Sorry but I really do have to say something about this.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/furore-over-call-to-boycott-nigella-dee-dee-dunleavys-unfortunate-column/story-e6frfmq9-1226664885941
"Dunleavy has since tried to defend her initial blog, tweeting: "I did not call for a boycott on Nigella's books. That's absurd. My point is that she should file a complaint with police. Make a stand."
Obviously, Ms. Dunleavy has no experience in the area or she would not be calling for anything even remotely like this stance! I read one of her responses defending her comments where she spoke about a friend she saw going through spousal/partner abuse. Apparently that is the closest she has come to the reality of such a situation.
Allow me to put my sixpeneth worth in here. What did Ms. Dunleavy do when her friend went through the abusive situation? What effort did she put in personally to support and help in the specific circumstances she had some involvement in herself?
That's where Ms. Dunleavy's responsibility lies, not expecting others to fulfill what she should probably be doing herself! If Ms. Dunleavy feels strongly about domestic abuse as a cause she wants supported, it is up to her to stand and be counted among those working to deal with such matters!
Apart from anything else, there is shock and a grieving period when a woman has had to face that the excuses are no longer enough and she cannot tell herself the abuse doesn't matter any longer. This grief can take up to 2 1/2 years generally with the woman merely moving from second to second, numb and thinking no further than what she needs to do in the moment! For Ms. Dunleavy to expect anything of any woman in that situation indicates she has no idea what it's like.
So, I challenge Ms. Dunleavy to find out! There are women's shelters in Melbourne, mostly hidden away to guard the women from the partners/spouses trying to find them in order to continue their abuse or cover up their shame.
Maybe Ms. Dunleavy needs to spend time in those shelters talking to the women involved and find out what it's really like then maybe she will be able to figure out how to help those who survive from second to second and can barely visualize the next day, let alone envision any kind of a secure future.
And yes, I've worked with the YWCA and women's groups and shelters. I do know what it's like. It may take a good long time before Nigella can even remotely decide what she wants to do about other people's abuse, let alone her own. In the meantime, those who love her should be there for her and support her in her work so she can establish herself safely and securely; without having any pressures on her beyond taking care of herself and those she is responsible for.
Instead of boycotting her books and shows, now is the time to support her and buy them so she can create a new future for herself and those she loves, without having to endure abuse and harassment.
Love to Nigella! You go girl! 0:)
Ellen 0:)
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
Another request from the U.S.A.
From the exhibition I'm currently preparing, "Prayers From An Empty Room."
"IT'S RELATIVE"
by Ellen Walker (c) 2002
You can't breathe.
You're too afraid to take a breath.
They want to control when you breathe, where you breathe and how.
And when you do eventually take a breath, it's an attack on their very existence.
IF YOU STOP BREATHING YOU DIE!
That's alright by them.
As long as they keep breathing.
In their own way.
You're not allowed to breathe,
Unless you do it their way.
Their way is the only way.
Therefore, if you want to live at all, you have to breathe their way.
The only alternative is to...
...breathe different air.
"IT'S RELATIVE"
by Ellen Walker (c) 2002
You can't breathe.
You're too afraid to take a breath.
They want to control when you breathe, where you breathe and how.
And when you do eventually take a breath, it's an attack on their very existence.
IF YOU STOP BREATHING YOU DIE!
That's alright by them.
As long as they keep breathing.
In their own way.
You're not allowed to breathe,
Unless you do it their way.
Their way is the only way.
Therefore, if you want to live at all, you have to breathe their way.
The only alternative is to...
...breathe different air.
By request: Concrete poetry.
One of my pieces but not in its exhibition form. Exhibited in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1996.
"DIS 2 IN": the meeting place
(c) Ellen F. Walker 1996
DIStantly,
a face hovers.
Head down,
hooded eyes,
keeping to itself.
INdiscernibly,
I scan for signs:
Memorized features,
Micro mannerisms.
Second-hand security.
DIStrustfully,
it's approach is viewed,
it's passing dreaded.
It lifts it's shades,
Sees, then hesitates too.
INdecision
dances in eyes
that meet...
then slide apart.
What now? we wonder.
DISguise
our beings?
Hide our souls,
protecting and cosseting
perceived futures or fears?
or INterlock
our lives:
Risking time,
effort, emotion:
INvesting in possibilities.
DISinterest/INterest?
DISsociate/INfiltrate?
DISintegrate/INtegrate?
DIStrust/INtrust?
DISpirit/INspire?
To be or not?
Coffee or tea?
One lump or two?
"DIS 2 IN": the meeting place
(c) Ellen F. Walker 1996
DIStantly,
a face hovers.
Head down,
hooded eyes,
keeping to itself.
INdiscernibly,
I scan for signs:
Memorized features,
Micro mannerisms.
Second-hand security.
DIStrustfully,
it's approach is viewed,
it's passing dreaded.
It lifts it's shades,
Sees, then hesitates too.
INdecision
dances in eyes
that meet...
then slide apart.
What now? we wonder.
DISguise
our beings?
Hide our souls,
protecting and cosseting
perceived futures or fears?
or INterlock
our lives:
Risking time,
effort, emotion:
INvesting in possibilities.
DISinterest/INterest?
DISsociate/INfiltrate?
DISintegrate/INtegrate?
DIStrust/INtrust?
DISpirit/INspire?
To be or not?
Coffee or tea?
One lump or two?
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Christian artists, writers and Creatives.
I never cease to be amazed at how many people set themselves up as judge, jury and executioner when it comes to deciding what a Christian (or those holding any particular beliefs) should and should not do with their work! The sheer number of people who take it upon themselves to control others, in the erroneous POV that it is supposedly their God-annointed task to do so. To not only "enlighten" the rest of us regarding how our work should be done but also force us into complying with their particular stance on matters!
Not only is this Biblically incorrect, it reveals the lack of theological knowledge of those imposing their "quality control" on others!
http://biblehub.com/matthew/7.htm
Matthew 7
1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?5“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
6“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
There are a couple of things I say to the people who set themselves up as "judge-jury-executioner" of Christian artists and seek to control both the Creative and their work. How lacking in your personal faith are you that you trust so little in the work of the Holy Spirit? Or do you believe Christ incapable of leading those of His people involved in the Arts and He needs your "understanding" of matters to control others as if they were ignorant children? I've spent most of my life considering the issues in being an artist and Creative and I've been a Christian for 44 years. I would ask these people how much time they have spent considering the issues and matters involved in being a Christian artist and bringing them before God in prayer? It is my income, not a hobby. Not exactly something I take lightly, by any means.
But the final crunch will come when I eventually stand before Christ in person and I am longing to hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant". At that point of time, none of these armchair critics will be standing there with me and I doubt the Lord is going to be at all interested in my saying "Sorry I didn't do what I believed you wanted me to Lord. So-and-so the Lord High Executioner wouldn't allow me to and manipulated the laws and powers-that-be to stop me because he didn't think that was what a Christian artist should do or be." I doubt that's going to carry much weight when I stand before God somehow!
Allow me to present the work of a few Christian artists from California so those in Australia who seem to have drawn the erroneous conclusion that "nothing good exists there" can see (for themselves) the error of their ways!
http://www.laurainesnelling.com/html/books.html
http://harvesthousepublishers.com/authors/kari-west/
I met both wonderful ladies while speaking at the Redwood Christian Writers Seminar over a couple of years.
http://www.christianwriter.org/
Also there were many other Christian writers, all of whom will have spent much more time considering their Art and how their faith and relationship with God relates to what they do than the casual observer. Yes, even more than some distant Catholic-Anglican priest or local pastor who regard their personal viewpoints in these matters as being more considered and desirable than anything God could guide these Creatives into! Supposedly their casual observations are far more relevant and important than God's day to day involvement in the Creative's life. 0>(
Among those who appear at the Writer's Seminars is an old friend of mine:
http://www.janetanncollins.com/
As for the nonsense that there are supposedly no/few Christians working in or around "Hollywood", oh ye of little faith! Never underestimate is the motto here! Just take a look at the local churches websites, for instance.
http://www.fpch.org/
Or how about full-time, working professionals in the Arts?
