15th-
 Boca Floja-Hip-Hop/Fusion/Reggae Show


18th-Movie Night
"Who's Counting?" A movie concerning global politics and its role in inequality

24th
Icarus Project
MerryMaking Potluck
Explore Radical Mental Health Options

Come check out CAFE's new mural(thanks Matt) for next Arthop. Both Matt and Mauro will be presenting their art. Stay tuned for more event to be posted soon!

CAfE has recently joined forces with the Chinatown Arthop. Now there is a whole new block to  add to your route!  Join us and also come check out Chinatown Youth Center, Debt  II Society, and Full Circle Brewery. We will be showing art, music, and have food and wine available  also, live bear baiting, and russian roulette...my favorites! Don't miss out!!

Come help make the meeting cozier with your presence! This potluck will involve relaxing with some great people, discussing mental health in a mad society, skillsharing, and bringing questions to light.

Have a talent, skill, or information you want to share? CAfE is currently seeking people who want to host events, one time, or monthly. If you a have art or a band, know about gardening, bike maintenance, etc.,then contact us, as we would love to have your presence and talent here! The space is available for artists and people with info or skills to share.

Icarus Project Potluck
Wednesday. August 12th
8:00 PM
Radical Mental Health group designed to discuss what mental health means in a mad society
ALL are welcome. Bring vegan or vegetarian food!


SEPTEMBER ARTHOP



STAY POSTED AS WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO BRING THEIR SKILLS AND TALENTS FOR MORE EVENTS

this is a really amazing article that i hope everyone who goes to shows will read (and everyone else for that matter).  although this is specifically talking about a latina/o fest and their disappointment and brown men forcing colonialist sexism on brown womyn and queer folk, i think it is equally relevant for all punk shows.  aggression, misogyny (read: disgust with womyn) and might=right bullshit is forced on all of us.  when i go to see a band, i have to stand my ground, defend myself against hands and bodies touching me in places they have no permission to go, and pay more attention to whose about to show off how badass they are by slamming into folks watching the band rather than actually paying attention to the band.  or else, as this write-up below reminds us, go stand in the back of the room.  in our place.  so the  big boys can have their fun without womyn or queer folk getting in the way of claiming their space.

you don't own the show.  nobody owns the show.  

i've been to shows were i felt an intense amount of community.  everyone looked out for each other and i felt safe.  men in the crowd did not treat my body and other womyn's bodies as fair game.  i could run around the pit, be at the front of the stage, do whatever without worrying about being violated.  

so i know that shows where a few guys show off their toughness by pushing and disrupting everyone else's good time is not the way it has to be.  shows can be collective spaces in which each person is a part of a punk community and each person has the same right to that space.  please don't prove your manhood on my body.

frankly, the last show here at the infoshop disgusted me.  speaking for myself, not necessarily for others here, although some others agreed, i just don't give a shit about throwing shows here if this is the kind of dynamic thats gonna be brought into this space.  i couldn't believe what a bunch of macho bros that show had, but it was men from this scene, not a bunch of outsiders who don't know any better.  

when i came to the punk scene, i had this crazy idea that punk was a response to the racist, sexist, homophobic, consumerist bullshit out there.  i for some reason believed people in the punk scene gave a shit.  about one another or about confronting this fucked up world.  all these years later, all of that idealism has long since drained from me, but i certainly think its a nice idea to consider.  speaking for myself, i don't want to put energy into throwing shows here that are gonna just be the stage for bro punks to exert all their aggression and angst on their own community.  direct that shit at those who deserve it, not on those who want to resist along side you.  so please, if you have any interest in shows at the infoshop, please keep reading the rest of this bulletin, please consider it and please keep reading any anti-oppression literature you can get your hands on.  we have zines, i can tell you websites, theres plenty of it out there.  we all need to work together to create this community.

i am not a bystander or an ornament in your scene.

-ashley

-----------------Bulletin Message -----------------
From: C.L.I.T. Fest RVA
Date: Nov 21, 2008 7:42 AM


Here is something that we feel is very important to get out there to all the people who attended the Latino Punk Fest this year in Los Angeles and to the punk community in general...

On behalf of some of our womyn friends who where there, please read on and give us your opinion as well...

Us.




************************************************************************************

We were very excited to attend this festival as it was a chance to bond with like-minded Latina/o Punx. A few days where we could enjoy music in solidarity; somehow expecting Latino Fest to be different than the white typical MALE dominated scene we're accustomed to. We were surprised to be slapped in the face by the rampant sexist and machista attitudes that dominated the entire festival. While we did indeed meet some really awesome folks we left the fest with mixed feelings of hurt and disappointment; thanks to some really bad-ass people that we met, we have a renewed enthusiasm for punk.



When you go to shows have you ever observed the dynamics of those attending? Ever notice how most of the time wimyn, queer, and folks with varying abilities are usually pushed aside or to the back? Why do you think that is? Dare you say it's cuz we're not tough enough? This seems incredibly unfair and sexist. Why should mainly men be able to dominate the front of the show? We understand that being at a punk show is an opportunity to release frustrations from our lives and express our anger and other various emotions. We all paid the same amount and people should not be forced to stand in the back.



