Rape culture is an evocative signifier and an expansive signified. As a term\, it implies both individual and diffuse accountability\, making it simultaneously benign and accusatory (often rightfully\, since we all have a tendency to be part of it). As a concept\, it can be a dauntingly large and diverse whole\, even to those who recognize and abhor its component parts.
The concept of rape culture can be found anywhere that involves humans interacting\, whether it's face-to-face or virtual\, direct or mediated\, one-on-one or in a group\, unassumingly or maliciously. Its vastness is a strength and a weakness to differing degrees\, depending on the communicators involved.
As the term \\"rape culture\\" increasingly permeates conversation\, more communicators seek clarity. While three hours probably won't be enough to verbally crystallize such a pervasive and not-always-tangible concept\, let's see what we can do\, shall we?
Internet feminist Steph Guthrie hosts a free discussion\, for the opinionated and/or the curious\, which will serve as a mapping session to take apart the concept and components of rape culture. Hopefully we can put them back together in a slightly less oppressive (and maybe even total opposite) way.
END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130525T143000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130525T143000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-102 URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-102 SUMMARY:Impossible Dojo\: Aikido & Self-defense Class DESCRIPTION:n/a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130525T173000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130525T193000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-words-sarah-tsiang URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-words-sarah-tsiang SUMMARY:Impossible Words with Sarah Tsiang DESCRIPTION:Impossible Words is a free literary salon featuring a wide range of Canadian authors representing the cultural\, racial\, religious\, sexual\, and intellectual diversity of our city\, our province\, and our country.
_____
On Saturday\, May 25\, at 1\:30pm at the Academy of the Impossible\, we will present poet and children's author Sarah Tsiang... all the way from Kingston (Ontario).
She will read and be interviewed onstage by Dizia Raposo-Ferreira and Huda Tariq from the Toronto Street Writers.
ABOUT THE FEATURED GUEST\:
Sarah Yi-Mei Tsiang is the author of Sweet Devilry (Oolichan Books)\, which won the Gerald Lampert Award and was long listed for the Re-Lit award. She is also the author of four children’s books\, including picture books and non-fiction\, all with Annick Press. She is the editor of the new anthology Desperately Seeking Susans\, and the forthcoming anthology Tag\: Canadian Poets at Play (Oolichan Books). Her current poetry project\, Status Updates is forthcoming with Oolichan Books in September 2013\, and she has a Young Adult novel forthcoming with Orca books in 2014.
• • • • •
The featured author's reading will be preceded by short readings by two young writers from the Toronto Street Writers\, a celebrated local writing group for youth.
After the readings\, the youth will interview the guest author about his experiences and work. Audience members are also invited to ask questions.
Light snacks will also be served\, giving time for audience members to mingle.
The venue and washroom are accessible.
We welcome and encourage everyone to come and participate\, especially those who do not usually go to literary events!
END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130527T220000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130528T000000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/sound-poets-circle-final-workshop URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/sound-poets-circle-final-workshop SUMMARY:Sound Poets' Circle - Final Workshop! DESCRIPTION:Sound Poets’ Circle is a new\, free hip-hop and spoken word workshop series for youth ages 16-29!
Sound Poets’ Circle runs on Monday evenings starting March 11\, 2013 at the Academy of the Impossible. This is a three-month workshop on creating and recording sound and music\, writing hip hop lyrics and spoken-word poetry. This three-month \\"use what you got to get what you want\\" program for young sound poets (16-29 years) will inspire group participation\, creativity and resistance through art.
Participants will work with established and emerging facilitators and artists\: rosina kazi (lal)\, Mindbender Supreme\, The Grimace\, and producer Nicholas Murray (lal/da grassroots). We will work individually and collectively in groups\, edit and record work\, polish our live performances\, perform on stage\, and create finished MP3s of our work.
We encourage everyone between the ages of 16 and 29 to apply. This program is geared towards anyone interested in words and sounds! Please note that we will place emphasis on marginalized\, diverse voices and experiences.
Space is limited. To join\, please register by sending an email to soundpoetscircle@impossiblearts.ca or calling 416-779-1448.
END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130601T000000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130601T000000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/sound-poets-circle-party-and-performances URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/sound-poets-circle-party-and-performances SUMMARY:Sound Poets' Circle\: PARTY and PERFORMANCES! DESCRIPTION:n/a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130601T143000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130601T143000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-103 URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-103 SUMMARY:Impossible Dojo\: Aikido & Self-defense Class DESCRIPTION:n/a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130606T230000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130606T230000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/cyberpunk-film-club-runaway URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/cyberpunk-film-club-runaway SUMMARY:Cyberpunk Film Club\: Runaway DESCRIPTION:n/a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130608T143000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130608T143000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-104 URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-104 SUMMARY:Impossible Dojo\: Aikido & Self-defense Class DESCRIPTION:n/a END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130520T144651Z DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130615T143000Z DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20130615T143000Z UID:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-105 URL;VALUE=URI:http://impossible.ws/event/impossible-dojo-aikido-self-defense-class-105 SUMMARY:Impossible Dojo\: Aikido & Self-defense Class DESCRIPTION:n/a END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR