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GOOD MUMS DON’T READ SOMETIMES ART BECOMES REALITY When I first started watching Handmaid’s Tale, the TV series based on the best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood, I thought it was simply a disturbing fairytale set in a totalitarian society where fertility is controlled through the oppression and subjugation of women as breeding stock. But the more I watch it, the more I realise Gilead isn’t that far from where we live right now. In fact it’s an ideological suburb just a train ride away. Some people are already living there. Dystopian or Utopian? I guess it depends on your view of the value of women. Leunig’s cartoon in the weekend papers certainly left me feeling a little more like it wouldn’t be long before I’d be losing my literacy, and slipping into my bonnet. In case you missed it, I’ll reiterate the content. The whimsical cursive text shows two big-nosed baby ‘angels’ at the bottom of a poem that reads ‘Infantile Statistic Poem: Working university-educated women with no religious belief are statistically less likely to have babies; to some babies that might be a relief’. The baby angels are looking worried and one is saying to the other, ‘I had a nasty scare last night – I was nearly conceived.’ It’s mean. As an educated non-religious woman with five children I find this highly offensive. Have my children suffered from my ambition? Would they have rather not been born? Would I have been a better mother had I fewer opportunities? Why are our educational status and our fertility linked together anyway? Highlighting the perspective of the worthiness of women from the perspective of the unborn is reminiscent of the right-to-lifers and their violent view on women’s right to choose. The cartoon not only insults educated mothers, it insults ALL educated women. Why is our breeding status discussed like it’s a given that ALL women will have children anyway? Why don’t we talk about the likelihood of educated MEN having children? I don’t think you need to read between the lines to decipher the message in Leunig’s misogynistic musing. Working women, particularly professional working women, are bad mothers. We put our children in childcare so we can pursue our selfish goals. Goals like paying the mortgage. You might think I’m being harsh on Australia’s most beloved cartoonist, but I am still not over Leunig’s take on childcare from 2014. It depicts a baby’s inner narrative when it’s left in a childcare centre: ‘I can’t believe it! My own mother – who I want to be with more than anything in the world, my mother – font of all goodness and warmth dumps me here in this horrendous creche! I can’t believe it!’ It continues with stream-of-consciousness rants of the baby hating itself and then a promise ‘one things for sure, I’m going to get myself back for this one day. I’ll punish myself. And serves me right too.’ Awesome.
LIVE MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
CURIOUS AT THE BREWERY
The team behind Nudge Nudge Wink Wink present CURIOUS – a new concept night that sees them make over the outside and indoor spaces at the Byron Brewery. The good people of Cunning Stunts will present a melting pot of electronic stew, global grooves, dubby disco, and heart-opening house. Taking you to a higher concentration and feeding nutrients into your souls, DJs will be playing epic sets with live guest musicians DJ Kylie Rose and SHE J (percussion). Brisbane-based DJ Kylie Rose has been kicking around and moving dancefloors for more than 15 years. Lover of disco, soulful house, and dirty tech house, she will be keeping the vibe upbeat and fun. World-renowned DJ / percussionist / producer SHE J will be joining Kylie on percussion. Locally based, SHE J currently plays with Tijuana Cartel and has also played with Ash Grunwald and Deya Dova. Talented across multiple genres, SHE J’s repertoire of Afro, electronica, deep house, and tech house will join forces with Kylie’s selections and send us all soaring to the stars. Also, DJ Lord Sut and Jed Stone (piano) will team up with Dave Wray (sax). Wray is a gifted and in-demand saxophone player, who is also known as Frank Bennett, an Australian jazz singer, musician, and songwriter, whose vocal style is influenced by those two singers and the music of the 1940s and 1950s. He has received multiple nominations at the ARIA Music Awards. Jed Stone aka the Piano Man is an English olympic boxer, championship athlete, musician, piano teacher, piano technician, tuner and expert. Jed has played piano with notable bands and artists – David Bowie with The Beckenham Arts Lab, Adam Faith and the Urchins, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck, and countless more. Lord Sut is the founder of Cunning Stunts and the weekly radio show Solar Love Machine on BAY FM. With a varied and deep musical taste, Sut knows how to gratify and satisfy with an effortless blend of chill, dub, soul, funk, electronic, cosmic, leftfield, disco, indie, and house. If you want one word it’s Balearic; if you need two, add eclectic. Lori O’Brien sings up the love and more with a lot of groove, being a lyrical, sassy and soulful song bird of originality. Locally based Dan Jupiter is passionate about all forms of electronic music and aims to elevate and bring people together through crafted and sonic mixing with foundations of tribal rhythms and warm bass. They will perform on the night. The recipient of the spring edition of CURIOUS is Rural Aid founded in 2015 to provide an holistic support program to rural Australia. The donation will comprise 10 per cent of the profits, plus the proceeds of a Karma Keg being provided by the venue hosts the Byron Bay Brewery. CURIOUS at the Byron Brewery on Saturday. Tix at cunningstunts.com.au.
THE JACKSON LEGACY AT BALLINA RSL Michael Jackson fans are in for a treat when Michael Jackson – The Legacy tour comes to the Ballina RSL. This world-class production has toured the globe to rave reviews and is the one and only Michael Jackson show that features actual Michael Jackson staff, singers and band members. The show is produced and directed by its star performer, William Hall. William Hall embodies the voice, the dance character, and persona of the legendary MJ to perfection. The Texan has been performing since he was three and is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and musician. His love of Michael Jackson started at an early age and Hall is now recognised worldwide as one of the best Michael Jackson tribute artists. His sellout tours are a testament to his dedication to deliver the kind of perfect show that Michael was famous for. He has had the privilege of performing for Michael’s family – including his mother Katherine Jackson – in 2011 and says that will forever be one of his most special career moments. Michael Jackson – The Legacy Tour features all the King of Pop’s biggest hits – packed with authentic touches and flair. This is as close as it is ever going to be to experiencing a Michael Jackson concert!
THE LYRICAL APPROACH Since topping the charts on Triple J’s Unearthed for the seventh time, The Lyrical has become the rising star of the music scene on the Sunshine Coast. The Queensland North Coast has always been Australia’s hotbed for new talent in a variety of genres and the hiphop/reggae scene is no exception to that tradition. The Lyrical has toured both Australia and internationally as well as releasing a hugely popular self-titled album The Lyrical to critical acclaim. The Lyrcial will be performing a free show on Friday at Byron Bay Brewery. The show will be supported by local acts Tay Oskee and Phil and Tilley. The event is free and kicks off at 7pm.
Apparently we’ve authored our own beloved child’s inner narrative of self-hatred. It’s our fault. It’s our fault for being educated and putting our kids in childcare. Best our babies weren’t born. It’s powerful mother shaming from a culture that loves mother blaming. Any mother who has had to put her baby in childcare knows the pain of walking away from her crying child. I’ve sat in the car and cried, then snuck back in to see my distressed child happy and laughing. Why do women have to wear this? If courts now award separated dads 50/50 in care, then why can’t they take 50 per cent of the guilt as well? Why is the burden of good parenting always on the shoulders of a woman? And why is our beloved King of Whimsy being so cruel? Please, Michael Leunig, go back to ducks pondering the night sky. Every year I look forward to my free Leunig calendar, but this year it’s going into the bin.
30 September 12, 2018 The Byron Shire Echo
TICKETS $35 AVAILABLE AT THE CLUB OR BOOK NOW @ WWW.CLUBMULLUM.COM
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo