Image via UnsplashOn Sunday, I was lucky enough to see actor Geena Davis speak at this year’s All About Women event here in Sydney. Davis spoke about her experience in Hollywood and the underrepresentation of women in film and television. Her address was funny, informative, and eye-opening. But it wasn’t statistics about the lack of gender parity on screen that struck me the most. (more…)
Of all the celebrities we lost this year, three hit me the hardest: David Bowie, Prince, and Carrie Fisher. Each were a part of my childhood and adolescence, introducing me to musical and visual worlds that continue to capture my imagination, fuel my creativity, and get me through some of my worst moments.
Their passing in 2016 feels especially poignant. Bowie and Prince showed the world that there’s no right way to be a man. They both embraced femininity and were unafraid to surround themselves with strong, talented women. Fisher was an unapologetic feminist. She was outspoken and fearless in her criticisms of Hollywood and sharing her own struggles with mental illness. In a year that’s come to be dominated by toxic masculinity and bullies, it’s a shame to lose three voices well poised to fight these forces.
But maybe this just means that it’s time for others to find their voices and fill the void.
[Spoiler alert on this post. If you haven’t read Lolita, please do so. It’s a classic for a reason. ]
I read Lolita for the first time in June as part of a classics book club I’ve attended regularly since the beginning of the year. It is definitely a book I wouldn’t have picked up on my own. As much as I love stories of sordid crime, the twisted tale of Humbert Humbert and his child lover always felt too unseemly. (more…)
My husband and I finally got around to watching the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special. It was hilarious, but I was left with a single sad feeling: I miss New York City.
Of all the places I’ve travelled thus far, NYC is up there on my list of places to revisit. We were there for 10 days, and only barely scratched the surface of what the city has to offer. There are still so many museums and galleries to visit. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were undergoing renovations during our visit and deserve a do-over. We never did get around to that picnic in Central Park. I only got to eat at Shake Shack eight times.
It’s been over two years since New York and we still talk about it. My husband and I seem to constantly be saying things like, “The next time we’re in New York…” It’s a forgone conclusion that we will return one day, we just don’t know when exactly that will be. We have trips planned into 2016, but none that will be taking us back to NYC during that time. Beyond next year we have plans that will likely limit our travel for sometime. It seems the Big Apple is just not in the cards for quite some time.
But I will return someday. I know that much for sure.
{All images were taken by me and posted to my Instagram account}
My husband and I have started a blog. In it we review the 1000 odd DVDs in our collection, in (mostly) alphabetical order.
I’m excited to watch the many movies I haven’t seen, and revisit a few favorites. I also hope that writing on a regular basis will spark my creativity and help me keep up with this blog as well!
Feel free to join us over at From The Abyss to Zoolander!
Sally MacKenzie 