QUEER | ARTS JUNE 2024
TELL YOUR STORY
G E N
IT’S FINE.
Written & Directed by Lily Corke Butters
It’s Fine is a poignant exploration of the often-overlooked mistreatment young women endure during early sexual experiences. Through an intimate and unflinching lens, Lily challenges the pervasive misrepresentation of female sexuality on screen and confronts the male gaze head-on. We want it to stand as a clarion call to recognise and address the normalised trauma that so many young women silently carry.
It’s Fine delves into the deeply personal and often painful realities that young women face as they navigate their sexual awakenings. The film’s title, a seemingly innocuous phrase, captures the essence of the coerced silence and minimisation that many women experience. How often have young women been conditioned to accept discomfort and violation as just another part of growing up?
Statistics reveal a troubling picture. According to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), approximately 1 in 3 women will experience some form of sexual assault in their lifetime, with many of these incidents occurring before the age of 25. Furthermore, research by the American Psychological Association (APA) indicates that early sexual experiences can significantly impact mental health, often leading to long-term issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
By stripping away the romanticised and often exploitative portrayal of female sexuality found in mainstream media, It’s Fine offers a raw and honest depiction that resonates deeply. The male gaze, a concept popularised by feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey, refers to the way visual arts depict the world and women from a masculine and heterosexual perspective, objectifying them for male pleasure. This film subverts that gaze, presenting female experiences in a manner that is both authentic and unapologetically feminist.
In a society where young women are frequently objectified and their sexual autonomy undermined, It’s Fine provides a refreshing and necessary counternarrative. Studies have shown that media representation plays a crucial role in shaping societal attitudes and beliefs. A 2018 report by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media found that gender representation in media significantly influences perceptions of gender roles and behaviors.
With It’s Fine, we aim to spark a conversation by challenging viewers to reflect on their perceptions and to advocate for a culture that respects and empowers young women. Through Lily’s powerful storytelling, we highlight a pervasive issue and inspire hope for change.
PREMIERE PROGRAMME
It’s Fine premieres at Hyde Park Book Club on June 27. Check out some of the things you can expect at this special event:
Over half a century of Israel’s military occupation remains a major obstacle to the availability, accessibility and quality of healthcare for Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. We’re supporting Medical Aid For Palestinians who work to develop sustainable, Palestinian-led healthcare services to meet the more than 1.45 million health-related humanitarian needs left ignored and exacerbated by Israel’s occupying power.
PRIMA STAR POWER
Prima Star Power, a vibrant musical ensemble hailing from Leeds, is the inspired creation of songwriters Connall Doo and Louis Lota, who both serve as the band’s lead vocalists and guitarists. The duo’s distinctive sound is a testament to their deep appreciation for the evocative music and cinematic flair of the 1960s. Drawing from the enigmatic artistry of Scott Walker and the resonant storytelling of Lee Hazlewood, Prima Star Power crafts songs that feel both timeless and refreshingly contemporary.
@primastarpower
Prima Star Power have cultivated a unique baroquepop aesthetic, meticulously blending their musical influences with the lush, vintage sounds of iconic cities like London, Paris, and Los Angeles. Their compositions transport listeners to an era where music was an immersive experience, evoking the rich, cinematic landscapes reminiscent of filmmakers John Cassavetes and Federico Fellini. This fusion of visual and auditory elements infuses their work with a narrative depth and emotional complexity that sets Prima Star Power apart in today’s music scene.
In live performances, Prima Star Power delivers an immersive experience, inviting audiences into a world where the elegance of baroque pop meets the raw, evocative power of classic cinema.
In May 2024, the band released new music including the single “Maybe Someday” from their upcoming EP “Theatre Fortuna”.
IZZY WALKER
At 15 years old, Izzy was awarded the first ever West Yorkshire Young Poets Laureate by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, and the National Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Her personal poem, entitled Muse, was inspired by the relationship with her mum.
