by an Australian author, that examines modern female gender stereotypes, and reinforces the role of feminism as being relevant to young women today…
Okay – that makes this book sound like a heavy read, but it truly isn’t. I read the whole thing in less than 48 hours, and found it insightful, funny, smart, succint and accurate. I know a lot of my chick contemporaries shy away from feminist writing because it’s often full of psychobabble and over-reached academic theorising (hel-LO Nancy Friday and Naomi Wolf), and because they feel that feminist ideology really has nothing to do with them and the way they go about their day-to-day lives.
To those young women, I only have this to say… Do you believe that you have the right to make your own choices in life, from whether to work or be a stay-at-home housewife/mum, to have children or not, to leave an unhappy or abusive relationship, to be with a man because you’re crazy in love with him and not due to economic dependence? Do you believe in a woman’s free and legal access to abortion, and to negotiate sexual consent, and have access to contraception? Do you want a workplace where your achievements are based on merit, and you are free from gender-based harassment? Do you want to see a legal system that doesn’t STILL hold up the idea that because a girl put on a mini-skirt and make-up for a night out, that she was inviting rape? If you answer a resounding and deep-felt YES to these questions, then welcome to feminism! These, and other issues, are basic tenets of the mainstream feminist movement, and the options open to us that we take for granted now are directly attributable to the efforts of second-wave feminist agitators. The idea that feminists do not/should not wear really sexy shoes, put on make-up, really REALLY like guys, shave their legs or get their hair done etc is a complete load of horseshit and no reason whatsoever for young women to be afraid to identify with feminist principles.
Anyway, back to the book… Ms Maguire examines the apparently contradicting trends of ‘raunch culture’ and the modesty movement among young women, and forms a theory that they are, in fact, just two sides of the same coin – both pushing women back into roles where they are judged by their sexual marketability. It doing so, she spots a modern take on the old ‘madonna/whore’ dichotomy on societal viewpoints of women. Are we ‘hot’ and fuckable, or virginal and marriageable? Pornstars or princesses? I loved this examination (probably as a big counter-point to everything I didn't like about the 'Sex and the City' movie!), and I loved a lot of the points she makes about how keeping women in defined gender roles is equally restricting to men (who are stuck in gender roles of their own), and that sex education in Australian schools is still mainly based on the idea that female sexuality is passive, whereas male sexuality is aggressive, and overlooks the idea that sexuality is as individual as a person is. I am all for a MAJOR overhaul of sex education in schools (it's as if a 'good education' is all about getting good grades... So non-true!)
However… There's at least one theme in this work about which I prefer to maintain a more critical mindset. This includes the rather annoying habit that is typical of a lot of feminist writers to throw around the phrases ‘objectifying women’ and ‘women as sex objects’ without ANY further explanation or demonstrated understanding of what such an expression means. It’s lazy writing and theorising, and it also glosses over the concept that, actually, women can be sexual subjects without it necessarily degrading them. ‘Objectification’ is a highly relative term that should require a definition of the author’s understanding of it, otherwise it's meaningless to the reader.
I'm also ambivalent about the author's standpoint on porn. I appreciate that she has one viewpoint amongst a lot of other educated viewpoints that are easily accessible to the curious reader - which is why I've tacked on a 'further resources' list at the end of this review. I don't want to say too much further - everyone is entitled to their own opinion on these things and it's probably better for those interested in the book to check out the relevant chapter and make their own decisions.
In summation, LOVE the book, Emily, and I reckon it’s highly recommended reading, and I hope the author makes a million bucks. I do, however, think it’s a text that should be read in the context of much wider reading on gender and sexual politics… For those interested, would also suggest;
‘Female Chauvinist Pigs’ by Ariel Levy (a book often referenced in ‘Princesses and Pornstars’)
‘The Porn Report’ by Alan McKee et al
‘The Smart Girl’s Guide to Porn’ by Violet Blue
‘Motherhood, Porn and Cherry Pie’ by Susie Bright (in fact any of Susie’s books – she’s my friggin’ hero!)
Okay – that makes this book sound like a heavy read, but it truly isn’t. I read the whole thing in less than 48 hours, and found it insightful, funny, smart, succint and accurate. I know a lot of my chick contemporaries shy away from feminist writing because it’s often full of psychobabble and over-reached academic theorising (hel-LO Nancy Friday and Naomi Wolf), and because they feel that feminist ideology really has nothing to do with them and the way they go about their day-to-day lives.
To those young women, I only have this to say… Do you believe that you have the right to make your own choices in life, from whether to work or be a stay-at-home housewife/mum, to have children or not, to leave an unhappy or abusive relationship, to be with a man because you’re crazy in love with him and not due to economic dependence? Do you believe in a woman’s free and legal access to abortion, and to negotiate sexual consent, and have access to contraception? Do you want a workplace where your achievements are based on merit, and you are free from gender-based harassment? Do you want to see a legal system that doesn’t STILL hold up the idea that because a girl put on a mini-skirt and make-up for a night out, that she was inviting rape? If you answer a resounding and deep-felt YES to these questions, then welcome to feminism! These, and other issues, are basic tenets of the mainstream feminist movement, and the options open to us that we take for granted now are directly attributable to the efforts of second-wave feminist agitators. The idea that feminists do not/should not wear really sexy shoes, put on make-up, really REALLY like guys, shave their legs or get their hair done etc is a complete load of horseshit and no reason whatsoever for young women to be afraid to identify with feminist principles.
Anyway, back to the book… Ms Maguire examines the apparently contradicting trends of ‘raunch culture’ and the modesty movement among young women, and forms a theory that they are, in fact, just two sides of the same coin – both pushing women back into roles where they are judged by their sexual marketability. It doing so, she spots a modern take on the old ‘madonna/whore’ dichotomy on societal viewpoints of women. Are we ‘hot’ and fuckable, or virginal and marriageable? Pornstars or princesses? I loved this examination (probably as a big counter-point to everything I didn't like about the 'Sex and the City' movie!), and I loved a lot of the points she makes about how keeping women in defined gender roles is equally restricting to men (who are stuck in gender roles of their own), and that sex education in Australian schools is still mainly based on the idea that female sexuality is passive, whereas male sexuality is aggressive, and overlooks the idea that sexuality is as individual as a person is. I am all for a MAJOR overhaul of sex education in schools (it's as if a 'good education' is all about getting good grades... So non-true!)
However… There's at least one theme in this work about which I prefer to maintain a more critical mindset. This includes the rather annoying habit that is typical of a lot of feminist writers to throw around the phrases ‘objectifying women’ and ‘women as sex objects’ without ANY further explanation or demonstrated understanding of what such an expression means. It’s lazy writing and theorising, and it also glosses over the concept that, actually, women can be sexual subjects without it necessarily degrading them. ‘Objectification’ is a highly relative term that should require a definition of the author’s understanding of it, otherwise it's meaningless to the reader.
I'm also ambivalent about the author's standpoint on porn. I appreciate that she has one viewpoint amongst a lot of other educated viewpoints that are easily accessible to the curious reader - which is why I've tacked on a 'further resources' list at the end of this review. I don't want to say too much further - everyone is entitled to their own opinion on these things and it's probably better for those interested in the book to check out the relevant chapter and make their own decisions.
In summation, LOVE the book, Emily, and I reckon it’s highly recommended reading, and I hope the author makes a million bucks. I do, however, think it’s a text that should be read in the context of much wider reading on gender and sexual politics… For those interested, would also suggest;
‘Female Chauvinist Pigs’ by Ariel Levy (a book often referenced in ‘Princesses and Pornstars’)
‘The Porn Report’ by Alan McKee et al
‘The Smart Girl’s Guide to Porn’ by Violet Blue
‘Motherhood, Porn and Cherry Pie’ by Susie Bright (in fact any of Susie’s books – she’s my friggin’ hero!)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Poetry is sexy
This is my favourite poem of all time - I first read it when my boyfriend sent it to me (who says text messages can't be romantic?).
'Knee Song' by Anne Sexton
Being kissed on the back of the knee
is a moth at the windowscreen and yes
my darling a dot on the fathometer is
tinkerbelle with her cough
and twice I will give up my
honor and stars will stick
like tacks in the night
yes oh yes yes yes two
little snails at the back of the knee building bon-
fires something like eye-
lashes something two
zippos striking yes yes yes small
and me maker.
I HIGHLY recommend the website http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/index.html for browsing poetry... The homepage doesn't look like anything much, but persevere! You can use the index to search poems by author, title or first line, AND it includes some song lyrics. They also have a mailing list which will send a daily poem to your inbox - what could be nicer?
So many people out there have been put off the joys of great poetry by having to study it at school (trust me - this ruined a lot of perfectly good books for me too, and it took me until university and a lecturer who didn't brush over all the rude bits in Shakespeare to make me appreciate one of the English language's greatest writers!). However, there is so much beautiful and accessible poetry out there that I really believe that everyone can find something they find funny or touching or cool in this written medium. Don't believe the hype that poetry has to be something overly intellectual, or incomprehensible, or needs a Masters in English Lit. to decipher. Have fun exploring, but some of my favourites include...
- 'Ars Poetica' by Archibald MacLeish
- 'Missing Dates' by William Empson
- the poetry of American poet Wallace Stevens
'Knee Song' by Anne Sexton
Being kissed on the back of the knee
is a moth at the windowscreen and yes
my darling a dot on the fathometer is
tinkerbelle with her cough
and twice I will give up my
honor and stars will stick
like tacks in the night
yes oh yes yes yes two
little snails at the back of the knee building bon-
fires something like eye-
lashes something two
zippos striking yes yes yes small
and me maker.
I HIGHLY recommend the website http://www.cs.rice.edu/~ssiyer/minstrels/index.html for browsing poetry... The homepage doesn't look like anything much, but persevere! You can use the index to search poems by author, title or first line, AND it includes some song lyrics. They also have a mailing list which will send a daily poem to your inbox - what could be nicer?
So many people out there have been put off the joys of great poetry by having to study it at school (trust me - this ruined a lot of perfectly good books for me too, and it took me until university and a lecturer who didn't brush over all the rude bits in Shakespeare to make me appreciate one of the English language's greatest writers!). However, there is so much beautiful and accessible poetry out there that I really believe that everyone can find something they find funny or touching or cool in this written medium. Don't believe the hype that poetry has to be something overly intellectual, or incomprehensible, or needs a Masters in English Lit. to decipher. Have fun exploring, but some of my favourites include...
- 'Ars Poetica' by Archibald MacLeish
- 'Missing Dates' by William Empson
- the poetry of American poet Wallace Stevens
Sunday, June 15, 2008
'Sex and the City' movie review
I love, love, LOVE 'Sex and The City.' I have the entire series collection at home on DVD. Miranda is my favourite (she has short hair, and berates the other characters for living their lives through men). I couldn't WAIT for this movie to come out. But I have to say, my reaction to this film is lukewarm at best...
Given that the TV show was something that modern women really identified with, in terms of its exploration of lifestyle dilemmas and the relationships that become important to us, the movie really failed to be contraversial in any meaningful way. AND it presented some really annoying current, media-fied stereotypes about us girls.
The emphasis on consumerism was intrusive and annoying (including some jarring product placement shots) - it seemed every second scene involved at least one of the girls laden with boutique shopping bags. I don't know about you, but MY fantasies involve a lot more ruling the world and a lot less shopping, thank-you! And I HATED that Big's big moment in the film was picking up the tab on a new apartment and a fantasy walk-in wardrobe for Carrie, as if the sexiest possible thing about a man could be his huge, enormous.... bank account. I was desperate to see the storyline between Miranda and Steve given more grift, too. He cheats on Miranda after they haven't had sex in six months, and the rest of their moments in the film hinge on whether or not Miranda will decide to forgive him. At no time, however, is there any exploration over the issue as to whether it might be justifiable for a person to cheat if they are continually sexually rejected by their lover. Man - in the TV series, a whole episode would've been given over to discussing that one! As it was, it just fed that lame old stereotype of women losing interest in sex after marriage and kids, and expecting the man to lump it.
The movie format hasn't done 'Sex and The City' any favours - the show was great for its zing, and snappy one-liners and fast pace. The film could easily have been an hour shorter if the editors had cut all the frigging fashion montages and shots of Samantha's dog humping stuff. I went to this movie really hoping that I would see loads of humour and pizzazz and courage and outrageousness, but something was just... missing.
On the upside, I was REALLY excited to see my favourite ever porn actress, the fabulous Roxy deVille pop up (almost literally) in a brief cameo as 'Dante's Girl #3.' Yes, she's in porn, but she's still one of my favourite chicks in entertainment - gorgeous in a mildly punky way with a great natural body, funny, articulate and whip-smart, with a completely tongue-in-cheek approach to her work. I loved her work in Tristan Taormino's 'Chemistry 3' for those who are interested in checking it out.
Given that the TV show was something that modern women really identified with, in terms of its exploration of lifestyle dilemmas and the relationships that become important to us, the movie really failed to be contraversial in any meaningful way. AND it presented some really annoying current, media-fied stereotypes about us girls.
The emphasis on consumerism was intrusive and annoying (including some jarring product placement shots) - it seemed every second scene involved at least one of the girls laden with boutique shopping bags. I don't know about you, but MY fantasies involve a lot more ruling the world and a lot less shopping, thank-you! And I HATED that Big's big moment in the film was picking up the tab on a new apartment and a fantasy walk-in wardrobe for Carrie, as if the sexiest possible thing about a man could be his huge, enormous.... bank account. I was desperate to see the storyline between Miranda and Steve given more grift, too. He cheats on Miranda after they haven't had sex in six months, and the rest of their moments in the film hinge on whether or not Miranda will decide to forgive him. At no time, however, is there any exploration over the issue as to whether it might be justifiable for a person to cheat if they are continually sexually rejected by their lover. Man - in the TV series, a whole episode would've been given over to discussing that one! As it was, it just fed that lame old stereotype of women losing interest in sex after marriage and kids, and expecting the man to lump it.
The movie format hasn't done 'Sex and The City' any favours - the show was great for its zing, and snappy one-liners and fast pace. The film could easily have been an hour shorter if the editors had cut all the frigging fashion montages and shots of Samantha's dog humping stuff. I went to this movie really hoping that I would see loads of humour and pizzazz and courage and outrageousness, but something was just... missing.
On the upside, I was REALLY excited to see my favourite ever porn actress, the fabulous Roxy deVille pop up (almost literally) in a brief cameo as 'Dante's Girl #3.' Yes, she's in porn, but she's still one of my favourite chicks in entertainment - gorgeous in a mildly punky way with a great natural body, funny, articulate and whip-smart, with a completely tongue-in-cheek approach to her work. I loved her work in Tristan Taormino's 'Chemistry 3' for those who are interested in checking it out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)