Much of life as a woman feels out of our control, and thanks to oppressive laws restricting our bodily autonomy and the patriarchal system we exist in, it can feel as though we have little power over our lives and decisions. However, what we can control is what we read, watch, listen to and think. In the current state of the world today, I have found it most beneficial to my personal wellbeing and knowledge to ensure that most of the creative content I take in has been created by women.
This January, I made it a priority of mine to consume mostly female-created content. It is a New Year’s resolution of mine I hope to achieve throughout the rest of the year, and the creative media I enjoyed last month has only furthered my desire to continue that goal. As a result, I have found myself more creatively focused and inspired than ever, and I have these talented creatives to thank for that.
Michelle Zauner
Michelle Zauner is the frontwoman of indie band Japanese Breakfast and the author of the memoir “Crying in H Mart.” On Jan. 7, her band released its lead single, “Orlando in Love,” from its upcoming album “For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women),” which is slated to be released March 21. Longing and whimsical, this new single was a notable bright spot throughout this seemingly endless January. It reminded me how much the band’s music tends to lift me from darkness when I need it the most; as a longtime fan of the band, Zauner’s lyricism and creative vision have always resonated with me deeply.
In addition to listening to her music this month, I have also been reading Zauner’s 2021 memoir “Crying in H Mart.” The book is a poignant, vulnerable story about Zauner’s grief and the loss of her Korean culture that she feels after her mother’s death. She explores complicated themes of identity, culture and family dynamics, all of which contribute to a captivating and heartfelt memoir that has captured both my attention and my tears.
Celebrity Memoir Book Club
“Celebrity Memoir Book Club” is a podcast through which Brooklyn-based comedians Ashley Hamilton and Claire Parker read and discuss celebrity memoirs in depth, “so you don’t have to.” Each week, the podcast dives into a different celebrity memoir, analyzing stories through their own unique comedic, gossip-appreciative perspectives. I find their commentary on these memoirs to be the perfect mix of both humor and introspection, producing episodes that are ideal for when I want to enjoy celebrity gossip in a way that also makes me sit back and think deeply about people and the world. The tone of each episode depends, of course, on the author of each memoir, but Hamilton and Parker are always able to produce content that is both thoughtful and entertaining. I have relied on many “Celebrity Memoir Book Club” episodes to accompany me on my workouts, study sessions and walks to class this month; the release of a new episode was always a highlight of my week this January.
Rayne Fisher-Quann
Rayne Fisher-Quann is a Canadian essayist and author of the Substack blog “Internet Princess.” In her essays, she explores themes of femininity, identity, culture, politics, love and mental health. She led Canada’s largest high school protest in the country’s history, and through her art is very outspoken about the injustices that plague our world. This month especially, Fisher-Quann’s essays have inspired me creatively. Her writing captures relatable experiences while provoking me to think about them in ways I would have never previously considered. The way her essays explore the complexities of female experience is interesting and inspiring. Fisher-Quann’s voice is one that has spoken to me significantly this past month, and I look forward to her future essays and creative endeavors.
The company has released and conserved important films for over 40 years.
In my experience, female creative perspectives have truly broadened my abilities to empathize, understand and bond with other women. There is a deep sense of kindredness I feel with art by female creatives, as there are experiences and feelings that can never be captured in their truth by cisgender men. Intersectionality is absolutely essential to consider when we are being conscious of the media we consume. Rather than the male perspectives we are taught to revere in our high school English classes, the art of women and non-men is what I have always connected with the most. In women’s creative media, I have seen my own inner truths and deepest feelings reflected back to me.
It’s my belief that as women, one of the most important things we can do for each other is consume the art of fellow women. As the world becomes more daunting with each passing day, it is essential for us to support each other in our creative endeavors, now more than ever.
