This is a great article which gets stronger the further you read. I think the editor who wanted to you to back off your argument and suppress a quote, shows how difficult it is to have this kind of criticism shared by mainstream media. It's good that you were able to share your brilliant, funny, and important piece here.
Men actually can’t compete with women on a level playing field…
I’d just seen your review comments too in Ru Marshall’s American Trickster bio, which I’m reading now. Realizing that Carlos Castaneda was a pedophile, who fled Peru after getting a 13 year old pregnant, jives with this entire poison tree.
We are heartily sick of the male sicknesses. And we’re doing something about it!
I am a 60 year old recovering misogynist. From a super young age I wanted to be a boy. Not because I thought I was in the wrong body, but because I somewhere somehow got the memo that to be a girl was to be in and of an inferior, less acceptable, less desirable, more restrictive body and gender. I've never really explored this about myself, but just marked it down to being a "tomboy." But, as I was reading this piece, I began to wonder from where these ideas. opinions, inclinations, self loathing tendencies stemmed. Were they entirely my own, or were they somehow in my childhood bathwater? Amazing how far I have come without making any honest attempt to unpack it all. Anyway, I appreciate the opportunity this piece has given me to look in the mirror.
What a brilliant, thrilling piece of writing. I enjoyed the clever summation — "The paper can’t quote writing in a book it assigned that would throw light on the pass—because throwing light on the pass is the offense" — but I'm not sure it's true. I imagine the paper can't quote the passage because it would offend so many people, in particular women, who then wouldn't buy the book. It also makes White look bad. In fact, it reveals him to be a hideous human being, however great a prose stylist he is. It's OK to criticize the book but not OK to expose the famous writer.
Be that as it may, what I most love about your piece is the phrase, "if you're not in the mood to find xx comical." To find something comical that is deeply offensive (hurtful, really) is to master it, to rise above it. Being amused is a weapon, an assertion of invulnerability. And I just love the way you make its use a matter of mood, of whim! Such an elegant put down.
I remember this piece when you originally posted it! Today, it reminded me of being so puzzled by the men snickering at Susan Sontag's aging hands and wondering if I would even pay attention to or comment on (if I had paid attention) a man's hands or any part of his body for that matter if he had appeared in a book of portraits.
This piece also reminds me. now, of a moment many years ago. I was at work, and I was wearing a pair of beautiful, red suede tall heeled boots. A male colleague commented as I walked by, "Whoa! Those are 'leave 'em on' boots" then referred to me as emotional and overreactive when I called him on his inappropriate comment. He was a fifth grade teacher, I was (and am) a speech-pathologist working in an elementary school.
My immediate reaction to seeing the White book was “oh hey, I might be interested in reading that”…until I was made aware, by you, that sorry, I am not his intended audience. Maybe a self-hating woman, one raised by evangelical Christians or devout Catholics, might enjoy being graphically debased and smugly ridiculed, but nope, not this little piggy. Thank you so much for this.
Thanks for sharing the review along with the request to change it for publication. How great to be able to say no to that and still publish it here! Think I may try the meatloaf recipe one day.
i remember reading this b4 but as you say, still as potent and relevant today, if not more so. i cackled again at “lathering themselves” and this line hit me with renewed hilarity: “Can I masturbate in front of you? ask most books written by men about the excitement of being men…” oy it’s so tiring. thanks for offering laughs in lieu of tears. each word hits with surgical precision.
Thanks, love. Wish you could come visit. It rained like a whole day, and the just-mown grass is again as high as a small elephant's eye, and so much is fit and blooming before the heat returns. xxL
Alas, the role of The Bearer of the Look (Laura Mulvey), continues, as if the assigned seats cannot be reassigned or arranged or destroyed. Excellent article. I love the nod to Kate Millett.
"Two men and their whatever," aptly sums up the entire Western canon. Great piece.
Thank you so much, and thanks for reading it! xxL
This is a great article which gets stronger the further you read. I think the editor who wanted to you to back off your argument and suppress a quote, shows how difficult it is to have this kind of criticism shared by mainstream media. It's good that you were able to share your brilliant, funny, and important piece here.
Thanks, love. Yes, suppressing the quotes from White is literally "the pass."
