I am tempted to write about the most important human feature that guide us whether we like it or not. Emotions turn us do things, make us crave, want, desire, act in a way that makes difference in the world that it cannot be ignored. Doesn’t advertising, movies, music, food, our existence in the world make an emotion, make us emotional or indifferent. How does the indifference happen must be some kind of overload of glitter having made an impact and stuff that has been keeping pouring over us in a speed that makes us reject. Still there is no end to what glitters is gold ideology. It is as if we exist to feel and want not to think and consider, at least if one follows entertainment and how it builds meanings as layers and behind those shells there may not be a pretty picture nor a happy story (but we all know this, we just like to kid ourselves and like to see someone fall) images that the viewer might want to attach to oneself also to be somehow better than what one is. Togetherness, similarity, attachment and belonging, our need to be accepted and wanted is exploited as any human weakness and we somehow like it because we are weak in our constant yearning. Why else would the industry be there to greet us with bright colors and something to buy so much so that we choke. How much our decision-making is due to emotions to me seems to be quite a lot. We think we know when we don’t know but we must act like we know because a connoisseur is respected especially if one can present a bag of shit well and sell it. We trust the first impression and the sight in front of us telling the whole story which is not the way to get to know anything as any grown-up knows deep inside but what can we do when we like quick answers and trust salesmen and our true buddies.
gender
Dictators and liberators, impossible equation
Problem with political revolutions is that there tends to be parties who want to take credit for making the revolution, starting it, starring in it as it was a movie. As revolution was and is a grande stage to become a hero of the nation, also a necessity. It is an opportunity for a real opportunist. One needs to be able to take sides and stand for a cause. Weak nation has citizens who do not know what to do and how to make things better. There aren’t any options left to make a change happen. People can wait for the best person to come and salvage them, the people who have nothing left. When there is not anything to save but one’s life people flee as is happening right now, people flee to the nearest peaceful place which is Europe.
Best option for a dictator is to pose as a savior who will bring prosperity and freedom. We look for heroes and we like to hear good things promised. We too wish to become admired as having committed heroic acts in the name of the people. Personality cults get way over the top very easily. This is the pattern that has repeated in numerous occasions. It is old-fashioned and worn out strategy to place huge posters of a ruler all over the country, all over media, usually a male ruler who needs to be adored as a father figure. There is something about that ritual of having larger than life images of politicians in public places as guardians with promises on their faces, like member of a family. It is in the way those politicians want to display themselves as comforting and trustworthy elders who are wise and knowledgeable, chosen ones, so there is no need to replace them.
Young people usually first take the stand in rioting and demonstrations as was the case in Egypt’s uprising and they will be given the place of role players who stand on the side, not as decision-makers in a political game that knows only ruthlessness and violence, not equality, fairness or democracy. Kill or you will be killed is the language of a coup, a survival game. When we need liberators, we think there is someone who has the power to set us free.
Who will liberate the World from arm dealers and from their endless need to supply countries with arms, supply organizations with arms. How do ordinary people fight against modern weapon industry which is not as regulated as it should be? There is something really horribly wrong in this equation, in this repetitious scheme with trillions of dollars involved. It seems to be a matter of getting rich or die trying. Distribution of wealth, of money which banks make more and more, does not happen even there is more money in the world. How to fight for what is right when it seems the fight is a tiny buzzing in dictator’s ear? Could that ear be the soft spot, weakness of a mind that does not want to hear criticism, disagreement, demands for equality and freedom of speech? The more there are those who dare to buzz tirelessly the more alarm and anxiety there will be. Status Quo needs to be shaken because it is a false balance. It is balance of military force in which we now measure how balanced we are and where we stand.
That women don’t have what it takes? It?
For women to be taken seriously there must be a formula. I just don’t quite grasp what it might be when in a world where male qualities are seen more reliable than female starting from appearance and having the privilege of being born male. The volume of being reliable enough women have to do serious fighting to accomplish the same status as males, imitate male posture, way of presenting, speaking, tone of voice or just know your topic better than anyone, be many times more qualified and capable? Could it be so or does the lesbian card get thrown at us like it was the most unattractive thing there is when women try to blend in? Do we have to blend in and pretend we are good guys? I sure as hell am not a guy and don’t call me one. Is the situation that desperate that in technology women don’t convince as women?
I have noticed it can be difficult for men to listen women speakers. It is difficult for them to accept woman’s point of view and that woman could know more. That woman argues and debates, guides and accomplishes more is a heavy deal to accept. Technology is a very sexist area of exact science and work requiring expertise and skill, that woman does something well in technology be it welding, engineering, programming it is hard for men to believe or accept a woman doing anything well or better than men. Could give you couple of examples when men didn’t believe their eyes and kept saying it was not my doing saying she cannot be that good. It is even more ridiculous when someone who stood next to me and witnessed me welding something demanding perfectly and then the other bloke refuses to believe I did it. It is hard for me to believe something like that could happen in Finland but it did. What does it take to give a woman credit for her skills? It takes balls.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/25/woman-sexism-tech-founders-forum-london-entrepreneurs?utm_content=buffer6da72&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer ”This year, there were more than 68 men speaking at the event, and four women.”
Places of critique and how to.
It all too clear that institutions, which some people think are themselves, as personification of power, monumental and solid, and broadly seen institutions as structural entities and complexes that have a massive amount of power within the fields they work, so easily place themselves above criticism. This is a road to regression where nothing changes until it is forced to change and usually it means heads rolling usually of those who give the vital criticism. There are too many people who hold on to gained positions thinking it is their right and theirs alone. That is one common form of dictatorship. The more up one climbs the more one has to be able to accept criticism and answer to it, be accountable. As it is so that people do not climb the stairs up without help of friends there is a danger of cocooning into the power tower as perfect and untouchable with skills and intellect which others can dream of.
