This collaboration is so beautiful…you really can see your individual strengths and collective talent and ideas. I really have enjoyed it.

I owe Bron a response to her email of this morning but I do hope that we can all do something else together soon…

I spent most of my life as a professor; I was involved in politics; but I never carried my politics into the classroom.

Arty claims that without political content, the work will be shallow. So said the apparatchiks of Socialist Realism. I don’t believe the claim.

Any woman that says she isn’t a feminist deserves to be treated like a doormat. Camille Paglia is a traitor to the cause of equal rights. She probably likes Balthus’ wank-fantasy pictures too, being a man trapped in the body of a lesbian and all that.

Please understand that I am not arguing for “originality” or “individualism.” They are beside the point. I am arguing for an honest reaction to what you see in front of you and what you feel inside of you. Such honesty (or authenticity) is what generates good art.

Happily enough, I do believe that the two of you are shining examples of what I look for, which is why I follow your work.

Keep it up, …… Lash /

Rossina, I believed you when you told me that you weren’t a feminist. It’s interesting to note that I do remember your response almost a year ago. I deleted the email, but it was interesting to get your take on it.

One of the cruelest realities in life is the existence of stereotyping and labeling (you can throw in censorship since you have vested so much time and energy in it).

Feminist and “Feminism” are not a dirty words nor should there be any negative connotation concerning it. Back when you wrote you gave me two different definitions of a feminist. This did not surprise me because over the years the very definition has been mixed up in every way, shape or form.

The one definition of feminism (my value system is in line with this) was largely concerned with issues of equality, fair rights, eliminating rigid classification of gender roles, and the ending of discrimination towards women.

Unfortunately, in today’s world feminism has been regarded by the masses as a second “F” word. It’s sad because there have been some great advances and incredible progress for equal rights for women, but women in general do have troubles standing on fair ground with men.

I truly believe that outside forces promulgated a backlash against feminism and to my knowledge the original premise of what it was all about in the first place has been lost. As if the term in of itself was turned around into something dirty, radical, or horrid. So, this has nothing to do with guys rushing to label any women who seems liberated and independent.

Feminism now is something on the level of radicalism in many peoples minds, but lets cut to the chase here … feminism brought upon (real or imagined) a threat to the status quo. And to kill the message one must slaughter the messenger (not literally, but figuratively)

Is it overly stiff and melodramatic? Yes and no. I think that really depends on what you’ve read, hear, or seen. I’ve seen some interesting films and read some great books that have enlightened me.

I’m not some crusader for the cause here, but feminist films and literature have made me more aware and mindful (some of those films are the best I’ve ever seen too). As for feminism being boring I have to completely disagree. I found reading about the 1960’s Women’s Liberation and Civil Rights stories to be quite fascinating.

I think I might have touched a nerve here and if I did I apologise. I do think that the definition of feminism has been muddled and mystified over the years when in reality it’s all about equal rights and the reality that men and women should all be on the same playing field.

Most feminism’s theories bore me. I find them exaggerated, overly stiff and melodramatic.
I recently found, however, the theories of dissident feminist Camille Paglia, who I quoted bellow ‘Pathetic Phallacy’ on my stream, and I agree with many of the things she says. For example: “Let’s get rid of Infirmary Feminism, with its bedlam of bellyachers, anorexics, bulimics, depressives, rape victims, and incest survivors. Feminism has become a catch-all vegetable drawer where bunches of clingy sob sisters can store their moldy neuroses”.