[hellotampon]

That blog annoyed me, especially the comments. Yeah, Bust is fluffy, but it's not like no one knows that. All the comments after the entry were depressing. Don't have fun with anything traditionally feminine or even be happy because it's not feminist. Check this out:

"(Note to fellow Blamers: Please spare this information overloaded spinster-in=training the details of your masturbatory habits. This is not “sharing”, but rather sad evidence of your successful indoctrination into the cult of confessional self-abasement. And some would argue that a brand name phallic device assembled in a Chinese sweatshop is hardly a “sex positive” feminist toy, but merely a plug-in version of the patriarchy) "

Um, what? Now masturbation is anti-feminist?

[thereshegoes]

yeah mouse, that was a worrisome article. sometimes i think BUST forgets it's "homebase" of gals that are not so, i don't know. i started reading BUST back in 1999 as a refuge from all that. it reminds me too often that i'm not cool/sexy/hip enough, and it used to make me feel the opposite.

having said that, i was amazed (flabbergasted?) to see richmond, va as a travel spot. granted, i'm a native, and i love it there, but i had no idea it was a hipster destination.

the bust boards do tend to make for more interesting reading than the magazine, all in all. they should go back to reader submissions!

[culturehandy]

Mouse, I totally hear what you are saying about the mag, I used to be so thrilled when the mad came out, and I still like it, but it's taking me longer and longer to read all the time, which means that I'm losing interest, I just haven't admitted it to myself yet.

I wish there were more magazines that were fun like BUST once was.

[candycane_girl]

which one was the travel issue?

gogosgirl, I know I have that issue lying around somewhere, I'll try to find it and get back to you.

[mouse]

i gotta say i was totally appalled by the travel issue. here's why:

1: encouraging mooching off your friends who actually saved up their own damn money, and encouraging calling collect at 4am to manipulate them into worrying about you

2: implying that only girls who look good in bikinis and have substantial boobs can get favors

3: encouraging giving blowjobs to guys you don't really want to give blowjobs to in order to get favors

and that was when i stopped reading. now, i've done extensive traveling on my own. i've never had to give a blowjob to do so, and even if it would have helped me, i wouldn't have been able to. i don't look great in a bikini and i'm a b-cup if the bra is generously sized. i'm not good at flirting with anyone i'm not already sleeping with, and boys never hit on me. i'm not ugly, but i've never used my "assetts" to get anything, and i wouldn't know how. i strongly resent being told that the only way to get what i want is to flaunt what i (don't) have. fuck you, jessica lloyd. i'm really pissed off.




the more i love the real ladies of the bust board, the less i love the magazine. i feel its really gone downhill in the past couple of years and i'm sorely disappointed.

[gogosgirl]

hey busties,

I can't find my copy of bust, and I'm trying to remember the name of the artist they featured this last issue. she did really odd creepy paintings with big eyed creatures and scary industrial backgrounds. anyone?

[candycane_girl]

I forgot to mention, that I wasn't impressed with the article on the Chubster gang. First off, do we really need articles on people that call themselves a gang? To me, it's just using the word gang in a positive sense.

And not only that but the women pictured are just plain obese. I don't care what anyone says, maybe they're fine with living that lifestyle but I don't think it should be promoted in any way. It's one thing to be against being harrassed by strangers but I just went to their website to check out more of their views and they're even against "narrow-minded doctors and health professionals". So apparently having a doctor that wants you to live a healthier lifestyle is a bad thing? I am all for accepting people of different sizes, but please, if they at least tried to eat the recommended amount of calories, fat, vegetables, all that stuff, I doubt that any of them would be nearly as big as they are.

