[erinjane]

I felt the same way about the Park Posey interview too. Interviewers gushing like that does not make an interesting read.

[ginger_kitty]

Last night when I was at Borders, I almost didn't buy the newest issue when I saw Gwen on the cover. But giving the mag the benefit of the doubt, I picked it up anyway. I even read the Gwen interview first, to my great disappointment. What empty fluff!!! The whole interview was really lame! I hated how she went on and on about being a mom. And then her response to the are you a feminist question, kind of made me see red. How hard is the question yes or no? Um, can you define that? (Tres lame)

I felt the same way about the Parker Posey interview, last issue. I love her work, but the interivewer just gushing over her the whole time didn't set well with me. I think she could have asked better questions, instead of just worshiping her.

Back to the Feb/Mar issue, I haven't had time to go through the entire issue yet, but from what I have read, BLAH! I have to say, "Shape up Bust, we busties expect more!"

[dusty]

I was very pleased that there was an article on Bettye Lavette in the latest issue, and I liked the article on childbirth and the reference to Ina Mae Gaskin.

I liked the Sonic Youth article too.

But no, I have zero interest in Gwen Stefani. Or was it Christina Aguilera? I have a hard time telling them apart.

[snafooey]

Faerietails, it was the "So Sue Me" column - "Booze Clues" - page 31 of the Dec/Jan issue with Parker Posey on the cover.

While the author does clearly state "Of course, you should not drink and drive. The cost of a taxi is nothing compared to the cost of a life" she then goes to list everything you should do to cover your ass if you're stopped by an officer - and it's all advice that wouldn't apply if, you know, you hadn't had too much to drink in the first place. One of the captions is "Understand your breathalyzer rights" and it contains the following advice: "But you may be better able to fight a DUI without Breathalyzer results." So basically if you think the breathalyzer is going to prove that you've had too much to drink. . .you may not want to take one.

The gist of the article is: "You shouldn't drink and drive but if you do and you happen to get caught, here's how to get out of it."

It seems to be the sex ed approach to drunk driving: "Well, people are going to drive drunk anyway, so we're going to teach them how to do it as safely as possible - oh wait, that makes absolutely no sense without getting penalized for it."

Re: Parker Posey, she often plays similar characters (though I think she has more range than people give her credit for) and she's kind of like Julia Roberts in that she's more of a personality than a technically brilliant actor like, say, Meryl Streep, but I like the fact that despite the the occasional Superman-type movie (and the accompanying super-exposure/paycheque) she's stayed true to her indie roots and generally seems to stick to projects that motivate her.

[faerietails]

I actually did like Gwen, and I dearly love No Doubt. So naturally, when her first solo album came out, I had to get it. Then I listened to it and promptly resold it on half.com. What a piece of shit. I was just so disgusted that she started acting like a fucking rapper and "singing" about such self-involved b-s. ("I can't wait to go back and do Japan / Get me lots of brand new fans...You got your million dollar contract") Ugh. Needless to say, I won't touch her latest foray with a 10 foot pole.

I am just sooo disappointed in her. The BUST interview was horrible and contrived, and this new image of hers is bullshit. Her music sucks. I saw her perform her new song on Letterman a few days ago and I just wanted to punch her for co-opting The Sound of Music. WTF?!

snaf, I didn't like the Posey article, either. Then again, I do think Parker Posey is really overrated. And WHOA, I didn't notice that drunk driving article at all! I'm gonna bust out that issue right now to see what you're talking about!

[snafooey]

Gah - as someone who has never liked Gwen* (I didn't see her solo albums as selling out - I always found her annoying and shallow and while she's pushing more a consumerist image now, I never really bought her as a symbol of grrrl power) I don't really see it as an issue of when it would have been appropriate - if anything, her interview proably would have been (I'm guessing - I haven't read the new issue yet) even more vapid ten years ago. She's learned to play the game a little. And anyway, as others have noted, even if I adored her, does she really need more exposure? Not that "unknowns" usually get covers, but how often does someone like, say, Tina Fey get a feature length interview (with a kickass photo spread to boot) in a regular women's magazine?

