The
Guerrilla Girls come to Wilmington
3-16-04
a patented William Redd diatribe (patent pending)
It has finally occurred to me what I've been missing
during my time in New Bern and away from a large University environment...
A heaping dose of subversive discourse!!!!!
Mmm...tastes like chicken!
Stop that! Anyway, tonight I saw the Guerrilla
Girls on Tour as they graced the stage of Kenan Auditorium
and they got me thinking: They're goals are not so far from my
own with independent film. They're canvas of choice (pardon the
pun) is the world of art and theatre (stage, not screen. Although
they may include screen as well.)
The night went over very well. I was happy with the
crowd, except for one troublemaker. Someone just had to come up
during the Q & A session and spout off about the "evils
of pro-choice." This pro-lifer decided to ruin a perfectly
good evening by running off at the mouth. I don't know if the
Guerrilla Girls will ever read this, but I would like to humbly
apologize for the outburst of the bible-thumping heathen.
Now, those who know me and know that I'm adopted may
wonder why in the hell I could be pro-choice. It's true, if my
biological parents had flipped a coin and chose poorly (abortion)
then I may not be here to write this witty prose (hey, it's my
page and I'll call my writing witty if I damn well please). But,
I do feel that a woman's body is her own business and noone has
the right to tell her or anyone else what to do. And while I do
plead that women at least consider adoption before abortion (just
think of all those women who would love to have children but can't),
I won't preach to anyone that one decision over another is right
or wrong. Decide for yourself.
This group of beautiful women (stop, don't ask how
I can tell they're beautiful when they wear masks. It shows your
intellegence, beauty is more than skin deep ya know) really has
inspired me to start my own campaign against mainstream theaters
and multiplexes to show more independent film, not just Oscar
noms, but all of them.
In case you don't know who the Guerrilla
Girls are, I'll sum it up in a nutshell: the Guerrilla Girls
fight discrimination in art and theatre. They protest and push
for more women and people of color to be displayed and produced
(art and plays respectively). They would love to see the white
hetero-controlled world of art and theatre be more equal in who
appears behind the curtain and on the wall (of museums of course).
Now, I know what you're thinking...
What does the color green taste
like?
No! You're thinking how can a heterosexual white man
agree with feminists? Because you twit, equality is something
worth fighting for. This doesn't really compare, but everytime
I tell someone I am studying film they ask, "Are you going
to Hollywood?" Funny, I didn't know Hollywood was the only
place filmmakers could go. I was under this strange delusion that
you could make films anywhere, with anyone, and without Hollywood.
Well, that's exactly how the Guerrilla Girls feel about
the art museums and theatres of the world. They feel that women
and people of color should be appreciated just as much for their
artistic talent as white males are. And I agree, women and people
of color have just as much drive, talent, and ability as anyone
else; why shouldn't they get their chance to see their work in
the halls of the Guggenheim (sp?) or have their latest play produced
on Broadway? And, have their films shown on screens worldwide
to an audience who will appreciate the hard work they have put
into their product.
I agree with the Guerrilla Girls, we should boycott
(or in their vernacular "girlcott") museums, theatres,
and theaters (stage and screen again) that refuse to show "minority"
works. These "minority" (put in quotes because I don't
really think of them as a minority, but most of the population
does) artists include women, people of color, gays and lesbians,
and I include independent filmmakers (which most fit into one
of the other categories anyway, but some are white hetero males).
Support Women! Support People of Color! Support Independent
Film!
Support Bush in 2004!
That does it!
William pulls a lighter and
a stick of dynamite from his coat. He lights the stick and hands
it to the "Establishment."
Here. I got you a present.
Ooh, it's so sparkly.
William rushes from the general
area with great speed (quite a feat for a fat man).
KA...BOOM!!!
Ah, if only that could really be.
text © William Redd 2004
banana image used without permission from the
Guerrilla Girls website
(please don't sue me)
Got somethin' to say ta me?! Then say
it!
If not either go back or get out!