Taming the 'girls gone wild'
Feminism took a bashing during the PC-backlash of the 1980s, and it doesn't seem to have recovered: thongs are now manufactured in sizes meant for nine-year-olds, and the modern interpretation of "empowerment" evokes the freedom to bare one's breasts on "Girls Gone Wild."
Writer Ariel Levy tries to make sense of our culture's post-feminist funk at the Harvard Coop this week, as she discusses her wickedly witty first book, "Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture." Levy, a contributing editor at "New York Magazine," examines the reasons why many women have internalized sexual stereotypes, sabotaging their own hopes of being taken seriously by believing that they must rely on their sexuality object to attain power. "Sex is one of the most interesting things we as humans have to play with and we've reduced it to polyester underpants and implants," she writes. "This is a book about why we've done this and why we ought to stop." The reading is free and begins at 7 p.m. this Wednesday night.
St. Patty's Day comes early this year
Heads up to all you Irish step-dancers and enthusiasts: even if you're not Irish, you won't want to miss the original "Riverdance," now at the Wang Theater through Sept. 25. The traditional (and famous) Irish dancing derives its moves from stories rooted in mythology and Celtic folklore. Famous all over the world, "Riverdance" has toured both sides of the Atlantic with unmatched success. Featuring many different types of music, the show revolves around the importance of the river as a symbol of Irish heritage. Tickets range from $29.50 to $69.50, and are available online through Telecharge or at (800) 447-7400.
My way or the Norway
In an effort to prove once and for all that Scandinavia is similar to New England, Norwegian Invasion compatriots Royksopp and Annie are prepared to bring down the house at the Paradise Rock Club this Thursday, Sept. 22. Beyond their common icy homeland, however, these two acts share an affinity for electronic, pop-ish beats.
Royksopp have most recently released their second album, 2005's "The Understanding," but are better known for early singles like "Poor Leno," a track that, thankfully, samples seashore sound effects and not monologues from a second-rate late night host.
Ice princess Annie has risen over the last year as the new darling of indie pop, thanks to songs like "Chewing Gum" and "Heartbeat" from this year's "Anniemal." Her style of early-Madonna perkiness combined with clever wordplay ties in nicely with R?opp's work, which is significantly less whimsical than Annie's. The two acts also collaborated when R?opp helped produce "Anniemal," validating the old stereotype that all Norwegians know each other.
The 18+ show starts at 9 p.m. The doors, conveniently located at 969 Commonwealth Avenue, will open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16 until the day of the show, when they jump up to $18.