This topic touches many areas of life, science and art are the ones that are difficult to criticise because the nature of those fields embraces cult of geniuses who know the absolute right, who have expertise that most people do not have. Personality cults are therefore dangerous what comes to integrity, trustworthiness, progress and finding new. Self-love that is more interested in being right all the time rejecting the balancing effect of critique is very harmful.
Place of critique is always when one suspects foul play, dishonesty, disrespect, playing to get the most profit and glory, when the field of work is in many ways corrupt holding too much on to the same old same old without even wanting to change the tone and tune.
”Tim Hunt criticised female scientists because they “always cry” when criticised. While this would be somewhat disruptive if true (which it isn’t), this is still a far less problematic response than holding an intense lifelong grudge against someone who criticised you, and doing your best to make their life difficult and miserable.” http://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/jun/10/tim-hunt-old-men-women-controversy-science?CMP=twt_gu&CMP=twt_gu
Feminism tends to ban open sexuality as an invitation to sexism and abuse.
Feminism, something that cannot be answered to with respect and which is blocked away because of its stigma for hating men and hated for its anger. As Beyoncé, a feminist, but loves her husband is a an example of the strange burden feminism falsely carries in one sentence. ”Beyoncé also addressed criticism about calling her forthcoming tour The Mrs Carter Show – appropriating her married name from Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter. ”I feel like Mrs. Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I’ve ever been,” she said. ”I do believe in equality… But I’m happily married. I love my husband.” Read more at http://www.nme.com/news/beyonce/69546#VU5RPYcwXcJ0VGuj.99
It is clear since the beginning of her career independence and strength of femininity have been core issues in her music. But that is the case for many successful female artists. Focus on showing their capability as women and encouraging others. What comes to celebrities Beyoncé is the one of the few who publicly state and promote feminism and calls herself a feminist. In her videos and music she is openly sexual, feminine and posing her assets to the world as any pop star provocatively. In this way looking she is very similar to for example Rihanna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj who all are artists and music personalities creating their image, some more and some less. Though of their image and art it is difficult to tell who is making who and does it matter what we actually know about the making of a pop star. I think we should be aware. Level and mastering of manipulation is all what being a celebrity is about. Feminism in this landscape is a curse, a word usually banned and feared. Image of a feminist is opposite to gorgeous and sexy stars. How often feminists are said to be ugly. It is like the worst thing, hideous female who does not attract anyone, but is full of hate and grudge. Ignorance and prejudice is huge upon those who seek justice. Women are not allowed to be angry for being harassed, hated, killed, diminished, put down and treated as second class citizens.
Sexual expression, what is it exactly? Where does the limit go if there is any? And why is it empowerment and not sexism? Empowerment through sexism is a strange thought. It is getting gifts via pleasing the right way. Entertainment is the ultimate pleaser. To please to get the wanted thing and impact. Pop singers and performers like to state that they are in control. It is interesting to explore that control which they refer as theirs, rules that they see as settings of theirs.
Much of what we can take and understand must be lined inside ideals. Outside are left the things unwanted.
bell hooks Called Beyoncé an Anti-Feminist Terrorist
http://flavorwire.com/456190/bell-hooks-called-beyonce-an-anti-feminist-terrorist
Who is and can be a Feminist? And why do I think person who says is not a Feminist is against human rights?
Yes I am forcing you to be on side of human rights and equality. Does it feel really over the top nuisance stopping you from making the best profit to actually give a damn? Does Feminism somehow stop you from being who you really want to be? Is that why you dislike it or is it because you are an ignorant asshole!
Am I being too hostile here.
Men think Feminism is not about them but it is all about them.
Feminists have been treated as lunatics and criminals. Feminism as something that will pass. Those unattractive misfits, bald angry lesbians who hate men and behave like prostitutes. Those who fear say anything to put shame on dissidents. Women who don’t and did not fit nor accept the society’s mould of proper, place of woman, continuity of males as kings nor rules of hypocrisy have been self-evidently painted malaise, harmful, insane, ridiculous and difficult.
We are fundamentally biological beings dictated by hormones, chemistry, our biological functions and needs. The very foundation of Feminism is that we are equal. Our bodily differences have made it so we differ much from each other, but we bleed the same. Gender does not dictate intellect, abilities, character nor value. Feminism the ideology is to benefit all on grass root level. We are more or less feminine, we all have a mother, we all have a relationship to femininity. When women are well taken care of all society is likely to do the same, be and do well. When it is ok for a man to walk like a woman, talk like a woman and wear a dress without it being strange we have come closer to gender equality. Woman can define her femininity, her body, sexuality, decide for her life we are closer to justice and truth. Feminism is diminished down by many men and women as not needed and dead old-fashioned movement, laughable and unnecessary. If women are not able to have a say over how society should work, as is the case in many countries, then society is not working for all of its members. If women are laughed at because of their gender, if they have to be ashamed of their gender and sexuality, if they have to be afraid because they are women, it is a sorry world. If men have to be afraid of female qualities in them we live by macho dream not what is true. What is Feminism now is the first and acute question. Who can be and is a Feminist? What are the results of Feminism? They are all over and pretty fundamental. It is important in this issue at hand to decide whether to take a side or not, and which one since violent gender division exists and is held tightly upon us. Decisions on what to think, how to react, how to judge and whether to judge at all. Gender is by rule problematic, always current and touchy topic where assumptions and given orders apply like an ancient legislation. Society where anything differing from mainstream is an oddity that should be covered up, silenced and removed as indecent and infernal is not living the 21st century nor being on the nerve of things nor wanting equality at all.
Majakollektiivi Timanttimetsä 