Socialist Feminism for the DSA’s Build zine

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A bunch of people destroying a mint

A few months ago, the Democratic Socialists of America’s Build project approached me about donating art to the Socialist Feminism issue of their zine. Build’s mission is to give people resources, tools, and inspiration to become active in their communities. I was especially excited to contribute to the Socialist Feminism issue because it’s a topic that really speaks to me.

To me, socialist feminism means considering how capitalism compounds with gender discrimination to systematically disadvantage people, and particularly those that aren’t cisgender men. Simply establishing some kind of gender parity at any level (especially within the ranks of the mega-wealthy) doesn’t actually solve the massive structural problems that keep most people in the US beholden to modern feudal lords.

I don’t believe in rehabilitating a system founded on theft and exploitation. We have to assert as communities (local, national, international) that we won’t stand for the elevation of any one person or group at the expense of others. I hope to share as many resources, tools, and inspiration with that cause as possible and contribute however else I can. People are more powerful than paper.

2019 Book List

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Here are some books I’m reading in 2019, loosely organized. I’ll be updating this over the course of the year, so check back if you’d like to follow along!

Technology

read

★★★★

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

Great primer on interaction design—when in doubt, don’t make your user think!

currently reading

CSS the Missing Manual by David Sawyer McFarland

Art + Design

currently reading

The Laws Guide to Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws

to read

Steering the Craft by Ursula K LeGuin

to read

Just My Type by Simon Garfield

Culture

read

★★★

Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman

Interesting analysis about how messages change with evolving media. In particular, his observation that we’re living in Huxley’s dystopia and not Orwell’s is very interesting/compelling. However, this text is really subjectively judgemental about how “nEw MeDiA iS rUiNiNg OuR mInDs” and it distracts from his good points about the evolution of human communication. If I could get a less salty version it would be a five star book.

read

★★★★★

Bullshit jobs by David Graeber

Excellent analysis of professional time-wasting culture. This book made me think a lot about how I spend my time at work, and why I do it in the first place.

to read

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Fiction

read

★★★★

The moon is a harsh mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Really great revolution story, though the libertarianism got a little heavy handed

read

★★★★★

Killing Mister Watson by Peter Matthiessen

Fictionalized account of a string of murders in post-colonial Florida. Very exciting and historically a very interesting read.

read

★★★★★

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

The main character is a SHIP that has a human(ish?) body and I LOVED IT

read

★★★★★

The Dark Forest by Liu Cixin

This whole series has been a little slow to start, but I loved this book. Liu’s Cosmic Sociology and Dark Forest theory have had me thinking a lot about how we approach others in the world.

read

★★★★★

The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen

A mysterious woman is murdering socialites by exposing them to a twisted, wild power. I’m working on an interactive narrative adaptation of this story, check back for more!

currently reading

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab

I found this book in my mom’s basement, but I’m really into it so far??

to read

Death’s End by Liu Cixin

Comics

read

★★★★★

Redlands Volume 1 by Jordie Bellaire and Vanesa Del Rey

Really exciting story, complex and compelling characters, and gorgeous art. Can’t wait for the next one!