Monday, April 05, 2004
Post Script (which is surprisingly coming at the beginning of this story): No hurt or bitter feelings, lots of good discussion, and an apology if I came off as a whiny jerk
I went to the Burlesque show on Friday. For the most part I had a pretty great time, but I didn manage to feel a little stupid over one particular incident. Claudette, Gerry, and I went for a cigarette (they smoked, I watched) in the lounge downstairs that apparently was reserved for performers. Noone in the lounge seemed to have a particular problem with Gerry and I (both non-performers) being in the lounge. We were approached by a third party from upstairs who told both of us that two performers who would remain nameless took issue with us being in the lounge. It made me feel really uncomfortable. Not because of the manner in which the third party handled it, but the fact that my presence unnerved someone did.
I realize that it's problematic having males in the dressing room while female performers (or any performers for that matter) are in various states of undress. I completely understand that someone could view that as an infringement on privacy and safe space. I could see why someone may want us to leave or may want a third party to ask us to leave. I am considerate of that.
I do feel weird though when someone has a problem with me being in the lounge and asks a third party to ask me to leave. It makes me feel like I'm making someone unsafe and uncomfortable. It's unfortunate that members of a society that speaks openly about inclusion and anarchism feel like they can't confront someone. I suppose that sounds like I'm being bitter, but it's more just me feeling worried that someone would see me as a threat or as someone who makes them uncomfortable.
What was also really odd about the Burlesque show on Saturday night was the heckles of "Show us your boobs/ies" during what was probably the two more dialogue based acts. Both acts dealt with socio-political themes with one focusing mostly on misogyny and sexism and the other focusing on the war om Iraq and goverments which focus on economic gains rather than social gains and democracy. Both groups of women were heckled with "show us your boobs" during what were important parts of their speeches. I realize people may not be "down" with what was being said or how it was being said, but there was at least a dozen acts where you could see breasts. I'm sure that people could sit through two acts where women felt that what they were expressing was important enough for them to get up in front of 200 people to speak what was on their mind. When I yelled at them to shut up they mockingly yelled "shut up" back at me, so I gave them the finger and told them to fuck off. I guess I was inspired by the heckling and finger giving of Gerry and Crystal from a few nights previous. However this time it was directed at the crowd rather than the "act".
Needless to say that was a tad disheartening.
The rest of the Burlesque show was amazing. Lambchops, the P.S.C.M. and Meghan Lemoine's attack on the leaders of the free world were incredibly entertaining. It was awesome to finally see Claudette's costume (and act) after hearing about her act for a while. I was impressed at the elaborate lengths people went to not only in their costumes, but in the acts themselves. It was just astounding and inspiring how much people poured into the show.
During the first intermission on Saturday Crystal and I chewed 20 year old bubblegum from a Michael Jackson trading card package, today I have the worst stomach ache I'm not sure whether it's due to exhaustion or stress or what.
I went to the Burlesque show on Friday. For the most part I had a pretty great time, but I didn manage to feel a little stupid over one particular incident. Claudette, Gerry, and I went for a cigarette (they smoked, I watched) in the lounge downstairs that apparently was reserved for performers. Noone in the lounge seemed to have a particular problem with Gerry and I (both non-performers) being in the lounge. We were approached by a third party from upstairs who told both of us that two performers who would remain nameless took issue with us being in the lounge. It made me feel really uncomfortable. Not because of the manner in which the third party handled it, but the fact that my presence unnerved someone did.
I realize that it's problematic having males in the dressing room while female performers (or any performers for that matter) are in various states of undress. I completely understand that someone could view that as an infringement on privacy and safe space. I could see why someone may want us to leave or may want a third party to ask us to leave. I am considerate of that.
I do feel weird though when someone has a problem with me being in the lounge and asks a third party to ask me to leave. It makes me feel like I'm making someone unsafe and uncomfortable. It's unfortunate that members of a society that speaks openly about inclusion and anarchism feel like they can't confront someone. I suppose that sounds like I'm being bitter, but it's more just me feeling worried that someone would see me as a threat or as someone who makes them uncomfortable.
What was also really odd about the Burlesque show on Saturday night was the heckles of "Show us your boobs/ies" during what was probably the two more dialogue based acts. Both acts dealt with socio-political themes with one focusing mostly on misogyny and sexism and the other focusing on the war om Iraq and goverments which focus on economic gains rather than social gains and democracy. Both groups of women were heckled with "show us your boobs" during what were important parts of their speeches. I realize people may not be "down" with what was being said or how it was being said, but there was at least a dozen acts where you could see breasts. I'm sure that people could sit through two acts where women felt that what they were expressing was important enough for them to get up in front of 200 people to speak what was on their mind. When I yelled at them to shut up they mockingly yelled "shut up" back at me, so I gave them the finger and told them to fuck off. I guess I was inspired by the heckling and finger giving of Gerry and Crystal from a few nights previous. However this time it was directed at the crowd rather than the "act".
Needless to say that was a tad disheartening.
The rest of the Burlesque show was amazing. Lambchops, the P.S.C.M. and Meghan Lemoine's attack on the leaders of the free world were incredibly entertaining. It was awesome to finally see Claudette's costume (and act) after hearing about her act for a while. I was impressed at the elaborate lengths people went to not only in their costumes, but in the acts themselves. It was just astounding and inspiring how much people poured into the show.
During the first intermission on Saturday Crystal and I chewed 20 year old bubblegum from a Michael Jackson trading card package, today I have the worst stomach ache I'm not sure whether it's due to exhaustion or stress or what.
# posted by Die Brucke @ 8:36 PM 
