2011 Reading #1: Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music

[snurri]

1. Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution In Music by Marisa Meltzer. This book is perhaps more sociology than music criticism, a series of snapshots of feminism from the early nineties to present day; as such it touches on the tension between second- and third-wave feminists, the shifting terminologies/identities and mainstream appropriations thereof (e.g. grrrl to grrl to princess to lady), wardrobe as signifier, etc.--primarily from the context of the riot grrrl movement and the female-centered artists and trends that latched onto that energy. That sounds like a lot because it is, and it's covered in a pretty short book; I think I would have liked a bit more depth on some of the artists (like Bikini Kill, Liz Phair, Sleater-Kinney). But it's a smart, thought-provoking book with a lot of passion behind it.