No2: THE REVIVAL OF THE RIOT GRRRL
ART BY LUCIA AUERBACH
LUCIA AUERBACH
They never called themselves Riot Grrrls until the historians analyzed them.
Stop trying to put a label on everything.
The Riot Grrrl was a punk-feminist movement in the late 1980s to late 1990s. As a reaction to the growing punk movement, the Riot Grrrls demanded an extension of the punk carpe diem ideology to the female half. The Riot Grrrls started a never-ending revolution.
Beginning with the punk music scene- the Riot Grrrl artists (such as Bikini Kill, Bratmobile, Le Tigre) emphasized female empowerment while destroying patriarchal expectations and consequences. They challenged the heavily male-dominated sub-culture into having an equal respect for all punk rockers.
They didn’t stop with music.
The movement became a culture. Zines, art, and activism were all born from it and advocated an abundance of social issues ranging from ending violence against women to ageism.
The Riot Grrrl manifesto was originally published in the BIKINI KILL ZINE in 1991. This manifesto outlined the movement supporting female creativity, empowerment, and motivation to corroborate the power of individuality.
“BECAUSE we don't wanna assimilate to someone else's (boy) standards of what is or isn't.” (RIOT GRRRL MANIFESTO)
The Riot Grrrl movement brought to light the universal frustration of being minimized in endeavors of creative production.
These women took a grassroots movement into a feminist revolution.
MY TAKE:
Ideology doesn’t need a name and an instruction guide to follow. But if I were to follow one, the Riot Grrrl manifesto would be it.
It’s mostly due to my mass consumption of entertainment. The best cure for loneliness is someone else’s story. The classic stories of the misunderstood girl finally finding her place in the world that perfectly combined all of the things she needed (not wanted). Yet, she still falters in her individuality and direction along the way. It always ends the same- don't change yourself for someone else’s perceptions of yourself and blah blah blah.
Change is how you grow, baby.
The girl I was in seventh grade will not be the girl I will carry into college. While I do adore 13-year-old Lucia, she can stay in 2016. Change is inevitable and necessary for growth and development. But change should not be forced by society. Change should be an external reflection of internal motivations.
My personal experience of never “belonging to a crowd” has just strengthened my own individuality. Conformity is not in my 5-year plan.
The Riot Grrrl manifesto, and essentially the whole movement, is a constant reminder to respect and embrace your vulnerability.
Quit categorizing. Our brains use concepts and heuristics as the easiest way to solve problems, but nothing that is easy is ever good. You do not belong in a category. The eternal search for validation will not come from a label or a list of guidelines. Create an abstract concept of what you are comfortable with and what provides you your very own form of sanity. Your validation will ALWAYS come from yourself (never ever ever EVER from someone else)
Some advice if you are looking for a rough guideline:
Do exactly what you want to do without the fear of eyes glued on your every move (NOONEISLOOKING).
Cry.
Quit apologizing.
Don't turn down the radio at red lights.
Wear whatever you want to display.
Surround yourself with people that make you happy.
Find new things to explore (is there a flower bed nearby? a marble race that needs an audience?)
Listen to what you want.
And most importantly- create.
We are all just girls trying to find a compass to direct us. Turns out the compass was in our souls the whole time.
Girls- RIOT