During most of the sets we had to physically fight off men as we asserted our right to space. This took away from us being able to fully enjoy the bands. We saw MANY wimyn having to constantly assert their space. When we would speak out to Latino and white men around us we were met with hostility. Latino men yelling at us to "get the fuck to the back", that "this is what happens at punk shows." Punk rock does not mean you can do whatever you want with no accountability. It does not mean no consideration for those around you.



In those 3 days we never heard a womyn speak out against us by calling us witches or cunts as some of the men did. Sadly, we saw the same sexist behaviors in Latino men that we experience from white men on a daily basis. Yes, Yes a lot of you may retort well that is just punk rock and we should just deal with it or move to the back. Who is forced to move to the back? Who is forced to deal with it? Wimyn, queer people, and other folks who may not have the strength to deal with this.

What makes men more entitled than wimyn or queer people or even people with disabilities?

Is violent moshing the only way? There are ways of being aggressive without beating the shit out of people around you. If we want to watch the bands up front we are forced to be aggressive. Was this fest not to be an escape for us too? We're aware some men as well don't enjoy the crushing effects of a pit full of aggressive men.


It hurts us collectively when men choose to hold on to the stereotypes of machista latino men.

We understand that this is social conditioning- DO YOU?

We are told that getting trampled and bruised is what happens at punk shows. Who the fuck began this tradition? White men? Who the is reinforcing this tradition? Men, and a lot of men at the fest we spoke to seemed adamant about upholding their traditional oppression. Who is defining everyone's experience? Men are. Men are not the only punks that exist. What white men do to Brown men, oppressing them and forcing them into their stereo-typical roles, is what Brown men were doing to Brown wimyn.



Giving everyone equal space creates a safe space for everyone to enjoy themselves EQUALLY.



While attending the fest there was a very drunk young girl with her shirt off lying on the floor. We were appalled to see LATINO MEN taking pictures of her while she was undressed. WHAT THE FUCK! It was clearly not consensual. It is possible that she was underage. What IF??? Someone who was unable to walk much less give proper consent. What we saw was Brown men exploiting a young Brown womyn. White men raped, abused and exploited our wimyn to colonize us. Hirstorically our people did not treat wimyn this way, indigenous people respected and honored wimyn. Our men are repeating colonial behaviors, carrying what they were fucking taught by white men. We are saddened.



Disrespecting wimyn is not fucking cool. Disrespecting queer people is not fucking cool. Disrespecting other Brown people is not cool. We heard a lot of sexist and homophobic language while in attendance of the fest. Calling other people "fags" as a joke, this is making fun of someone else's struggle. Calling each other bitches or pussy to define weakness is saying it is acceptable to view wimyn as weaker than men. Changing your language, changing your attitude, changing your behaviors is where real change starts. Be the change that you want to see in the world. Being resistant to change is ignorant. Resist traditional gender roles, resist assimilation into white colonial culture.



We are not writing this for our benefit, but for everyone's benefit. If you are becoming defensive at this point, think about why you feel that way. Hold on to that feeling and don't jump to anger. Has someone said this to you before? Are you still feeling attacked? Why do you feel that way? Think about it before reacting. Think about your behaviors/language/attitudes. Think about how you treat wimyn and how you view them. Think about how you treat queer people and how you view them.



It is time for men to hold men accountable.



We are responsible for eradicating this shit. Bands, promoters and organizers of events, those in attendance all share responsibility in making equality happen.