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/california/
One of the funniest videos I've ever seen was one made by Robert G. Lee!
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/robert-lee/
"Robert G. Lee is already known in the entertainment industry as Hollywood’s top warm-up comic. This veteran of 1,000 episodes of such shows as The New Adventures of Old Christine, Just Shoot Me, Becker and The Drew Carey Show is considered to be the reigning king in this very specialized profession. His job is to keep countless audiences entertained between scenes and costume and set changes with rapid-fire ad-libs and humorous interviews. As such, his razor sharp wit is always ready to have fun with, not make fun of any audience he encounters."
Just a suggestion but the next time somebody decides it's a good idea to attempt to tell me how to do my work and live my life before God (in particular as a Christian), at least do a Google check and get some solid facts before approaching me with your ideas. 0:)
Thank-you very much. 0:)
Ellen 0:)
Not only is this Biblically incorrect, it reveals the lack of theological knowledge of those imposing their "quality control" on others!
http://biblehub.com/matthew/7.htm
Matthew 7
1“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.2“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.3“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?5“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
6“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
There are a couple of things I say to the people who set themselves up as "judge-jury-executioner" of Christian artists and seek to control both the Creative and their work. How lacking in your personal faith are you that you trust so little in the work of the Holy Spirit? Or do you believe Christ incapable of leading those of His people involved in the Arts and He needs your "understanding" of matters to control others as if they were ignorant children? I've spent most of my life considering the issues in being an artist and Creative and I've been a Christian for 44 years. I would ask these people how much time they have spent considering the issues and matters involved in being a Christian artist and bringing them before God in prayer? It is my income, not a hobby. Not exactly something I take lightly, by any means.
But the final crunch will come when I eventually stand before Christ in person and I am longing to hear the words "Well done good and faithful servant". At that point of time, none of these armchair critics will be standing there with me and I doubt the Lord is going to be at all interested in my saying "Sorry I didn't do what I believed you wanted me to Lord. So-and-so the Lord High Executioner wouldn't allow me to and manipulated the laws and powers-that-be to stop me because he didn't think that was what a Christian artist should do or be." I doubt that's going to carry much weight when I stand before God somehow!
Allow me to present the work of a few Christian artists from California so those in Australia who seem to have drawn the erroneous conclusion that "nothing good exists there" can see (for themselves) the error of their ways!
http://www.laurainesnelling.com/html/books.html
http://harvesthousepublishers.com/authors/kari-west/
I met both wonderful ladies while speaking at the Redwood Christian Writers Seminar over a couple of years.
http://www.christianwriter.org/
Also there were many other Christian writers, all of whom will have spent much more time considering their Art and how their faith and relationship with God relates to what they do than the casual observer. Yes, even more than some distant Catholic-Anglican priest or local pastor who regard their personal viewpoints in these matters as being more considered and desirable than anything God could guide these Creatives into! Supposedly their casual observations are far more relevant and important than God's day to day involvement in the Creative's life. 0>(
Among those who appear at the Writer's Seminars is an old friend of mine:
http://www.janetanncollins.com/
As for the nonsense that there are supposedly no/few Christians working in or around "Hollywood", oh ye of little faith! Never underestimate is the motto here! Just take a look at the local churches websites, for instance.
http://www.fpch.org/
Or how about full-time, working professionals in the Arts?
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/california/
One of the funniest videos I've ever seen was one made by Robert G. Lee!
http://www.christiancomedyacts.com/robert-lee/
"Robert G. Lee is already known in the entertainment industry as Hollywood’s top warm-up comic. This veteran of 1,000 episodes of such shows as The New Adventures of Old Christine, Just Shoot Me, Becker and The Drew Carey Show is considered to be the reigning king in this very specialized profession. His job is to keep countless audiences entertained between scenes and costume and set changes with rapid-fire ad-libs and humorous interviews. As such, his razor sharp wit is always ready to have fun with, not make fun of any audience he encounters."
