Just the headlines today...
bastard.logic: Gaza Blockade Forces Citizens to Eat Grass for Survival
Feministe: NPR Backs Out of Interview with Abortion Provider
Jack and Jill Politics: The Malia and Sasha Effect
Bilerico Project: Agnes Scott College: Lesbians until graduation?
Washington Post: 'This Is the Destiny of Girls' Across Much of South Asia, a Daughter's Life Is Circumscribed By Tradition and Poverty. But for Some, the Dreams Die Slower.
Bitch Blog: Calling all Female Hacks: Please Direct More Movies
Sociological Images: Alcohol as a tool in the dating game
Lusaka Times: It can happen to you This story is dedicated to baby M who died on 11th November 2008 in D block UTH, Lusaka Zambia as a consequence of the power failure that occurred shortly after midnight.
New York Times: The Green Power Broker (Majora Carter)
TransGriot: Why I Can't Stand The 'Gay Is The New Black' Slogan
Michelle Obama Watch: Let Michelle Obama's real self shine
Unfogged: Obama and the glass cliff
The Independent: Police investigate MP's anti-gay remarks
The American Prospect: Feminist Media in a Time of Economic Trouble
Feminocracy: England to Begin Non-Prescription Birth Control Pilot Program
Muslimah Media Watch: Princess Hijab
Womanist Musings: Michelle Obama: Hair and the Politics of Submission
Women's eNews: Kenya's Rape Probe Falters After Lawyers Drop Out
Bitch Blog: Urban Outfitters Pulls Support Tee
Hoyden About Town: The impossible beauty of Jessica Alba
Feministe: No words (on an anti-Latino hate crime in Brooklyn)
Yes Means Yes Blog: Dear Ann Arbor Police, Sgt. Richard Kinsey, University of Michigan and Yaron Eliav: Are you kidding me?
Take Action: Help save Portland feminist bookstore In Other Words.
What have you all been reading/writing this week?
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I thought Hardwicke actually did a really good job with Twilight. Don't get me wrong, overall, it was a really bad movie, but that's because it was based on a really bad book. Everything that wasn't from the book was really good, and from the sound of things, there was a lot of stuff that Hardwicke would have removed but Smeyer made her keep ("And so the lion falls in love with the lamb" being one of them). It really rubs me wrong that the article seems to imply that she's a hack or that the movie was bad because of her. If she'd been given full creative control, I've no doubt that the movie would have actually been good, not just watchable. And to turn an unreadable book into a watchable movie takes talent.
Also, I've no idea why Summit called Hardwicke irrational and her agent hysterical (yes, they used that very word), because from the sounds of things it came down entirely to scheduling.
Maybe it was to cover up how bad of an idea it is to try to make a movie in a year, without even having a finalized script, and if they'd said that Hardwicke refused to do that and that's why she was fired, people would realize just how bad New Moon is going to be.
Once again, thanks for teh linkage, Ann. As always it is much appreciated. :-)
As a grad of Agnes Scott, I was deeply upset to read the article about the filming. This is the response I sent to the alumnae office at alumnae@agnesscott.edu:
To the Office of Alumnae Relations:
I am an ASC graduate for both undergrad and grad school. Recently I read an article about the filming of Road Trip II: Beer Pong on the Bilerico Project's website (http://www.bilerico.com/2008/12/agnes_scott_college_lesbians_until_gradu.php), and I must say that I am deeply disappointed in ASC. Why would the college allow such a sexist and racist movie to be filmed on campus for a measly $30,000? Furthermore, from what I read in the article, the production staff was rude and dismissive to current students. I realize that these are difficult economic times, and ASC is feeling the pinch as well, but please keep in mind that accepting money from these types of movies not only tarnishes ASC's reputation, but also alientates alumnae. I will not be donating to ASC as long as the college continues to allow sexist and racist movies to be filmed on campus, and I am going to encourage other alumnae to not donate as well.
Sincerely,
[my name]
B.A. '05
M.A.T. '07
I was also very sad to read about Agnes Scott. I'm from the Decatur area and I always idolized that school a bit. I have friends who go there and know some professors who work there, and I've attended events (LGBT activism stuff) on campus. I would never have believed that Agnes Scott would sell out its students that way!
I agree that the most impact will come from a financial strike. However, it's best to give the school a clear way of redeeming itself. Instead of "no more money until you stop," perhaps "no more money until you issue an apology and draft official guidelines governing what kinds of movies are acceptable and what procedures will be in place to protect the students when film crews are present on campus."
This might include: no harassment of students, no restriction of access to academic facilities, and no movies that are overtly racist, sexist, or homophobic.
That is pretty basic, and if the school can't promise to follow those guidelines, they deserve a major kick in the wallet.
