Confronting the Patriarchy; Outwitting Misogyny

March 12, 2012
Alice of Wonderland

 Why Alice in Wonderland? I specifically am not choosing Lewis Carroll or Alice Liddell BUT Alice in the story. Yes, she is fictional. But how many little girls and boys developed an interest in chess and logics because of her. She embodied curiosity and straying from the path in order to chase after dreams, and she confronted a fascist monarch twice and won.

March 13, 2012
Annie Oakley

 "She was a super bad ass that whipped the boys (via sharp shooting) at a time when women weren't supposed to." (as described by Molly Nelson)

March 14, 2012
Guerrilla GRRL

 "We're a bunch of anonymous females who take the names of dead women artists as pseudonyms and appear in public wearing gorilla masks. We have produced posters, stickers, books, printed projects, and actions that expose sexism and racism in politics, the art world, film and the culture at large. We use humor to convey information, provoke discussion, and show that feminists can be funny. We wear gorilla masks to focus on the issues rather than our personalities. Dubbing ourselves the conscience of culture, we declare ourselves feminist counterparts to the mostly male tradition of anonymous do-gooders like Robin Hood, Batman, and the Lone Ranger. Our work has been passed around the world by kindred spirits who we are proud to have as supporters. It has also appeared in The New York Times, The Nation, Bitch and Bust; on TV and radio, including NPR,, the BBC and CBC; and in countless art and feminist texts. The mystery surrounding our identities has attracted attention. We could be anyone; we are everywhere." (taken from the Guerrilla Girls faqs page...you should check it out and support local feminist artists.)

March 15, 2012
Mae West

 "In a time where women were still grappling for power, Mae West wrote, produced and directed her own plays which were all highly successful. When finally given her big break in movies, she was known to rewrite her lines and self direct her ...scenes. She was one of the first acts to move to Las Vegas...she never apologized for who she was and never compromised herself. And she was a curvy gal that everyone found immensely sexy." (as described by Malaina White)

March 16, 2012
Louise Bourgeois avec La Fillette

 

"Sometimes it is necessary to make a confrontation – and I like that." (Louise Bourgeois)