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What's In A Zine: New Book Explores DIY Feminist Roots
K8 Hardy Makes Fashion Arty, Fun
Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start

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WaltzingMatilda
11/12/09

In reply to What's In A Zine: New Book Explores DIY Feminist Roots
I wrote in a zine in my little suburban town put out by arguably the most punk rock kid in our county. It was a glorious exercise and felt like a mini-rebellion. I was dis/heartened when he found me on facebook - he is about to get married and he is all "growns up." It happens to the best of them. I miss that zine. I miss zines in general. #zines
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whynotshesaid
11/12/09

In reply to What's In A Zine: New Book Explores DIY Feminist Roots
It's funny that I got into zines primarily because of the Internet (I mean, I'd heard of them through Sassy but I never really knew how to get them until I could go online and order them using Paypal) but that the Internet has really taken the steam out of the zine community. The community still exists, but the creative energy once used to put them out has become so diffused by the technology that is so readily available online.

Even so, the zine community - particularly the feminist perzine community of the early 2000s - played such a huge role in my political, personal and artistic development. (I even put out a few of my own.) I would order huge packages of them, then sit in the bathtub and read them, one right after the other. I had no friends who shared my politics or my tastes, and it was wonderful to know that there were people like me out there somewhere. Plus, some of the zines were so good, so smart and well-written that reading them over the years has been like earning a graduate degree in cultural studies. I learned about Judith Butler, Urvashi Vaid, Dorothy Allison, Amber Hollibaugh, bell hooks and about eighteen thousand other artists, critics, academics, writers and activists through the world of zines. My life is that much richer because of them.

In short, I must read this book. #zines
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Cam/ron
11/12/09

In reply to What's In A Zine: New Book Explores DIY Feminist Roots
I was a zine addict back in the mid-late 90's (I still have a dozen, yellowing Factsheet Five issues), and what mainly attracted to them was their often fearless content. Many zine editors couldn't care less about ad revenue and they just ran whatever they damn well pleased (one favorite was "Murder Can Be Fun," a zine dedicated to real-life freak accidents). I agree that the Internet and blogging killed off the zine as well as the overcrowded zine market that had too little retail distribution. Yet, a zine always has a great sense of being a product of much blood, sweat and tears. #zines
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daradoodle
11/12/09

In reply to What's In A Zine: New Book Explores DIY Feminist Roots
I think that in the age of electronic mass dissemination zines serve the pretty awesome purpose of being local. Blogs can be read anywhere, by anyone, but don't usually feel tied to a specific community or place. Zines can be a really good way for a small community to have its own media, home brewed, specifically tailored, and in a way kind of intimate. To me its sort of like the distinction between recorded and live music- its awesome that my friends record EPs and that I can listen to their music everywhere, and its certainly convenient, but its also really important to me that they play shows and create occasions where we all come together and listen to them. #zines
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southernbitch
10/01/09

In reply to K8 Hardy Makes Fashion Arty, Fun
mmm, as someone who tends to not really care how i dress too much because i have, well, other things to think about, my reaction is whatever. you judge me on my clothes, i'll judge you on your pretentious attitude. we'll meet in the middle!
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stacyinbean
10/01/09

In reply to K8 Hardy Makes Fashion Arty, Fun
"This blanket expression that you shouldn't judge a person by the fact that there is a number in her name is ridiculous to me."
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sympathyforthebasementcat
10/01/09

In reply to K8 Hardy Makes Fashion Arty, Fun
I thought K8 Hardy was the new name of Jon & Kate + 8 for a minute. It kind of made sense.
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The Queen of No
03/06/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
I was really into the Riot Grrrl music scene in high school. I still have all my KRS vinyls and sometimes get down with my Bratmobile and Bikini Kill MP3's. The manifestos that were written by Kathleen Hanna inspired me to an almost sad degree back then. I used to have my own "personal website" in the late 90's (way before blogging was even called "blogging" hahaha) and I'd totally bite off her style so hard. I loved her. Once, my mom saw a photo of her and said I looked like her. I was ecstatic. Good times.
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southernbitch
03/06/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
ohhhh i am so late to this discussion, which is sad! i was in several punk and metal bands when i was in high school and college (and still want to start another!), and being female in the scene, even nowadays, is still really tough. everyone should read pretty in punk. the end.
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unmoldednicole
03/05/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
1. I was 12 in 1994.

