To browse through a textbook from the past, say ten to twenty years ago, is almost inevitably a hilarious/terrifying experience. One begisn to realize just how thoroughly our biased values seeped into what is supposed to be a straightforward educational text.
In her magnificent zine series, Mystery Date: One Gal's Guide to Good Stuff, Lynn Peril bravely tackles mammoth examples of retro conservatism, presented under the auspices of education and entertainment. Her zines cleverly and humorlessly dissect Sex-Ed advice records (like John and Joan McCardle's prim Your Sexuality: A Thing of Beauty), Homemaking text books (Young Living by Nanalee Clayton was written for the domestically inclined pre-teen), films about teen misbehavior (according to Boy with a Knife, knife-wielding is an 'equalizer' among teenage boys. I'll remember that next time I encounter a young rager with a sharp object), Miss America, and living single (rather than paired, tube-sock style).
Anyway, all this to say that Peril's zines are archived online and, fingers crossed, there will be more some day. Also, check out the rad pin-up girl covers!
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment