Table Of ContentWBAI
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from the
Pacifica
Radio Archives
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WBAI FM
99.5
FOLIO
JULY/AUGUST 1993
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Summer Events
Report to the Listener
Classes and Workshops
Valerie van Isler, General Manager The Theater of the Oppressed
" PEACE IS MORE THAN THE ABSENCE OF Laboratory
WAR... IT'S THE PRESENCE OF JUSTICE." openlabsessions(Saturdays,July 10-24, August
7-21, 3-6:30pm; $5)andaudienceworkshops
As we move farther into this "post-cold war"world, many
people are stunned by the explosion ofhot wars and civil con- (Saturdays,July31 andAugust28, 3-7pm; $101
flictseverywhere fromAngola and Azerbaijian, to Bosnia and Spanish: Beginning and Intermediate
Somalia and the profound problems facing the Haitian people. Gerardo Espinosa, Summer Instructor;
Where are the policies and plans from the White House which OscarTerrazas, Program Coordinator
were to bring peace with a greatercommit—ment tojustice? At morningsandevenings, Monday-Friday;
WBAI, we are asking the critical questions what about foreign
policy, the national economyand the global newthinking which alsoSaturdaysessions; beginsJuly5;
were promised by the Clinton Administration? Who is really in callformoreinformation
control and why? Ups and Downs in Women's History:
During ourJULYSUMMER FUND, wewill be broadcastingan Gender Relations as Revealed in
entire weekofexciting programs on these issues featuring Poetry, Drama, and Fiction
Michael Parenti, Michio Kaku, the Generation toGeneration pro- Annette Rubinstein
gram on the Rosenbergs and Leonard Peltierand manyother Wednesdays,July21-August 11, 7:30pm; $40
specials. This serieswill begin on MondayJuly 26and conclude
on Friday, July30. Forthe last three years, we have done a (meetson UpperWestSide;callforlocationand
Summer Fund, but this year it is even more important. For many registrationinformation)
community stations, this has been a verytough period with Lectures
increasingcosts forjust the basic services to keep uson the air.
Ourspring membershipdrive did not make the necessarygoal Paul Robeson Speaks to Americans
and we have a deficit ofover$80,000 to make upduring this Paul Robeson, )r.
period. WBAI needs to have the resources to continue ourtradi- Thursday,July8, 8pm($5)
tion ofservice and commitment to programming excellence Wilhelm Reich: An Introduction
which ourcommunities require and deserve. But, we can only
John Duggan
do this with the increased support ofour listeners and members
during this mini-drive. So please staywith us and please stay Tuesday,July20, 7pm($5)
tuned fora summerofspecial programs. We need to be as Alternative Health: A Practical
strong as possible to meet the challenges ahead. Guide and Friendly Critique
John Duggan
PACIFICAFIGHTS BACK!
Tuesday,July27, 7pm($51
Overthe past few months, the attackson public/community
media and Pacifica Radio especially, have been intensified by Fifteenth Annual SummerIntensive:
Why Marxism? Why Now?
right-wing forces led by Robert Dole, Republican senatorand
CPB board memberVic Gold among others. Thissame conserva- Sunday, July 1 1-Saturday, July 17
tive axis h—as also—consistently attacked Fairness and Accuracy in Topics and Teachers Include:
Reporting FAIR which isone ofthe best media watchdogs in CultureandPolitics,AnnetteRubinstein•
the country. Theyhave broadcast a weekly program on WBAI for FoundationsofPoliticalEconomy &Marxist
over4 years. "SouthAfrica Now," the onlyprogram on that Methodology, Tony Tinker• AmericanWorkingClass
region carried by PBS stations nationwide, was also targeted Militancy&Consciousness,SteveBrier» Growing
alongwith others. The Pacifica Foundation has begun a FIGHT Immiserizationof theGlobalWorking Class, ITBAI•
BACK CAMPAIGN to respond to thesewell-organized and highly Uneven Development,MarySoger* Patriarchyand
charged assaultson Pacifica communitystations and otheralter- Capitalism,Use Vogel* CapitalismandScientific
nhaetairvespmeecidaila.prSotgarrtaimnsgothnisthseuimsmseuersaannddionutrowtoherkfaltlo,byuoiuldwiclolali- De&velEotphmneocnetn,trEliisMm:esCsoinnflgiecrt,•WNaart,io&naClriissmi,sRuancdiesrm,
tionswith other groups to meet and masterthischallenge from Capitalism,MursalFarah, RadhiltaLai,Adamantia
tchoemmriugnhti.tTyhreardeioiswahigrcehatisdoenael aotfstthaekleashteraeccfeosrsepvoeirnytosnlee:ftfionr WrPiotlleiso,rRCodaelrlifciocrBT/riourcthoun,reMaorrilMyonrVeoIgntfDoorwmnaetyion
thiscountry for the necessaryexamination ofreal community
concerns and views; for the survival and future ofalternative Special! The No-Pressure Cafe
media organizations; for the honest probing ofcontroversial A placewhere you canshow your creative
issues to help illuminate them; and forthe protection ofall our work, share Ideas, listen to music, orJust
first amendment rights. Pleasejoin us in this Fight BackAgainst relaxand bave fun In a noncompetitive,
the Right to protect and defend Pacifica community radio and a friendly atmosphere. Saturdays, July31 and
progressive agenda for peace and forjustice in this country. August2 from7-10 pm(tS).
