Helen Mirren's Breasts

My friend, jac posted a link to this video earlier today. I am new to the Helen Mirren phenomenon. What I mean is, she seems suddenly to be on everyone's list of sexy older women. I don't know much current pop culture, but I think she even did a skit on Saturday Night Live recently about her magical breasts (please correct me if I'm wrong, for I'm too lazy to google). It turns out she was a sexy younger woman, too.

What struck me about this video is how well she carries the exasperation at being asked those questions that women artists always get asked. Essentially: how can you create any art of value when you have breasts? How can you expect men to take you seriously? Either you're too beautiful so that is too distracting or you're too ugly so why should we pay any attention to you.

Yet another post about soaking in patriarchy. Maybe I should get out more.









Peace.

Portrait of the Artist as a Woman

Thank you, Guerrilla Girls










Peace.

Conflicted

I think this is a beautiful picture, a peaceful human quilt.

Then I see the other images from Egypt of men armed with rocks and other weapons, wounded and bloodied. I see the men in military garb, and other men in their makeshift helmets, like boys playing war. And while part of me is carried along from my safe spot where I live in this mock democracy (de-mock-cracy?), an honored internet guest, on the mythic ride to battle: Good vs. Evil, another part of me sees a scene as absurd as stealing Erno's nose. While I have to believe in something (don't I? don't I have to hope and work for change?), I am so wary of all these men and their gods and their battles. Even the president of America is puffed up with prayer, walking with god.

I wish their backs were bent in humility and humanity.





















Peace.

For Echidne

I was reading this article over at Echidne's, and I thought of some of these scenes from my daycare some years ago.









Peace.