hermionesviolin: (anime night)
[personal profile] hermionesviolin
Well, the morning commute was no big deal (I'd guess about an inch of snowfall and the flakes falling were small, though kinda coarse), but I expect the evening commute to be worse with the whole freezing rain thing. Again, though, I have no expectations. I was glad to hear that Katie agreed with me that she honestly would not have been surprised if she woke up this morning to no snow.

I think a bouquet of black [or some approximation thereto] tulips would be fabulous, but honestly I've been happy with complete non-engagement with this Hallmark holiday.

*

The [livejournal.com profile] femslash_today "love bites" porn battle was up to 3 pages already yesterday [it went live on Sunday], though I was unimpressed by the quality when I skimmed said pages.

There are a huge number of prompts. There are no BSC prompts, and in HP no McGonagall (or Tonks, now that I think of it) prompts. I disapprove.

Some of the prompts are really intriguing, though, and I may snag them for development into fuller ideas later.

Also, Eden in Heroes? Totally hadn't occurred to me until I saw her name in the prompts for that fandom that one could do really interesting stuff given her power. [I am feeling oddly squicky about writing Claire-porn. Though apparently not squicked enough, since I wrote Eden/Claire -- though it turns out I'd misread the prompt, which was actually Eden/Charlie. Oops.]

I also endorse the The "Imperfect Sex Is Not the End of the World" Challenge.

*

Oh, speaking of VDay.

I am frustrated that something that is supposed to empowering etc. for women uses incorrect terminology for girly bits. I'm speaking, of course, of the Vagina Monologues.

To quote Wiki, In common speech, the term "vagina" is often used inaccurately to refer to the vulva or female genitals generally; strictly speaking, the vagina is a specific internal structure and the vulva is the exterior genitalia only.

I know I'm being a prescriptivist, but I like language being precise. I mean, if a perfectly good word already exists, why use a word that doesn't mean that?

This doesn't even touch my discomfort with that weird anthropomorphization of one's girly bits, which also (to my mind) has shades of defining one by one's bits.

*

P.S. All y'alls who dislike LJ's VDay style know you can switch out of Horizon, right? [Yes, I know, some people actually like Horizon and that doesn't mean they should be forced to endure holiday decoration schemes. I am personally anti-pink, but what little I saw before I logged in this morning I actually didn't mind as much as I'd expected to given the outcry.]

Also, why did no one tell me there are new LJ gift options including a ripped-out heart and a black rose? [Oh, it didn't even show up on [livejournal.com profile] news until like 10:30am Pacific today. That would do it.]

Edit: Okay, I approve of the Google Doodle. /edit

*

Looking ahead to other holidays:
Join IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day (also known as Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday) on Tuesday, February 20, 2007. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., we'll give you one free short stack (three) of our famous buttermilk pancakes. All we ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children's hospitals through Children's Miracle Network, or other local charities.

[...]

There is a limit of one free short stack per guest. The offer is valid at participating restaurants for dine-in only while supplies last, and is not valid with any other offer, special, coupon or discount.
How do you know which restaurants are participating? 'Cause I was recently reminded that there is an IHOP in Harvard Square. Though I don't really like anyone's pancakes except my mom's sourdough anyway.

RE: Vagina Monologues

Date: 2007-02-15 07:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] theatre-pixie.livejournal.com
I wonder if the use of the word "vagina" hasn't something to do with shock-value. I've been trying out various other possibilities in my head (The Vulva Monologues, The Labia Monologues, possibly even The Clitoris Monologues) and not only do they not sound appropriate (the musicality of those words together is dissonant to me), they also sound... scientific. Vagina is a word that rather walks that fine line between scientific and just plain dirty. Think about it. How many names are there for a woman's genitalia? There are the scientific ones: vulva, labia, clitoris, vagina. There are the slang terms: pussy, cunt, clit (there may be more, I'm just not familiar with them). And then there are the "nice" terms. The ones that are safer and less-charged: sex, genitals (although that one sometimes squicks me), girly bits, center...

The Vagina Monologues seems to have both the scientific backing (um, hello, that's the actual word for some of your girly bits, like it or not) as well as some shock value. Some theatrics. Which is important. A play that, by its title alone, can cause a stir is bound to get a lot of attention--fast.

*sighs* I was practically guaranteed a part in a local production of The Vagina Monologues a few years ago (the director wanted me for the show), but I couldn't make it to the auditions (my folks were busy, my brother was busy, and the lady from church that I had enlisted to go decided that she couldn't take me as she wouldn't have taken any of her daughters to try out for such a thing) and the producer vetoed my involvement without seeing an audition.

Re: Vagina Monologues

Date: 2007-02-15 07:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hermionesviolin.livejournal.com
Admittedly, I don't have an alternative title in mind.

I would contest the scientific backing because the Monologues seem to be about external female genitalia (e.g. "What would your vagina wear?") which is not what the vagina, strictly speaking, is. But I see your point.

I saw a performance I think my sophomore year of college and honestly can't remember much of my reaction to the content. Thinking about it now: I understand the importance of not having shame about sex and sex-associated stuff, but the anthropmorphization of genitalia seems to me weird and almost childish, plus the focus sometimes feels reductionist as if woman=vagina. I much prefer "The Naked I," created by a Smith student, which takes real people's stories much like Eve Ensler did, but with a focus on genderqueer/intersex/trans folks. I do recognize that the VMons are and have been hugely powerful for a lot of women, so I don't wanna bash them completely.

Re: Vagina Monologues

Date: 2007-02-17 05:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] theatre-pixie.livejournal.com
You have the advantage of having actually seen the show. I don't think I've even read it (I never remember to poke about the 'net for a script). I have had several people tell me that there were some odd questions ("what would your vagina wear?" for example), but that there were also some very powerful stories told (the only one I remember being mentioned is a rape victim). My sources seemed to think it was a good blend of comedy ("Tell you about my WHAT?!?!?!") and heart (well, perhaps heartache).

Do you know that the last time someone talked about a vulva (I reiterate, I have strange friends. I love them) I didn't actually know what part they were referring to? I mean, yes, I knew it was a part of that whole girly-bits area, but if I were asked by someone to point it out or describe it I'd be screwed (in the bad way, I assume). It's been more than ten years since I was in a class that discussed this part of my anatomy! A fact that suddenly makes me feel old.
I wouldn't know what labia was/were either if not for some stories I'd read where the girl had her labia pierced.
So even though there are perfectly good and specific words for different parts of the female genitalia, I would venture to guess that the average person doesn't know/remember them. Thus "vagina" is used to cover the whole area.

I've read some of your posts about "The Naked I." It sounds interesting. I cannot compare them to the VMons because I've seen/read neither.

Gee, you're not a Lit major (anthropomorphization? Good grief). I agree. I wouldn't know what to say if someone asked me what my vagina would wear. I would most likely say, "Ummm... panties?" Because I don't--and wouldn't--think of myself as *just* my vagina (although I will admit that there was a time in my life where I rather behaved as if that's all I was). I don't think I know of any woman who would think of herself in such a manner.

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hermionesviolin: an image of Alyson Hannigan (who plays Willow Rosenberg) with animated text "you think you know / what you are / what's to come / you haven't even / BEGUN" (Default)
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