Saturday, January 29, 2011

Mysteries of the Universe #46

How is it that my scrupulously vegetarian flat smells of corned beef?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

My New Look

Fists with Sex and Fury drawn on; photo copyright Val PhoenixThese fists of fury belong to none other than your humble pacifist scribe. I have never had a tattoo (sensitive skin), but perhaps this will inspire me to reinvent myself as a hard woman. Thanks to Annette for the spiffing ink work.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

This Sunday: Revenge Is Sweet

It's the first outing of 2011 for the Cinema des Femmes collective's monthly events, and this time it's all about pinky violence.

It's a genre that's new to me, but one of our number is quite keen and the trailers certainly look entertaining: sword fights, punch-ups and plenty of flesh on show. Ah, yes, it's one of those 1970s sexploitation cult genres that divides opinion. Seeing as we are coming from a feminist POV, we are looking at the upside: powerful women standing up for themselves and not taking any BS. Naturally, there are dissenting opinions on this. I had a look online to find a feminist analysis of PV, but couldn't find anything, alas. (edit: ask and ye shall receive. )

The two films we are showing are Female Prisoner 701: Scorpion + Sex and Fury.

So, prison drama and pick-pocketing!

The CdF gals are going to dress up as a biker gang and are busy coordinating our outfits. Looking forward to it. It's this Sunday at the Horatia in London. Full deets.

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Women's Voices from the Muslim World

Here's a collection of 98 films showing online, in which women from predominantly Muslim countries share stories: from a bus driver in Iran to a would-be sunglasses purchaser in Afghanistan. The films are in competition ahead of the Women's Voices Now festival in March in Los Angeles. View and vote.

Friday, January 14, 2011

RIP Trish Keenan

Just heard the horrible news Trish Keenan of Broadcast has died, after a struggle with swine flu. Details are extremely sketchy, and I don't even know how old she was, but certainly she went way too soon.

I first heard Broadcast through John Peel's show on Radio 1 in the 1990s and always found them a wonderfully atmospheric outfit, utterly lacking in the trappings of celebritism required to achieve mainstream success. That their first EP was called The Booklovers said it all.

Sadly, I only had one abortive opportunity to see them live, interrupted by grotesquely lesbophobic venue security, so left without enjoying the show.

Here is Broadcast in action in happier times:

Saturday, January 08, 2011

London Short Film Festival

This one always creeps up on me, coming as it does so early in the new year. But, there is a plethora of interesting screenings in store, among them Queer Brit, Salon des Refusés, and Straight 8.

Among the live events are two that pique my interest. Firstly, the unwieldily titled Club des Femmes and Spinster Take New Berlin, which pairs a feature film with some live performance.

Also in the music + film arena is
Whirlygig Cinema & The Cabinet of Living Cinema Present: Making Tracks, in which films are presented with live scores. I have participated in Whirlygig events in the past, but not, sadly, this time. Should be exciting, as the filmmakers will not have heard the scores until they are performed on the night.

London Short Film Festival runs 7-16 January in London.

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Creative Visualisation

Have just had a marvellously entertaining Skype chat with Shunda K, some of which will go out on my show next week.

What stayed with me (aside from her amusing habit of calling me "Ms. Val"--perhaps I should insist on this honorific in my daily life) was the extraordinary story of how she met her wife. I won't give all of it away, aside from saying that she turned to God and promised to remain celibate for two months. I can't promise this works for everyone.

Indeed, I hadn't given a moment's thought to finding a wife, but, given that it's a new year and I have made no resolutions, I may conduct an experiment, in the interests of science, you understand.

I well remember my older sister being given a copy of The Joy of Cooking on her 21st birthday and exclaiming: "Now I don't have to get married!"

Perhaps I should visualise The Joy of Cooking.
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