Finally, Andrew Phillips resigned as program directorat the
end ofJune after more than threeyears at the station. He is Foimoreinformation,writeorcall
going on toother independent media work. His concern and The New York Marxist School
dedication to strong production and programming principles and 79 Leonard Street
to thisjobwas and is appreciated and we wish him well in his New York, New York 10013
future work. We have already begun a national search and (212) 941-0332
Samori Marksman will serveas theacting program directordur-
ing the coming months.
A
SHORT
We
all profess belief
HISTORY OF in women's rights
and equality, but any
WOMEN'S
count by gender at
WBAI shows how
PR06RAMMIN6
few women are on
AT WBAI the air or the payroll.
Andrew
Phillips.
Program Director,
Judy Pasternak
estimates only 20%
JudyPasternak was head ofthe Women's ofour programming
Departmentat WBAI (twice), wasManaging is produced by
EditorofThe Guardian, and is authorof women. Paid staffis
several books.
also less than one
There's always been a tension quarter women. The
between the notion that women ratio has changed lit-
and people ofcolor should have tle, despite women
some kind ofequality on the air (that they holding the position
would be better represented than in main-
ofStation Manager in
sizterdeapmrocgulrtaumrse)(dainrdecttheeditdoeaantdhactrespaetceidal- MimiRYoosuernbCeormgm,uhnoisttyoLfaBbuoirldRienpgorBrtidges: the past and present.
by) a particular group are often narrow Thursdaynightsat7:30 This issue ofFolio
aanidm aalnidenhaotpinegwtaosthaenleaarrgemragaiudciaelnicnet.egTrhae- keep Deloris. Theywon the first, produc- laonodkshoatwtthoeapdrdorbelsesm,
ing a women's department that lasted
tbIpiinroaontn,hgsa,rftaaaccmniomldniittgneaaxgttye,dbmybtehyanenerdveweewarrbeyeobruoemtdoypwr'esoreimgfoeodronsedq,wwuihellenelst-.n tfehmTriohnueigsahtitpmhrewoagmsirda-tm'wm8o0fison.lgd:ontothkeeeapir,aabnldoctkoof WiitnB,gAastIh.weelwloamsecneleobfrat-
on air and other periods when these voic- get more women on the air in general. In
es were heard less often. Back in the early the end, keeping the programming going I've used the oppor-
'70s, there were a series ofwomen was all the department could do. They tunity as Interim
producers, including Nanette Rainone and produced 20 hours perweek offeminist Folio Editor to bring
Liza Cowan, who produced earlylesbian programming, but had little success pro- a new style for Folio,
programming. moting other women on the air When the partially invitingyou,
In 1976, when I got to WBAI, Nanette department was eliminated in 1985, our members, into
and Lizawere gone. Viv Sutherland pro- women were reduced to generally fewer
the debates and
duced shows devoted to Women's Studies, than 25% ofthe programmers.
