by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 27, 2010
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Gaga fan. But fan or no, I’m not actually writing this post as a person who loves the Lady. This is a response to the bashing Lady Gaga’s Telephone video has been getting in the media. Bashing which is so unwarranted that it’s caused me to go on a tirade to anyone who will listen. And yes, at this point it’s almost a “so what?” but at the same time, I’ve got this blog and rather than repeating these same points over and over I’ll take it to the web, where at least I can accentuate my points with exhibits that I can write funny captions for.
So Much Scandal, So Little Bandwidth
I would like to present the case that absolutely nothing in Telephone can’t already be found in pre-existing mainstream media – media which, I might add, is often far more exploitative of women and far more pointlessly violent, and pointlessly pornographic. I would also like to illustrate how many of the Telephone images that are being isolated and vilified have, in other contexts and for other artists, been celebrated. My question is – are we honestly going to crucify a woman who creates a video that is a veritable homage to Tarantino films just weeks after nominating him for Hollywood’s highest honor without someone crying hypocrisy? What’s REALLY going on here?
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 26, 2010
Sarah Meyers
SARAH MYERS’s new play, The Realm, is being produced by Down Payment Productions (directed by Jessica Fisch). Opening Night set for Saturday, April 3 at 8pm. The limited showcase will run through Sunday, April 18 at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street between Avenues A & B).
Ms. Myers is a company member with Rude Mechs in Austin, Texas, and she currently teaches in the Theatre Arts Department at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I got a chance to chat with this busy lady by phone recently . . .
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 25, 2010
The Cherry Orchard was written in 1904 by Anton Chekhov and while it was the writer’s intent to have it play as comedy, the original production was directed as a tragedy. This latest production of the play, directed by the venerable Terry Schreiber, contains elements of both comedy as well as tragedy, but it ultimately plays as a tale of transformation and renewal.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 23, 2010
Do you want to share your craft and work one-to-one with an aspiring teen writer?
Apply to be a Volunteer Writing Mentor today!
Press Release from Girls Write Now:
Girls Write Now is a community of professional women writers—educators, editors, poets, novelists, playwrights, journalists, literary agents, publishers, and more—on a mission. Since 1998 we’ve provided guidance, support, and opportunities for New York City’s underserved or at-risk high school girls, enabling them to develop their creative, independent voices, explore careers in professional writing, and learn how to make healthy school, career, and life choices.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 22, 2010
Hangman School For Girls (art by Maya Battle)
Many of us know what we know of British school kids … or British school chums from what we see on the screens both big and little. British children are smart, even the not so bright ones have an air of intelligence that is a bit unsettling. The accent makes them sound very, very wise. Even the little cockney children sound more street smart somehow. Maybe as Americans we forever will look to England as our older sibling who we can’t quite measure up to, who we’re always being compared to. Sure, we’ve got our own style and we can be smart in our own way, but there’s something about the British that will always make us feel like they’re speaking a different language.
You get this feeling when you settle in to watch Hangman School for Girls (written by Lucy Gillespie and directed by Leta Tremblay). From the very first moment there’s no mistaking this play, this school or these girls for British because they’re just so smart.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 17, 2010
Try The Soup? (Cara Francis, Desiree Burch and Erica Livingston made it just for you)
First, a joke:
Old Perceval decided to treat himself for his 100th birthday. He flew first-class to San Francisco and checked into the Fairmont Hotel. The mischievous hotel concierge got an idea and, as a practical joke, sent a call girl up to his room.
She knocked, and the old fellow walked slowly over and opened the door. He saw a beautiful red-headed woman standing before him.
“I have a birthday present for you,” she said, and smiled. ”I’m here to give you super sex.”
“Thanks,” he said thoughtfully, “I’ll take the soup.”
~~~
I’m reminded of this joke because while some folks would think of sex when confronted with the image of three naked gals dipping themselves in and out of a hot tub all night long, some times standing around dripping wet, some times splashing vigorously in the tub, some times lathering up and rinsing off, these women invite you to think of soup instead. The fascinating thing is … they succeed. However, if you think they succeed by accident, then the soup’s on you. Continue Reading…
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 8, 2010
Press Release from New York Center for Independent Publishing:
New York served as the model for Gotham City, inspired Will Eisner as he created the noirish adventures of The Spirit, and became a recurring character during the 1960s resurgence of Marvel in comics such as Spider-Man and Iron Man. Comics expert Peter Gutiérrez will moderate a high-energy round-table on the relationship between superheroes and their favorite hometown, followed by a wine and cheese reception provided by GraphicNovelReporter.com!
Join us and learn how comics culture has promoted potent and memorable images of New York to readers worldwide.
When: Tuesday, March 9, 2010, 6:30-8:30 pm
Where: 20 W. 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
Tickets $15 for general admission, $10 for CIP Members, and $5 for students – and they’re tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Please email contact@nycip.org or call 212-764-7021 to reserve!
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 6, 2010
No Traveler - Contemplating What Lies Beyond (Penny Pollak / photo by Rebecca Chiappone)
The opening scene of Penny Pollak’s No Traveler (directed and co-created by Samantha Jones) immediately reminded me of The Triplets of Belleville (not the movie, but the weirdly enjoyable music video by M). Ms. Pollak, or rather her character Abigail, is having a great time dancing around her room to an equally bouncy French tune; she spends much of the song drinking wine, primping, getting frisky with a door, and setting the stage for some grand finale. Of course, when she pulls out the straight edged razor and steps into the bucket it becomes obvious that this was all nothing but a frivolous preamble to the real task at hand … ending her life.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 5, 2010
Killy Dwyer, Joe Yoga, Mike Milazzo and Bamboo Silva
I thought it was a very good sign that my latest obsession, Lady Gaga’s pulsating, driving song Teeth, was blaring as I entered Under St. Marks to get ready to see Killer Killy Dwyer’s latest offering “Kill The Band” which is not just the name of her band, but which is also the name of the show that’s part of Frigid Festival 2010. I saw it as a good omen not just because I haven’t been able to get the song out of my head these last few weeks, but more because the song is the type of song that gets down into you and makes you bop in your seat and I figured a gal who was serving up Gaga as the appetizer must have the all-you-can-eat-buffet to back it up. Musically speaking, of course.
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by Karen Tortora-Lee on March 5, 2010
Admission is free!
March 6th & 7th from 10:00 – 5:00
General Society Library
20 West 44th Street
(btw. 5th & 6th Aves.)
10:00 am – 5:00 pm both days
Saturday, March 6th:
11:30 – 12:00 PM
Maria Filice of Food & Fate Publishing will presents Breaking Bread in L’Aquila
Reviewed in Library Journal as a “wonderful book…will appeal to foodies and cooks looking for effortless Italian cooking.”
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