Rag 5.

I am proud to present the fifth glorious edition of RAG magazine, being launched in Dublin on the 20th November at Seomra Spraoi, Dublin's Autonomous Social Centre.

RAG are a political group of Anarcha-feminists, that is women who identify both as anarchists and feminists (that's me!), who meet weekly, organise social meetings, events, discussions and produce an annual magazine.

This is our fifth edition and for this issue, I have written an article about burlesque, entitled "The Contentious Strip: Observations on Nudity and Sexuality in Dublin's Burlesque Scene" where I interview several of my favourite femmo burlesquers as well as discuss my own experiences and how I have come to choose cabaret and burlesque as a mode of expression.

I also interviewed Sally Outen from Feminist burlesque troupe Lashings of Ginger Beer (www.lashings.org), co-wrote an article on New Media with Angela Nagle, interviewed Chella and Sarah of Adventures in Menstruating fanzine (www.chartyourcycle.wordpress.com) and co-ordinated lots of original artwork from women illustrators and artists, including my friendly babe Julia Duff (www.brainfogbrainfog.blogspot.com) and my new favourite, the talented Emma Wilson (who's illustration appears on our poster, above).

We like to throw a hoolie every year once the the hard graft is over and the beautiful magazine has been produced. Of course, both the party and the magazine get better every year (at least thats the idea) so this year, inspired by my presence in the group, we have decided to host a queer anarchafeminist cabaret!

I am extremely excited to annouce the line-up and plans for the night: an evening of performance, feminists reading, celebrating dancing, food and fun!

20th November
Seomra Spraoi
6pm for food
9pm for performances with popcorn and cake
Kids welcome
Fancy Dress Encouraged
Dancing til late
8euro donation including a copy of the magazine
B.Y.O.B.

Confirmed appearances from:

Mistress of Ceremonies: JELL O'FISH (Rag member)
Deirdre and Jonah (Acro performance/ song singing)
Oscillate Wildely (Queer Boylesque)
Apollonia Tribal Bellydance
Coin Operated Girls (Starring the wonderful D4 Von Teese and Donegal Catch)
The LoveCats' Azaria Starfire (Burlesque/ Comedy)
Leanne Harte (Queer Singer Song writer)
Blackbird (That's me, I'm a Ragster)
The Beast Woman and the Crash Test Cabaret Troupe (Comedy and Burlesque)
Julian Mandrews (The gorgeous gay and rather daper drag king)
Jennifer Evans (Amazing singer and guitarist)
And last but not least:
Prima Ballerina and the Renegade Dancer (Comedy)

PHEW!

A discussion on New Media and Social Media

A discussion about New Media, Social Media and the internet:

THE II PART RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS NOW AVAILABLE HERE.

This meeting will be facilitated by Emily Aoibheann.

Speakers include:

Angela Nagle, Fionn Kidney, Andrew Flood, Vanessa Monaghan and Caroline Campbell.

RAG open meeting Monday 14th June

On Monday 14th June at 7.30pm, RAG will host a discussion on the many uses and dangers of 'new media', the possibilities for positive change and 'radical democracy' via the internet, the dilemma of 'internet neurosis' where feelings of vulnerability and fears of exploitation need to be negotiated in order to utilize the internet as activists, artists and self-publishers and the potential of the internet as a force for oppression and control.

The discussion will take place in Seomra Spraoi. All welcome.

Wikipedia describes new media in the following terms:

New media is a broad term that emerged in the later part of the 20th century to encompass the amalgamation of traditional media such as film, images, music, spoken and written word, with the interactive power of computer and communications technology, computer-enabled consumer devices and most importantly the internet. New media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community formation around the media content. What distinguishes New media from traditional media is not the digitizing of media content into bits, but the dynamic life of the "new media" content and its interactive relationship with the media consumer. Another important promise of New Media is the "democratization" of the creation, publishing, distribution and consumption of media content.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_media)