Synopses & Reviews
For the past two decades, young women (and men) have found their way to feminism through Riot Grrrl. Against the backdrop of the culture wars and before the rise of the Internet or desktop publishing, the zine and music culture of the Riot Grrrl movement empowered young women across the country to speak out against sexism and oppression, creating a powerful new force of liberation and unity within and outside of the women's movement. While feminist bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile fought for their place in a male-dominated punk scene, their members and fans developed an extensive DIY network of activism and support.The Riot Grrrl Collection reproduces a sampling of the original zines, posters, and printed matter for the first time since their initial distribution in the 1980s and '90s, and includes an original essay by Johanna Fateman and an introduction by Lisa Darms.
Lisa Darms is Senior Archivist at the Fales Library and Special Collections at NYU, and founder of the Fales Riot Grrrl Collection. She holds an MA in History and Archival Management from NYU, an MFA in Photography from the University of Washington, and a BA from the Evergreen State College. Her writing has been published in The Believer, Women and Performance Journal, and Archivaria. Before coming to archives she taught photography, worked as a custom photo printer, and was a member of the collaborative art group Thin Ice. Darms grew up in British Columbia, CanadaJohanna Fateman is a writer, musician, record producer, and member of the post-punk band Le Tigre. She, along with Kathleen Hanna and several other key Riot Grrrls, recently donated her zines and early writings to the Fales.
Review
and#147;Riot grrrl is the gateway drug that girls use to find feminist history. I love love love this bookand#151;a snapshot of what riot grrrl was and could be.and#8221;and#151;Kathleen Hanna
and#147;What an experienceand#150;this book shows a movement being born and taking form, and how revolutionary ideas move from hand to hand. The Riot Grrrl Collection is alive with intimacy, passion, anger, and fun.and#8221;and#151;Sheila Heti
and#147;The materials in this book are more important than ever. Riot grrrl shows us that feminism isn't synonymous with consumer empowerment. Passed person to person, riot grrrl culture advances a true revolution in which and#145;girland#8217; qualities like candor and empathy are no longer trivialized and can re-make the world."and#151;Chris Kraus
and#147;The Riot Grrrl Collection preserves a vital history of feminism that will inspire scholars, artists, and activists alike.and#8221;and#151;Ann Cvetkovich
and#147;Forget Andy Warhol and everyone being famous for 15 minutes. Because of riot grrrl we have new, exciting political movements every 15 minutes.and#8221;and#151;Vaginal Davis
"What zine-making taught me about writing: 1. shock yourself with honesty, 2. the truth is messy, 3. be brave like her. I use these riot grrrl skills every single day."and#151;Miranda July
Synopsis
The original manifestos, calls to arms, and rallying cries of the Riot Grrrl revolution, collected here for the first time.
Synopsis
Archival material from the 1990s underground movement that presents "a snapshot of what riot grrrl was and could be" (Kathleen Hanna, Bikini Kill).
For the past two decades, young people have found their way to feminism through Riot Grrrl. Against the backdrop of the culture wars and before the rise of the Internet or desktop publishing, the zine and music culture of the Riot Grrrl movement empowered young women across the country to speak out against sexism and oppression, creating a powerful new force of liberation and unity within and outside of the women's movement.
While feminist bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile fought for their place in a male-dominated punk scene, their members and fans developed an extensive DIY network of activism and support. The Riot Grrrl Collection reproduces a sampling of the original zines, posters, and printed matter for the first time since their initial distribution in the 1980s and '90s, and includes an original essay by Johanna Fateman and an introduction by Lisa Darms.
"The materials in this book are more important than ever. Riot grrrl shows us that feminism isn't synonymous with consumer empowerment. Passed person to person, riot grrrl culture advances a true revolution in which 'girl' qualities like candor and empathy are no longer trivialized and can re-make the world." ―Chris Kraus, author of I Love Dick
Synopsis
Archival material from the 1990s underground movement that served as a "gateway drug to feminist history" for so many. (--Kathleen Hanna, Bikini Kill)Before the rise of the Internet or desktop publishing, the zine and music culture of the Riot Grrrl movement empowered young women across the country to speak out against sexism and oppression, creating a powerful new force of liberation and unity within and outside of the women's movement.
While feminist bands like Bikini Kill and Bratmobile fought for their place in a male-dominated punk scene, their members and fans developed an extensive DIY network of activism and support.
The Riot Grrrl Collection reproduces a sampling of the original zines, posters, and printed matter for the first time since their initial distribution in the 1980s and '90s, and includes an original essay by Johanna Fateman and an introduction by Lisa Darms.
"The materials in this book are more important than ever. Riot grrrl shows us that feminism isn't synonymous with consumer empowerment. Passed person to person, riot grrrl culture advances a true revolution in which 'girl' qualities like candor and empathy are no longer trivialized and can re-make the world." ―Chris Kraus, author of I Love Dick
About the Author
Lisa Darms is Senior Archivist at the Fales Library and Special Collections at New York University, and is founder of the Fales Riot Grrrl Collection. She was a member of the art collective Thin Ice, and was an organizer of the first Ladyfest Festival, held in Olympia, Washington in 2000. Darms has published articles in the American Archivist, Archivaria, Women and Performance Journal, and The Believer.