Pussy Riot took the time out of their schedule to write a political attack on the Republican nominee of the century with their video for “Make America Great Again.” Depicting a post apocalyptic universe if Trump were to win the election with thugs employed to enforce his dystopic vision. It's unsurprising that Pussy Riot would write on the man who publicly praises Vladimir Putin, a man the group argues is a dictator. Pussy Riot is a feminist guerrilla group who's main goals are politically motivated. Their a group of women with an ever shifting line up. They've been arrested and imprisoned, protesting for women and LGBT groups in a Russian era of increasing human rights violation. The music they make relies heavily on visual aid and lyrical content, the backing music is only secondary. |
Their video for “Make America Great Again” came just weeks before the historic election this Tuesday and was just one of many lazor focused deconstructions of one of the worst political American pundits to hit the American grand stage.
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This presidential election is a pretty clear sign that the old white people are handling the social progress our country is making really well. Our republican front-runner is the clearest sign of their forward thinking thoughts on immigration, women, the gays, and freedom of religion.
Of course Ted Cruz avowed at some point to bring back “biblical marriage” and I’m personally disappointed that he won’t have a chance to make polygamy mainstream again.
With higher trans visibility they have also been more highly under attack. Over 10 states are looking at passing “bathroom laws” that don’t allows trans individuals to use their correctly gendered bathrooms. To that I say, in the most politically correct way “fuck you America”
Also, shout out to Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee for passing a bill into law that allows health care providers to discriminate against the LGBT. It’s not as if we are a disenfranchised minority group that faces constant discrimination. Thank you for making our lives more difficult.
Quite recently I was listening to the radio and by quite recently I mean practically every day when I heard a cover of Lesley Gore's classic hit, “You Don't Own Me”. It was reworked by this girl named Grace. I don't know her from Australia, but it's a very nice little update. The song also features a few rapped verses from G-Easy. I've listened to it a few times and I feel like he's missed the point of the song.
“You Don't Own Me” is such a vibrant song and it deserved to be reworked for a younger 21st century audience. It's all about telling your significant other that they can't control you. It's the song used to close the movie The First Wives Club, an entire film dedicated to the revitalization of women brought down by their husbands.
The biggest of these was “It's My Party”. Well known for it's refrain, “it's my party and I'll cry if I want to.” This inspired a “concept” album of songs that had to do with tears, which quite honestly is better in theory then in practice. “It's My Party” was her number one and breakout hit. It's what made her star.
The song also inspired a follow up hit “Judy's Turn To Cry” that followed the story arc of the previous song. Because, “now it's Judy's turn to cry, because Johnny's coming back to me”. Now why she wants him back is still up in the air, but needless to say she does. Who said love wasn't real.
Quite recently we've seen a wave of nostalgia come back on the radio whether that's in the form of eighties synths or Meghan Trainor's bright reincarnations, her latest musical inspiration being nineties Britney Spears updates. Voice contestant Melanie Martinez include a sample of “It's My Party” on her debut album Cry Baby in a song called “Pity Party”. Swedish duo Icona Pop even used it in a much maligned “My Party”. Lesley Gore's musical influence is impossible to deny.
Buy "Pity Party"
And, if that's not enough, she also guest starred on Batman back in her hey day. What more could you ask for?
I learned a lot of things. I got the good highlights my group members. I refused to do any of the research. Vince Lombardi was the son of an immigrant. An angry Catholic and Italian. He played football in high school and college.
For most of his career he was an assistant coach. First at a high school. Then for Red Blaik. Another infamous football coach. Where he learned a lot. Red Blaik was coach for Army. And, according to his wikipedia page he was really good.
At some point he said “fuck the Green Bay Packers” and went away. He only returned briefly to professional football, coaching the Washington Redskins.
Then, he died.
The man had cancer. But, it's okay, because they named the Super Bowl trophy after him. He's iconic. And, everyone's favorite LGBT supporter. Vince Lombardi is a boss. As only an Italian could be.
Surprise of all surprises I have actually been reading over Christmas break. It is probably really hard to believe that I of all people actually enjoy reading. All I talk about is movies and boys and music. The fun stuff. During the semester I do not read anything. That is funny. Trying to maintain focus on The Odyssey and your trashy romance novel at the same time does not pan out.
Right before Christmas I started these two books by David Levithan. One is called Boy Meets Boy and the other is Two Boys Kissing. We are going to flashback and then go forward. It's actually all by accident that I read the books in the order that I did. I really wanted to read Two Boys Kissing first, but for some reason I chose to read Boys Meets Boy. I had both of the books with me, but I chose to read Boy Meets Boy first even though I wanted to read Two Boys Kissing. This may sound like extraneous information it is not.
Buy Boy Meets Boy
Now the reason I'm technically qualifying this as a Throwback Thursday is that Boy Meets Boy just recently had it's ten year anniversary. This was David Levithan's first novel and it's hardly the paramount of what gay literature should be. This book was protested, people tried to ban it, and honestly it's just a story of two boys falling in love.
It's an incredibly optimistic novel. It shows the world as how it should be instead of how it is. There's a nice mixture of representation in the gay community, you have the transgendered cheer leader, the boy coming to terms with his bisexuality, and of course the two main boys themselves. There is however the contrast of Tony. He is the narrators best friend and his parents are very religious. Tony is saintly. He is almost a martyr. The author reveals that Tony is based off a the title character in a song called “Tony” by Patty Griffin. Tony kills himself in the song. David Levithan said that he wanted to rewrite Tony's story. The book is even dedicated to Tony.
Buy "Tony"
Boy Meets Boy is the happiest I've ever felt reading a book. It was only when it was over that I was depressed. I realized or I thought I realized that I would never be that happy. I would always be Tony. The boy who ends up killing himself, I would never be the lead character who's family loves them and supports them.
That is why I probably should not have read Two Boys Kissing next. Thank god that I did, but it was not really a strong game plan. Where Boy Meets Boy is this uplifting novel, Two Boys Kissing is realistic. David Levithan wrote this book almost ten years after Boy Meets Boy.
This novel is important. This novel should be a classic. I don't say that lightly. I am not kidding with you when I say that. This isn't an exaggeration. Two Boys Kissing is the most beautiful book I have ever read in my life. It's also one of the saddest.
The perspective David Levithan uses is very interesting. It tells the story of four groups of boys and it's observed by this omnipresent spirit. I know that sounds strange, I'm not phrasing it well, but this person acts like a chorus in the Greek classics. This unnamed character is gay and is advising and struggling with them. Everything about this book is triggering if you are gay. I understood every single character. I understand that Craig and Harry want to show the world that it's okay to be gay. I can relate to Neil and Peter, even though I've never been in a relationship. Avery despite being transgendered is the most relate able character. He deals with body issues that even the most secure of us have. I hate to say that Cooper is the one I understood the most. The parents who didn't love, the parents who only realized they cared about him after he tried to kill himself.
Now Boy Meets Boy already made me an emotional wreck. Two Boys Kissing just finished the pile up. I had no interest in spending time with my family. I apologize for all of my tweets. I was literally the Grinch. Christmas day I pretended I was asleep. When my mother finally made me wake up. She knew something was wrong. I wouldn't tell her. Why would I? It has been eight years. And no where in that time did I think telling my religious parents I was gay was a good idea.
So, I took a shower. I even had my outfit planned out. All black. A shirt my father had told me was very feminine. I was ready. Except I wasn't really. I was sobbing and crying in the shower. Note to everyone that a shower doesn't help get rid of your tears if you keep crying. I thought I would burn some calories that day. It did not happen. My shower was about an hour long. In between curling up on the shower floor and trying to collect myself. I tried to make light of it. Ask myself why I was crying. Because, Legally Blonde was a really emotional movie. Or the very positive thought that crying worked the abdominal muscles. If it did I do not see any improvement.
What actually got me composed was Madonna. I just sang “Living For Love”. It was things like “I'm down on my knees alone in the dark/ I'm going to carry on/ I'm living for love/ I'm not giving up/ Love is going to lift me up”. Whenever anything's wrong it's Madonna or Sheryl Crow or Lady Gaga or anyone who tells me it's okay. Madonna will never know how much I needed he
Finally. After an hour, I am composed. I traipse down the stairs, I am steel. I am the bitch I've always trained myself to be. I come down with my parents presents in hand. They continue to ask me what's wrong. I ignore them. I had been strong for eight years and Lord knows I could be strong for another four.
