My Dad is 100 Years Old (2005)

With Isabella Rossellini as her father, herself, Hitchcock, Chaplin, Fellini. A Guy Maddin film about cinema and the deconstruction of the father-director through the bellybutton.

for every queer

via ronikamcclain - meditation for my family 

Tadeusz Kantor - Wielopole, Wielopole, 1984

Tadeusz Kantor was one of those artist that can fit any box, he was so easily incorporated my mainstream theatrical discourses as an innocent and solitary genius, detached from the mundane and more important, from politics. Fortunately, those apologists never acknowledged the dynamite social potential of his and of Cricot 2 collective's work. As in other performances (I would remind here only the excellent "Let the artists die!", a terrific comment on art elitism, the upper class audiences and the role of the poor artist) filled with strong political criticism, in "Wielopole, Wielopole" Kantor gives a final blow to militarism, patriotism, catholicism and anti-semitism in such a brilliant and unequivocal way that by simply watching some old recording in poor conditions you can get the goose bumps. I  don't even want to imagine what was to be present and watch Kantor giving the shooting signal for the Polish Army to kill the female rabbi over and over again. And these general strong statements that are present in this performance (based on some stereotypical images that Kantor is not afraid to use) have the great potential to change the perception of the spectators, especially when those images are based on some dusty memories from the author's childhood and from another era. It is so ironic to see how this performance was associated with an anticommunist struggle when it speaks so well today about the marriage between nationalism, Church and hate, all values promoted by the anticommunist right-wing all over Eastern Europe. Lucky for him, Kantor is not alive anymore to see his shows crashed by fascists and religious fanatics who would not take the artistic critique too easily.

Racist, Classist, Anti-Gay Bullshit

Racist, Classist, Anti-Gay Bullshit [Explicit]
a song by All or Nothing HC

Derek Jarman - Pirate Tape (1983)

Burroughs takes it to the streets (as seen by Derek Jarman). Brilliant!

Big Deal

"Big Deal", Katastrophe's music video, is a creative retelling of June 3, 1968, when artist Andy Warhol was shot by the writer Valerie Solanas. In this play on the Warhol Superstar Factory complete with glitter blood, hip-hop artist Katastrophe fills Andy's shoes and director Hilary Goldberg cameos as Solanas. Shot on Super 8 film with a colorful ensemble cast.

Homophobia hits Europe

A chilly wave of homophobia hits Europe these days. After Russian activists were arrested last week for their "homosexual propaganda", new legislative ideas arrived in Finland and Hungary.

All Out writes about the case of Sergey Kondrashov. His letter explains quite clear the horrible situation:

Dear members of All Out

My name is Sergey and I live in Russia. I'm straight, happily married for 16 years. And until last week I would not have been called an activist. But on Sunday in St Petersburg I was arrested for spreading "gay propaganda".

Why? Because I held up a banner and told the truth: “A dear family friend is lesbian. My wife and I love and respect her … and her family is just as equal as ours." In just five days i will got to court, where I will probably be fined and even thrown to jail for 15 days because I took a stand for equal rights.

Despite arguments made by the bill supporters - that this law was intended to protect children - it's now clearer than ever that the law is really about making lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) people disappear in Russia's second largest city.

And not just LGBT people - the law will muzzle people like me, straight people who care about our LGBT friends and family. Now that lawmakers in the Duma (the federal legislature) are debating a version of the law, this despicable law could go nationwide - unless we fight it now.

That's why I'm appealing to the one person whose influence over the political process in Russia could help us annul this unconstitutional law in St. Petersburg, and make sure it isn't rolled out nationwide - Prime Minister Putin. Sign this petition to the president-elect, let's make sure he knows the whole world is watching.

Thanks for your support,

Sergey Kondrashov. Independent lawyer in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

In a copycat law, the Hungarian nationalist party Jobbik attacks the queer community:

Jobbik party on Wednesday submitted an amendment proposal seeking to ban “promotion of sexual deviations”, MP Adam Mirkoczki, the proponent of the bill, told a press conference.
The bill is aimed at protecting “public morals and the mental health of the young generations” from homosexuality, trans-sexuality, transvestitism, bisexuality, and paedophile behaviours, the deputy said.
The legal changes to several laws would include a ban on advertisements or programmes presenting the above behaviours as socially acceptable or as examples to be followed.
If parliament passes the proposal into law, “promotion” of homosexuality or other “disorders of sexual behaviour” will be punishable by up to 8 years in prison. 

(via politics.hu)


In Finland, 

Helena Eronen, a prominent member of the far-right political party the True Finns, wants members of minority groups to wear armbands for easy identification. She suggest a rainbow flag for gay people, a crescent for Muslims, and a hammer-and-sickle for Russians.

 writes Christopher Aqurette.

She suggested on her blog entry today that foreigners should start using sleeve badges in order to help the police figure out rapidly who is a foreigner and who is a Finn.  She writes: 

If every foreigner were required to use a sleeve badge of his/her national background, the police could immediately spot whether that ‘aha, that is a Muslim from Somalia’ or ‘aha. that is a beggar from Romania.’... Kampucheans could have field mines, a burger [could be used to distinguish] USAmericans… take for example if a refugee from Kurdistan would get permanent residency [in Finland], his red half moon would be changed for a blue-white half moon when he’d become a Finnish citizen… Think about what an important moment in that Kurd’s life [if he would exchange his red half moon for a blue-white half moon at some ceremony at Immigration Service]. It would enforce integration and would make Finnish and Finnishness an important goal [for every immigrant to attain].

She also proposes that potential terrorist could wear chips under their skins to monitor their movements.

Acording to Enrique Tessieri (who also shares the above info), 

if you visit Eronen’s Facebook page and go to photos, you’ll find one where she is wearing an army-looking cap with a flower emblem. The edelweiss flower was used by a mountain commando division in Hitler’s army.

What is worrying in these three cases is the lack of reaction from "common people", besides the small rejection or calling them insane, the strange feeling of a horrifying deja-vu is not hunting yet, the perils of this hate machine are not felt. My only hope is that the counter-reaction will come not too late. In Russia people are still arrested. 

Talking Cuban Crisis

Another nothing less than brilliant way of dealing with high politics: singing, irony, melody, strong story. But of course, the sarcasm and wit of Phil Ochs can do the trick of keeping this story alive decades after.

It was just a little while ago i glued my ears to the radio
The announcer was sayin' we'd better beware
A crisis was hanging - a wave from the air
Crawlin' on the ground
Swimmin' in the sea
Headin' for me

Well, i didn't know if i was for or agin' it
He was yellin' and screamin' a mile a minute
Well, he said "here comes the president
But first this word from pepsodent
Have whiter teeth
Have cleaner breath
When you're facin' nuclear death"

And then president john began to speak
And i knew right away he wouldn't be weak
Well, he said he'd seen some missile bases
And terrible smiles on cuban faces
Close pictures
Carryin' land reform too far
Giving land to the ussr

Well, he said we mustn't be afraid
We're settin' up a little blockade
Put our ships along the cuban shores
And if the russian bear yells and roars,
We'll let him have it

From turkey and greece, formosa and spain
The peaceful west european plain
From alaska and greenland we'll use our means
And twenty thousand submarines
We're gonna teach the russians a lesson
For trying to upset the balance of power

Now most americans stood behind
The president and his military minds
But me, i stood behind a bar
Dreamin' of a spaceship getaway car
Head for mars
Any other planet that has bars
Like gerde's folk city

Yes, it seemed the president's stand was strong and plain
But some republicans was a-goin' insane
And they still are
They said our plan was just too mild
Spare the rod and spoil the child
Let's sink cuba into the sea
And give 'em back democracy
Under the water

Well, the deadline was set for ten o'clock
For a cold war it was a-gettin' hot
Well, the russians tried, the russians failed
Homeward bound those missiles sailed
Mr. khruschev said, "better red than dead."

Spanish Civil War Song

Phil Ochs again:

And don't forget the churches and the sad role that they played:
They crucified their people and worked the devil's trade;
But now the wounds are healing with the passing of time,
So we send them planes and rifles and recognize their crime.

Did you wonder why?
Did you ever pause and cry?

So spend your tourist dollars and turn your heads away.
Forget about the slaughter, it's the price we all must pay,
For now the world's in struggle, to win we all must bend:
So dim the light in freedom's soul: sleep well tonight, my friend.

