Feminism is alive and well — at least to me — as I watched the road movie Who Took the Bomp? Le Tigre on Tour, a film that showed the band on a world tour that took place in 2004–2005. The film will play tomorrow night in NYC prior to its DVD release at the Maysles Cinema, and several of Le Tigre members Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman will be in attendance as well as director Kerthy Fix. Tickets are available here.
Kathleen Hanna is the reluctant matriarch and leader of the Riot Grrl movement that has ebbed and flowed since the 90s empowering the next generations of young women. She’s a person whose politics is informed in her music. Here’s an interview I did with her last winter at a rally for Planned Parenthood. While their most influential days might be behind them, the Riot Grrls movement still has influence. I for one am glad to see these young girls that follow Le Tigre mouthing the lyrics and rocking out to the music of Hanna and her bandmates Johanna Fateman and JD Sampson rather than sitting at home and watching the Kardashians on TV. I gives me some hope that the future will be ok.
They women are more than just a band — they are role models — and they are all aware of it, especially Sampson who challenges gender norms and struggles with her popularity from men and women. The honesty of the women is refreshing. I learned a lot about how music can influence our culture and I love that they keep pushing the envelope.
Here is a great story about the Riot Grrl movement from the NY Times.
