We’re in New England this week, and loving it that Yale renamed one of its colleges after Grace Hopper, the former Navy WAVE who was also a pioneer in STEM careers for women.
#girlpower
The Club We Wish We Were At This Weekend
From Paris Blues with Louis Armstrong, Paul Newman, and Sydney Poitier.
When You Check Your Facebook Insights for the First Time in a Month or So
I guess that’s what the kids call going viral. Thanks everyone for the shares.
Remembering the King
Elvis Presley died 40 years ago this month.
That Post World War II-era Video Condemning Bigotry and Fascism
Because those who don’t learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.
Vintage Disneyland
Walt Disney enjoys a moment with his grandson at one of Disneyland’s food stands. Circa 1955. Gene Lester/Getty Images
People rest and grab a bite to eat at Tomorrowland’s Space Port during the opening day festivities. Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
Cups and saucers filled with children spin at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party attraction in the Fantasyland portion of the park on opening day. Loomis Dean/The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images
KPC News did a story the other day called “Red, White, and Beer” where Matt Thomas, the craft beer specialist at Gay’s Hops-N-Schnapps, talked about the link between pin up iconography and American craft beer.
Old Milwaukee’s patriotic pin up can.
BUT THERE WERE NO PICTURES.
Guys, you totally missed an opportunity.
Bombshell Blonde Ale from Southern Star Brewery.
So, I decided to remedy that situation. You know from following us that we’re big fans of beer pin up art.
Acme Pale Ale from North Coast Brewing
Because what says patriotism more that a pin up beer….
Dominion Brewing’s Morning Glory Espresso Stout and Double D Double IPA.
… or cider?
McKenzie’s Crossfit Cider.
You’re welcome.
Stumptown Tart from Bridgeport Brewing.
So if you’re having a beer this Independence Day, make sure it’s a patriotic pin up one. For the troops. Or something.
Via the amazeballs Lori Malépart-Traversy. Must see.
Too Fat. Too Slutty. Too Loud.
I’m not a big fan of Anne Helen Peterson’s writing style at times, but she does say what I’m thinking. And her new book kind of sums up the conundrum facing women in contemporary culture.
This is a repost of a blog from 2011 on our sister project, Hinges of History.
The World War II-era pin-up art is quite amazing. It’s no surprise that scholars like Walt Reed have dubbed the era “the golden age” of the pin-up. Think about it: pin-ups were everywhere, from magazines like Esquire to the noses of planes to even personal snapshots (check out our friend Maria Elena Buzek’s fascinating book Pin-Up Grrls for a discussion of that phenomena). The director’s mother – the WAVE who inspired this project – had a collection of drawings she did during the war era of women in pin-up guise. They were everywhere.
This is a recruitment poster for the WAVES and SPARs done by pin-up artist George Petty. Petty was the “establishment” when it came to pin-ups – he pretty much created the famous Esquire pin-up centerfolds. But when he left the magazine in 1940, his role was taken over by an young upstart, Antonio Vargas. His pin-ups (dubbed “Varga Girls”) made the Petty pin-ups look tame by comparison: buxom, long legs, tiny waists – to contemporary eyes a combination of Barbie doll and Playboy centerfold.
This image came from a calendar Esquire ran during the war – which featured a WAVE-to-be. The poem alongside her reads:
I’m going to join the Navy WAVES and help the war to halt, and also show my Navy beau that I am worth my “Salt!”
Vargas also did the SPARs recruitment poster, below.
It’s Not Up to You to Say What Is… and Isn’t… Empowering
Dirty Martini
A former videographer in the burlesque world got a little bit of a pushback on Facebook when he tried to say that burlesque can’t be feminist and empowering because women are taking off their clothes and men look at them. Oh, and he’s protecting his six-year-old daughter.
I’m not posting the link to his page because he doesn’t need any more attention.
Me, vanquishing asshats.
But here are my main points in rebuttal:
No one has any right to tell anyone else what that individual finds empowering … or not.
When you say, “I like you but I can’t condone what you do” you ARE attempting to silence or shame that person.
Eff you New York Post for your hateful editorial on the lovely Chrissy Metz and her gorgeous pin up shoot. Women of all shapes and sizes can actually feel beautiful in their own skin. And it doesn’t mean that you have to look like them… or even find them beautiful.
