Speaking of gay icons, I'm really loving Chappell Roan's music right now. There's something so retro, fun, and transgressive about her music, especially the choral work. If you've listened to "Pink Pony Club," tell me it doesn't remind you of the 80s... of Cyndi Lauper. My favorite song is actually "Good Luck, Babe." It's super catchy and it wasn't until four or five listens in that I figured out that it's not just about an ex (You can kiss a hundred boys in bars/shoot another shot, try to stop the feeling") but also someone who has shoehorned themselves into a heteronormative relationship ("when you wake up next to him in the middle of the night/with your head in your hands, you're nothing more than his wife). Nu thinks it's hilarious that I like this song and has been declaring at the dinner table that "mama is going to go pure lez now" while looking pointedly at their dad. I think it's safe to say the pneumonia is in check and they're back to being their regular cheeky self.
In regular old sex ed., today I learned that my first-year composition class did not know there were free condoms at the Health Center--how?!?!
And finally, today a student who took a hard stance in their research on porn stating that there is absolutely No Ethical Consumption of Porn gave a presentation that had everyone in class riveted. And as if that wasn't enough, they were inspired to create a piece of art--it's a woman's torso inscribed with porn search terms and "the erogenous zones have objects stuck on them to symbolize objectification." I was marveling at the abundance of thought, time, and effort they had put into this work when they held it out to me and said they wanted me to have it. I don't think I'll ever get over the sheer generosity of this.
Pic: The new piece of art entrusted to me is now in my office.
14 comments:
Wow
I laughed at this: "I think it's safe to say the pneumonia is in check and they're back to being their regular cheeky self."
What a gift from your student! It's so interesting, I am reading a book right now that deals with porn (Margo's Got Money Troubles) and it's really an incredible book both stylistically and on the line level. I will report my thoughts when I finish.
That piece of art is something else. I'm glad Nu is feeling better enough to sass you.
Wow, That artwork from your student is amazing. And, once again I wish Nu and my daughter knew each other. They would get along well!
That art piece is incredible. It belongs in a show. What a gift.
I share your amazement that the freshmen didn't know that the Health Center had that valuable resource available. When I was an undergrad, Student Health made sure everyone knew where they were and what they had. Who dropped the ball there?
Glad Nu is (obviously) on the mend.
Pornography is such a delicate topic, isn't it? I have tried SO HARD to listen to podcasts where they talk about how empowering it is for women in the porn industry, but in the end I just end up thinking the same thing that your student argued - there's no way to produce or consume porn without hurting someone. I feel like it's a slippery slope, though, because I also feel that way about most filmed art - including television and movies. Egads. I wish I'd been there for the presentation.
I am also really a hard no on porn, it feels so exploitative to me. But Engie makes a good point about TV and movies, and goodness those entire industries just destroy people, don't they?
I'm glad Nu is on the mend. Their comment reminds me of the book Sandwich and how the protagonist was in a hetero normative relationship, but pretty much confessed to having heterosexual feelings and being perfectly OK with that. I loved that. Life is complicated. Which maybe brings us back to porn...also complicated, right? I still don't like it.
I'll pass it on, thank you!
I'll pass it on, Nicole; thank you! And yes, please tell me all about Margo's money...
Thanks, Steph; *I* certainly feel better.
Thanks so much, Jenny! I'll pass it on. Wouldn't it be fun if they happened to meet sometime in the future?!?
Nance, thanks so much! I'll make sure the student hears your compliment <3.
"Dropped the ball" is right, and I'll follow up on Monday.
I wish I could link you two! You'd be such great intergenerational mentors. I think feminists tried really hard to be sex-positive and porn-positive for so much of the early part of this century because they were trying to fight that "no-fun feminist" rep. Excellent point about TV and movies!
Jules--Life is so complicated and we grow up with so much of what Adrienne Rich called "Compulsory Heterosexuality" it's really hard to think outside that box...
I like that I have something in common with the Sandwich protagonist! Maybe all that delicious food will come my way soon too :)
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