CHERCHEZ LA FEMME: FEMINISM AND SLUTS #Melbourne #slutwalk #debate #geekgirl

cherchez-la-femme

On January 24th, 2011, a representative of the Toronto Police gave shocking insight into the Force’s view of sexual assault by stating: “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized”.

Feminists in Toronto took to the streets, spontaneously calling the action SlutWalk, to protest against victim-blaming, slut-shaming and the rise of rape culture in their society. The movement triggered waves of SlutWalks all over North America, Europe and recently, Australia, with Melbourne’s SlutWalk taking place on 28 May.

The idea is to reclaim the word and dilute its power by throwing it back in the face of anyone who seeks to degrade, undermine and blame women by using it. But not everyone sees this as a positive expression of feminism. Join us as we talk through the debates surrounding SlutWalking, victim-blaming, slut-shaming and the culture of rape apology.

Karen Pickering will bring feminists Lisa Gye, Rhiana Whitson and Monica Dux onto the Cherchez la Femme stage to dazzle us all with their commentary, insight and wit.

Tuesday, June 7 · 7:00pm – 9:00pm
The Fox Hotel
351 Wellington St
Collingwood, Australia

Jumps: Victoria – the place to be ashamed #protest #killingfields #rspca #geekgirl

The 2011 season.
After previous commitments to end jumps racing in Victoria after the 2010 season, we are disappointed that Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) are going ahead with a a three year extension to hurdle racing and a one year extension to steeplechase racing.  This has been despite key performance indicators (KPI’s) not being met in the 2010 season.

Clearly the RVL CEO, Rob Hines has not been made accountable for his public comments of ‘Make no mistake, if the KPIs are not met, it will be the last season of jumps racing’, last year.  And with our new government using tax-payer dollars to provide an additional $2 million dollars to the ‘sport’, we are ashamed that our new leaders are focused on incentivising international competitors and boosting prize money.

Our new Minister for Racing, Denis Napthine is clearly a supporter of jumps racing – we need to illustrate to him, a key decision maker, that this cruel sport is not accepted by the community.

RVL is receiving pressure from pro-jumps racing groups and it is important we show that we will not be letting them of the hook either.  RVL must take further action to ensure horses no longer suffer for a sport that is not favoured by the community.We need you to the be the voice for jumps horses.  Especially with a new government and a new season upon us, we need your help writing to the respective decision makers.  Personal letters carry great weight and the more these stakeholders receive, the more they are likely to listen to our concerns.  In your own words, be an advocate for jumps racing horses by detailing the issues.

http://www.rspcavic.org/campaigns_news/campaigns_jumps_racing.htm

A demonstration will be held by the Coalition For The Protection of Jumps Racehorses in Bourke St Mall, Melbourne at midday on Friday 6 May, 2011

Experimenta collaborates with Signal and Melbourne #Jazz Festival to bring Young Urban #Mesh Workhouse

If Melbourne were a work of art, what would it be? A graffiti-covered wall, or video installation? Or maybe a free-form saxophone solo? To capture the textures, sounds and shapes that make up Melbourne, SIGNAL is hosting the Urban Mesh Workhouse, bringing together artists and young urbanites to mesh their creativity. Actors, architects, animators – the workhouse will feature leading artists from different fields in six three-day sessions running from April to September as part of a collaborative project with the Melbourne [Jazz Festival] and [ Experimenta]. Young people are invited to drop in for a single session, or come back for all six, to make your mark on the final work, to be exhibited as the Urban Mesh Manifestation. Check out [SIGNAL] for details on all workhouse sessions and a list of artists participating inthe 6 sessions including Experimenta Utopia Now artist Rowan McNaught and Experimenta Commissioned artists Isobel Knowles and Jesse Stevens.

All Workhouse sessions run Friday 6 – 9pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am -  4pm

Check out the websites for more details!

