This week we were all exposed to media about the history of queer activists and their spaces. Last term, in the arts and social injustice class I took, we discussed how the design of a space can influence the decisions and actions that are made. We discussed last term how art activist spaces that were open to the public had a stronger community feel, and could be tailored for each community. In this class, space can include more than just a physical space. It could also be used to describe media, such as zines, or even the internet.
Firstly, I’d like to discuss the Riot Grrl documentary. Since I was a teenager, I have been a fan of the Riot Grrls. I also read Girls to the Front (the book by the woman interviewed in the movie). This “third-wave feminism” is fantastic and queer because it aims to change the norm and disrupt the status quo. Riot Grrls may be fading from the mainstream, but they still have a strong influence. This culture is almost exactly what I define as feminism. Since I’m originally from Portland, I see punk culture a lot, especially in activist spaces. This is because punk was always about resistance. The Riot Grrl campaign encouraged girls, according to what I have heard, to reclaim power and share their stories with other girls. It’s clear that this is a part of pop culture. We all want to create media for ourselves, and share it with others.
This idea is closely related to world-building. I’ve only ever heard the term applied to fiction and fantasy, but it’s an excellent idea. According to one article, the internet, which is so easy to access, is the perfect place for world-building. I liked the projects and websites that were mentioned, especially the ones that encourage community participation, which I think is important. It was interesting to see how articles discussed history. I never thought history was something that we created. I agree with you that history is retold, and even changed to fit the desires of the powerful. The internet has changed the way we think about history and what it means. It is a good definition because it is basically saying that to be queer means to rebel against the rules. The heteronormativity of that paper was also very well defined.