Wildly brilliant piece and just so damn accurate!
Brava. Extremely grateful for your intelligence.
And it shines in this piece.
Men actually can’t compete with women on a level playing field…
I’d just seen your review comments too in Ru Marshall’s American Trickster bio, which I’m reading now. Realizing that Carlos Castaneda was a pedophile, who fled Peru after getting a 13 year old pregnant, jives with this entire poison tree.
We are heartily sick of the male sicknesses. And we’re doing something about it!
Brava! these could be the final words on the topic forever. Though of course, they won't be.
I am a 60 year old recovering misogynist. From a super young age I wanted to be a boy. Not because I thought I was in the wrong body, but because I somewhere somehow got the memo that to be a girl was to be in and of an inferior, less acceptable, less desirable, more restrictive body and gender. I've never really explored this about myself, but just marked it down to being a "tomboy." But, as I was reading this piece, I began to wonder from where these ideas. opinions, inclinations, self loathing tendencies stemmed. Were they entirely my own, or were they somehow in my childhood bathwater? Amazing how far I have come without making any honest attempt to unpack it all. Anyway, I appreciate the opportunity this piece has given me to look in the mirror.
What a brilliant, thrilling piece of writing. I enjoyed the clever summation — "The paper can’t quote writing in a book it assigned that would throw light on the pass—because throwing light on the pass is the offense" — but I'm not sure it's true. I imagine the paper can't quote the passage because it would offend so many people, in particular women, who then wouldn't buy the book. It also makes White look bad. In fact, it reveals him to be a hideous human being, however great a prose stylist he is. It's OK to criticize the book but not OK to expose the famous writer.
Be that as it may, what I most love about your piece is the phrase, "if you're not in the mood to find xx comical." To find something comical that is deeply offensive (hurtful, really) is to master it, to rise above it. Being amused is a weapon, an assertion of invulnerability. And I just love the way you make its use a matter of mood, of whim! Such an elegant put down.
You are a great propose stylist and more.
Once again, thank you for being a voice to the ignorant voices.
Thanks for supporting this work! It means everything to being able to keep going. xxL
I remember this piece when you originally posted it! Today, it reminded me of being so puzzled by the men snickering at Susan Sontag's aging hands and wondering if I would even pay attention to or comment on (if I had paid attention) a man's hands or any part of his body for that matter if he had appeared in a book of portraits.
This piece also reminds me. now, of a moment many years ago. I was at work, and I was wearing a pair of beautiful, red suede tall heeled boots. A male colleague commented as I walked by, "Whoa! Those are 'leave 'em on' boots" then referred to me as emotional and overreactive when I called him on his inappropriate comment. He was a fifth grade teacher, I was (and am) a speech-pathologist working in an elementary school.
BRAVA!
Thanks, dear C!
My immediate reaction to seeing the White book was “oh hey, I might be interested in reading that”…until I was made aware, by you, that sorry, I am not his intended audience. Maybe a self-hating woman, one raised by evangelical Christians or devout Catholics, might enjoy being graphically debased and smugly ridiculed, but nope, not this little piggy. Thank you so much for this.
I'm glad I found you, Laurie.
I'm glad I found you. xxL
Thanks for sharing the review along with the request to change it for publication. How great to be able to say no to that and still publish it here! Think I may try the meatloaf recipe one day.
Try the meatloaf! And thanks so much for pointing that I can write without interference and still get paid for it!!
i remember reading this b4 but as you say, still as potent and relevant today, if not more so. i cackled again at “lathering themselves” and this line hit me with renewed hilarity: “Can I masturbate in front of you? ask most books written by men about the excitement of being men…” oy it’s so tiring. thanks for offering laughs in lieu of tears. each word hits with surgical precision.
Thanks, love. Wish you could come visit. It rained like a whole day, and the just-mown grass is again as high as a small elephant's eye, and so much is fit and blooming before the heat returns. xxL
wish i could just beam myself over too—i can imagine how green and lush everything is!
Alas, the role of The Bearer of the Look (Laura Mulvey), continues, as if the assigned seats cannot be reassigned or arranged or destroyed. Excellent article. I love the nod to Kate Millett.
This is so badass. I loved the first time I saw it and even more so this time. Thank you.
Happy to hear!