The Queen of Country Music

Miss Kitty Wells sings
'It wasn't God who made Honky Tonk Angels'

This song was written as a response to Hank Thompson's hit song, 'The Wild Side of Life', and the songs lyrical treatment of 'wayward' women. Miss Wells retorts with the line, "It's a shame all the blame is on us women." It was a hit! Miss Wells became the first female Country Music star. Her songs talked about female experience and inspired female listeners and Country singers alike.
I went to see Laura Cantrell last night whose new album is a tribute to Miss Wells. Here's a little interview with Miss Cantrell about her project:

A Bumper Blog Entry

Some people think...

On the 26th April, the legend Poly Styrene died
at the age of 53.
She was true punk rock and an inspiration
to many women and girls.

Sexism is brought to light again, but this time by our not-so-modern, Etonian Leader of the Coalition. Calm down, dear? CALM DOWN, DEAR?! The more these 'episodes', these 'light-hearted banters', come out to play the more debate is roused and the more transparent sexism becomes. Let's not calm down, let's rally against it.
Here's a good article.

WOMAN OF THE DAY: Tehmina Kazi.
Director of British Muslims for Secular Democracy, an organisation that aims to raise awareness of the benefits of democracy, Kazi challenges and combats Islamic extremism and Islamophobia. Here's an interesting article about Muslim women making change.
She writes for The Guardian too: http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/tehmina-kazi

Karla Black has been nominated for the 2011 Turner Prize.

What to Ask for Others, 2009

The UK Film Council published a report stating that almost two-thirds of the older women interviewed felt under-represented in films. A report also found that half the population feel that black characters are too often portrayed as drug dealers, two in five say that there are no 'good guy' roles for black characters and two in three say that black characters are overly sexualised. Eastern Europeans are shown as ill-educated and poor; Asian characters experience family conflict; homosexual characters are continually shown as camp, with sexual orientation as their main trait. Films about the working class are seen as too depressing, the middle class too sweet.
Stories exist that show more complex characters and narratives, but the films aren't being made. It's time to start demanding more from our screens. Highlighting these stereotypes and disconnection from society (consumers of cinema) can hopefully start the change. It's a shame that the UK Film Council will cease to exist.