Not only does the school need an official policy, but they need to run it by everyone involved. Not just the administration, but the students, faculty, and staff.
I went to Carleton College, and the administration was very transparent about drafting the policies on sexual harassment and assault. When the policies were changed last year, the admins sat down with student groups to talk about what changes needed to be made, and there were panels with representatives from the administration, the student body, the faculty, and the community (rape crisis nurse, police).
This was all in response to an outbreak of date-rape drugs and protests that the administration was soft on sexual assault. In particular, it was in response to protests that took place when prospective students were attempting to tour the campus with their parents. Pretty much nothing is more of a threat to admissions than parents who are (legitimately) concerned that the school can't keep their daughters safe!
Now, granted, policies on sexual misconduct are not the same thing as policies about filming movies, but I am saying is that there is NO REASON why the school can't draft up a document detailing the school's official position concerning how movies will be filmed on campus.
Clearly, it's a community issue, requiring input from students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
The school could turn around and say to the alumni, "look, we have come up with a policy that reflects our statement of purpose, which will bolster our integrity, but it will hurt our finances and prevent us from extending financial aid to some students. You alumni need to pick up the slack."
In return, the alumni have an obligation to help out (in my opinion). The school has redeemed itself and the recession is going to hit colleges hard.
Sorry about writing a whole essay. I just think that the school deserves a chance to make things right with alumni because an extended boycott could be crippling (especially in this economy). Furthermore, the students deserve more protection than they are getting, and the best thing for students would be if the administration were pressured into creating an official policy that protects their rights. By that, I specifically mean their right to a safe and supportive academic environment, and that includes access to academic facilities and protection from harassment.
new Twilight post
http://mzbitca.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/hidden-messages/
You should all check out this week’s edition of our Dreams for Women project (we have asked people to send us postcards with their Dreams for Women on them ex. I Dream that no woman is seen and not heard).
http://antigonemagazine.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/dreams-for-women-millennium-scholars-20/
Also, we REALLY need your help! With only one month left of 2008, we still have 350 copies of our 2009 Dreams for Women Calendars left to sell! The money raised by selling these calendars is instrumental for us to launch Antigone For Girls (a magazine written by and for girls aged 10-15 that will encourage them to get involved in leadership and politics). They’re only $20 (Canadian!)
http://antigonemagazine.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/its-here-the-dreams-for-women-2009-calendar-is-here/
After commenting on the "Project Aiko" post, I went on to do a bit more research then blogged about it at DAMMIT JANET!
http://scathinglywrongrightwingnutz.blogspot.com/2008/12/via-feministing-and-globe-and-mail-news.html
Thanks for going below the surface of this seemingly inoffensive news item. This invention deserves a second look.
Anyone else catch NY Times op-ed "The Demise of Dating" by Charles Blow? Definitely worth the read...
Worth the read if you're a rage addict.
Reading the Gaza article almost made me cry. I am a committed Jew and a committed supporter of Israel, but I go nuts when I hear things like this. The first commenter really (if inadvertently) nailed the problem: both governments are too busy convincing themselves and their people that THEY are the victims to actually try to help the real victims (at this point, pretty much every civilian in the Middle East). I pray for those in Gaza.
~Our take on the Cardboard Hillary Scandal.
~The ESC Holiday Wish List '08, which is basically one item long plus one bonus item. We've also done our Non-Wish List: Gifts to Avoid.
~And, we wrote a short (hungover) blog about how much fun we had at the Feministing happy hour in NYC on Friday night. (Thanks ladies!)
Also, we spent today at the Bust magazine Craftacular, which was a really cool event. We'll be including a lot of the awesome and talented people that we met there when we post our holiday shopping guide this week.
Also check out this article:
"Woman Blinded by Spurned Man Invokes Islamic Retribution" By Thomas Erdbrink,
Washington Post Foreign Service, Sunday, December 14, 2008; Page A01,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/13/AR2008121302147.html?hpid=artslot
The article's not just about the eye-for-eye sentence (which I don't agree with since it's irreversible and could cement a precedent for a wrongfully-convicted person to get the same irreversible blinding later). It's also about the differences in government handling of the case between Khatami's term and Ahmadinejad's. It's also about an extreme "Nice Guy (TM)" situation and how simply treating someone like a human being can get misinterpreted as romantically committing to him or her. Meanwhile, I was reminded of acid cases in other countries and the contrast between the usual of those and this case.
Yay for simultaneous posting! (I added a link to same article...)
