Posts by Michelle Schwartz

  • In the Blog

    Four Things Never to Say to (this) Chronically Ill Friend

    March 30th, 2015     by Denise Reich     Comments

    Since autumn, I’ve been home with a serious viral illness. There’s a lot I could write about my experience: the endless battles with my HMO for appropriate care; how much I’m really envying citizens of countries with universal health care; the indifferent doctors; my fears about my condition. Fortunately, many friends and family members have been very supportive of me. Unfortunately, not everyone has been helpful. It’s led me to compile this list of the top four things they’ve said to completely piss me off. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    What is love? A Collection of Love Stories as seen through the eyes of Toronto’s Artistic Community

    February 12th, 2015     by Romi Cameron     Comments

    As February begins and the time for valentines and love letters nears, the desire to express your feelings might quickly blossom alongside a feeling of anxiety over what will happen once the love you feel has been thrown out into the world. This conversation between desire and anxiety is the inspiration for a new zine entitled A Finger Traced My Left Nipple; I Thought that it was Love. Produced by Toronto writer and poet Amanda Norsworthy, the new zine will introduce readers to a wide range of female and queer artists from Toronto. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Fat Girl at the 5K: Five truths for runners and walkers of size

    January 22nd, 2015     by Denise Reich     Comments

    Running and racewalking are more inclusive for fat participants than many other sports, at least on some level. While many folks choose to turn races into social events and run with their friends, for many others, it’s a very solitary pursuit. The other runners aren’t really particularly concerned about you or what you look like, because they’re focused on their own game. However, as in just about everything, sizeism does creep into running culture in major ways. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    “Education is the passport to the future”: On Mental Health, Privilege and Access in Academia

    January 20th, 2015     by Nadia Siu Van     Comments

    Is the treatment of mental health in academia a serious structural issue rather than an anecdotal one? And if so, why is no one discussing it? READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Of Earthlings and Aliens, Part 2: An interview with author Aisha Franz

    December 18th, 2014     by Shannon D’Arcy     Comments

    Shannon D’Arcy interviews author Aisha Franz about her work and her new graphic novel, Earthling. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Swinging on a Vine: DIY Filmmaking

    December 16th, 2014     by Colleen Zimmerman     Comments

    Movie making has never been easier. Exercise your creative muscle with Vine, the no pressure movie making app. With only six-seconds at your disposal, you can shoot from the hip or plan out the process. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    None of the Boys: Female Identity in STEM

    December 2nd, 2014     by Julia Nguyen     Comments

    There is a huge push to get more girls and women involved in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. From problem-solving construction toys designed for girls, to organizations around the world empowering women to code, women are bringing new perspectives to a male-dominated field. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Of Earthlings and Aliens: Author Aisha Franz discusses her new graphic novel

    November 25th, 2014     by Shannon D’Arcy     Comments

    Earthling, the new graphic novel from Aisha Franz, chronicles a 24-hour period in the lives of three women from a single family: two siblings and their single mother. Each struggles with challenges unique to their particular stages in life - puberty, finding a peer group, regret. The narrative is brought along by the youngest daughter who, at the beginning of the book, befriends a wayward alien. Through interactions and observations of this new friendship, we are given a window into the lives of the other women. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Black to the Future: Nalo Hopkinson, Toronto and Afrofuturism

    November 18th, 2014     by Septembre Anderson     Comments

    Being the only Black girl in the room is an awkwardly uncomfortable experience. The absence of racial diversity can turn any space hostile and make any problem seem insurmountable. One is forever blazing a trail, with no one to look to for guidance, support or camaraderie. For many Black authors, the world of science fiction and fantasy can seem like that alienating place. Queer Jamaican-born Canadian author Nalo Hopkinson knows that experience all too well. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    The HTMlles Festival: Opening Night!

    November 17th, 2014     by Romina Cameron     Comments

    Saturday, November 8th was an evening to remember, as it marked the opening of the 11th edition of Festival HTMlles at Studio XX in Montréal. As I walked down the hallway leading to Studio XX, I could immediately sense the excitement that filled the room ahead of me. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    The HTMlles Festival: The New World of Digital Philosophy

    November 10th, 2014     by Romina Cameron     Comments

    Mehreen Murtaza has generated a new vision of the apocalypse, and it’s not the one you expected—it’s so much more. Featured in this year’s Festival HTMlles, Murtaza’s Triptych is a three-paneled image of the kind typically found on religious altars. The triptych combines the utopian and the dystopian, creating a harmonious collage of a chaotic time. Filled with the urban, the alien and the divine, Murtaza’s Triptych displays her deep interest in Islamic historicity and Islamic iconography. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    The HTMlles Festival: A Guide to the Obsolete Future

    November 5th, 2014     by Romina Cameron     Comments

    Taking place in Montréal, The HTMlles is an international biannual festival that brings together artists, scholars and activists who are passionate about exploring new technologies from a feminist perspective. This year’s festival, Zero Future, is dedicated to the presentation of independent media artworks by women, trans, and gender non-conforming artists in a transdisciplinary, anti-oppressive environment. With over 50 local and international artists, curators, and thinkers participating in this year’s festival, Shameless has partnered with The HTMlles to provide a brief guide to festival events that are not to be missed. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Zero Future: A look into Montréal’s HTMlles Festival

    October 29th, 2014     by Romina Cameron     Comments

    From November 7-15, The HTMlles will explore inventive genres such as afrofuturism, cyberfeminism, and queer futurity, among others. Produced by Studio XX, a Montréal-based studio that enables the creativity of women working in technology and media art, the festival includes the work of more than 50 local and international artists, curators, and thinkers, in exhibitions, performances, discussions, and workshops held both online and in galleries and spaces throughout Montréal. READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Rage: The Toronto Bathhouse Raids

    March 30th, 2011     by Michelle Schwartz     Comments

    Last night I was lucky enough to attend a screening of Track Two, a 1982 documentary on the Toronto bathhouse raids. After nearly being lost to time and decay, the film has finally been digitized and made available in its entirety for free online, thanks to the generosity of Xtra! and the Pink Triangle Press. The screening took place at Buddies in Bad Time Theatre and was sponsored by Queer Ontario and Xtra!, with proceeds benefiting … READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Still Ain’t Satisfied: International Women’s Day in Toronto

    March 1st, 2011     by Michelle Schwartz     Comments

    The Canadian Lesbian & Gay Archives will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day with a special exhibit, “International Women’s Day: Toronto Women and the Struggle for Equality.” Curated by Roberta Wiseman and (infrequent) Shameless blogger Michelle Schwartz, the exhibit will draw from the CLGA’s collection of banners, posters, flyers, and newsletters to trace the rise of the lesbian liberation movement, and its intersection with anti-racist, feminist, and labour activism in Toronto. The exhibit opens … READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    It Gets Better, Continued

    October 28th, 2010     by Michelle Schwartz     Comments

    As a follow up to my last post on Canadian contributions to the It Gets Better Project, some more links: If you feel overwhelmed by the quantity of material posted to the It Gets Better YouTube page, Jezebel recently posted the 15 Best It Gets Better Videos. The comments section are full of suggestions from other people as well. And on Art Info, blogger Tyler Green has posted about Untitled (One Day This Kid…), a work of … READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    It Gets Better

    October 25th, 2010     by Michelle Schwartz     Comments

    In response to a startling number of recent suicides by gay teens, writer Dan Savage started the It Gets Better Project in September. It has quickly amassed videos from queers around the world, as well as contributions from celebrities, religious figures, and even President Obama. Following up on the popularity of the project, GLAAD launched Spirit Day, setting October 20th as a day for queers and allies to show support for queer youth by wearing … READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Caution: Angry Butch Alert

    September 16th, 2010     by Michelle Schwartz     Comments

    As a queer woman who has lived on this planet for, oh, say, longer than five minutes, I’m no longer surprised when some aspect of queer culture or non-white culture or poor culture or women’s culture is co-opted by media conglomerates or straight people or white men. Women are told their place is in the kitchen, but men dominate the world of celebrity chefs. Gay culture is known for its dance parties, but it’s Madonna … READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    The Reflection of Rape Culture in the Media

    August 8th, 2009     by Michelle Schwartz     Comments

    This week, one of my friends informed me of the premature passing of filmmaker John Hughes, a man who practically defined youth culture in the Eighties with his brat pack movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Pretty In Pink, and The Breakfast Club. We were discussing our favorite Hughes films, our favorite brat pack members, our favorite soundtrack song, when someone brought up Sixteen Candles. We all remembered loving Sixteen Candles when we were younger, but … READ MORE

  • In the Blog

    Take a stroll with Sally…

    June 20th, 2009     by Michelle Schwartz     Comments

    I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was more than just a little bit upset by the new Bacardi Breezer ad campaign that Mir posted about this morning. This campaign, with the tagline “Get Yourself An Ugly Girlfriend” is one of the most offensive, sexist attempts at promoting alcohol that I have ever seen, which is saying a lot, considering the general grossness of alcohol advertising. I’m not sure how Bacardi thought it … READ MORE

Newer →

← Older