There should be a medical term for injuries sustained by men who do that exaggerated craning of the neck when anyone vaguely female is walking past him. Surely there’s some sort of long-term physical risk to this move?
Red Sparrow, Sexism and Casual Discrimination: How can YOU change this?
I went to see Red Sparrow... I did not want to see this film, at all, but there were some disturbing issues, mentioned in critiques, that I felt the need to address. So, I went to see it, with an open mind, eager to reach my own conclusions.
Frankenstein @ Royal Exchange: an innovative tribute to a literary great
Plunged into darkness, with a crash and a flash, we are on Captain Walton’s ship, trapped amidst the ice. 200 years after Mary Shelley’s iconic novel was published, April de Angelis and the Royal Exchange Theatre reignite life into the pages of Frankenstein.
Ear Hustle: The Prison Podcast Leaving its Mark
Ear Hustle reaches you from San Quentin State Prison, California. Episode by episode, the voices of the men incarcerated there provide very real insights into prison life; this podcast is no Orange is the New Black or Prison Break.
4 Women's Protests You Probably Haven't Heard Of
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we’ve put together a list of protests which have been somewhat overlooked by the man-centric, whitewashed historical focus of our Western education. Although they didn’t ‘go viral’ or inspire a range of feminist merchandise, these protests remain crucial in their contribution to the fight for the liberation of women worldwide.
Sassy Suffragettes: Votes for Women @ Museum of London
Covering every event in London’s history, from prehistoric flint tools, through the Black Death, Great Fire, all the way to the 2017 ‘FatBerg’, the Museum of London offers a comprehensive overview. In amongst all of this history, and notably sitting alongside the outbreak of the First World War, the Suffragette movement is importantly and proudly highlighted.
The Women's Equality Party: Political Protest
As International Women's Day approaches, we take a look at the two year career of the Women's Equality Party, who have accomplished a great deal in their short life span.
A Platform to Protest
It’s difficult to actively protest anything of importance to me on Facebook or Twitter when the whole medium is plagued by false and misleading information. Each time I have posted anything of significance (a protest, if you will) I've felt my opinions instantly become cheap; a flicker; read and disregarded, `liked` and forgotten by a few with a singular experience... No, if we want a space to protest, it has to be somewhere other than just social media.
Reading Women
To mark International Women’s Day on the 8th March, Penguin are collaborating with Waterstones to open a pop-up shop selling books written exclusively by women and non-binary people. Open from the 5th to the 9th March on 1-3 Rivington Street in East London, the pop-up will host a number of events aiming to ‘celebrat[e] women, past, present, and future’, including the launch of literary magazine Five Dials’ special issue in which women and gender non-conforming artists and writers contribute works on the female gaze.
'The Shape of Water' and the Politics of the Oscars
Between reboots, prequels, sequels, stories strongly anchored in our reality, Marvel and DC’s films, biopics and period films, it sometimes feels like the film industry have been less imaginative for the past few years. Sure, there is a plethora of non-Hollywood productions that are more creative, but the fact remains that when I head to my local cinema, fantasy and wonder seem very absent. This is why I was full of hope and excitement when I went to see Guillermo Del Toro’s latest film: The Shape of Water...
A Passage to India: a Collaborative, Creative Adaptation
Adapting E.M. Forster’s classic novel, the latest simple8 production, A Passage to India, is an “us vs. them” tale, between Englishmen and Indians, Muslims and Hindus, men and women. Championing the oppressed parties, as positive, progressive forces for good, this production enacts the coming together of all sides as an ensemble, to creative, colourful, transportive effect.
Fashion Week Beyond the Fads
It’s that time of year again, when the chic elite stomp the pavements like a catwalk and, for the first time in months, the weather is not permitted to dictate one’s outfit: it’s London Fashion Week. Like any magazine writer worth their salt, I consider it an obligation to comment. But my fashion-conscious musings for the week don’t focus inside the hallowed halls of sequined glamour; I would rather give a shout-out to clothes that can make me feel my most fabulous...
Unconventional Love Stories: From the Creepy to the Cute
This Valentine's Day, whether you're all loved up or a single independent Galentine, why not live vicariously through someone else's great love story. Check out the Harpy shortlist of creeps, cuties and couples...
Girl Gang Leeds: A Year of Smashing the Patriarchy
As Girl Gang Leeds approach their 1st Birthday, Harpy met up with Emily and Kaz to get the low-down on the origins of this quirky collective. In this interview, find out how the gang was born and what they're all about.
Here’s Why a Giant Steel Bra Has Appeared Outside the O2 in London
If you find yourself anywhere near the O2 Arena in the next few months, you may just stumble across a giant stiletto, bra and corset, each cast in steel. The installation, presented by Gazelli Art House and positioned outside the NOW gallery in North Greenwich, is a showcase of artist Kalliopi Lemos’ Tools of Endearment.
London Women's March 2018
A year to the date since the Women’s March of 21st February 2017 (the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency), the Time’s Up Rally was held to commemorate this anniversary. As a Leeds-based magazine, Harpy was unable to attend the London rally, but caught up with our friend Kirsten Peters-Roebuck (@KirstenP_R), who was there in full force.
Her Not Him - A Very Modern Rom-Com
Her Not Him speaks to deep-set issues surrounding fidelity, age, gender, sexuality and, ultimately, acceptance. From ‘Lughnacy Productions’, a recently formed, female-led theatre group, this play epitomises the company’s ‘female and LGBTQ focus’. Her Not Him balances humour with some touching moments of resonating honesty. ...
How to Cope When Everyone is Offended
Are men even allowed to talk to women any more?
The French Anti-#MeToo Manifesto: Aren’t These Women Our Allies?
In the first week of January, an open letter denouncing #MeToo as akin to a ‘good old witch-hunt’ was published in the French daily newspaper Le Monde.[1] The letter was signed by one hundred prominent French women, comprised of writers, academics and performers, including the reputable actress Catherine Deneuve.
Women in Fairy Tales: 'Snow White' and the Insidious Power of Gender Stereotypes
Fairy tales depict the fantastical lives of princes and princesses, witches and ogres, giants and dragons. They have endured because of their magical power to take us away from the mundanity of everyday life and capture our imaginations. But are they really so far removed from reality? Are they not actually reflections of our own societal prejudices, but with a pop-up castle and elaborate costumes added in?