This weekend, The Bootleg Theater is hosting a 3 part runway show and silent auction featuring designs from some of the uppn'comers from the LA art scene. Forbidden Fashion @ The Bootleg Theater brings the semi-punk, mostly DIY spirit of the venue itself to the runway. All of the fashions we'll see walking stealthely down the isle are comprised of stolen, found and recycleable materials. Badass. The show is curated by costume designer Ann Closs-Farley.
I haven't been yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing how this translates in to a moving performance, err.. fashion show. Let's check it out. Let me know what you think!!
December 1st - 17th
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays
Doors @7pm, Show @ 7:30
Tickets: $20
"We live in a world where we're taught 'Don't get raped' instead of 'Don't rape!'.." Anonymous
In case you haven't heard of "SlutWalk" here's a little backstory...
After several reported rapes on the campus of York University in Toronto, Officer Michael Sanguuinetti told a group of young women that they should avoid "dressing like sluts" to prevent further incidents.
And thus was born.. SlutWalk! Activists Heather Jarvis and Sonya Barntet organized a rally of "Sluts" to publicly expose the idea that women who are in control of their own sexuality should not be targets of physical or social violence.
These rallies have been popping up all over Canada and the US, with tens of thousands of women showing up to support the cause.
The movement is not, however, without protest from some of it's own initial supporters. The use of the word "Slut" has been a highly controversial topic within the Feminist community. Some argue that the word or label inherently condones both women and men to behave irresponsibly. Rather than erasing the stigma of the "Slut" they are embracing it, and thus reducing the idea that the way a woman carries herself comes down to her behavior in the bedroom. Another school of thought blames the movement for making promiscuity seem "cool" and "political".
Whether you find Slutdom empowering or degrading, dangerous or powerful, you should at leas check out the SlutWalk that is happening in LA today. Look at what they're saying, and form your own opinion. Then, share that opinion - and lets open up a real place where we can talk about rape and victimization of sexualized women.
SlutWalk LA West Hollywood Park 647 N San Vicente Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069 Saturday, June 4 12:00 noon
It's not news that the medical industry gets off on telling women that our bodies are functioning incorrectly, and that we should be pumping pharmaceuticals straight to our lady parts. So when I heard that Liz Canner's new documentary "Orgasm, Inc." is going to be playing at the Sunset 5 this week, I got very excited. (#feministnerd)
It seems that "83%" of us are victims of the silent disease called SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION!! Yes ladies, the reason you're not reaching The Big O is because there is something wrong with your body. You'll need to pay top dollar to be diagnosed and you'll also be ponying up for the prescription to cure you of this awful affliction.
"Orgasm, Inc." is playing at the Laemmle Sunset 5 throughout the week.
Showtimes - 1:20pm, 4:40pm, 7:20pm, 9:40pm
Please check it out, and let us know what you think!
It's been way too long since the last time we ventured in to the wide world of feminist media together, so I want to start off by saying.... I promise I'll make it up to you.
Mark your calendars, because this month we celebrate the 2nd Annual WAM! It Yourself Los Angeles conference, and with it, the 1 year anniversary of LAFemmedia!
One year ago this weekend, I wondered in to a little seminar being led by one my favorite online feminist bloggers, Feminist Fatale, and my eyes were opened to the beauty of the on-line feminist community. Speakers such as Anita Sarkeesian (Feminist Frequency) and Melanie Klein turned me to on to the idea of starting my own forum to discuss feminist media events - or lack thereof - in my beloved Los Angeles.
Throughout all of the discussions, I was most moved by the A in WAM!. Action. Actively participating in the media empowers us all to chose what messages drive the tone of our social culture. I am proud to be a part of that conversation, and I urge you to stop by and support other on-line feminist activists.
The WAM! It Yourself Los Angeles 2011 Conference is happening this Friday, March 25th and Saturday, March 26 at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405
For me, this week can be summed up in 2 word: Life Lessons. It's been a week of personal advances, and professional set backs. But I get it, it happens. Sometimes the work/life combo doesn't quite pan out the way we hope, but we learn and keep on going. In the end, all this determination and self-reflective brain activity is freakin' exhausting.