Just a suggestion but the next time somebody decides it's a good idea to attempt to tell me how to do my work and live my life before God (in particular as a Christian), at least do a Google check and get some solid facts before approaching me with your ideas. 0:)
Thank-you very much. 0:)
Ellen 0:)
Monday, June 3, 2013
Isn't it romantic?
When I can, I head to second-hand book shops and Opportunity/Thrift stores. There are a number of authors I like to collect and often these are the only readily available sources of these volumes. Yes, I know I can get them on-line but it isn’t the same as slowly browsing and discovering other tomes and treasures along the way! 0:)
The other day I was wandering through a local shop when one of my mother’s friends (a volunteer there) recommended one of her favourite romance writers. They help her to sleep at night. It wasn’t an author I was particularly familiar with but I seemed to remember reading one of her books when I was younger so agreed to give it a go.
My main objective in heading in to the shop was to find a book which wasn’t for work and was something I could switch the brain off over and relax with for awhile. But I picked up on her non-too-subtle hint that I could do with reading some good romances (apparently to “inspire” me) and compromised with her by also choosing an author more my style in the genre: Nicholas Sparks VS Catherine Gaskin. I’ll let you know how the challenge goes. I chose the Sparks given that “The Notebook” is my idea of a true romance novel. “The Wedding” VS “The Ambassador’s Women.”
I used to work as a store manager at Waldenbooks in northern California and the shop had over 10,000 romance titles on any given day. We were considered northern California’s primary source of anything even remotely “romantic”. One of my favourite customers used to call once a month with her order of nothing less than $500 worth of romance novels. Her husband had his fishing and she had her romance novels; that was their deal. She was unable to physically get to the store so she would have magazines sent to her reviewing the latest romance genre novels and by the time the next month came around, she’d be calling me with her list of latest releases.
I’ve never been particularly excited by romance novels, even when I was a teenager. It all seemed terribly stylized and unrealistic to my way of thinking. For awhile there I voraciously read Georgette Heyer but after who-knows-how-many, I suddenly stopped reading, looked at the last page and thought to myself that I was done. Same formula, same ‘ol, same ‘ol. And that’s when I realized I am not a formulaic reader and find no comfort in the familiar.
I think the next romance novel I read many years later was a Sandra Brown. Two more of her books later and again, I was done. More confirmation that I am not comfortable with formulaic books. I even get bored reading Agatha Christie. 0:)
Thankfully, not everybody is like me and the Waldenbooks romance novels section did a booming trade right up until the day the store’s doors closed after 25 years. I recall sitting on a low stool as myself and the other two store managers sorted through the last books on the shelves. Some publishers wanted their books returned to them, some wanted them recycled, some to other stores. Very few wanted the books remaindered or donated to charities (much to my disappointment although as an author I understand the reasons for them doing so).
But most publishers in the romance section wanted their books destroyed. We sat there tearing off cover after cover after cover after cover and putting them aside for the garbage scow: Over 10,000 of them. By the end of the day, the three of us were absolutely exhausted and frankly, in distress (or I was anyway and judging by the looks on the other’s faces, they were too). We weren’t in book sales without loving books ourselves: It certainly wasn’t for the poorly paid jobs we were doing every day! It was killing us to have to destroy so many books, on so many levels!
As I sat there tearing and hacking away, I thought of my customer and how much pleasure and relaxation she got from her ritual. During our phone conversations, she’d shared with me that she was ill with cancer. When she was too ill to call, one of her friends would make the call for her. Unable to travel herself, in the comfort of their formulaic principles and unchallenging formats, these romance novels transported her to otherwise inaccessible climes and circumstances. She wasn’t pining for their fantasies to be her reality; she was revelling in their imaginary, uncomplicated, overly-simplistic portrayals. There was enough pain in her reality. All she wanted was some escapism and to view the world through somebody else’s window for awhile.