I tell them that I was only here to open Christmas presents. They don't open anything I bought them. I bring in a few of the presents and open them. I'm trying so hard not to think, not to break down and cry. I'm unnecessarily callous. My mother starts crying. I really don't have any sympathy for her. My father tells me I need to get out. That I have ruined Christmas. Of course I have. I've spent no time with my family on a family holiday. I have no interest in talking to them. I am over it. Still, I'm a dramatic cunt and I told them Merry Christmas. There are a lot things that I've experienced with my father. I know when I make him angry that he throws the money he spends on me against me. Sorry, you decided to have a child. I know he swears, but that day I thought he was going to hit me. I don't what held him back. Thinking about the concept of your parents hitting you, you shiver a little bit. I was so dead inside that I wasn't afraid if he hit me. If anything I would have known how to respond to that. There are a lot of ways I've imagined telling my parents that “by the way I'm a homosexual” and no matter how I did it. The reaction is always the same. Without even telling them I was gay, I managed to get exactly the reaction I always expected. I stood there and listened to him call me a son of a bitch and a bastard. He threw around fuck for good measure and when he was done. I walked upstairs. I shut my door and listened to “Living For Love”. The Jenny Lewis song “Head Underwater” and then my parents left. They had a Christmas party to go to. One I had opted out of, because it sounded god awful. A bunch of middle aged, religious republicans. Choke me with a cashmere scarf already.
What was weird is that when my parents were leaving they were having the most normal conversation. They were talking about the weather. What the actual fuck parents. What the fuck.
I finally hear them leave and I do what I always do when I'm depressed. I put on some dance music. I have never listened to my music quite as loud as I did to Britney Spears “Hold It Against Me”. It was also the most ugly thing to see me when the Madonna song “Holiday” came on. I was crying and dancing and wailing the lyrics.
You know I question why I'm alone, but I really do understand. I'm a train wreck.
Everyone needs a break from dancing at some point, and I am just casually sitting there eating a bagel when the garage door opens. I did not expect my parents to be home so soon. I shut the music off and calmly run up the stairs. My bagels still sitting there on the table.
Lord knows I have dropped more then a few hints along the way. My hair has been 50 Shades of Purple, I can barely walk in my skinny jeans, my unnatural obsession with Madonna, but more importantly whenever they ask me about girls there never is one. I have never once told them about a girl liked, because there has never been one.
This is what I really needed to hear. And, he holds me. I can't tell you how badly I've needed someone to just hold me and let me cry. Just to let me not say anything and cry. How can you explain that to someone. Just hold still, I'm going to start crying on your shoulder, and I'm not going to explain anything to you after wards. There was some talking as there needed to be and we went on with our Christmas. We salvaged it if you want to say that. Isn't that just like me. Merry Christmas parents, I'm gay. Could I have been more dramatic. Like come on.
My mother and I don't talk about it. We go out to dinner. Forgive that poor waiter who was working on Christmas, I am sorry. Then, we saw Into the Woods. The gayest movie at the box office next to Annie. Can we just talk about how good Chris Pine and Billy Magnussen looked in this movie. That was a Christmas miracle. For the first time I was sitting next to my parents, completely enraptured by these two beautiful men, and if I told them, it wouldn't have surprised them at all.
At home. We played a boardgame. I won. I came upstairs to blog when I realized I hadn't talked to my mother. I hadn't said to her. I'm gay. I like boys and a good dick in the morning. Of course you would never tell you parents that in that exact phrasing.
So, I trek my way from the comfort of my bedroom. I say to her is there anything you want to talk about? She says no. She asks me if there's anything I want to talk about. I want to know how much she wants to know. If I'm dating someone, if there's a boy I like (The answer is no on both counts). We talk for a few hours. My mother was in denial. She reiterated that it was a sin and a choice I was making, but that I was an adult and that she still loved me. I nod and just listen. Now is not the time to say no one would ever choose to be gay. No one choose to have people hate you for no reason. If I could be straight, things would be a lot easier. And, I have read the Bible, but apologies to any religious reader out there. Some things in the Bible are fucked up.
But, I think we're okay. And, some day they will understand that I'm born this way. That I didn't make a choice. It wasn't anything they did. Right now that's what's killing me. They think they did something wrong. You did nothing wrong. The fact that they think they did something wrong is exactly how they feel about me. There's something wrong with me.
I've come to realize that there were different levels of acceptance represented in Two Boys Kissing. I'm no longer Cooper. I'm no longer the person who wants to kill themselves, because there parents hate them. I'm Ryan. Working on it one step at a time and someday I'll have that love that Peter and Neil have. Someday that will happen.
I am not advocating coming out to your parents or your family. I feel so much better having it out in the open, but I also understand. I understand looking at your car and wondering if you're ever going to have to sleep in it, because your parents kicked you out. When people tell you it gets better, that coming out is the best thing they ever did. They're right, but there's always the possibility that it's worst thing that ever happens to you. I understand if you're afraid. My father had to do it for me.
Know that someone cares. That someone is me and every other gay out there, because we all understand. I don't need to meet you to know that I care about your struggle. We understand. I don't want you to think about your killing yourself like I have. I want you to know that someone cares. I don't need to like you to care about you. Everyone deserves to be happy and you will be. Just hold on. You can do it. I care about you and I love you just the way you are. It was RuPaul who told me that first. It shouldn't take Kesha and Lady Gaga to tell us that it's okay for us to be who we are. It shouldn't be books or television that tells us we're fine. But, I'm so glad that they are here. Because, we need them. We really need them. You will survive. You will be a better person. You will make it. I know you can. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to contact me whenever you need me. All of that information is at the top of the page. If you are struggling with religious family members. Tony said something very wise in Boy Meets Boy that might help. He said that they were just trying to save him, to do the best they could for him. Your family is wrong for trying to change you, for not realizing that you are fucking perfect. It is however stemming from a place of love. They don't want you to go to hell. And, as awful as they treat you and as they make you feel. They want what's best for you in some sick twisted way. Most importantly, stay safe. Be who you are, but be safe. That's something everyone deserves. I have been considering doing an over arching throwback on a subject for a while. When I was writing for another blog, I did one on marijuana. That was fun. I did another on abuse. This didn't even start out as a throwback. I wanted to write about Pussy Riot for a Media Monday. It just didn't happen. If you haven't heard of them, you should look them up. Basically, they are these group of Russian women who are fighting for rights in Russia. The media focuses most of their attention on the feminist and LGBT side of the group, however they protest for other basic human rights as well. They are very interesting and inspirational women. This article really got started due to Hozier and his song “Take Me To Church”. The song is beautiful and well written. It's definitely worth a listen if you haven't yet. However, it really was the music video that moved me. It told the story of a closeted gay couple in Russia, and the physical violence that results when its discovered that one of them is gay. I don't know how this did not garner some form of attention. It's a stunning, relevant video. I love Iggy and her Clueless themed “Fancy”. But, “Take Me To Church” is art. It is what pop culture is for to get a conversation started. I found the video to be so moving I was going to do a whole throwback on Hozier. His influences alone would have made for an interesting article on. Van Morrison, Jackie Wilson, Jeff Buckley. Even, Bon Iver, although he is a little too current for a throwback. Before the 90's there was very little gay support in media. Gloria Gaynor's “I Will Survive” may be considered a gay anthem, but it wasn't directed towards that purpose. Gay rights came to head when everything else was coming up. Women's rights, black rights. All these rights movements and it was put on the back burner. This is not a criticism of how it was handled, because it is certainly not. There was a lot happening and you have to pick what you can focus on. The 90's, though was when it became more talked about. I don't want to say accepted. Although, you did see the emergence of RuPaul. A black drag queen into social media. He became the face of MAC cosmetics, had a stint as talk show host on VH1, and his signature song “Supermodel (You Better Work)” that thrust him into the spotlight. It says something about he 90's that this was allowed to happen. Still, he never did have that top ten hit. He never truly became an A-List star.
