Susan Sontag was an influential and renowned scholar, feminist, critic, filmmaker, and author – perhaps one of the last of a generation of public intellectuals, the likes of which are rarely seen now. Nancy D Kates’ new documentary film, Regarding Susan Sontag, is an in-depth look at the life and work of this inspiring and […]
Review: Kate Bornstein is a Queer and Pleasant Danger
Many people probably recognize Kate Bornstein’s name from her books, including Gender Outlaw and My (New) Gender Workbook. She was also the second woman to ever receive a degree from Brown University. An author, performance artist, gender theorist, activist, and self-proclaimed trans-dyke, Bornstein has been an inspiration to many in the gender non-conforming community for […]
Stanley Roy: Fantasy’s Show & Tell
For almost two years, local musician and performer Stanley Roy has been hosting a monthly evening of performance called Show & Tell at local queer bar Cheer Up Charlies here in Austin. Roy hosts the evening’s events as Fantasy, a persona he created many years ago when a friend threw a birthday party and told […]
Another Crossroads
As a part of my freelance writing gig, I sometimes like to do performance reviews. I went to see a show tonight, but I wish I would have done something else instead. It was 2 one-act plays based on short stories from Chekhov. I was most interested in the second half, an adaptation of “The […]
Working Too Hard
I realized yesterday that watching a movie after work was the only real time I’ve had to myself in over a week. Been picking up extra odd jobs and such to make up for one boss being out of town 2 weeks this month and other job being slow. Between that and trying to keep […]
Bob’s Burgers and Genderfluid Gene
I’ve been rewatching old episodes of Bob’s Burgers. In a lot of ways, the show could be considered the most sex-positive show on televison. Tina’s awkward budding sexuality gets talked about a lot on the Internet, and is certainly noteworthy. But while rewatching multiple episodes in a row recently, I found myself thinking more about […]
Review: For No Good Reason
Directed by Charlie Paul, For No Good Reason <http://www.fornogoodreasonmovie.com/> is a documentary chronicling the life and art of Ralph Steadman. Steadman (http://www.ralphsteadman.com/) is a British artist most famous for his collaborations with Hunter S. Thompson in the 1960s and 70s, which marked the birth of gonzo journalism (http://www.gonzo.org/articles/lit/esstwo.html). The film draws on current footage, as […]
Sam Killermann: It’s Pronounced Metrosexual
I was first introduced to Sam Killermann when his TED talk was played at a discussion about gender here in Austin. Killermann is the man behind “It’s Pronounced Metrosexual,” a touring comedy show about gender and sexuality. You might also know him from the Genderbread Person, an educational meme which frequently makes a circuit around […]
Review: Disney’s Maleficent
**NOTE: This review contains SPOILERS** There’s been a lot of talk lately about whether Disney is turning a new leaf regarding its portrayals of female characters. Given the latest kerflufle with the #WeWantLeia Twitter hashtag, I remain skeptical. In fact, I refrained from seeing Disney’s Frozen because I saw mixed reviews on social media from […]
It’s Been a Rough Week
I’m pretty good at psychoanalyzing myself. It takes a few days, but eventually I can figure out what’s up with me when things go south. Usually not before I break down sobbing once or a few times, but you know, I get there. Re-acclimating myself to Reality Camp after Burning Flipside this year was HARD. […]