Revolution girl style now
Having gone through the experience of being a teenage girl I feel it is safe to say there is little that is more harrowing, exciting or all consuming. Femininity has a way of expressing itself in different mediums, and in Marisa Meltzer's new book, Girl Power the concept of the 90's female revolution in music is observed and analyzed in careful detail by women who played key roles in the movement of feminism (including Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill) as well as Meltzer herself in her own words.
Divided into six chapters, beginning with the Riot Grrrl movement and trailblazing bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile and Heavens to Betsy and the do-it-yourself struggle to gain respect in an inherently patriarchal society, and their antithetical “Pop Tart” counterparts such as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. Girl Power is a manifesto of 90's girl culture to find a place within music. Re-examined is the meaning of what it is to be a girl in modern society, sexual politics and carving your own niche, Girl Power is an exploration of feminism and the trickle down effect from scrawling personal zines and gritty punk scenes, to the notorious Spice Girls in sparkly ensembles shouting “girl power!”
One of the most interesting aspects of Girl Power is that it examines things like the personal politics behind different kinds of feminist oriented music (Riot Grrl, Angry Womyn, Girl Groups) as well as the sense of community derived from the Riot Grrrl movement. Insightful and extremely well-researched, Meltzer examines not only the intended meaning of girl power, but also the skewed spin the media placed upon it, and the repercussions of creating a scene and having its potency dilute as it gains mass popularity.
Girl Power is a lot like hanging out with a cool older friend and having her tell you all about the unique history of 90's feminism, as well as tons of cool anecdotes about artists and their perceptions (i.e. Avril Lavigne's pitiful response to being asked if she were a feminist? “What's that?”).
The style of Girl Power isn't too underground or preachy and doesn't seek to prove that it has indie cred, but rather exudes an unpretentious knowledge based on experience and personal opinion. Looking forward, Girl Power pontificates the future of feminism, and with many of the former Riot Grrrl's find themselves looking at feminism from a different standpoint, through the eyes of their own children who have their own and considerably more mainstream role models.
Unapologetic and unwavering, feminism in music took teenage girls from their isolated bedrooms and put a guitar in their hands, a mission statement and some friends to relate to. A good start in a self-education on feminism, and a great familiar read for aficionados of music and gender politics.
Girl Power is full of interesting stories about the conception of girl bands and the unapologetic Riot Grrrl movement and how the meaning of the words “girl power” has changed and mutated over the course of two decades.
Divided into six chapters, beginning with the Riot Grrrl movement and trailblazing bands like Bikini Kill, Bratmobile and Heavens to Betsy and the do-it-yourself struggle to gain respect in an inherently patriarchal society, and their antithetical “Pop Tart” counterparts such as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. Girl Power is a manifesto of 90's girl culture to find a place within music. Re-examined is the meaning of what it is to be a girl in modern society, sexual politics and carving your own niche, Girl Power is an exploration of feminism and the trickle down effect from scrawling personal zines and gritty punk scenes, to the notorious Spice Girls in sparkly ensembles shouting “girl power!”
One of the most interesting aspects of Girl Power is that it examines things like the personal politics behind different kinds of feminist oriented music (Riot Grrl, Angry Womyn, Girl Groups) as well as the sense of community derived from the Riot Grrrl movement. Insightful and extremely well-researched, Meltzer examines not only the intended meaning of girl power, but also the skewed spin the media placed upon it, and the repercussions of creating a scene and having its potency dilute as it gains mass popularity.
Girl Power is a lot like hanging out with a cool older friend and having her tell you all about the unique history of 90's feminism, as well as tons of cool anecdotes about artists and their perceptions (i.e. Avril Lavigne's pitiful response to being asked if she were a feminist? “What's that?”).
The style of Girl Power isn't too underground or preachy and doesn't seek to prove that it has indie cred, but rather exudes an unpretentious knowledge based on experience and personal opinion. Looking forward, Girl Power pontificates the future of feminism, and with many of the former Riot Grrrl's find themselves looking at feminism from a different standpoint, through the eyes of their own children who have their own and considerably more mainstream role models.
Unapologetic and unwavering, feminism in music took teenage girls from their isolated bedrooms and put a guitar in their hands, a mission statement and some friends to relate to. A good start in a self-education on feminism, and a great familiar read for aficionados of music and gender politics.
Girl Power is full of interesting stories about the conception of girl bands and the unapologetic Riot Grrrl movement and how the meaning of the words “girl power” has changed and mutated over the course of two decades.