The Carbon Festival plus Ladie Killerz #Melbourne #killerz #hiphop #aerosol #party #geekgirl

BETWEEN APRIL 29TH AND MAY 1ST, MELBOURNE WILL PLAY HOST TO CARBON, AN EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER SOME OF TODAY’S MOST INTERESTING CREATIVE MINDS TO PRESENT, DISCUSS AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH LOCAL AUDIENCES VIA A SERIES OF FOUR DISCUSSION FORUMS, EACH FOCUSED ON A SPECIFIC ASPECT OF CONTEMPORARY STREET FASHION, DESIGN AND CULTURE. THESE FORUMS ARE SURROUNDED BY MULTIPLE SIDE-EVENTS INCLUDING ART SHOWS, PARTIES AND CONCERTS.

Associated with:
Exhibition & Event – Ladie Killerz #4 – VIC
This weekend (April 29th) Footscray hosts the massive event Ladie Killerz #4, and what an event it looks set to be. We caught up on all the details and got a few words from one of the organisers, Joske, and have put together a small run down on the event.

“Ladie Killerz is a weekend long, travelling festival,” Joske remarked. “We’ll be celebrating ladies and their killer skills in all things art, music and film and we’ll be showcasing woman in hiphop, and in particular graffiti. Confirmed aerosol artists currently number at around twenty five, with ladies travelling from; Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide – and many more female artists are submitting work into the art exhibition.”

http://acclaimmag.com/carbon/

Brought to you by Invurt.

Pretending Things are a Cock #MCF #comedy #geekgirl

Pretending Things are a Cock (Still cocking after all this year)

After critically acclaimed performances to sell out audiences in festivals around the world, AND over 12000 Facebook fans – Jon Bennett brings his Just for Laughs – Best Comedy Award nominated show of over 200 pretend cocks back to Melbourne!

A unique stand-up experience, ‘Pretending Things Are A Cock’ is part photographic exhibition, part pot-holed journey into the idiosyncratic world of Jon Bennett.

This is a show unlike any other in the festival. It takes the form of an exhibition opening, with a gallery tour, live stories accompanied by live classical cellist, and cock shaped hors d’oeuvres. And of course Cocktails (Some supplied by our sponsor; Tequila Tromba). “Every picture tells a story”, thus does every pretend cock and these cocks come from all over the world.

“A worldwide phenomenon!”

“Could possibly be the most ambitious project of the festival”

“Delightful and enthralling” – Australian Comedy Review

“Bennett will have you completely engrossed” – Montreal Mirror

­­­­LISTING INFORMATION

Venue: Tuxedo Cat and Bertha Brown

Dates: April 14^th, 16^th, 17th, 19^th, 20^th, 21^st and 23rd at Bertha Brown

Tickets: $18.00 Full, $14 Conc, $10 Tightarse Tuesdays

Times: 9:00pm – Bertha Brown

Charity Comic for Queensland Flood Relief ‘Tides of Hope’ #popculture #comic #supanova #geekgirl

Tides Of Hope - Supanova

Supanova are proud to be publishing a collectable, limited edition comic-book, written and illustrated by some of the world’s finest creators, to benefit Queensland flood-relief charity activities!

The special one-off comic limited to 1000 copies, ‘Tides of Hope’ is the local comic-book industry’s response to the tragedy, with the project coming to fruition with its sale at the Supanova Pop Culture Expos in Brisbane  and Melbourne.

Inspired by Sydney based comic-book writer Christopher Sequeira, who edited the comic and contributed a story illustrated by hotshot Marvel Comics artist (and visitor to Supanova in Brisbane) Leinil Francis Yu, the comic became reality through his and the combined efforts of Art Director and contributor, Tim McEwen, Publisher and Supanova Event Director, Daniel Zachariou, and all the other amazingly talented individuals who provided their time and art; 47 creators in all!

Sequeira relates that “Seeing true heroism, sacrifice and pathos on my nightly TV screen made me think of the potential of some creative folk reflecting and paying tribute to that in comics-form; so, why not put out the call for help? And our professional colleagues, world-wide, did not shirk that call – they leapt at the chance. They made it a brilliant, moving collection.”

‘Tides of Hope’ is 36 pages with 100% of proceeds from its $10 cover price going to charity while an auction of all the artwork, kindly donated by the illustrators, will ultimately be added to that pool of funds with comic-art collector, dealer and expert Royd Burgoyne also donating his time and expertise to do so.

