Anine Wallace (Kelcey Winn)

This is Megumi Igarashi

She’s a Japanese artist

Japan, the country with some of the most fucked up pornography and the penis festival

Where the vagina is basically illegal to talk about 

So she did a bunch of art featuring 3D sculptures of her vagina, including this kayak, and was put in jail for it

She was indicted again in December on obscenity charges for selling vagina art to crowdfund for the kayak and could spend two years in prison

In Japan, women’s vaginas are treated as though they are men’s property. The trains here usually display pornographic advertisements. As a woman, I find that blatant objectification to be humiliating. I’m disgusted by it. My body belongs to me. So, with this project I wanted to release the vagina from the standard Japanese paradigm. Japan is lenient towards expressions of male sexuality and arousal, but not so for women. When a woman uses her body in artistic expression, her work gets ignored, and people treat her as if she’s some sex-crazed idiot. It all comes back to misogyny. And the vagina is at the heart of it. The vagina is ridiculed. It’s lusted after. Men don’t see women as equals—to them, women are just vaginas. Then they call my vagina-themed work “obscene,” and judge me according to laws written by and for men. [x]

She plans to turn her trial in to a manga comic. She seems pretty sure she’s not going to do any jail time but if you’d like to help her pay for her inevitable fine and court fees, you can check out her online store. There are little glow in the dark vagina characters.

Today’s discussion is about classic British literature references found in the Rey and Kylo Ren dynamic in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. 

This episode centers on analysis of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell.

In our Jane Eyre and Reylo analysis we discuss:

Similarities between Jane Eyre and Rey, including their lonely, deprived upbringing and first friendships that become as family.

Jane and Rey’s longing for a profoundly spiritual and passionate connection. 

The remarkable bond that allowed Jane to hear Rochester’s voice from miles away after they had separated, and that connects Rey and Kylo Ren across the stars. ;)

Jane’s kinship and superficial contentment among the Rivers, which she eventually understands will never fulfill her on the level of her passionate bond with Rochester. We argue that in the same way, Rey will never find true fulfillment among The Resistance and her connections there, and will eventually seek out Ben as Jane sought Rochester - and it will be romantic AF.

We look at Kylo Ren as a Byronic hero, and discuss character similarities between him and Edward Rochester. 

We find parallels in the Jane/Rochester romance and the story of Rey and Kylo so far.

Lastly, a quick pit-stop by the horrendous possibilities offered by Ben Solo’s potential “atonement”. Some haters who be hatin’ would like to see him bald and disfigured, whereas others make a case for his eventual death or loss of Force abilities as penance for his sins. We conclude that maiming, Force castration and death are not necessary for Ben Solo to have a meaningful and complete redemption arc. 

In our discussion of Reylo and North and South we overview the fiery Margaret Hale/John Thornton romance, including their enemies-to-lovers dynamic

His failed first proposal and their painful separation

Their journey towards each other and eventual reconciliation  - and how it all relates to the story of Rey and Kylo Ren.

Stay tuned for part 2 of our discussion, which centers on Pride and Prejudice and other literary works.

Today’s episode features awesome analysis by new Star Wars Connection member Chandra. 

bruises on my neck

hickeys on my boobs

teeth marks on my thighs

handprints on my butt