Who's got the power?

Surprise me View in browser September 07, 2018 Jenny Holzer    This week I've been feeling extremely powerless these past few days as I listen to the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. Proud to be repped by my senators on the judiciary committee, but also pretty powerless. And as I was thinking about the subject line for this newsletter, I looked up the lyrics for the '90s dance hit "The Power." The song is credited to Snap, the German duo Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti, but the vocals—including the iconic "I've got the power!" line—are samples from black American artists Chill Rob G and Jocelyn Brown. The song blew up in Europe and only then did Snap's label scramble to try to get permission to use the samples. (Here's the full story.) Chill Rob G's label, Wild Pitch, was tiny compared to Snap's label, Arista, and so you can guess how the negotiations went. Only some versions of the song credit him. And Jocelyn Brown is still trying to get paid for the stunning vocal that basically makes the whole track what it is. (Listen to her original here. If you're in London, it looks like you can go see her perform live.) I shouldn't be surprised that the singer of "I've got the power!" had her voice stolen. And yet... On Call Your Girlfriend this week, we talk about more abuses of power that shouldn't be surprising, with a particular focus on abuses perpetrated by people who claim to stand with those who have suffered abuse: prominent feminists, #MeToo activists, and religious figures. We return to the same questions in every scenario: Who's got the power here? How did they get it? And what are they doing with it? I'm reading The dawning era of the conservative-majority Supreme Court, and its chilling historical precedent. What does it mean for an immigrant to stop grinning? An investigation into a massacre in Myanmar that resulted in the reporters' imprisonment. What it's like to celebrate Catholic Mass, by a priest who's celebrated almost 3,000. Margaret Sullivan on that anonymous administration official's op-ed. The women who fixed the incoherent prose of famous male writers at Rolling Stone in the 1970s. Can the cover outlive the magazine? The modern relationship between writers and their readers. The vicious circle of deleting and re-installing instagram. Google's bid to kill the URL. "I’ve taken every milestone in my life so far as an opportunity to resent my body, so why stop now?" Giving birth in apartheid South Africa. How Trump and a viral video changed the way residents of one South Carolina town talk about race. Japan's Ayami Sato might be the best female baseball player ever. A sports dude attends fashion week. What extreme wealth has done to the art world. A women-led political theatre collective aims to wrest the art form away from the elite. Female janitors take their safety into their own hands. A historic gay-rights ruling in India. The Hungarian government cracks down on an independent university. I have a longstanding obsession with David Berman, so I devoured this piece about his music. A sit-down with Jane Fonda. Lessons from a psychic mom. Members only When you become a paying member for just $5/year, you not only get the satisfaction of supporting my work with real dollars, but you also see hand-drawn pie charts in this space! And sometimes other things, too. Click here to see what the charts are all about. I'm looking & listening The 70 Million and Justice in America, two excellent podcasts about criminal justice reform. The iconic Dolores Huerta on surviving sexual harassment. Amanda Hess on male fitness culture online. Brief interviews with people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles. American teachers and their second jobs. Jolie Kerr on when to purge your bras. A folklorist's stories from segregated Mississippi. I haven't listened to Everything Is Alive yet, but clearly I need to! I'm also noting these audiobook recommendations from Stacy-Marie Ishmael's followers. (Do you follow Stacy-Marie? You should.) GIFspiration I endorse Calling your senators to demand a "no" vote on Brett Kavanaugh. They're supposed to be accountable to you, their constituent, so use that power to ask for what you want. Especially if you are represented by Susan Collins in Maine or Lisa Murkowski in Alaska. You endorse: Music to work to Last week I was on the hunt for a good writing soundtrack and I asked for your best instrumental (or at least no-English-lyrics) music to work to. You all sent so many recommendations! I made a Spotify playlist with many of them. It's a full ~24 hours~ of music. Click to listen and get to work. Reminder: I always feature your recs in this space, and you can endorse whatever the heck you want. Click here to submit a link. IRL* I'm going on tour with Pop Up Magazine! Sept 20, San Francisco Sept 21, San Francisco Sept 22, San Francisco Sept 25, D.C. Sept 27, Brooklyn Sept 29, Los Angeles Oct 2, Portland Oct 3, Portland AF WKLY subscribers get $5 off their tickets. In all cities but L.A., enter code ART5 at checkout for the discount. If you're buying L.A. tickets, you have to click the box "$5 Discount" first, which will prompt you to enter the ART5 code, then take you to seat selection, etc. Oct 8, Los Angeles: In conversation with Heather Havrilesky about her new book, What If This Were Enough, at Skylight Books Oct 10, Los Angeles: In conversation with Leah Dieterich about her book, Vanishing Twins, at the Ace Hotel *I was recently informed that some of my readers aren't familiar with the acronym IRL. It means "In Real Life," aka events where I'm showing up in the flesh, not just in your email inbox. The Classifieds Need a closet refresh? Get 5 personalized designer pieces for $65/month. Sign up at Wooster-Box.com and get $15 off your first month with code Friedman It's Taco or Beer Challenge time again! Eat a taco, drink a beer, fund abortion, challenge friends to do the same. #ToBC18 2018 isn't over yet. Book a Catalyst Call and we'll make doing-the-damn-thing your new way of life. Take 10% off with code ANN10. Create a movement with us. This is the time to unleash the power of women’s voices and create a new narrative for social change. Latham Thomas, Jamia Wilson & Vanessa Valenti share their expertise to help you amplify what matters most. Sept. 28-30, Omega Women’s Leadership Center Picture a thrift shop. Now, picture the exact opposite. The AWE Box is a subscription box for secondhand clothes in like-new condition. We're on a mission to make shopping for beautiful secondhand clothes easy, efficient, and upscale. And we're a growing startup run by women! Sometimes the best stories need to be told in nonlinear ways. Elephant Rock’s course on fractured forms will help you capture their glory. This classifieds space is designed for tiny-but-growing businesses, activist efforts, and creative projects looking for more eyeballs. If that describes your work, click for ad rates and info! Testimonials "Treat yourself to an awesome newsletter every Friday from @annfriedman. It seriously makes me smarter and happier each week." -Stephanie Lowitt. Honestly, it's a treat to write this thing every Friday, too. Treats all around! "Finally became a paying fan of @annfriedman and her amazing newsletter. What took me so long? Who’s to say, but I’m here!" -Sam Zabell. Huzzah! Welcome all new paying members. Reminder that if you're paid up and for some reason you're still not seeing pie charts, just hit reply to this email, and I'll figure it out. My tech is clunky but my intentions are pure. This newsletter has got the power. At least some power. Forward it to someone who uses theirs wisely. AF WEEKLY Subscribe Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Manage paid membership MORE ANN Email me About me Writing archive Public speaking Rent my brain Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Ladyswagger, Inc. PO Box 26932 | Los Angeles, CA 90026 © 2018