I didn't like the Parker Posey interview either b/c of the whole fangirl aspect. I think Parker is awesome, but the interview was pretty lame b/c of the whole "OMG I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!" vibe. Of the last several cover subjects/interviews, I think Amy Poehler is the one to beat. It was funny, smart, interesting and there was a great rapport/sense of mutual respect between the interviewer and her subject.

Btw, did anyone notice last issue's "how to get out of it if you happen to be busted for drunk driving" feature toward the front of the magazine? It was basically, "Don't ever drink and drive. . .but if you do ever find yourself, you know, in a situation, and stopped by a police officer, here's what you should do." And then the article proceeded to give advice about whether to take a breathalizer, etc., etc. I'd have to reread it, but my gut reaction was that it was kind of fucked up.

Although I will admit to a shameful soft spot for "Hollaback Girl," which most people regard as her nadir, I realize.

[crazyoldcatlady]

deanna, lily allen would have been a hott shitt covergirl.

my bottom line is, if i wanted to read about gwen, i'd pick up seventeen magazine. gwen was BUSTworthy circa 1995, if that.

[grrrlyouwant]

man, i was so excited when i got home from work a couple weeks ago and saw the new issue of bust sitting on the table. my daughter got me the subscription for christmas, and i was wondering if this one would fall in that murky four to six weeks area and i'd have to buy it one more time before the subscription kicked in. now i kinda wish it had, cause i would have left this one on the rack. it took me a minute to figure out, yes, that is gwen stefani on the cover, and then i thought "holy shit, what's she doing there?" several years ago, yeah, it would have made sense. but her madonna-like appropriation of other cultures, often in the most stereotypical offensive ways, had her off my "chicks i'd like to be when i grow up" radar years ago. and the "interview" was gawdawful. nothing but fangirl gushing, pre-rehearsed and uninspired answers, and an excuse to plug her clothing line. hello, bust? when are you going to have a strong, successful, inspiring woman on your cover who's not afraid to say "yes, i am a feminist!", instead of making excuses for why they're "not a feminist" as defined by tired media stereotypes?

[deannareturns]

Lily Allen should have been on the cover. For the first time I sat and read BUST in Borders, instead of buying it and reading it at home. I know I should subscribe, but I live in Australia, and truth be told, BUST ain't what it used to be. Having said that, it is still pretty damn good. It's just Gwen is so....

[crazyoldcatlady]

amen zora. i was JUST thinking that again as i looked in the 'zine pile. the icing on the cake was the bullshit article and the margaret cho bashing.

[zora]

Anyone else really annoyed at Gwen Stefani being on the cover of this issue? i think Bust has lost me for good this time.

[girltrouble]

i agree re:betty dodson. and i like suzie bright. but i love tristan t.


i really don't care for sex columnists that don't use empirical evidence. and telling us the same thing over and over really doesn't expand anyone's boundries. i live in seattle, and frankly, i got over dan savage a long time ago. it started with his misoginistic comments about women's privates and finished when he started writing some articles that burned a lot of bridges and fucked up a lot of lives in the local queer community here.

my fave writer (who i think would be so much better for bust) is Tristan Taormino. bi friendly, queer friendly, and fat friendly too. she's a feminist in the best sense of the word-- inclusive-- and writes about what she knows without feeling the need to down people who don't share her pov. she also is upfront about when something makes her uncomfortable or question what it means to be a feminist. and sexually she is fearless in the best way. up for anything, always in search of something new, telling us what turns her on, off, and ingages her. she's awesome. she doesn't just answer questions, she makes you want to get out and explore your own sexuality. you can find her columns in the village voice's sex section:
village voice sex section

she also has her own site @ puckerup.com

[hiddenpoet]

i noticed a change in bust ever since Betty Boob left. As though it didn't want to be a women's issues magazine anymore. As if Bust wanted to be the cool women's magazine. Yes Bust still is the coolest women's magazine out there i just miss the edge it had over Bitch or MS.
Does anyone else feel the same?

[raisingirl]

Wow. Who picked out the hideous glasses that Parker Posey had the displeasure of wearing on the front cover of the most recent issue?

Those glasses were ugly way back when and they're even uglier now.

[anoushh]

I just think women have tended to be dismissed with "what's your problem" whenever they got/get angry about anything to do with women and feminist related issues, and I don't see why that's necessary here. So what if the author is angry? Why not?