The Bradford Academy student has said, “I see myself as a leader with an aim to help people, so in the future I want to share my abilities to benefit people on a larger scale. I’m quite confident and I want to continue to be confident when I’m older. There’s nothing wrong with poetry. You shouldn’t feel like you need to hold back.”
MUSE
by Isabelle Walker
It’s 5:30 in the morning and I’m out listening for her. A year and a half ago, she would have been listening out for me but since then things have changed She’s like a dying dog, unwilling to show her vulnerability and pain to anyone else. But somebody notices it. It’s me.
It’s 5:30 in the morning and I know what she is getting out of her car. A woman who swore she would never smoke is a chimney now. She smokes because of me, and I smoke because of her. She’s past the point of trying to care that the smoke doesn’t just come from her. It’s me. We are a bonfire.
I look at our daughterShe looks strikingly like her father, Strikingly like you, You
Half of her genes but none of her life. the man who robbed me of any dignity I so scarcely held on to - And I don’t recognise her anymore, nor would I recognise you: how she dismisses me how she shouts how she doesn’t care what I want. And if she ever tried to leave as you once did I think I’d pack her bags for her Just to watch her fail without me so, I could welcome her home again.
Only 2 weeks ago I became somebody’s show pony for the first time.
I usually flaunt my body but the unwanted admiration of 3 middle aged men disembowelled me. To those men I was their prey, nothing more than a pretty face who wanted their harassment, who put her body on display But worst of all, I foolishly entertained my sick audience of aliens
Why?
Still, I give in to their urges I become an architect, Sculpt my bodies for those who don’t care about my face, My race has become a hot topic My mum says I look exotic, Men say I’m dark but not too dark I am like a zoo animal, I wonder who holds the key
I reflect upon years of constant arguments
Time can’t tear us apart
Shrieked in tongues
Two territorial female cats
Jealous
Aim for her throat
Her appearance
Why my appearance? You share half of my genes.
We both know that the ash on the bathroom window ledge is mine, and the cigarette butts in the recycling bin are yours. But it’s the same fire that lights them. It’s us
ROSALEEN WILLIAMS
Rosaleen’s recent projects have explored the local history of Armley and the sacred standing stones and stone circles of Ilkley Moor. These artworks have formed various exhibitions, including a released Artist Book entitled “The Twelve Apostles Stone Circle (wanderings no.1”, and a recent commission with Leeds Inspired and @rosaleen.e.williams / @moor.publications
Taking influence from the disciplines of archaeology and museology, Rosaleen creates work that revolves around the environment, objects and memory. Often, this takes the form of heritage projects, using archival material to create exhibitions and book work.
Leeds City Council saw Rosaleen collaborate with local artists and practitioners for a project called “Slower than Earth” which explored landscape and folklore.
She is currently based at Assembly House and is the co-founder of artist book publishing press Moor Publications. Rosaleen is also in the second year of her Masters Degree in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, which she studies at the University of Leeds.
RAT.
We are so excited to announce a new co-production with Underglass Productions, a hub for artists in screen and stage with a commitment to socially conscious storytelling. Co-founded by Michael Scanlon and Kat Feyver, the pair are passionate about reforming how queerness and social issues are represented in art.
Written and Directed by Gage Oxley, Rat follows a 17-year-old boy on the cusp of adulthood who must reckon with his identity and place in the world. The film explores his struggle for self acceptance, which reaches a breaking point when his attempt to save a trapped rat begins to mirror his own fight against his mother’s prejudices.
The film is currently open for casting, which closed on 8 July 2024. Applications information can be found by scanning the QR code below. Filming takes place in Leeds at the end of August, and is set to be released in festivals and to a worldwide audience later in the year.
Follow @underglassproductions on Instagram for more details, as well as continuing updates on the production.
SOMETHING NEW...
We’ve been working on Oxygen’s next groundbreaking project, and are now entering the stage of late preproduction. Following years of research, undercover investigations and dives into the deep, dark web - this new queer thriller/horror is set to push the boundaries of provocation. So watch this space, something wicked this way comes...
Storyboard Artwork, Gage Oxley
