Meh. I think you should stand up for the good bits and just reassess.
You know, the thing is, that even if you designed a perfectly executed project like this, there will ALWAYS be some portion of feminist criticism that finds it invalid. I mean, I'm a radical feminist who believes that patriarchy is defined by male control of, access to, and fear of female sexuality. I believe in the power of art and discourse (as I would categorize the project) to undermine that and shake it up. But it can be problematic and contradictory. And I get shit for even imagining that there could be feminist porn or feminist sex work, even while I acknowledge that most of it's not and it's probably not going to be much of a feminist choice. Any time a feminist embraces sexuality there's heat from some certain specific PART of the feminist community.
Obviously you're the one taking teh internet heat, here (including from me, although I keep trying to re-post as my thinking evolves), and who could blame you for saying "I'm Out." But particularly where the controversy and much of the criticism seems to be so much one related to communication and how expansion would be managed rather than what occurred in practice at PenguiCon, I think the IDEA of it is salvageable. Or at least would benefit from further thought and discussion.
I hope you don't really mean it about not going to future cons. That seems to me to be an unnecessary step. I certainly don't think I'd see you and suddenly fear being accosted.
no subject
You know, the thing is, that even if you designed a perfectly executed project like this, there will ALWAYS be some portion of feminist criticism that finds it invalid. I mean, I'm a radical feminist who believes that patriarchy is defined by male control of, access to, and fear of female sexuality. I believe in the power of art and discourse (as I would categorize the project) to undermine that and shake it up. But it can be problematic and contradictory. And I get shit for even imagining that there could be feminist porn or feminist sex work, even while I acknowledge that most of it's not and it's probably not going to be much of a feminist choice. Any time a feminist embraces sexuality there's heat from some certain specific PART of the feminist community.
Obviously you're the one taking teh internet heat, here (including from me, although I keep trying to re-post as my thinking evolves), and who could blame you for saying "I'm Out." But particularly where the controversy and much of the criticism seems to be so much one related to communication and how expansion would be managed rather than what occurred in practice at PenguiCon, I think the IDEA of it is salvageable. Or at least would benefit from further thought and discussion.
I hope you don't really mean it about not going to future cons. That seems to me to be an unnecessary step. I certainly don't think I'd see you and suddenly fear being accosted.