[crazyoldcatlady]

i have to say, i think bust redeemed itself with the travel issue. okay, the "traveling on the cheap" article wasn't so helpful (i'm not all about exchanging sexual favors for a place to stay), but i'm willing to chalk that up to being cheeky.

and i like BUST *because* it isn't Bitch mag. I always come away from Bitch thinking womankind is doomed, moreso than I'm reminded on a daily basis. Bitch = good in small doses, enough to keep you on your toes, but sometimes I just want to read a great interview with Tina Fey (you know, someone who other mags would never even consider as a role cover model).

[candycane_girl]

I don't really agree with that blog. First off, Bust gives us a different perspective when it comes to the fashion stuff, they actually offer something different rather than putting a $3000 Dior gown on the page.

Plus, I can't think of any other mainstream womens magazine that actually reports on feminist issues. And what's wrong with doing your hair in a different way? I hate it when people act as though feminists can't take an interest in how they look or dress.

As for this issue, I was disappointed that they even bothered with Gwen. She just seems so fluffy and all "omg, I have a baby!" I was also annoyed that she even complains about Margaret Cho "talking shit" about her. I once heard that her Harajuku Girls were pretty much accessories, they're not even allowed to talk and they just sit by her in interviews. It's so ridiculous.

[nohope]

what's that you said G3, I keep getting this "You have chosen to ignore all posts from: girlygirlgag." error everytime you post.

[girlygirlgag]

I really love it when other people, especially men, tell me how to be a feminist.

[nohope]

how many people have read this blog entry about Bust. I know she put a lot of my complaints of Bust in sharp focous.

http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/09/28/busted/

[i_am_jan]

Just saw this thread.

Um, Yeah, I thought the issue of Bust with Gwen Stefani on the cover fell a little flat.

Like, what magazine DOESN'T have her on the cover. (With that strange dead look on her face. And absolutely nothing rad to say.)

I mean we LOVE rock icons. But what about Deborah Harry? I mean, give me something to sink my teeth into. Probably couldn't get Deb. But I've always thought it'd be interesting to hear her discuss how - in a day when Mick Jagger and Bono, New York Dolls, et al. can make comebacks as though they'd never aged a day, how did the latest Blondie tour go and how many records/t-shirts did they sell from it.

[mouse]

oh dude grrrrly, i remember that one! it's pretty recent i think...within the last two years? possibly the one with sandra oh on the cover, no earlier.

[girltrouble]

Well, she had to do SOMETHING to follow up her ripoff from Fiddler on the Roof!

[grrrlyouwant]

hey, does anyone remember which issue had the article about girl scooter gangs? i've got a few years' worth of back issues, so i know it's in this pile somewhere, but it'd be nice to have a starting point before i go digging.

[CharliNye]

I don't like Gwen but I could care less if she was on the cover. Now if they put one of the Simpsons/Paris Hilton/Nicole Richie/Britney on the cover, then yeah I'd have a serious issue with it.

I am however having issues with articles that have appeared in the last two issues that I'm starting to believe were put in there JUST to piss anyone with a kid off.

The latest, the one about The Labour of Love was so heinously incorrect with their Cesarian data that I wanted to vomit on the issue. I was more pissed off about THAT then the issue last month about being childless(before this gets out of hand let me state that I have friends who NEVER want kids and that's totally cool, but they like them nonetheless-that article was so child negative as a whole).

I may have to write my first letter to the magazine.

[raisingirl]

I think Etta James should be the subject of the next feature interview/cover story/whatever.

I just wanted to punch her for co-opting The Sound of Music. WTF?!

Well, she had to do SOMETHING to follow up her ripoff from Fiddler on the Roof!

[feministreview]

Yeah, I'm also sorta annoyed that Bust is putting so many women on the cover that explicitly DON'T identify as feminists.


http://www.feministreview.org

[anna k]

It doesn't help that the last two cover-story interviewers (for Parker and Gwen) were gushing fans or syncophants. I liked Jill Solloway's interview with Amy Poehler, I learned more about both of them through it and was impressed. I'm looking forward to Amy's Spring Break movie with Amber Tambyln and Parker Posey.