
Originally Posted by
ForrestBlack
I'm probably stepping on toes or whatever, but I honestly always kinda thought that scene was somewhat hypocritical at its core. I'm all for bad-ass women running their own businesses or leading their own bands, either with an iron fist or perhaps with an aim towards a more compassionate way of doing things. But that scene really bred the fake DIY esthetic when people pretend they are all homegrown and cutesy when really it's all just a big marketing ploy. I really think taking the business and pseudo-artistic tactic of pretending to be little and homey and weak to get an edge in the marketplace is about the most non-empowering scheme I can think of. Riot-grrl evokes images of strength and tenacity and fighting for what is right for the world we live in, and although they had the terminology for that down pat, the words and the actions just never seemed to match up.
This is not to say that every individual that identified with parts of that scene is somehow a liar or a sham. These are actually kinda more my feelings about some of the businesses that wrap themselves in the terminology of that scene, so I guess it's more fair to say that the honestly non-commercial ends deserve more respect than the coat-tailers and trend-jumpers.
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