Hip-Hop Feminism!

Even though hip-hop's relationship with young women is turbulent at times, some women are making female rappers and hip-hop feminism more visible. Check out this clip from Rachel Raimist's documentary Nobody Knows My Name:

Lady Gaga, Is Domestic Violence Okay If You Make It Look "Fierce"??

After seeing this, I'm happy that Lady Gaga doesn't consider herself a feminist. Is it now in style to be abused as long as you make it look sensual, sexy, and "fierce"?! Give me a break!

P.S. The whole "Black Widow" theme might not be the best way to show how much you "hail" men.

"Family Guy" and Abortion

I've watched Family Guy a few times, and I find it hilarious. However, I'm not sure how I feel about them doing, or thinking about doing, a show on abortion. I'm very pro-choice, but I think abortion is NOT a laughing matter. This post isn't demonizing Family Guy, but instead trying to say that not all issues can be made funny...now matter how many talking babies are in the show. Simply put, something things can be serious and humorous at once. However, not everyone knows how to safely make those jokes, so why bother taking that risk?

P.S. I also have a few problems with the way the show jokes about disabled individuals and other minorities. Those issues will probably be discussed in later posts.

Keith Olbermann Serves Sarah Palin a Harsh Dish of Reality

I think writing an extensive blog after this video would be pointless. I completely agree with Mr. Olbermann in his Special Comment to former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. I think that before she criticizes our goverment and our leaders' plans for it, she should find and throughly read a survey of American history and politics textbook. For someone who wanted to be Vice President, she sure seems to have a radical way of "playing" with the public. We all realize that Obama's plan includes no "death panels." The fact that someone who claims to be rational would perpetuate such propoganda makes me want to yell with joy when I think of the results of the 2008 presidential election. It is such a shame that a woman would be so anti-feminist that she cannot see the need for all Americans to have healthcare. Also, it is beyond sad to see the most prominent female of the Republican party spout such garbage. Mrs. Palin, do you not realize that with your power in your party and the amount of supporters (even though I know none) you have, you could be influential and turn a party that has been shunned into a party of rationale and equality? However, I am happy that you continue to relish in your ignorance because that means that your party will do the same and, eventually, bring about its own end.

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Lady Gaga: The Feminist Non-Feminist

I will be the first person to admit that I jam to a little Lady Gaga from time to time. I think she's one of the most interesting artists out right now. However, a part of me wonders if she is more of a "personality" than an artist. She wears weird outfits, hangs out with Perez Hilton, and then talks in this soft, placating voice that is obviously not the way she really talks. I think she's trying to become something larger than the music industry's comprehension, but in the process of doing so, she herself is losing sight of what it is she aims to be. In the following video, she is interviewed and asked if she identifies herself as a feminist. Her reply is (not verbatim) that she's not a feminist because she "hails" men and worships their contributions to American culture, such as bars, muscle cars, and beer. Before I give my full opinion, check out the video for yourself.

First of all, who said that the things she attributes to men are strictly masculine things? I know plenty of women who love beer and muscle cars. I myself love those things. As for bars, did I miss the history lesson on how men developed the concept of bars? For years, I'm sure people have gathered to drink and enjoy each other's company. What Ms. Gaga fails to acknowledge is the male established bars she "hails" so much were originally inaccessible to women unless they were the entertainment, if you know what I mean. So, in essence, I believe Lady Gaga really cherishes misogyny and gender binaries. It just amazes me how she can bash double standards and the "cigarette smoking rockstars" who get praise for sleeping with numerous women, while in the next breath she praises the establishment that allows those double standards to exist. C'mon, Gaga! Get your story together! Better yet, get your identity together. We're dying to hear who you decide you are going to be tomorrow....even though we know it might change in a week or two. Nevertheless, in the meantime it might be better to stop singing about sexual liberation since we all know you're still a slave to oppressive gender ideas.

BET's "Tiny & Toya"= Is BET Obsessed with Representing Black Women Negatively?

I am not a habitual watcher of BET's new hit show "Tiny & Toya," but I know many people (some of whom are black women) who are addicted to the show. However, the few times that I have seen the show it would be an understatement to call my reaction "shocked." I was more appalled than anything else. First of all, I think I should provide some background information on these two ladies before I discuss why the show troubles me. Tameka "Tiny" Cottle is known as the fiance of rapper T.I. and a former member of the all-female R&B group of the 90s called Xscape. She is even the writer of the smash hit TLC song "No Scrubs." With that being said, one cannot underestimate the success and talent of Ms. Cottle. My problem with Tiny is not that she speaks in a vernacular that makes her hard to understand, but instead her insistence on doing what T.I. asks of her rather than what she would like to do. She often discusses in the episodes I have watched how T.I.'s only request from her is that she doesn't work. Really? In 2009, there are still men asking women to be "kept"? Women who had made names for themselves before meeting their male partners? That is absolutely absurd to me. As for how Tiny feels about this request, I get the impression she thinks it is reasonable. However, she seems to find it hard to leave behind her other love: music. Viewers of the show will probably find out if she chooses to pursue music again despite her fiance's objections.

(photo: www.bestdamnafternoonshow)

Tameka Cottle ("Tiny")

Toya, on the other hand, is best known as the ex-wife of rapper Lil' Wayne. On the show, Toya states that Wayne met her when she was very young and the two grew very close over a short period of time. Later, she became pregnant with the rapper's daughter when she was a pre-teen (as was he). However, I was informed tonight by a friend who watches the show that Toya has never had a job in her entire life. Granted, I did not hear this information first-hand, yet I am still troubled by it. But then again, why would she work? She has money, possibly from Lil' Wayne's alimony and child support checks. Nevertheless, I do not think living this way, possibly on money she might have received through a divorced settlement or from her child's child support, is setting a good example for her daughter. Not to mention it seems that Lil' Wayne isn't exactly making the smartest decisions when it comes to showing his daughter how men should respect women. On this year's BET Awards, Lil' Wayne performed "I Wanna F**k Every Girl in the World" while his daughter was on-stage! WOW!

(photo: www.hair-sugar.com)

Antonia Carter ("Toya")

This show is nothing more than a way to perpetuate and glamorize the negative stereotypes often associated with black women. You have the "Oh I'm So Desperate to Keep a Man" stereotype and the "Just Be A Successful Rapper's Baby Mama and You'll Have it Made" stereotype. BET needs to really take a good look at themselves and realize that Black Entertainment should not be at the EXPENSE of Black people. It should exist to show positive images of the Black community that could potentially help uplift its members. Until the network shows that type of positive programming, BET cannot count me among its number of devoted viewers.

Due to the Sotomayor hearings, I decided to post this gem!

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Let's just pretend for a second that Pat Buchanan has a point. What if affirmative action promotoes discrimination against white men? Well, I'm against discrimination of any type, BUT in no way can a case be made that white men are suffering because more minorities have the jobs that they have traditionally held. As Rachel Maddow states, the lack of minorities in powerful positions throughout history doesn't suggest that white men are inherently better at such jobs. In contrast, it suggests that minorities have been DENIED such positions because of their race and sex.

And why isn't Buchanan criticizing the many discretely racist comments made to Sotomayor during these hearings???? The Ricky Ricardo "You'd have some serious 'splaining to do!" wasn't racist? It was indeed racist, regardless of how people might choose to defend that statement.

In short, I live in America. In this country, minorities, including women, have been denied advancement for many year so that the white, heterosexual, male majority could maintain power and influence of the decisions and policies made in this country. I am ecstatic to see a well-educated, LATINA woman as a Supreme Court nominee! It lets me know that America is FINALLY living up to its reputation as a racial and cultural melting pot. God bless America....and Rachel Maddow! : )

President Obama was pretty hilarious as well!

Part 2:



I love the Michael Steele shout-out! LOL!

Wanda Sykes being her HILARIOUS SELF!

Part 2:



She's beyond funny! I LOLed many times while watching these videos.

Some great videos from the White House Correspondents Dinner!

I found some great videos of the White House Correspondents Dinner on YouTube. Check them out!

Purely for laughs! : )

I couldn't pass up the chance to post this Lindsay Lohan video. It is just hilarious!

Working on new stuff!

I'm working on a few interesting concepts for new entries. Expect to see new entries EVERYDAY this coming week. Yes, everyday! Happy reading! : )

I am so excited to see that the most popular bands at the moment have female lead singers or are made up of all women! WOOHOO!

Every single time I turn on the radio, I seem to find some song that really annoys me. However, the new stuff like Paramore and The Veronicas is awesome. I am happy that I have tickets to see No Doubt and Paramore's tour this summer, which bring me to my point. FEMALE LEAD VOCALISTS ARE ON THE RISE!!!! Look at bands like Spinnerette, Juliette and The Licks (though I think she's performing with a new band now), The Donnas, etc. I think this is amazing! Even though most of the groups I named here are indie, I have a feeling things are changing and women are slowly taking the rock world by storm!




No Doubt





Paramore




The Veronicas! I saw these ladies in concert in NYC and....THEY ARE AMAZING!



The Donnnas!

Brody Dalle...a female rock goddess!

I've always been a Brody Dalle fan. I think The Distillers' music got me through my crazy adolescence, and I know it gets me through some of these crazy days at my redneck university. Haha! But seriously, her and her stage presence makes her a force that can't be ignored...which in the punk rock world, it's easy for bands to be dismissed for having "chick" singers. Brody crushes all of that ignorance about female lead vocalists in punk bands. The Distillers aren't together anymore, but her new band is called Spinnerette. Check them out!



Awesome, right?

Oh, and here's a pic from Brody's days with The Distillers:



Cool pics like that are responsible for me picking up a guitar! : )

Rosario Dawson owns!

I found this pic of Rosario Dawson and thought it was AWESOME! I've always been a Rosario Dawson fan because of the great roles she always has in Tarantino films and how well she played Mimi in RENT, but I became even more of a fan when I found out how much of a philanthropist and humanitarian she is. She's involved with the ONE Campaign, Amnesty International, PFLAG, and the Lower East Side Girls Club. She's definitely a woman worthy of respect and admiration.

From "Girl Power" to This

Victoria Beckham, formally know as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls, is known for her impressive fashion sense and being the wife of the world's most famous soccer star, David Beckham. However, I can't help but wonder if the "girl power" message she perpetuated with the Spice Girls years ago is simply a non-issue for her today. It seems that she isn't promoting that young girls should "do it for themselves," but instead parading around with her husband and amazing the world with her ability to fit into size 000 jeans. Her book, the cover of which is the picture featured in this entry, is all about fashion and how to make yourself "look better." As a very influential and powerful socialite, I must say I expected more from her. We all know she's beautiful and we love her for it, myself included. I was a Spice Girl fan back in the day! Haha! BUT I would like to see her write a book telling young women how to become successful business women and utilize their "girl power" in a manner that doesn't involve clothing, hair, or accessories.

The Legend of the "Tragic, Beautiful Actress/Model"

