All posts by spaolini

If You Put A Bag Over His Head: Phoenix Mayet zine talk & slideshow

IF YOU PUT A BAG OVER HIS HEAD – Objectifying Men in the Age of Terror, zine lecture and slideshow by Phoenix Mayet.
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From the artist:
In its simplest form, objectification is regarding someone as a thing. In the case of sexual objectification, it begins with a gaze, one that consumes and obliterates the individual. The person is reduced, dehumanized, and made an item of erotic pleasure and/or repulsion.

Many feminists have explored the notion of the ‘female gaze’ and how it relates to the seemingly universal default ‘male gaze’. If You Put a Bag Over His Head began with a desire to identify my own unique gaze as a woman and feminist artist.

phoenix poster2

I began by placing an ad for male models on Craigslist. I invited the men to my studio where I photographed them, nude, wearing handmade bags over their heads. With their faces covered, I was free to gaze at their bodies according to my interest and desire. As I worked, some questions arose:

How is male-dominance expressed and supported by our culture?
What function does sexual objectification serve?
What is terrorism and how does it differ from war?
How do we define torture and who are its victims?

For this presentation I will offer images and ephemera from the making of this zine along with some of the source material that informed my process. In addition, I hope to offer some thoughts about the questions above and talk about ways in which individuals can examine their own personal gaze and its repercussions for others and themselves.
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Artist Phoenix Mayet (NH, USA, 1970) takes photographs that reflect her interest in sexuality, gender constructs, and the idea of the self. She lives and works in Dover, NH and her current projects include small constructions and still lifes.
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Zines $8. Suggested door donation $5-10.

 

Sound Equipment Needed for Wrong Brain Headquarters

sound gear needed

Wrong Brain Headquarters has hosted dozens of live music shows since March – all on borrowed equipment! We would love to have our own sound gear that lives at HQ – can you donate any of these items? Email Andrew at music@wrongbrain.net –
-small mixer (example: yamaha mg10 or mg16)
-power amp, 2000 watts (example: behringer europower ep2000)
-powered stage monitors (example: behringer eurolive F1220D)
-microphones (example: sm58)
-speaker cables, XLR cables
-microphone stands

Death Cafe 8/2

death cafe poster
Come share fears, thoughts, joys and experiences about death in a safe and friendly environment.

At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. The objective is ‘to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives’.

A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

Death Cafes are always offered:
– On a not for profit basis
– In an accessible, respectful and confidential space
– With no intention of leading people to any conclusion, product or course of action
– Alongside refreshing drinks and nourishing food – and cake!
– See more at: deathcafe.com

Donations accepted to cover the cost of refreshments.

Death Cafes are not for the recently bereaved, and are inappropriate for children. Bereavement groups can be found at local Hospice companies.