Love me, I'm a liberal

a mighty good song by Phil Ochs, sense the sarcasm:

I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
as long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crain?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I read New republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal

Victorian Monsters

You can visit his website at  Dan Hillier. I find the mix of Victorian style and the colonial logic of the outside monster as tongue-in-cheek (I remember the good old imperialist saying of those lands that were not part of the empire yet: where dragons live). These colages express the schizofrenic condition of the bourgeoisies, exploring the monster within the polite society.

rules of golf

Golf is slowly becoming a very popular sport all over the global North, class-based of course. What are the rules for playing it? Thanks to "Married to the Sea", now we know:

rules of gol:

Next episode explains the rules of winter sports ;)

Invitation to War

we went to voina with guns

On Friday, the 16th of March 2012, the artist activist group Voina (Russian: „war”) had a public presentation at the National Museum for Contemporary Art situated in the House of People in Bucharest. Each person attending this event had to pass through a control of his/hers belongings and a body control through a metal detector, including the Voina artists. They were even longer and more thoroughly searched. The reason for this is that the building is a military objective. A space totally dedicated to State authorities, it hosts various institutions of „national importance” like the Parliament.

We consider the event a invitation to war.

The war is against today's form of the Romanian State, a police state that has progressively straighten its repressive character in the last six months. The fundamental right to protest and contest state authority has been and still is seriously broken. Too many activists and not only have been picked up and fined abusively and even physically assaulted by the military arm of the State, the privileged Jandarmeria.

Inside the House of People, the war can only be symbolic, a representation of that real war through which the protest is, as each day passes, domesticized and annihilated. We have come to war in the only way we can: with toy guns. Just as freedom of speech is just a toy and protest just a simulacra in the eyes of the authorities. We played the role of harmless harlequins, toy-terrorists, a role that the same authorities attribute to artists. Responding to a symbolic war invitation, we try to push the limits of security and surveillance at the security check of the Museum.

The toy guns are confiscated at the entrance, the art gesture is amputated in the hallway of the Great House. The reason: with toy guns one can threaten and create panic. In the space that the State dedicated to contemporary art, contemporary artists are not welcome if they undermine its authority. Two pistols out of five manage to get across the tough security check. Throughout the presentation, anyone could observe the other guns left next to the metal detector.

At the first floor of the Museum, the Voina presentation is about to begin. At this moment, we place ourselves in front of the obedient audience, two of us holding our guns at sight. The others are wearing the message: „I came to Voina, but this plastic gun had to stay at the security check of the Museum”. Although we threaten the audience with our guns, nobody panics. We are perfectly safe in the most guarded building in Romania. The limits of security and surveillance seem unreachable.
A threatening as a simulacra and the neutralization of any conflict, this is the only Voina possible at the House of People.

Arnold Schlachter
Bogdan Draganescu
Mihail Bumbes
Mihai Lukács
Veda Popovici

Fascist reunion under the BMW logo in Bucharest

On March 14, the Christian Democratic Foundation led by the ex-Minister of External Affairs, Teodor Baconschi, organized jointly with the Organization of Women of PD-L, the Hanns Seidel Foundation and two ultraconservative groups (the Pro-Life Foundation and the Family Alliance), a conference called "family and life ethics" under the patronage of Bavaria Motors and the big BMW logo.

A big moral dilemma for the speakers. What would BMW do? 

The discussion between various religious  fundamentalists and conservative politicians had many fascist aspects: a strong nationalist discourse, the anti-choice radical view, homophobic statements, the social eugenics project of a woman MP (Ms. Turcan), the "good"example of the new Hungarian constitution, the presence of a fascist leader that was using "classic" nazi citations to make his argument.  All under the German brotherly support of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, whose representative used his time to explain that "abortion is murder".

Bogdan Stanciu, the Pro-Vita representative, made a presentation in which he praised the current Constitution of Hungary, emphasizing its focus on Christianity, nation, anti-choice and anti-gay marriage. Baconschi congratulated his presentation by using the words "articulate, coherent and true", adding that Stanciu's references are also "our references" (the Goebbels reference also, I assume).

The old cliche of the "liberal holocaust" that destroys the greatness of the Romanian nation, together with demographic fears and the apocalypse-to-come, was connected again to the disappearance of the conservative family and religious beliefs.