..TR> ..TABLE>

Suicide Girls, Burning Angels and the commodification of Punk aesthetics

by Thera Punk began as a reaction to mainstream culture; defining itself not just by its fast, discordant music, but also by its politics. Punk rockers oppose dominant, capitalist mainstream lifestyles. Bands like Discharge, The Germs, Millions of Dead Cops, and Crass, took a stand against the status quo, not just with their shocking names, but with their lifestyles as well. Bands and punk rock fans alike, often went to great lengths to show their opposition to mainstream music and lifestyles. From starting squats in abandoned buildings to putting together benefit shows against animal testing in laboratories, they believed in the tenet "do it yourself," or DIY. Besides making music, many punks were involved in promoting equality for all people, and doing so in the face of big business. Since the first mainstream American feminist movements, in the 1960s and 1970s, pornography has been a subject of contention between people who view any kind of pornography as another form of capitalism and patriarchy working to keep women trapped in exploitative relationships, and people who believe that erotic performance can be utilized as a tool to encourage a healthy enjoyment of sex in the face of oppressive mainstream cultural views of sex and sexuality. Regardless of what views you take on the issue of porn, it is an undeniable fact that pornography makes a lot of money, and that the largest pornography business are run by men who are more interested in making money than in changing our society's perceptions of sex and power. According to one report, Americans spend around $10 billion a year on the (legal) sex industry. What happens when punk rock aesthetic meets up with pornography's money machine on the internet? Part of a new kind of internet porn claims to have brought porn and punk rock together at last. Sites like Suicide Girls, Burning Angel and SuperCult profess to combine mainstream visual erotica with subculture looks and ideas. How successfully they do this, however, is a question that remains in the forefront of many people's minds. What's empowering about a new aesthetic in porn? Is it possible to broaden mainstream standards of beauty, and would punk porn help? Can punk porn maintain any of its radical ideals or is it just a niche market? Porn on the internet reaches all the markets of porn viewers, from people who look at Playboy to "hardcore" porn buffs. Many social activists and other feminists believe that porn is "not so much about sex per se as about male power exerted against females." The creators of "alternative" porn sites say that they are reclaiming porn for women, using punk rock DIY ethics. They say that by providing a space for women who are pierced or tattooed to make porn, they are encouraging the societal acceptance of kinds of beauty that are not seen in mainstream porn. But in a world where you can find any kind of porn you want on the internet, from "all redheads" to "biker girls" to "latina ass," are photos of naked, tattooed girls so subversive? These proprietors are exploiting a lifestyle without making anyone feel uncomfortable about the political implications of punk. A few of the sites like Suicide Girls and Burning Angel are run by women, which is unusual in the world of internet porn. The creators claim that their sites celebrate female sexual freedom. In an interview Spooky, one of the founders of Suicide Girls, stated that "These girls are not being paid to play the part in member's fantasies, they are being paid to be themselves." Under the premise of letting the viewer "really" get to know each model, the girls write entries about their fantasies, their favorite foods, and what music they like to listen to, some models even keep a daily online journal. This seemingly "subversive" personalization of their porn profiles actually started in mainstream porn as a way to develop the girl next door fantasy. By providing "true" information about a model, the viewer will feel more connected to the model, and then pay for more images of her. And, by giving the model the impression of empowered autonomy, the site owners are able to pay less per model than in mainstream porn. This pretext of intimacy isn't subversive—it's good marketing. Embracing at least part of the DIY idea, many of these sites don't employ professional photographers. Rather, they encourage the girls to take pictures themselves and then upload them to their profile page. While the models get to pick what sort of photos they want shown, it really just lowers overhead and increases profit. And, like all pay per view porn sites, punk porn offers "teaser" pictures for free, encouraging the viewer to pay with a credit card to see full nude shots. While models on Suicide Girls and other sites have some creative say in their photos, they do not get paid as much as models for other sites. Instead, a mystique had been built around these "punk porn stars." There are Suicide Girls and Burning Angel parties held frequently in major cities around the US, and each profile has a place where viewers can rate the model. It may seem that punk pornography must be liberating to the models who, since they don't make much money off of it, must do it for the love of posing naked. However, I don't think that this is actually the case. In my encounters with models, both in real life and on their websites, the models and owners of the sites did not seem to get involved as a reaction to dominant porn, or as a way of turning the ideals of beauty and feminity on their heads. Punk Porn sites claim that they are presenting images of women who are nontraditionally beautiful. Sadly, there is little truth to the claim. The sites are all run similarly, using a screening process to find and approve models that fit into some beauty standard. Even if not all the models on SuperCult are blonde with DD cups, they all fit into the "normal" category of body types. On all these sites, I have not seen one obese woman, only a few women who were discernibly not white, and no women with visible physical disabilities. If, by showing women with a few tattoos, the creators of these sites believe that they are really blowing open mainstream beauty ideals, they should probably reevaluate. If they want a captive audience who will pay for pretty young women who look alternative, they're doing it right. There's also another problem. Defining beauty by a market, means that one can only be beautiful if the market agrees. It's just not possible to sell social change, because the problem of capitalism persists. Regardless of the spin that owners put on their punk porn sites, it's still work that women do to pay the rent or get through med school or whatever, and there are still tons of men fantasizing about women they'll never sleep with. Since the advent of corporate "punk" tours like the Warped Tour, and shops like Hot Topic, the "punk" aesthetic has really taken off in mainstream fashion and music. With pop singers like Avril Lavigne and Ashlee Simpson showing how sexy and non-threatening punk-looking girls can be, it is easy to see how they have made punk rock look appealing to the very people it is actually revolting against. Rather than providing a site that is truly DIY and really does show all sorts of naked punks, these websites have simply adopted the aesthetics of punk, running a corporate machine underneath. Suicide Girls recently joined forces with Playboy. And, while at first they claim they were receiving many letters about how unattractive their models were, because they were so "alternative" looking, the Playboy.com members page now features a "Suicide Girl of the Week." Websites like Suicide Girls, Burning Angel and SuperCult may provide a specific kind of aesthetic to the viewers, just as "hot asian chicks" websites or "young white trash" magazines do, but they are not actually punk. They might present images of models with tattoos or piercings, but the sites themselves do not have anything to do with the social concerns that punk rock often embodies

Currently listening: Steal This Double Album By Coup Release date: 2002-08-13