Wednesday 25 September 2013

Post about everything

Learning about feminism changed my life.  I think what was so amazing about it was that I finally found a set of ideologies that totally fit in with my own and reinforced the ideas I'd been having all along without having labelled them.  So, unknowingly, I think I have always been a feminist.

What was even greater is that the feminist community, especially online, was even more inspiring and eye-opening.  What I like most about feminism is that it is about questioning society and seeing it with new eyes.  Yes, it is likely that I would have done this anyway without labeling myself as a feminist, but finding your voice in a world that often tells you to shut up is difficult.  No, I think it's more that the world doesn't encourage you to speak.  In particular, it doesn't encourage young girls to speak, to stand up for what they believe in.  Hell no.

As an inherently independent person, I have always struggled with the idea of relationships and, pretty much, letting anyone else into your life.  I have a fear or losing control of my life, of who I am, if I was ever to be in a relationship.  This, I have realised, is partly due to the fact that, growing up, young girls are taught to give everything up for a chance at a relationship, at a chance to experience "love".  Do what it takes, gals, and don't stop 'till you find your number one man!  We are taught to change our bodies, change ourselves, in order to prepare ourselves for the male gaze.  I remember trying to cover up my legs from boys when I was fourteen years old because I was ashamed about their unshaven state.  I tried to adjust my pose to make myself look more "beautiful", to make myself more appealing somehow to the opposite sex.  It's interesting, because before I entered adolescence and began to somewhat passively consume and attempt to adhere to the ridiculous ideals that society sets for us (thanks, bros!), I was totally excited about being myself and not listening to what the heck anybody else told me to be.

Now, it's as if things have come full circle again.  I no longer care about what kind of state my legs are in, and I now accept fully (this took a long time) that I should be able to do whatever the fuck I want and not worry about whether I'm going to put off any guys whilst being my grand old self.  As much as it doesn't fit in with the norm, I would prefer to live my life doing this than having to mould myself to fit into some kind of distorted "reality".  This does not mean I undervalue relationships or sexuality in any way, I just don't stand for changing yourself in order to experience them.

I used to be afraid of talking about these kinds of things, being honest about how I feel, because a lot of the time it didn't fit in with what everyone else was saying.  But what truly is pointless, is pretending not to be a complex human being (which you are!), and pretending that you don't have these feelings.  I am a very thoughtful person, and unfortunately sometimes this means I hold back in making my voice heard lest I am proved wrong.  I admire greatly those who can so confidently express their opinions.  But luckily, everyone can interpret what it means to be a feminist in a different way.  I am not always firm in my beliefs, but calling myself a feminist is my own way of expressing my beliefs in a single word.  It makes me feel powerful because it reminds me that I am not alone.


What perhaps I wasn't prepared for was the fact that my new set of eyes has made me angry, and it has made me sad.  I would never take back what I have learnt, but unfortunately once you learn how to see through the bullshit, you have a whole new world to face.

Recently, the idea of male privilege has been playing on my mind.  With my newfound adulthood, I have a newfound freedom, but sometimes I wonder whether my male counterparts have just that little bit more than I do.  I sometimes wonder whether it's all in my head. Am I being a paranoid freak? And then, at 1am, my friend makes an offhand comment that he's going to travel alone into the city, just because he wants to. And I am jealous, because I cannot. I am jealous, because he doesn't have to be walked home from the train station by his parents (via the lane with the security camera) as soon as the sun goes down. I am jealous, because tonight nobody will comment on how sexy he looks or crudely invite him to "come and have a good time".  All because he is a boy and I am a girl. I want to walk around at night without the fear of being hollered at, or abused in a violent or sexual manner.

This, understandably, makes me feel annoyed.  I have a hard time comprehending why things are worse for some people just because of their race, gender or religion.  This is why, when people in positions of power deny people any sort of basic right, or refuse to acknowledge inequality, it makes me really mad.  Yeah, Tony Abbott, I'm looking at you.


My friend and I recently set up a group at school for young girls to talk about things such as sexuality, individuality, self-esteem and feminism.  We have had to face a lot of bullshit, from male classmates sniggering when a notice is read out about it on the daily bulletin, to a young boy deciding to tell us how "sexist" we are for not allowing boys to join the group.  By standing firm with my beliefs, and helping young girls to figure all this stuff out, it has made me feel more confident and has been helpful in consolidating all that I have learnt.

These things are important, because it's what young women have to face.  I feel lucky, because what I know now has set me up for life.  I know the world is unjust.  I know how awesome it is to be a girl and to be a woman. I know that work needs to be done in order to make the world a better place.  I understand the importance of listening.  My role models are those that truly love what they do, and do it selflessly.

Yesterday, as I was out for a walk around the park, the ironically titled "No.1 Party Anthem" (look it up) by the Arctic Monkeys came onto my ipod.  As Alex Turner lazily drawled out the hook, C'mon c'mon c'mon, I broke out into a run.  I fucking ran as hard as I could, and all the time all I could think of was "This one's for the patriarchy".  Yeah, it makes me sad, but at the same time it gives me strength to fight for what I believe in.  By becoming aware of my feelings and becoming part of the feminist community, my moral compass has become more defined, as has my sense of self and place in the world.  Maybe sometimes I am afraid to speak, but at least I know that I can and that no one can stop me.


source: http://kateordiecomics.com/

Sunday 10 March 2013

Summer

It's been a long time.
Here's what I did over the summer.

All at once, forever
No light, no dark
Never dark
Always moving, solitary
Inertia
Never looking forwards, back
A world...
Warm and windy, but not dry
Fading, but not dying
Lazyhazy, but not tired
Gold gold gold
For everyone, for me and you
Until it is worthless, but worth everything
Too good, with an end
Now is the start, melancholy melon sweet
Bitter at the end
The very end
Never without light

I went to Sydney with my dear friend Maire.  We stayed at my grandparents' house and went swimming and made pop cakes.
playsuit - topshop (sadly I actually grew out of it over the summer), hat - my grandma's
 Picnicked at the Botanical Gardens more than once.
shorts - dangerfield (modelled by maire)
Ate Scandinavian food at the Scandinavian Christmas Fair.
 Rediscovered Nikki Webster.
this video clip was the coolest thing I had ever seen, when it came out
 Watched a lot of Twin Peaks.  Found a new style/hair icon etc.
 Wore this skirt a lot.
top - from opshop, skirt - vinage
 Wore my hair like this a lot because it was very effective in keeping me cool in the hot weather also I'm goddamn kawaii.
 Went to the beach and ordered ice creams whilst jumping up and down on the spot because the ground was burning our feet off.

 Burnt incense in Maire's room.

 Wore this skirt, again.
sunglasses - dangerfield, top - "", skirt - vintage
 Saw and read Picnic at Hanging Rock for the first time and loved it.


 Made rice balls with faces on them made out of nori.
Picnicked again and feasted on cake, lychee juice, iced tea and macadamias.

 Went to see the Paris Opera Ballet do Giselle and wore my cheongsam from Shanghai for the first time.  The theatre was decorated with these beautifully fragrant floral displays.

Rediscovered this bag.  Went to the library for two hours and came back empty handed because I had a fine from three years ago.
 Got this magnificent jumper for christmas from my grandpa.

Sometimes I do forget about fashion because I wear a school uniform for most of the week.  However, it makes it even greater when I see a collection and fall back in love with it again.
Prada
Checked prints, off the shoulder necklines, knee length skirts...  All things I have been super in to lately.  Quite simple, but perfect.

MiuMiu
This collection was all about the details and accessories, for me.  There's somethings so child-like about the combination of stripes and polka dots, something reminiscent of jumping in puddles with your gumboots and brightly coloured raincoat.  Believe me, I will be channelling this all winter (if it ever comes...)
I am pretty excited about going to the Graduate Showcase for Melbourne Fashion Week, last time it was so fun and interesting to see everyone going all-out to attend a fashion show, and great to see the work of young Australian designers.  In fact, it was what initially inspired me to start this blog.  Maybe I will pluck up the courage to ask people for their photograph this time.  Who knows!