Chris Claremont, Greg Capullo, Chris Sequeira, Tom Taylor, Colin Wilson, cover-artist Stewart McKenny, Jeffrey ‘Chamba’ Cruz, Jon Sommariva, Tim McEwen and many other contributors are attending the Brisbane and Melbourne expos and will be able to personally sign copies.

MELBOURNE 2011
April 8-10
Melbourne Showgrounds

Anna Lumb: Big Shoes to Fill at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival #girlcomedy #retroschtick #geekgirl

Anna Lumb - Big Shoes

Big Shoes to Fill: An Exposé of a 50 Ft. Woman

Direct from the cabaret circuits of Melbourne, London and Edinburgh,  and a critically acclaimed audience hit at the Melbourne and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, Anna ‘Pocket Rocket’ Lumb brings her sassy solo show to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival for the first time.

Bringing her world-renowned circus and cabaret skills to her home town, the Pocket Rocket cheekily presents the story of an over-sized woman in a normal sized world, and really does have big shoes to fill as she sets out to follow the footsteps of some of comedy’s biggest female stars to bring some girl power to the typically male world of the Comedy Festival.

A colourful slapstick circus delight, Big Shoes to Fill is a message of self-confidence for the down-trodden and different, delivered via a package of unique hilarity and outstanding physical feats.

How does she get into a taxi, or find shoes to fit?  Where does she find places to eat out?  Let alone a date…!

A hilarious parable of strength, fragility, challenge and triumph featuring strongwoman feats, hula hoops, slapstick, lycra, bananas and an eclectic soundtrack with the title track by Mikelangelo and music mixed by DJ Lazer Ferrari.

‘Adorable retro schtick.’   Helen Razer, The Age

‘A tidy little packet of fun by a feisty rising starlet.’ RHUM Magazine

LISTING INFORMATION
Venue: Trades Hall – Old Council Chambers, Cnr Lygon and Victoria  Streets (Melbourne)
Dates: 12th – 24th April (not Mondays), Preview 12th April
Tickets: Full $20.00, Conc/Group $18.00, Preview/Tight Arse Tuesday/ LaughPack $15.00

Times: 7:00pm (6:00pm Sundays)

Bookings: Ticketmaster or www.comedyfestival.com.au

#Melbourne: Free Digital Light #Symposium #geekgirl

The Genealogies of Digital Light ARC Discovery Project [] presents Digital Light: Technique, Technology, Creation, a free symposium to be held at the University of Melbourne in March. This interdisciplinary symposium invites a number of leading international and Australian figures working with digital light-based technologies, including two artists previously commissioned by Experimenta, Lynette Wallworth and Van Sowerine.

Digital Light: 18 – 19 March 2011

Raw Nerve: Call for Entries #openchannel #melbourne #shortfilms

**Applications Close: Friday April 1**
[www.openchannel.org.au/support_rawnerve.html]()

Applications for the 2011 edition of Raw Nerve are now open. Raw Nerve is a national short film production initiative supported by Screen Australia. In Victoria it is managed by Open Channel and offers three emerging Victorian filmmakers the chance to make a high quality, low budget short film with support from leading industry experts. The projects can be drama, documentary, comedy, experimental or any hybrid of of these forms.

**Raw Nerve Information Session**
**Wednesday March 23, 6.30pm**
**Studio 4 at Open Channel – Shed 4, North Wharf Road – Docklands** Melbourne

Find out everything you need to know about Raw Nerve with Open Channel Producer Marc Gracie, Creative Consultant Alan Finney and 2009/2010 Raw Nerve filmmakers Hayden Gregory, Angela Lee and William Head. Refreshments provided.

MUFF 12: Melbourne Underground Film Festival #muff #geekgirl

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**Entries Close: June 15**
[www.muff.com.au]()

Your favourite trouble making Independent Australian Film Festival is back to cause fresh headlines and make waves in 2011. MUFF has survived criticism, condemnation, censorship, public outrage, Police Raids, stalkers and yet is still miraculously standing (a little wobbly granted) and back for more trouble in ’11. You know you love it!