Women's History Month

Hey everyone, I know I haven't posted in a while. I had been meaning to, but I just don't have the patience or attention span to write a bunch of stuff. Anyway, Masahide Kato (yeah the dude that writes that sick nuclear kritik we've all got people mad by winning on) recently had a Facebook post that reminded me that it was Women's History Month. I'm admittedly embarrassed because I didn't realize it was March. But, in honor of the month, I'd like to recommend and summarize some books written by some of my favorite feminist authors.

Earth Democracy by Vandana Shiva
Throughout her life, Shiva has been very critical of technological approaches to the environment. After working with and actually seeing the effects of nuclear power, she has written fiercely about the patriarchal underpinnings of environmental management. Being an eco-feminist she argues that there are connections between the way women and nature have been abused. Through a patriarchal lens, they are viewed as "standing reserves" if you will that must bend to the will of masculine domination. In the book Earth Democracy she is critical of intellectual property rights on crops and the privatization of natural resources. These are forms of patriarchal domination over nature in her view. She continues to be very critical of how the WTO's treaties and IMF have contributed to massive amounts of poverty and resource depletion. A great read and, if you're a debater, the cards fly right off almost every page.

All About Love by bell hooks
I know there are plenty of other bell hooks books that I could have gone with that talk more about feminism, but I have some history with and obligation to this book. In this book, hooks discusses the way patriarchal assumptions and fear have created a climate of hostility in our society. We have become a culture that worships death and fears otherness. This incessant fear has created the conditions necessary to otherize and destroy populations. Her alternative is to embrace a "love ethic" centered around an embracing of difference and mutual understanding. I know this sounds like hippy mumbo jumbo, and maybe it is, but hooks makes it sound great. I highly recommend this book, it goes great with a hospice affirmative.

Toward a Feminist Theory of the State by Catharine A. MacKinnon
MacKinnon takes us through a journey of American legal studies and how the legal system has functioned to uphold masculine assumptions and discourse surrounding almost every facet of the law that directly affects women. Through her analysis of the legal system, MacKinnon tackles big issues by discussing problems with the masculine framings of rape laws and abortion issues. There are also some sick perm cards if you're reading a feminism aff.

There you have it. Sorry I hadn't posted in a while, but I just got the new Pokemon game and all I feel like doing is playing that and sleeping. You should, if you're interested, post more suggestions, as these were only a few books that I had laying around.

Happy Women's History Month,
PJ

New Left Media

Hello everyone, now I know this group is relatively popular, but I had to share as I am a big fan. They're called New Left Media and they're awesome. These film students traveled around the country to various politically charged sites and interviewed people, activists, etc.

That being said, I really enjoy their interviews with people at places like Glenn Beck's "Rally to Restore Honor". You'll find that these extremist Right wingers know about as much as we expected.

Also, people should donate to keep them around and making videos. Great fun for any leftist, here it is, New Left Media.

http://newleftmedia.com/videos/

Uber-tangible Philosophy

Howdy, my name is PJ Martinez and I'm a debater/senior at Mercedes High School, which is in a town named Mercedes. It's about as south as you get in Texas before you hit Mexico. I don't have too much to say as fellow contributors are, like I told Hank, out of my league. I was really excited/honored to be asked to contribute though, so here I am.

The majority of my high school career has involved an intense fascination with critical literature, dating back to when my coach/mentor, Hector, gave me an expando with some basic representations kritiks when I was a wee freshperson. My love affair with critical literature continued my sophomore year as my partner/hero, Marc, had us read nothing but critical theory. I've been doing it ever since.

I dig me some feminist literature, William V Spanos is a god, I'm big on security (bad), this year spurred my love affair with nuclear kritiks, and I've been really digging me some other deconstruction and post structuralism business recently.

Unfortunately, I'm not nearly as cool/hipster/artsy as my fellow radicals on this blog, so my posts probably won't consist of much poetry and art. I do get my kicks off of bashing neoconservativism, so I will definitely use this blog as a vehicle by which to vent those urges. I also look forward to discussing some classic kritikal literature and the new stuff that surfaces after I click "Publish Post". Not too sure what else I will contribute, I'll remain spectral about it.

In any case, it's a pleasure to be aboard. Happy kritiking.