and Deloris Costello produced radio In my humble opinion, the problem was struggles at the sta-
devoted to Afro-American issues. We the momentum ofthe status quo, which tion. As you can
made a concerted attempt to get a lesbian tends to perpetuate itselfunless stopped. imagine, using Folio
feminist program, and the late Paula Kane In radio as in any area, the status quo to discuss our prob-
and I were invited to do a lesbian pro- looks normal, and people objecting to lems and expose a
gram. The Lesbian Radio Spectacular, with their exclusion risk dismissal as shrill and few warts is contro-
a cast ofmillions. In 1977, new manage- uncomradely At WBAI, like elsewhere, versial. You are our
ment atWBAI tried to bring more people there is an old boy network that tends to members but also
ofcolor onto the air, an appropriate and perpetuate itself In radio specifically, its our primary financial
vital mission, but the means Pablo technological nature favors those who support. I've argued,
Guzman chose were brutal enough to have access to technology, generally white convincing some,
cause the 1977 staffrebellion. He chal- men. that open acknowl-
lenged the control ofAfro-American pro- Affirmative action interrupts the
gramming by Costello and otherexisting momentum ofthe status quo. In the sev- edgement ofsome of
programmers, a change he believed was enteen years since 1976, WBAI has been our failings will bind
members
required to get more programming by led primarilybymale program directors, closer,
people ofcolor. Unfortunately, this result- 313 who, despite an earnest desire to pro- while others fear a
ed in a void when the station returned to mote more programming bywoman and negative effect from
the air, and theAfro-American program- people ofcolor, have not brought women our self-criticism.
ming required rebuildingvirtuallyfrom to the air. Changing that would have Please write or call
scratch. The rebelling stafffought forthe required a concerted program of with your comments.
creation ofa women's depanment and to Affirmative Action. The relatively few -Editor
cont'donpage4
Reflections
from tl;e Last He^^^iofWBAFs Women's Department
by Sharon Griffiths
Sharon Griffiths is theproducerand host—ofHeresy, a women'sshow—usu-
ally heard middle Sundays ofthe month not thefirst, not the last
from Sam to 7am (exceptfor the month ofJuly, when she will befilling in
forPaul Gorman on Saturdaysfrom 10:30am to noon). She was head of
the Women's DepartmentofWBAIfora brieftime until it was disbanded
in March of1983. Here are some ofher recollections ofwomen'spro- Jennifer Bernet,engineer
grammingat WBAI in the 1980s and howshe thinks women'sprogram-
mingcould be revitalized in the 1990s Judy Pasternak, cont'd.
As
far back as the late 60s, Nanette Rainone did a show called broadcasts by women and people ofcolor
Womankind on WBAI, one ofthe first programs to discuss the do not reflect the region we serve. The
issues ofthe Women's Liberation movement and consciousness majority ofthe city is not white men; the
raising. She is mentioned in many ofthe fundamental books on the air should reflect that. Women remain a
"second wave" offeminism in the 1970's. Eventually, women producers pathetically small minority on the air at
at WBAI organized themselves into a bona fide department to bring WBAI.
programming by, for and about women to the airwaves ofNewYork Change would require recruitment of
City women and people ofcolor as new broad-
The head ofthe Women's Department was a paid staffmember, and casters. We must offer training in every
she was responsible for advocating, through discussion with the area ofprogramming, including produc-
Program Director, a certain number ofhours per week ofairtime to be tion skills. Proportionately few have had
set aside for women's programming (before the department was dis- the opportunity to learn the technical
banded, this had shrunk to 3 1/2 hours perweek). She helped women craft and live broadcast skills required for
producers develop programs from concept to final product and brought radio. Then, space in the schedule must
new women—into the station. She supported the "regular" producers in be cleared for the new people brought in.
their work making sure theywere aware ofpre-emptions, gathering Community radio is time consuming and
and submitting their Folio copy, calling Department meetings so that low paying, and most ofour producers
producers could meet one another, etc.. She was responsible for are volunteers, a luxury rare for the less
requesting and—coordinating large blocks ofairtime for special women's privileged. All our efforts must be shaped
programming this was back when the station was scheduling fre- around the need ofthose we bring in.
quent 12- and 24-hour fundraising specials. She was also the Executive With all the competition for the 168
Producer ofthe weekly women's radio magazine, called (ever since I hours a week ofairtime, we need a princi-
can remember) The Velvet Sledgehammer. ple that feminist, Latino, black & gay pro-
There was a massive restructuring ofdepartments and programming gramming belongs on our air. When
in March of 1983. The Women's Department and the Gay Men's changes happen, people need protecting.