As a sort of conclusion to the anti-women-anti-gay-anti-poor talk, Baconschi closed the hateful monologues by stating the alliance between the ruling party (which he represents as vice-president) and the ultraconservative group Pro-Vita, whose president comes also from the New Right fascist organization. He also mentioned that those who look for tolerance can go to a brothel (a pun in Romanian, the expression "tolerance house" means brothel).


Nevertheless, the audience was allowed to comment for the last 10 minutes when several feminist voices attacked this event harshly and they encountered an unexpected support from the crowd, most of the audience was cheering their in-your-face comments. 




thanks to Medusa for her coverage and here is the page of the event [both in Romanian].

Queercore @ subRahova

Queercore 

One person show 

In English 

After Jet Moon & Queer Beograd Collective 

With Cătălin Jugravu 

By Mihai Lukacs 

Saturday, January 14, 2012
7:00pm until 10:00pm

subRahova, Sergent Nutu Ion, nr.2, Bucharest, Romania

+ deBate on the round table about Queer Artivism/Activism with the most special guests Working on this performance we had the revelation that is not enough to stage and act a queer show when no one knows what queer is. The plan is not to give you another closet, but to move beyond the idea of rights and freedom of sexual expression. Our work focuses on a different politick. We politicize and localize queer to provide a space to explore and challenge militarism, capitalism, gender, homophobia and nationalism. Of course, the question is why do we want to connect all politics together through theatre conventions? Why do we want to go out of the identity box politics? How can we relate queer to our local context – not just some Western taken-for-granted idea? There are so many questions to be asked but this is also a way to create a safe social space where we can move away from the sterile discussions to the change that we want to see happening. We want to show how these issues connect by bringing on stage those lives that don’t fit into neat categories and clear boundaries. Queercore is a space to start the important conversations that we all wanted so much to have, to build a base to continue these conversations and to begin to get to know each other. subRahova, str. Sergent Nutu Ion, nr.2/ Strada Mihail Sebastian 112, the RECOM building. For taxi, ask for Strada Mihail Sebastian 112. *please reserve a ticket at the following address: corequeer@gmail.com we are using the "pay-as-you-wish" system. facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/162905153812828/

Revolutionary conduct: the musical

bash back from Sweden:  "The film encourages and gives suggestions for ways to respond to gender-and hetero-fascists and their constant repetition of for example, are you a guy or girl?
A movie for all of us who are faced with sexism, trans / homophobia and guitar guys on everyday occasions and at parties."


Moralists Instruction Musical: The Revolutionary Conduct from Consumedmind on Vimeo.

nevertheless, acab

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

a poem by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself 
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, 
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on y our way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don't.
Because, sometimes, you won't.

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-ups
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a Slump.

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles cross weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place...

...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or the waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for the wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That's not for you!

Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.

With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be as famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don't
Because, sometimes they won't.

I'm afraid that some times
you'll play lonely games too.
Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.

All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you'll be quite a lot.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

On and on you will hike,
And I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up 
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's 
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never foget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
You're off the Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

never stop writing!

Eddy Crosby

The Aggressives

Something to be seen. It reminds me of  "Venus Boyz" and "Pick up the mic". Do you know any documentaries about similar scenes in Eastern Europe? Thanks & enjoy!

The Aggressives:

Access: YouTube

Summary: The Aggressives is a documentary "look at the lesbian women who prefer to dress and act as men and who participate in NYC's predominantly African-American lesbian drag balls." Viewers may explore issues of identity, gender, and sexuality with this group of lesbians that identify as butch/stud "aggressives," and adopt a very masculine gender. Part of this excerpt shows the daily practices to portray a masculine physique, including constantly working out to build muscle tone, grinding their teeth in order to have a strong masculine jaw line, taking hormone pills to grow facial hair and other mail traits to reduce feminine features and using duct tape, ace bandage and girdles to tape/hold down their breasts so they are less visible. As the respondents discuss their identity, this excerpt also explores what it means to be a man or woman, illustrating West and Zimmerman's concept of "doing gender." The women in the documentary are constantly fighting against societal constraints of a gendered female norm. This highly provocative excerpt can be a great discussion starter on issues of gender and sexuality, but the film more generally also examines issues of race.

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