Megan Fox , Megan Fox, Megan Fox

Did I ever think I would write a blog post in defense of Megan Fox?

Nope.

But the interwebs are full of a special kind of misogyny today. Thanks to Asylum, AOL's men's lifestyle site - yeah I didn't know they were still around either, or that they needed to expand into "men's lifestyle" - August 4th has been declared A Day Without Megan Fox.

That's right, the very same dudes (and some ladies) that couldn't get enough of her are now saying they have given too many pixels to her. Even Reuters has gotten in on the act. But don't think for a second that they have had an epiphany about media overexposure, exploitation, voyeurism or the invasion of privacy. Nope, they just want to make sure they don't exhaust their page views too soon, "Sure she’s one of the sexiest young female actors, but in order to preserve both her sexiness and her freshness, we need to tone down the over foxposure."

So don't worry. Images of Fox will continue to grace the computer screens, but in the meantime these sites are suggesting nominees for "the next Megan Fox." It is so nice of them to point out how contrived and constructed celebrity is. According to these bastions of intelligent thought, Megan Fox is the poor man's Angelia Jolie and Odette Yustman is the poor man's Megan Fox. So, I get it. Women cannot be just themselves - or even a whole person - unless they are Angelina Jolie. Unfortunately, I'll venture to guess it is not her work with the UN, but rather her embodiment of a video game character, that provides her personhood.

But, does the timing of this "media blackout" seem a bit suspicious to anyone else? It comes on the heels of Fox identifying herself as a feminist and the release of the trailer for Jennifer's Body, a movie in which Fox's character literally eats men and excuses by saying she is not killing people "just boys."

While being aware that as a woman in Hollywood you are "You’re merchandised, you’re a product," is not necessarily a feminist understanding, she is very savvy about Hollywood and how she can capitalize on it. But, who knows, maybe hanging out with Diablo Cody more than Michael Bay will foster her feminist awakening.

Imperialism Is the New Chic

I am all for movements which seek to resurrect the art of the past, but there is a difference between acquiring things for their aesthetic value while ignorant of their history, and creating a living history through art. And no, I don't think decorating your Williamsburg flat constitutes "art." The New York Times, however does, thanks to its glowing portrait of hipsters who have a fetish for turn of the century antiques.

Granted, one of the lads profiled in the article does participate in learning how his fetish objects of choice were created: “I like to cook, I like to sew, I can fix things with my hands.” However, the pinnacle of this it seems is finding satin with the right selvage.

I may be nitpicking, but is is probably because there there is also a classism that is not being addressed - though that is no surprise considering the article was published in the NYT's. Restoration and creation are two very different things, and often the former is far more expensive.

This expense is underscored by the articles quick turn to the shops a few of those profiled are opening in hip sections of the city with designers that the author can name drop. This seems to be the point of the blog that one of the sisters whom the article revolves around, since she likes to discuss what was worn to an outing at Yale:

Details on Porter's outfit: Amish leather suspenders from ebay, boys' shirt from Rugby, tie from J.Press (purchased minutes before at the original location at 262 York Street), Equi Comfort riding pants from Dover Saddlery, shoes and bag, Prada.

I'm so glad they let us know that it was purchased it from the original store. However, this seems to refute the NYT's chosen expert (from the Museum of the Fashion Institute of Technology) who believes this aesthetic comes from rebellion:

“Authenticity is such a fed-up idea...But collecting these old things, it’s like there is an aura attached to them. It’s not some prepackaged product being foisted on you by a big corporation.

Whew! Good thing they are keeping away from those big corporations like Rugby, J. Press and Prada.

Moreover, they seem to be completely devoid of any deep understanding of the culture they are co-opting. In speaking about one of the shops, the proprietor says:

“The idea was to make this clandestine Colonial tavern,” he said, “the sort of place the founding fathers would have conspired in.” The look, he added, reflects his assumptions about their tastes, as refined Europeans living in a rough new world: “Taxidermy was a symbol of that wildness.”

The founding fathers were sexist, classist, racist bastards. Just the sort of lot I do not want to emulate.

But this ahistoricism isn't surprising considering the article describes the apartment of two sisters as echoing "W. Somerset Maugham’s last days of colonialism, Victorian memento mori and the Edwardian men’s club." It also has "a taxidermy collection that would make Teddy Roosevelt proud."

So,we have the epitome of insecure masculinity which would set the tone for United States nationalism, time periods which relegated women to the private sphere and confined them in clothing that would lead to an early death (which explains the memento mori), and the last gasps of widespread institutionalized racism and exploitation. Lovely.

Also, not surprising is the NYT's is incorrect in asserting that wealthy young New Yorkers are setting this trend.

Crap, They Figured Out Our Evil Plan...