These were mainstream hit songs, in the times when MTV still ruled the world. She was forcing America to look at it. Buy "Secret" No matter how much I like Lady Gaga or any of the other pop stars who support LGBT rights. Now its almost popular to support gay rights. Madonna did it when it wasn't in vogue. She did it because she thought it was the right thing to do. She thought it would make a difference and it did. One of the many things I hold against Katy Perry despite her stated support of gay rights, is “I Kissed A Girl” and “Your So Gay”. In one album. It presented the concept of: lesbians are hot, gay boys disgusting. She used this for her own fame. She may not have meant it that way, but its how it comes across. It honestly would not surprise if born and raised Christian girl Katy Perry did not like gays. It really would not. It would not shock me or make me dislike her more then I already do. It was the same with Paula Deen. Was anyone really that surprised that good old southern Paula Deen was racist. It shouldn't have. Before the 90's there really weren't any mainstream movies about the gay 'agenda'. Don't you love how the agenda is that they want to be married. What a terrible thing the gays are trying to do. They will bring down America with all this marriage.
You might not have heard of a few of these movies, but some are mainstream. The Adventures of Priscilla is a funny movie. Two drag queens and a transexual cross Australia in bus. You should need no more convincing. Then, you have both Saved! and But, I'm a Cheerleader. The first tells the story of a girl who tries to save her gay boyfriend by having sex with him. Believing it is the Lord's will, she doesn't realize she will get pregnant, or that he's still gay. With supporting roles played by Mandy Moore and Macauley Caulkin it's surprisingly heartwarming if tempestuously dull.
Of course you've heard of Brokeback Mountain. You know Heath Ledger is in it. It's a great movie. The thing about it that troubles me is that it is so often referred to as a 'gay' movie. When these men are bisexual, not gay. There is a difference. This movie was watched in GBF (Gay Best Friend) when one of the mother's tries to convince her son that she is okay with him being gay. It is basically the 2010's attempts at a Clueless or Mean Girls. One of the boys is outed and the three leading prom queen contenders battle over him to gain the upper edge in the polls. All the obvious flaws you are seeing with this movie are supposed to be there. It's about realizing that just because someone's gay doesn't make them any less human with any less feelings. And, there are other movies of course. These are just the ones I have seen. Milk I've been told is a great movie about gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk. You probably know I feel about Sean Penn, which is why I haven't made a point of seeing it. And, of course the documentary Paris Is Burning is a must see. People still quote all the time. Brooke Candy in “Opulence”, even RuPaul took his “Shantay, Sashay” from this movie. It's a classic. TV of course. The first mainstream, mention of homosexuality on TV had to be Three's Company. The only reason Jack is allowed to live with Janet and Chrissy is the fact that he isn't attracted to them. Which we all know isn't true. Now TV has gay relations on it all the time. Modern Family, Glee, White Collar. It certainly is better. It has gone past the point of being under the conscious level, but don't let anyone tell you that there isn't discrimination against homosexuality. The fact that not every state has legalized gay marriage is an obvious point. There is no critical thinking involved in that. GBF was rated R. Actually all the movies I listed were rated R. I guarantee when you watch them you'll wonder how that happened. Some of them you'll be like, yes that deserved that rated R, and others you will just not understand. Take other countries into account. Russia, Pakistan, Egypt. You cannot tell me that homosexuality is not persecuted because it is. It is the same thing as telling me racism does not exist. Are you kidding me. The people who fought discriminatory laws are still alive. The same oppressors are still around. There may be less violent racism, but it still happens. It's just not the same thing. Is it better. You can make your mind up about that. I do think the younger generation is going to be a lot more accepting. The YouTube community being a prime example of that. Young people watch YouTubers and the fan base of Tyler Oakley, Superfruit, Troye Sivan are obvious points to favor this. Do not change who you are for anyone. Home is where you are. You do not need people who do not support you. If you're parents do not like gays. Fuck them. You don't need to tell them. Move out. Become your own person. You don't need parental permission. It really upsets me that it would be impossible to tell my parents thatf I was gay. They would freak out. It would be a major issue. That's heartbreaking parents. They wouldn't love me anymore. I would be a disappointment. That's not sort of upsetting. It's horrific that this is how my parents would feel about it. Me over here in my intro to pysch class has learned that trying to change your sexuality is not a good thing to do. It is very unhealthy. It causes depression. Don't change yourself. Accept who you are. And, realize that there are people on your side. Even, if you can't reach out to them, even if you can't verbally acknowledge something it is okay. It will get better. We all have to be adults some day and you don't have to live anywhere near your parents.
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