Did anyone else see this article in the Washington Post about an Iranian woman whose stalker blinded her with acid, and now as part of his sentence he's going to have acid poured into his own eyes? I'm not sure how I feel about this...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/13/AR2008121302147.html?nav=hcmodule
As for the Agnes Scott post...just, wow. This actually came up at a conference I attended not long ago (colleges in my state get a ton of requests for filming, everything from movies to TV shows to commercials). I've also been on both sides of this, working on small productions and working in college administration. The bottom line is that a film production will try to get away with whatever they can. A campus that has experience with this (as Agnes Scott would seem to have) should be a lot more vigilant about disruptions to student and academic life, and that's absolutely their right. (Especially a private college.) I hope that the ASC students and alumnae stay on their administration about what they will accept and what they want (from restricted access to campus areas to the content of the films themselves).
Did anyone else see this article in the Washington Post about an Iranian woman whose stalker blinded her with acid, and now as part of his sentence he's going to have acid poured into his own eyes? I'm not sure how I feel about this...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/13/AR2008121302147.html?nav=hcmodule
As for the Agnes Scott post...just, wow. This actually came up at a conference I attended not long ago (colleges in my state get a ton of requests for filming, everything from movies to TV shows to commercials). I've also been on both sides of this, working on small productions and working in college administration. The bottom line is that a film production will try to get away with whatever they can. A campus that has experience with this (as Agnes Scott would seem to have) should be a lot more vigilant about disruptions to student and academic life, and that's absolutely their right. (Especially a private college.) I hope that the ASC students and alumnae stay on their administration about what they will accept and what they wont (from restricted access to campus areas to the content of the films themselves).
I wrote about religious extremism and my family:
What's so wrong with saying "Happy holidays"?
I complained (mostly) about the way women's health is taught at my medical school:
La Leche League, Haven of extremists
And, I discuss the way abortion is presented(or not!) in the media, in this case, on NPR:
I write letters
OK, I'm a dork. My "I write letters" post is linked to above in the original post. Or, more accurately, the feministe post discussing it is linked to above.
Thanks for the props, Feministing! (and Feministe!)
Bettie Page died this week and I've been seeing it all over the place.
I'm tired of her being lauded as a "feminist icon."
I don't think she's a BAD icon, exactly, but it's a whole lot more complicated than that. She was just a MODEL, for god's sake.
I'd like it if someone with more time and energy at feministing would do a more thorough analysis of the whole phenomenon, including why so many young women idolize her. (I actually saw a decent article in a British news source, but I thought the writer kind of wimped out with the conclusion -it was just sort of like "eh, yes this whole idolizing of Bettie Page thing is kind of shallow. But us second-wave feminists should have done a better job of making it clear playful sexuality IS compatible with mainstream feminist values. But we didn't, so the young women still think being sexy is rebellious in and of itself." I felt like the writer got a little confused by the end of the article about what point she wanted to make.)
Here's a blog post that could be a good start to talking about Bettie Page:
http://feministlawprofs.law.sc.edu/?p=4446
That's a good post.
I think there should be a post here about that. At least in the community...
I see your point, and I think it's worth talking about.
BUT the woman just died. Can't we just let people celebrate her legacy without talking about how we shouldn't be celebrating her legacy? Wait until the body is cold, at least. There's a time and a place for a serious discussion about how she was just a model and people are kind of shallow for making such a big deal, and it's several months away.
I wouldn't give the same courtesy to anyone who actually harmed people -- I cheered over Jerry Fallwell's death -- but Bettie Page didn't hurt anyone. She had an interesting life, and her image did have an effect on popular culture.
Here's a 1998 interview with her, if you're interested.
http://www.nerve.com/dispatches/nerveeditors/remembering-bettie-page-a-1998-q-and-a-from-the-nerve-archives/
I've read that interview, as well as some others.
But even in Bettie Page's OWN eyes, her legacy wasn't so much about sexual freedom. She said she thought that nudity was okay, but promiscuity was not.
So even what some people think of us as her "positive legacy" is not necessarily how she herself wishes to be remembered.
And also, I guess I'm not religious but SHE'S DEAD. If there was an inappropriate time to criticize aspects of her legacy, I think it would be while she was alive, not after she had died. In "several months" people will just have forgotten... and no discussion will take place.
Last week I wrote - How Did The Ojibway Treat Their Women - http://ojibwaymigisibineshii.blogspot.com/2008/12/ojibway-migisi-bineshii-short-story-how_3293.html
I really like this - Holiday Eating 101: How to negotiate the holidays when you have an ED - http://the-f-word.org/blog/index.php/2008/12/08/holiday-eating-101-how-to-negotiate-the-holidays-when-you-have-an-ed/
I wrote a post last week about casual dehumanization of children through language after a sneering comment was left on an earlier post I had written on fear of children. It's received some really hostile responses, which surprised me.
I posted a link on Feministe yesterday, that brought some really thoughtful comments and I welcome Feministing readers as well: the ideas I have about the connection between feminist theory and activism are very much a work in progress.
whoops--that should read "feminist theory and activism and children's rights are very much a work in progress" . . . hasty proof-reading!