And in my view, that’s enough.
Ellen 0:)
The other day I was wandering through a local shop when one of my mother’s friends (a volunteer there) recommended one of her favourite romance writers. They help her to sleep at night. It wasn’t an author I was particularly familiar with but I seemed to remember reading one of her books when I was younger so agreed to give it a go.
My main objective in heading in to the shop was to find a book which wasn’t for work and was something I could switch the brain off over and relax with for awhile. But I picked up on her non-too-subtle hint that I could do with reading some good romances (apparently to “inspire” me) and compromised with her by also choosing an author more my style in the genre: Nicholas Sparks VS Catherine Gaskin. I’ll let you know how the challenge goes. I chose the Sparks given that “The Notebook” is my idea of a true romance novel. “The Wedding” VS “The Ambassador’s Women.”
I used to work as a store manager at Waldenbooks in northern California and the shop had over 10,000 romance titles on any given day. We were considered northern California’s primary source of anything even remotely “romantic”. One of my favourite customers used to call once a month with her order of nothing less than $500 worth of romance novels. Her husband had his fishing and she had her romance novels; that was their deal. She was unable to physically get to the store so she would have magazines sent to her reviewing the latest romance genre novels and by the time the next month came around, she’d be calling me with her list of latest releases.
I’ve never been particularly excited by romance novels, even when I was a teenager. It all seemed terribly stylized and unrealistic to my way of thinking. For awhile there I voraciously read Georgette Heyer but after who-knows-how-many, I suddenly stopped reading, looked at the last page and thought to myself that I was done. Same formula, same ‘ol, same ‘ol. And that’s when I realized I am not a formulaic reader and find no comfort in the familiar.
I think the next romance novel I read many years later was a Sandra Brown. Two more of her books later and again, I was done. More confirmation that I am not comfortable with formulaic books. I even get bored reading Agatha Christie. 0:)
Thankfully, not everybody is like me and the Waldenbooks romance novels section did a booming trade right up until the day the store’s doors closed after 25 years. I recall sitting on a low stool as myself and the other two store managers sorted through the last books on the shelves. Some publishers wanted their books returned to them, some wanted them recycled, some to other stores. Very few wanted the books remaindered or donated to charities (much to my disappointment although as an author I understand the reasons for them doing so).
But most publishers in the romance section wanted their books destroyed. We sat there tearing off cover after cover after cover after cover and putting them aside for the garbage scow: Over 10,000 of them. By the end of the day, the three of us were absolutely exhausted and frankly, in distress (or I was anyway and judging by the looks on the other’s faces, they were too). We weren’t in book sales without loving books ourselves: It certainly wasn’t for the poorly paid jobs we were doing every day! It was killing us to have to destroy so many books, on so many levels!
As I sat there tearing and hacking away, I thought of my customer and how much pleasure and relaxation she got from her ritual. During our phone conversations, she’d shared with me that she was ill with cancer. When she was too ill to call, one of her friends would make the call for her. Unable to travel herself, in the comfort of their formulaic principles and unchallenging formats, these romance novels transported her to otherwise inaccessible climes and circumstances. She wasn’t pining for their fantasies to be her reality; she was revelling in their imaginary, uncomplicated, overly-simplistic portrayals. There was enough pain in her reality. All she wanted was some escapism and to view the world through somebody else’s window for awhile.
And in my view, that’s enough.
Ellen 0:)
W.G.A. greatest T.V. writing list! 0:)
http://www.deadline.com/2013/06/wgas-101-best-written-tv-series-of-all-time-complete-list/#more-512061
Fascinating to consider what the professionals consider the best. I probably would have put "M.A.S.H." higher but cannot disagree with any of them! 0:)
Ellen 0:)
Fascinating to consider what the professionals consider the best. I probably would have put "M.A.S.H." higher but cannot disagree with any of them! 0:)
Ellen 0:)
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