Charli XCX as feminist aspiration..?

She just went and broke my internet!

*Watches on repeat*

Charli XCX has directed a video for her tune Boys that not only flips the industry standard of women-as-eye-candy-music-video-fodder, is packed full of wonderfully talented men, but also beyond that celebrates and venerates the many body-types, backgrounds, ethnicities, sexualities, and varieties of masculinity.

The video has come under some criticism too for lingering on white men, for playing into the "fandom" culture and for including certain artists who have done or said questionable things in the past.

Overall, I think this is a nice counter to the norm. And a catchy pop song to boot!

Feminism and Arctic Monkeys

A conversation which goes some way to demonstrate the strange connections the synapses in my brain make.

"So, Steph, why do you hate feminism?"
"It's not that I hate it. It's -- well -- it is difficult to explain..."
"Go on."
"Well, feminism to me is like The Libertines or Arctic Monkeys--"
"What?!"
"Now, bare with me here, it'll make sense, just let me explain."
"Feminism is like The Libertines or Arctic Monkeys?! What?!"
"Honestly--" laughing at myself "it will make sense."
"Hmmm."
"When The Libertines and Arctic Monkeys were surrounded by all that hype and media and cultural frezy I found it incredibly off-putting. Everyone was proper bumming them. It was a bit like if you listened to them you'd have to immediately enjoy them. So I thought, 'Fuck it, I'll get round to listening in my own time when the fuss has calmed down'."
"And that is the same as feminism?"
"Yea, in a way. It comes across to me from a particular point of action and revolution. I never took any module at undergrad that had anything to do with it. If you were to listen to the Arctic Monkeys at the height of their fame it was already being presented to you in a particular way, a cultural manner that meant you were part of something, regardless of whether you wanted to be or not. Well, feminism comes from a particular political point of view. And I'm rather philosophic, to be honest. I'll watch the revolution for now. I don't see my place within it."
"Oh."

You've got to worry.