Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Daily Roundup
My feminist education began today.
I've identified a potentially radical feminist in our midst. She's got steely determination, sardonic humour, biting wit, a wry smile and a no nonsense brown trench coat.
After class, as we were walking out of our classroom, I asked her, "Are you a feminist?"
She hesitated for a while. I understood that hesitation immediately. Feminists, and feminism, have been so much maligned that it seems to be even more taboo than the other 'F' word. Fuck.
"Yes, I am," she said after a while, giving me a slightly defiant look.
And I break out into a wide smile and say, "God, you're amazing."
She smiles back at me, then drops her voice conspirationally, "I really hate it when people say 'I'm not a feminist, but..."
"I know exactly what you mean!" I said fervently. "It's just an excuse, really."
So I am deeply comforted. But also a bit worried. I've identified a frou-frou feminist, as well as a men apologist. I hope I do not end up snapping at them in the heat of debate. But in general I'm not overly confrontational, and to be honest I'm not free of patriarchal hangups like make up and shopping for way more clothes than I need. So no, I'm not more feminist than thou.
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As I was taking the lift up the John Medley building, I ran into Kiki, who informed me that the uni will no longer be offering Publishing as a subject from next year onwards. I nearly wept with anger and frustration while in the lift. Assholes, assholes, assholes who degrade the Arts degree, throw it around flippantly, and basically treat the discipline like shit. They're sacking 130 staff from the arts faculty and cutting all but 8 general arts subjects. Boiling down a varied range of over a 100 Arts subjects into 8 broad fields? Jesus Christ, this ain't high school any longer. University students (generally) want to specialise, not spend an average of 10k a year sampling subjects in which to specialise in in postgrad education. Money suckers.
------------
The Amnesty picnic at South Lawn during lunchtime was forlorn. Asher was there, and I met a really nice person on exchange from Canada, but the group was so small and I felt so out of place, not having attended their meetings regularly in semester 1. Poor sad 'activists on campus' we were, nibbling on our nachos and talking about... well, nothing.
-----------
I met up with Jiawei before going for our film screening. Selfish me was panicking at running late, and so kept pushing ahead, even though Jiawei's foot was injured. Evantually we reached on time, and the hall wasn't too full. I expect it's because fewer students are taking the subject after Introduction to Hollywood. Quite understandable, really. At times I nearly wanted to drop out myself. It's not easy to get a handle on film theory.
We watched Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock. It's pretty suspenseful, and exciting and humorous (with a heavy dose of misogyny). But nothing beats Pyscho or The Birds for truly masterful Hitchcockian horror. I met Chris and Alex, who were in my Professional Writing class and USA Today class in sem 1 respectively. They both look great and well-rested, particularly Chris. Alex has let his hair grow out a bit, though he still looks as good as ever. Chris has got an odd course plan, since his Introduction to Media and Communications subject clashes with his French, meaning he has to let go of MnC. What a pity. He's a great writer and tute mate, and I really hope he's in my Creative Writing tute.
And no, I am not a boot-licker, why do you ask?
-------------
After the screening, I went to the bookshop to buy my readers. Who did I see... but Video-Ezy? It's been exactly a year since I first met him. Standing tall with his friends near the entrance. There was no acknowledgement of each other's presence on both our parts. None at all. He suddenly looked a lot less worth the heartbreak. My heart did not yammer and I did not tremble as I walked past him. If I were to never see him again, I don't think I'll be too fazed. It's a nice last image of him anyway, him dressed in All Black (heh), with a baseball cap jammed on his hair, backpack casually slung over his shoulder, breath condensing in the frosty air as he laughs and chats with his mates.
I've identified a potentially radical feminist in our midst. She's got steely determination, sardonic humour, biting wit, a wry smile and a no nonsense brown trench coat.
After class, as we were walking out of our classroom, I asked her, "Are you a feminist?"
She hesitated for a while. I understood that hesitation immediately. Feminists, and feminism, have been so much maligned that it seems to be even more taboo than the other 'F' word. Fuck.
"Yes, I am," she said after a while, giving me a slightly defiant look.
And I break out into a wide smile and say, "God, you're amazing."
She smiles back at me, then drops her voice conspirationally, "I really hate it when people say 'I'm not a feminist, but..."
"I know exactly what you mean!" I said fervently. "It's just an excuse, really."
So I am deeply comforted. But also a bit worried. I've identified a frou-frou feminist, as well as a men apologist. I hope I do not end up snapping at them in the heat of debate. But in general I'm not overly confrontational, and to be honest I'm not free of patriarchal hangups like make up and shopping for way more clothes than I need. So no, I'm not more feminist than thou.
-------------
As I was taking the lift up the John Medley building, I ran into Kiki, who informed me that the uni will no longer be offering Publishing as a subject from next year onwards. I nearly wept with anger and frustration while in the lift. Assholes, assholes, assholes who degrade the Arts degree, throw it around flippantly, and basically treat the discipline like shit. They're sacking 130 staff from the arts faculty and cutting all but 8 general arts subjects. Boiling down a varied range of over a 100 Arts subjects into 8 broad fields? Jesus Christ, this ain't high school any longer. University students (generally) want to specialise, not spend an average of 10k a year sampling subjects in which to specialise in in postgrad education. Money suckers.
------------
The Amnesty picnic at South Lawn during lunchtime was forlorn. Asher was there, and I met a really nice person on exchange from Canada, but the group was so small and I felt so out of place, not having attended their meetings regularly in semester 1. Poor sad 'activists on campus' we were, nibbling on our nachos and talking about... well, nothing.
-----------
I met up with Jiawei before going for our film screening. Selfish me was panicking at running late, and so kept pushing ahead, even though Jiawei's foot was injured. Evantually we reached on time, and the hall wasn't too full. I expect it's because fewer students are taking the subject after Introduction to Hollywood. Quite understandable, really. At times I nearly wanted to drop out myself. It's not easy to get a handle on film theory.
We watched Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock. It's pretty suspenseful, and exciting and humorous (with a heavy dose of misogyny). But nothing beats Pyscho or The Birds for truly masterful Hitchcockian horror. I met Chris and Alex, who were in my Professional Writing class and USA Today class in sem 1 respectively. They both look great and well-rested, particularly Chris. Alex has let his hair grow out a bit, though he still looks as good as ever. Chris has got an odd course plan, since his Introduction to Media and Communications subject clashes with his French, meaning he has to let go of MnC. What a pity. He's a great writer and tute mate, and I really hope he's in my Creative Writing tute.
And no, I am not a boot-licker, why do you ask?
-------------
After the screening, I went to the bookshop to buy my readers. Who did I see... but Video-Ezy? It's been exactly a year since I first met him. Standing tall with his friends near the entrance. There was no acknowledgement of each other's presence on both our parts. None at all. He suddenly looked a lot less worth the heartbreak. My heart did not yammer and I did not tremble as I walked past him. If I were to never see him again, I don't think I'll be too fazed. It's a nice last image of him anyway, him dressed in All Black (heh), with a baseball cap jammed on his hair, backpack casually slung over his shoulder, breath condensing in the frosty air as he laughs and chats with his mates.
Labels: Boys, Feminism, Friends, Gender studies, Movies, Univeristy
# posted by me lah @ 7:01 pm 