So Feministas, I do not have an event for you this weekend because frankly, I don't wanna leave my house. BUT, I do have something to enjoy while deeply buried in the folds of my couch.
Does everyone here know about TED? It's an organization that hosts live conferences, performances and talks by the world's leaders in innovative thought. If you can name a subject, genre, or idea, TED has a video of someone talking about it. It's awesome.
A woman from CareerOverview.com brought this to my attention, and I thought it would be perfect for this brain-cloudy weekend.
I've only gotten through a few so far, but I think I'm for a sweet (and rather empowering) Saturday night. Please listen, and feel free to leave comments about what you think of each talk.
This week I don't have an event for you per se (blame the venues), but I do have an awesome find that will bring feminist media in to our lives every darn day! Do all of you know about FemaleDirectors.com? Well, you should.
Check this out, it's a link to all of the female directed films and TV shows that are currently featured on netflix. The rad women (and possibly men) at FemaleDirectors.com have recently showcased a study representing that the number of female directed movies on Netflix has almost doubled! From less than 1% to almost 2%. Not exactly stellar numbers.
(To clarify, this does not represent any sort of bias on the part of the folks at Netflix. Rather, it represents the low number of female film makers who are being supported by the movie making machines. *See comment below*)
The good news is that we now have a tool that will direct us to the source of female directed media. The more we click, the more we demand a variety in the types of films we want to watch. Let Netflix know that we love what they do - we just want to see ourselves represented appropriately.
I'm going to use this tool to order at least TWO female directed fims/TV shows from Netflix in each cycle, in hopes of showing the number crunchers that we demand more.
This just in! TODAY, Ms. Magazine is hosting a release party for Florence Howe's new memoir "A Life In Motion" Attendees will be Gloria Jacobs (Executive Director, Feminist Press), Carol Jenkins (Woman's Media) and Katherine Spillar (Executive Director, Ms. Magazine)!
It's happening today, in like 4 hours, so if you can make it, RSVP to the number below...
Here are the details:
Sunday, Jan 9th 2-4PM
433 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
(Between Olympic Blvd & Pico Blvd)
RSVP required - 310.566.2515
I hope you all had a lovely holiday season, enjoying the snow/ rain/ multiple screenings of Black Swan.. etc.
I'm excited to kick off the new year with such a positive event. The Hammer Museum will be screening the documentary "A Small Act", Produced and Directed by Jennifer Arnold, and Produced by Patti Lee.
One of my focuses for the new year is to make positive contributions to my surroundings, therefore creating positive change in the lives around me. This is the perfect way to begin, and this film is the perfect introduction to a year of positive ripple effects.
You may have already heard about "A Small Act", it's gotten so much great buzz and has been awarded the Elle/ Garnier Film Independent Directing Fellowship, and the Women In Film National Geographic All Roads Film Program award. I can't wait to see it, and I'm bringing tissues. Here's a little synopsis.
"A Small Act explores the ripple effect a single action can create. This award winning documentary tells the story of Chris Mburu, a young man from Kenya, and his astonishing journey from an impoverished village to becoming a Harvard Law School graduate and a human rights lawyer for the United Nations. Eventually Mburu traces the woman who sponsored his early education for 50 cents a day, and finds she is a Holocaust survivor, who is amazed to discover that her small act of generosity has led to educating a man who would then dedicate his life to fighting crimes against humanity." - Hammer Museum
Writer/ Director/ Producer Jennifer Arnold and Producer/DP Patti Lee will be there for a Q&A following the screening.
But best of all, the screening is FREE! Just another reason to love The Hammer Museum. (They're not paying me, I swear. I just think they're great)
Here's the Info:
Date: January 4, 2011 Time: 7:00PM Location:
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: 310.443.7000
And here's the trailer .... About those tissues...
Always looking for some, interesting, creative, exciting, empowering things to do in L.A. Please let us know if you have a Fabulous Feminist Media Event we can attend!