Monday 5 November 2012

Nostalgia

It's been sooo looooonggg since I last blogged, partly because of EXAMS and partly because I haven't been feeling inspired enough.  However, I am feeling motivated and open minded right now because I finished my main and most important exam and I can really tune into whatever is inspiring me at the moment.
Last year I quit tumblr after the realisation it was eating my mind and my study.  I recently created a new one, mostly because I think tumblr is great for creative inspiration and it's super for keeping up with, you know, the current themes and subcultures that are most popular and interesting.  It's important to know your context if you're interested in something like photography and fashion (like I am).  However, I've been finding that lately I've been drawn towards the old rather than the new, which I guess is a funny reaction to have to becoming part of a modern website.
In fact, to my dad's horror and my own amusement, I have started listening to an old people's radio station.  If you ignore the ads for cataract surgery and the occasional bad Elvis cover, it's really delightful and it makes you feel like you're in the good old days of which you were never a part of.  Isn't it funny that we can feel nostalgic for something we never experienced?  I think that's what a big part of nostalgia is anyway, like looking at things through rose-tinted glasses.  The station is 95.7 FM if you're interested.  Here are some old songs that I really like at the moment, although I didn't hear them from the radio.


I love this because of Fred Astaire's dancing, and also the story of the song.  'Watching movies with Fred Astaire in it' is on my holiday to do list.
"I'm steppin' out, my dear,
To breathe an atmosphere
That simply reeks with class;
And I trust that you'll excuse my dust
When I step on the gas."




I saw this song on the brilliant PSA about voting for Obama over Romney.  I really hope he wins.  Anyway, Lesley Gore is so glamorous, but she is singing about not being owned by anyone because she is a strong independent woman so BAM

Like I was saying before, tumblr is an endless source of images such as these ones I found.  I think I'm most interested in the depiction of women throughout the history of the photographic image, and their interaction with the camera.
A female Lockheed employee works on a P-38 Lighting - Burbank, CA -1944

I don't know the context of this photograph!  I do like to know context.
No use having a random image.
Judy Sargent and a blonde friend stroll along lake shore, Chicago, Illinois, 1941. Photos by Charles S. Cushman
I love this one because her swimsuit reminds me one I recently bought.  It is so cute I should really post pictures of it some time.  Summer's coming!
Jean Shrimpton at Flemington Races. Derby Day, 30th of October 1965.
I was watching the news, and they were talking about how this dress was caused a stir on that day in 1965 because of her bare legs and lack of hat/fascinator.  Appalling!
I think it's important for women to learn about other women that have lived in different eras, and those such as Lesley Gore singing about independence and Jean Shrimpton making 'scandalous' fashion choices.  I love seeing what they wear and how they all behave in front of a camera.

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Sunday 2 September 2012

Happenings

Okay I only post every few weeks, but in that time everything builds up in my brain and then sort of settles there until they all fit together.
Dress and 70's magazine


This Women's Weekly from 1972 is brilliant.  I have (willingly or unwillingly) sacrificed some homework time to scan pictures from it.  Excuse the crapola scanning skills.






Grimes
Enough said?  Her hair is so god damn awesome.


Photos
Maire and I before formal.
I'm in an Asos dress, and Maire is wearing Alexander McQueen (I KNOW RIGHT)



(All photos taken by me)

Spring + Outfit Post
I call this grandma chic.  I also call it thank-goodness-there-is-sun.
Jumper - Monsoon, Shirt - Sportsgirl, Skirt - Sportsgirl, Shoes - Windsor Smith (Maire's)
Also I've been thinking about movies a lot lately.  Soundtracks, film stills and stuff.  It's funny how they all hold these connotations, and you get a certain feeling when you see a film still or hear a song from a movie.  I like that.

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