Yes, we want to kill the old people and the fetuses in order to cut health care costs and that pesky overpopulation problem:



It is crap like this that makes me afraid to start conversations with strangers in the airport for fear that my only reaction to a completely illogical argument based on scare tactics created by people who use others' religious beliefs to increase their own wealth and privilege, will be a sincere desire to punch someone in the mouth.

How Evil is Your Overpriced T-Shirt?

In my undergrad Intro to Women's Studies course, one assignment required us to write a manifesta based on Valerie Solanas' SCUM manifesto.*

The overarching theme of the course was popular culture, so my group wrote the "And Your Mom's a Bitch" Anti-Abercrombie manifesta. In it, we railed about how Abercrombie and Fitch was sexist, racist, classist, sizist, ablist...you get the general idea...and created stickers to sneak into fitting rooms that said things like "You are more beautiful without that," or something to that effect.

I hadn't heard of the brand until I got to college and was surrounded by people who's parents were in a higher tax bracket (or who aspired to be) than those I went to high school with. But all I had to do was see one non-catalog and witness employees in nothing but scarves, Uggs and their skivvies to know I would not be contributing to their profit-margin.

Now we find out that Abercombie banished one employee in their London store for violating their 45 page long "Look Policy." How did she violate it? With a prosthetic arm.

Fortunately, the former employee is finishing up her law degree.

But while it hasn't really been an issue not supporting A&F's ickiness, there is another clothing company which I equally abhor, but from which I own a number of t-shirts.

Granted, I have never bought anything at an American Apparel store, since I don't really need a lime green onesie. But, every single independent or socially conscious band prints their merchandise on the those oh-so-soft t-shirts and lots of independent designers do the same. So, in order to support them, I have to support Dov "Douchebag" Charney.

My list of grievances against all of this guys "alleged" ridiculousness is quite long, but here are a few highlights:

• Do we even need to bring up the ads? They aren't progressive, or edgy. They are creepy. And they will not be posted here.
  
  
• Dude has had multiple sexual harassment suits filed against him.
  
  
• They made "Legalize Gay" shirts to give to protesters against Prop 8 and have donated $17,000 worth of these shirts to different organizations, but none of the proceedes of the sales of these shirts go to help the fight for equality. That is not activism, that is advertising.
  
  
• "Sweatshop free" is a marketing ploy utilized to (successfully) kill the competition.
  
  
• Oh, but that wasn't the reason they have dropped their "sweatshop free" label. It was too "limiting" to their creepy corporate persona, "not that we're all of a sudden into sweatshops, but when we say it then everyone expects us to be a charity, and that we can't like maybe be a little bit porno and, like, something that's not politically correct." Glad we are clear on that.

Now, not only is he firing "ugly" employees, he is micro-managing it by requiring all stories to send in a group photo.


*Try to think of it as a historical document and not just, "you crazy, lady!" Though she might have been just a little of that, too.

Girls Rock!

This Stephanie kicks so much ass, she makes me like my name more:



Evidently Billie Joe asked a couple of other people who to try, but they didn't know the song. She was able to answer what key the song was in. My favorite part is that she starts sitting down, but kicks too much ass for that and stands up. Looks like Greenday has a back up guitarist if they ever need one.

This is the reason I donate to my local Rock Camp for Girls. You can find a listing of all the affiliated camps here.

This Sh!t is Bananas

My informal blogging at MotherJones.com is becoming far more frequent than I originally planned. But, they need more media and culture blogging with a side of snark so I am happy to oblige.


I am also happy to contribute to the site's feminist commentary, which brings us to my most recent post on the always lovely experience of being catcalled.

H/T to Amanda at The Sexist.

Joss Whedon is Going to Make Me Watch a Horror Movie

I've already told you that I think Joss Whedon is the most awesome writer/director around. If you don't know that already, watch this clip of him accepting an award from Equality Now and discussing why he writes strong female characters. Seriously, discussing misogyny while getting an award from Equality Now, from Meryl Streep. Awesome:



To be honest, I was a little concerned about Dollhouse for a while, but I should have known better. The message is a bit more subtle, but then you can't really hit viewers over the head with anti-patriarchy messages all the time or your shit gets canceled (See: Firefly).

But, it looks like JW is returning to camptastic awesomeness with a horror film due to come out in 2010 - and this is just one of the posters:


All three are pretty fantastic, but this one is perhaps the best horror movie poster ever created, which is why I will need to see this movie.

The problem is I don't like horror movies. For weeks after watching Shawn of the Dead I was sure my boyfriend was trying to eat my face off, every time he went in for a kiss. But I'm trusting that the amazingness of this movie will be worth all the heart palpitations that will follow. Besides, I'm pretty impressed at how damn creepy he made a single shot in the teaser trailer. Turn on your speakers and then go here.