Emma Koehn
apps against violence and abuse
The Good Wife has put a fair bit on our plates issues-wise. And amongst all that tightly written wit and too-clever law talk, this season offered up a new tech miracle capable of solving crimes and protecting women – the humble personal safety app. The question of ‘safety’ of women in party or date situations [...]
crumbling ecologies: craft, community, fragility
Craft and community are intertwined concepts, but both are under threat. Our affection for all things handmade has not been enough to preserve the fringes of arts education during tough economic times. Artist Jasmine Targett noticed this, and from it sprang a sprawling, delicate project that brought countless crafters together. What emerged was her series [...]
bum-gate: should we care?
It can be a little hit-and-miss, but every couple of weeks Australia is sent into a minor tizz over words spoken on Q&A. The national panel show, now in its second full year of embracing the tweet-giest, can pull the odd controversial statement out and influence the tone of debates. Late last week we saw [...]
feminism in funny places: the feminist harry potter tumblr
Feminism. Harry Potter. Two concepts that may tickle the fancy of a Lip reader. How are these two connected, if at all? In the spirit of making feminism fun, is Hermione the answer? We spend a fair chunk of time on Lip discussing the F word, and it isn’t always a case of warm and [...]
‘haters’ and controversy makers
Two weeks ago, ultra conservative American radio man Rush Limbaugh took to the airwaves in criticism. The subject of his critique was Sandra Fluke, a law student who had testified at a Steering Committee hearing in support of having health coverage for contraceptives. Limbaugh’s analysis almost exploded social media, from the moment that he called [...]
media round up: sexism and our politics
You may have noticed that Julia Gillard is of the female persuasion. Perhaps you’ve also seen that her government has received a fair chunk of disgruntlement from the Australian people lately. Leaving the ‘faceless men’ and leadership worries aside, is there actually sexism hiding within the walloping that Ms. Gillard has received? How do we [...]
soaps and low standards
Do we have low standards? The past few weeks have had us questioning the popularity (or lack thereof) of Australian film, literature and culture generally. There’s talk of us still subscribing to ‘Cultural Cringe’, and failing to value Australian cultural products. This analysis has been largely related to film and literature, but does it apply [...]
on weighty goals & waiting for change
Weight loss and wedding bells seem to be waltzing hand in hand to the theme song of the Ten Network’s Biggest Loser Singles.The program’s enthusiastic press release claims that this year the contestants will be ‘seeking the companionship that their weight has long denied them’. Whether or not you find the equation of obesity and [...]
why sunscreen beats spiderman
When life gets me down, I flee to Youtube and drag up Baz Luhrmann’s musical take on Mary Schmich’s 1999 piece Sunscreen. Sure, I like electro-pop beats and I support amateur photo montage makers, but really my motives for this are more selfish. Basically, it’s just soothing to hear the opening lines of advice, which [...]
working girls, show us a picture: you gotta look the part
I’m stumbling through a chain store in the thick of late night shopping. Katy Perry’s voice pours through unseen speakers, stands of accessories jump out at me from thin air. Mirrors are fixed to the walls in a way that makes you slightly nauseous, with multiple copies of yourself staring back at you from behind [...]
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