We've all seen how movies about women who have tragic demises become instant blockbusters and/or cult favorites, i.e. Gia and Factory Girl. However, I must say that I believe these women are very misunderstood. Gia was a beautiful model who just wanted to be accepted. Her personality, according to those that knew her, was magnetic. I don't agree with Hollywood's assumption that drugs led to her downfall because I feel PEOPLE led to her downfall. Just imagine being called beautiful, talented, and gorgeous all the time but having trouble finding love. Of course, someone would say "Well, I must not be all of those things because someone talented, beautiful, and gorgeous should have no problem finding love and acceptance." Nevertheless, the reality of that is women who are all of those things have it worse than anyone else who tries to find the same things because people are intimidated by their success, beauty, etc. It's almost as if you asked someone to look at the Mona Lisa and then describe it. I'm sure they would say marvelous things about it and be in complete awe of it. In contrast, if you asked them to hold it, I'm sure they would be scared and would probably find an excuse not to do so. That's what I think happened with Gia: people were too afraid to "hold" her and conversely she didn't know how to be "held." Therefore, she turned to things she knew would always be there: drugs, which inevitably led to her contracting AIDS and dying at a young age. But she was NOT a victim. She was simply someone trying to find a way to feel alive. I mean, does anyone care to wonder why Nikki Sixx did so many drugs during his Motley Crue days? NO! They just portray him as a young rock star living the life he was expected to live and take advantage of.

Gia Carangi

Now, the next woman I think Hollywood could have represented in a more positive manner is Edie Sedgwick. Edie Sedgwick is best known for being Andy Warhol's "superstar" since she starred in many of his films, many of which he is rumored to have refused to pay her for appearing in. She is also depicted as an airhead relying solely on Warhol for direction in these films, even though it's a well-known fact that Sedgwick was pretty intelligent.

In Factory Girl, Edie is portrayed as a woman who was fatally in love with Andy Warhol and couldn't help but let him mistreat her and use her because of that love. I think any "thinking" individual would find that representation problematic, especially since love should never be an excuse for allowing someone to treat you as if you are beneath them. In my opinion, Edie Sedgwick met her downfall when she blindly trusted someone she was told she could trust. At that time, Andy Warhol was changing art as the world knew it and there was an assumption that if you wanted to be the next big thing, you needed to be apart of the progressive movement Warhol was leading. Therefore, Edie probably assumed that someone so respected could not be so shifty. Plus, we must keep in mind that Andy Warhol wasn't an easy person to like. He even felt he was too famous to speak for himself in interviews so he often had others talk to reporters for him WHILE he stood by and listened. And we musn't forget that Valerie Solanas said she shot him because he claimed to have lost a manuscript she gave him. However, Solanas believed this "loss" was Warhol's attempt to steal her work and receive credit for it. But do we see representations of Warhol as being manipulative? NO! We see images of him being a man going after what he wants or being such a genius that those "envious" of him were compelled to shun him or, in Solanas' case, shoot him. As for Sedgwick, yes, she turned to drugs as well. But shouldn't the picture or portrayal of these women involve the unrealistic standards that society sets for women if they plan to make it in the entertainment industry. All people suffer, but suffering in an environment that doesn't allow you to be too fat, too sad, or too tired is extremely taxing on an individual.

My point is this: I admire Gia and Edie Sedgwick, but not because they were drug addicts, beautiful, and died young. I admire them, and think others should as well, because they were women who redefined modeling and entertainment by saying "Hey, we're young and beautiful, but we have problems just like everyone else. So, if we're messed up, you're messed up too!"

Edie Sedgwick Interview:



A Clip of Edie in "Poor Little Rich Girl," a film she made with Andy Warhol:

Triple threat!

Honestly, I could do without Beyonce, but a sober Britney and the always amazing P!nk definitely make a great combo!

Alexandra Pelosi: one of today's best documentary filmmakers

I'm unsure of whether she identifies as a feminist BUT she truly is one in my book because she's a strong woman showing America its good and bad (racist, uber-conservative, etc.) sides via film! Alexandra Pelosi makes AMAZING documentaries because they are so real and rich with content that wonderfully depicts the mentality of some Americans. Here's a clip from her new documentary "Right America Feeling Wronged."



Yeah, and there are more ignorant people in the documentary...like this guy:



Ms. Pelosi deserves an award for not going completely "ape shit" on some of these people because of their ignorance! LOL! Her ability to remain so calm, cool, and collected earns her major points!