2. I was crazazy about Courtney and Hole and the riot grrl movement, probably more when I was 15 and 16.

3. I had a bit of Hole bootlegs and whatnot from back in the day and they had a song with lyrics that went something like "riot grrls think you can catch me? I'm forever in your debt". I can't name the song because it has been a while.

4. I love this site for posting this. I was alone on this movement. I'm still close friends with with the ladies I was friends with during this time and if I said the words "riot grrl movement" now they would say "unmolded what the hell are you talking about.?" I enjoyed my music in private I suppose.

5. Polly Harvey is fucking awesome.

6. Patti Smith is too ( I know not a riot grrl but worth mentioning).

7. I can't spell.
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Clarissima
03/06/09

@unmoldednicole: Patti Smith is the original riot grrrl!
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WashingMyHair
03/06/09

@Clarissima: Without a doubt!
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Janie Jones
03/05/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
This was only in 2003, but I got into bands like Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, L7, and Babes in Toyland (and other female musicians like Liz Phair - not sure if she's really considered "Riot Grrrl") right when I was on the cusp of puberty - it was so empowering and good to know that there was music like that, women like that. As a black girl though, I was always a little bit sad that there seemed to not be a lot of (any?) women of color in the Riot Grrrl movement. But I still love the attitude, sensibility, and music of Riot Grrrl.
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Cam/ron
03/05/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
Back in the 90's, I thought that some of the RG politics was interesting but much of it was very dogmatic and cliquish - much like Straight Edge and the Crass-influenced anarchist punks. I also found that many of the RG bands were too conservative when it came to insturmentation - they didn't stray far from conventional, three-chord punk rock. It's the same issue that keeps popping up whenever someone declares that punk music is supposed to be about "no rules, no authority."
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Ipomoea
03/05/09

@Cam/ron: There seemed to be a lot of shit-talking within the scene (and in the small group I knew) about things like people who knew how to play, as well as women who chose to dress "mainstream", etc. Like you couldn't have just the attitude and ideals, you had to live them at every waking moment as well.

I lived with some anarchist punks for a while, and I'd rather set myself on fire than deal with them again. "Wanting to be clean means you've been brainwashed by The Man" was an acutal quote from a a house meeting.
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Cam/ron
03/05/09

@Ipomoea is the female version of a hustler: I had a punk classmate in HS who refused to shower and regularly picked his lunch out of trashcans to prove he can still survive when society collapses.
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gherkinfiend
03/05/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
I have fond memories of getting turned away from a Bikini Kill gig because the tickets were sold out, but then managing to sneak in through the back door...

I was with a friend who was crazy about them. It was the first time I had ever heard them. I was blown away...and I felt super cool too!
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amowls
03/05/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
Guys, remember 10 Things I Hate About You where Kat was an angry feminist riot grrl who eventually falls in love with a man who could tame her?

I wonder what riot grrl bands would say about that movie.
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WashingMyHair
03/05/09

@amowls: As I said uptread, Riot Grrl's loved moves like Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains.
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Ipomoea
03/05/09

@amowls: I imagine they'd say "who the fuck are Letters to Cleo and why are they on top of Stadium High School?"
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moosesanddeers
03/05/09

In reply to Riot Grrrl: Where Gross-Out Feminism Got Its Start
There was a a reading comp section on my ACT about Riot Grrls. The questions were things like, "Which of these bands is not considered Riot Grrrl bands?"

a. Bikini Kill

b. Bratmobile

c. Sleater-Kinney

d. Mudhoney

Needless to say, I got a perfect score on the reading section.
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argle-bargle? or fou-ferraw?
03/05/09

@moosesanddeers: ha! mudhoney? fucking MUDHONEY?! jesus. they could not have picked a more obvious answer.
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WashingMyHair
03/05/09

@moosesanddeers: What? Were they thinking the HONEY part of the name MudHONEY could be misinterpreted as girl band? Silly.
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Cam/ron
03/05/09

@moosesanddeers: But, but "Touch Me I'm Sick" and "Sweet Young Thing Ain't Sweet No More" are profound feminist statements!
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Ipomoea
03/05/09

@Cam/ron: And Mark Arm's decision to spend years working in a porn distro warehouse was just a comment on the patriarchy!
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