Mouse, I think that's a good summary of her answers. Which is really a shame b/c it's crap advice and again, it's historically what's happened to women--'You don't really want what you think you want--you want what I want you to want and what I decide is appropriate for you to want.>"

[hellotampon]

But this person WAS getting all pissy, intelligent commentary notwithstanding. I can understand wishing that the magazine was more gay-friendly, fat-friendly, etc. But in general terms, it is what it is. Maybe not every feminist cares about knitting (I don't), but I don't see what the harm in it is. I don't see how Bust is anti-feminist by virtue of having lightier, fluffier stuff.

I do like Bitch much better. And I do agree with a lot of what that person had to say. But it just rubbed me the wrong way, I guess. It seemed like the writer wanted to change Bust into a different magazine altogether rather than one or two apsects of it, and in that case, why bother criticizing it in the first place?

As for Betty Dodson, her column annoys me too. I already know before reading any of her answers that they are going to say one or more of the following: 1) Masturbate! 2)Focus on the clitoris and nothing else! 3) Try mutual masturbation- penetration is always boring for everyone! 4) Buy my books!

[mouse]

oh LORD anoushh i totally agree that betty dodson NEEDS TO GO. she is excellent in her field, and that field is very small and not any grounds to base an entire sex advice column on. i agree with the cultural significance of her work, i respect that greatly, and i think if the question being asked is within her realm, great. but i feel like more often than not, she ignores the real issue being addressed in the question, and instead of saying "okay, you're trying to get this result, here's a different way of going about it" she says "forget about the result you want, it's not valid. what you really want is the result that *i* want, buy one of my books to get that".

susie bright was great. bring her back!

[anoushh]

I don't think what I read as an intelligent commentary on the magazine--whether or not I agree with any or all of it--should be blithely dismissed as "getting all pissy." That sounds really belittling, and I don't understand why that feels necessary.

I am having increasing problems with the magazine, and right now I have sitting on my desk a renewal notice that for the first time ever I'm debating about.

Betty Dodson is really, really bothering me. I was all full of respect for her historical importance, etc, and maybe it's just now that I"m paying more attention, but either her advice has always been full of crap, or it's getting worse and I jsut havn't noticed until now.

The one that stands out for me was the repeated refusal to understand--or listen to people trying to explain--the difference between a baterial and a fungal infection, and just perpetuating her error.

Also, she's not an MD--maybe if you don't know consulting with a medical person would be a good idea?

There are other things she's said that have really irritated me but off the top of my head I can't remember enough details to illustrate here. But it does seem like she's got a one none answer for everything, and if it doesn't fit, well, too bad--she'll make it fit.

She really needs to go.

The recent issue really bothered me with yet another depiction (in the fashion pages) of smoking as some kind of "cool" accessorizing. Um, excuse me? Yeah, equality is the right to be just as manipulated by evil tobacco companies as men, but you know what? Knock it off.

And I was really stunned--and not happy--about the use of the word "pimping" in some kind of "making something cool" context. WTF?

I'm tired of seeing abusing women as some kind of harmless, even cool thing, and just b/c this term has entered popular culture doesn't make it less innocuous to me. If anything it's more dangerous when we let stuff like this slip.

I don't expect Bust to have the depth of analysis that something like Bitch does, and thats fine. It can be enough to have a "regular" magazine that I can read without cringing and wanting to throw up--the way Cosmo and pretty much all the others make me feel. But is this any better than some of the stuff in the "regular" magazines out there?

And yes, more queer and fat positive is needed. I agree.

[mouse]

very well said, cocl. i used to think that bust was the happy medium between jane and bitch, but now i kind of think we might be in need of a happy medium between bust and bitch. meh. i do love bust, but i wouldn't complain at all if they cut down on the rampant commercialism and got a little more queer- and fat-positive. they're better than other magazines, but goddamit, STILL.

[crazyoldcatlady]

bluntly, i like bust b/c it's the only women's mag i come away from NOT hating myself. fashion mags are an obvious source, but i also don't like bitch because everything they write about is "the patriarchy is going to cut off your vagina, souless womb-bot future for all women".

duh. i know. i don't want to spend MY time being reminded of that when i'm reminded every fucking day.