I, obviously, love everything about this. I read your suggestion of “you should hire a Gen-Xer…” after and they are a perfect pairing. Gen X (and Gen Y, I’m never giving up the label) remember how to photocopy their face in a Xerox machine and after reading your piece I am inspired to do so.
This reminded me of my small and yet-unhung collection of ‘arpillera’ art: brightly colored fabric pictures, typically made by women with fabric scraps and cheap burlap, to show their lives. This art form came to worldwide attention when Chilean arpilleras depicting the brutal Pinochet era passed beyond the country’s closed borders—at first because those in power could not imagine that such rough “women’s work” could be expressive or meaningful, and later because brave activists continued to smuggle them out.
When rage (and dismay) transform into art, it’s impactful, even when it’s imperfect—or maybe BECAUSE it’s imperfect, like a cry for help versus an operatic aria.
Anna I LOVE this so much - I’m having a tiny cry because I was a 12 year old Riot Grrrrrrl in the middle of rural Dorset, in the UK, a good few years after it all actually happened - I was also a great big awkward dork whose rioting was mostly internal. But I had no idea how much power I had, then - and I think I need to be reminded of how much power I have now. Thank you. X
Also I had a conversation with friends this week about how they are incorporating AI into their jobs and how they feel like they have to in order to become more efficient and to stay relevant. They were afraid of becoming luddites. I'm like, so it helps you write emails better and helps you brainstorm?
I, obviously, love everything about this. I read your suggestion of “you should hire a Gen-Xer…” after and they are a perfect pairing. Gen X (and Gen Y, I’m never giving up the label) remember how to photocopy their face in a Xerox machine and after reading your piece I am inspired to do so.
Please please please go do this.
Yesss! Let us channel our rage into creative solutions! 🔥
All the rage. Thank you for putting my feelings into words. Generative Rage. May we all be more creative and active during this shite show.
This reminded me of my small and yet-unhung collection of ‘arpillera’ art: brightly colored fabric pictures, typically made by women with fabric scraps and cheap burlap, to show their lives. This art form came to worldwide attention when Chilean arpilleras depicting the brutal Pinochet era passed beyond the country’s closed borders—at first because those in power could not imagine that such rough “women’s work” could be expressive or meaningful, and later because brave activists continued to smuggle them out.
When rage (and dismay) transform into art, it’s impactful, even when it’s imperfect—or maybe BECAUSE it’s imperfect, like a cry for help versus an operatic aria.
Thank you for sharing about this! Going to go and look up today!
Anna I LOVE this so much - I’m having a tiny cry because I was a 12 year old Riot Grrrrrrl in the middle of rural Dorset, in the UK, a good few years after it all actually happened - I was also a great big awkward dork whose rioting was mostly internal. But I had no idea how much power I had, then - and I think I need to be reminded of how much power I have now. Thank you. X
Ahhhhh! Of course you were a Riot Grrrl 😍😍😍
So. Much. Rage.
Also I had a conversation with friends this week about how they are incorporating AI into their jobs and how they feel like they have to in order to become more efficient and to stay relevant. They were afraid of becoming luddites. I'm like, so it helps you write emails better and helps you brainstorm?
Rage is everywhere...and if only people would make something with it instead of aggressively driving and yelling.
I finally saw Bikini Kill live two summers ago in Victoria BC. Nostalgia, rage, power and joy all wrapped up. ❤️