Department were disbanded, and these producers became affiliated In the short period ofthe 1970s, I was
with the Public Affairs Department. At the same time, the Drama and challenged about the quality ofmusic
—
Literature Department and the Music Department were merged to form played by the women and we responded
the Arts Department. — by questioning the voice qualityofBobby
Is there a need for a Women's Department today? Yes it would be Zimmerman (Dylan). Different criteria are
wonderful to have someone in a position to support women producers applied to people excluded, who must be
and advocate for and help develop women's programming at WBAI; twice as good to be perceived as ade-
someone to do outreach and bring women with programming ideas quate. Affirmative action would bring
into the station and give—them the resources and training they need to some ofthe excluded into positions of
develop into producers but I don't foresee it happening. The station power and decision making. This changes
is not able to pay even a half-time salary, and thejob requires about 20 the evaluation oftheir peers' work.
daytime hours per week to do well. Ifthe airtime is no more than 25%
There is, however, a definite need to hear more women's voices on women, WBAI is failing as an alternative
our airwaves, especially during the evenings and weekends when more in a profound respect. Ifcollectively,
people are able to listen. Because there are no immediate plans to rein- WBAI does not perceive its mission as
state the Women's Department, each woman at WBAI must act as alternative radio, giving a voice to people
advoca—te for and nurturer ofwomen's radio, and that's a tough road to excluded in the mainstream, something is
travel tough, but not impossible. very wrong.
4
VVe were comforted in the
sure J^nowledge that others
would carry on after us.
Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, 1953
Isalute you with tears oflove.
Leonard Peltier, 1993
The Rosenbergs and Leonard Peltier would not bow,
and i—nsisted on truth, justice, and freedom with their
lives despite brutal government attacks against
them. The Rosenbergs' resistance sparked a world-
wide movementthat will not die. Leonard Peltier's
resistance is a unifying force that is inspiring a new
generation of Native American activists. He writes
from his prison cell, "All I can do is be patient, and
tryto be worthy of my people'strust." They never
lost faith. And neitherwill we. Thethird Frederick
Douglas Award wentto Youth UPrising, represen—ting
the future. Theywork to educa—te young people
and the adults theyworkwith aboutthe history
and contributionsthatyouth have made towards cre-
ating and achieving political and social change.
This event is a powerful reminder of how insistent
and steadfast isthe struggleforjustice. Like a drum-
beat, justice proclaims, "I am, I will be." We seek to
carrythat beat forward to the next generation. June
18th was a remarkable evening atTown Hall, and
WBAI isvery proud to bring itto our airwaves. We
thank the North StarFundand the Rosenberg Fund
Ethel Rosenberg
forChildren, the sponsors ofthis event. —
FROM CENERATION TO GENERATION
AND
CELEBRATING RESISTANCE STRUCCLE
WBAI BROADCASTS
THE 1993 FREDERICK DOUGLASS AWARDS
HONORING
ETHEL ROSENBERG LEONARD PELTIER
JULIUS ROSENBERG YOUTH UPRISING
This event was held on June 18 at Town Hall in New York City.
Featuring John Randolph*Lois Henry»Tony RandalhVinnie
Burrows*Joshua Mostel*Tovah Feldshuh»Tony Roberts*Toshi
Reagon»Pete Seeger»many more musicians and actors,
with acceptances by Lisa Faruolo-Peltier, Anna Maria Nieves, and Michael
and Robert Meeropol (the sons of the Rosenbergs).
TUESDAY JULY 27 7:00-11:00PM
Senator Dole Attacks Pacijica Radio-Why?
David Salniker This "balancing" amendment had been the brainchild
Executive Director, Pacifica Foundation ofDavid Horowitz, public broadcasting's most conserva-
tive and most vehement critic. He had been attacking
Last month, I had the distinct displeasure oflisten- ePnatciiftilcead fAofrriokvaenrMaeynetaarlfLoirbaerpartioognraWmeeikneLnods.ANngoewlehse
ing to Senator Robert Dole give the keynote
merged the agendas. He, along with CPB's Board mem-
address at the Public Radio Conference in
Washington, D.C. Dole was a strange choice. The year berVic Gold (Spiro Agnew's former press secretary and
bareimzfeaotrniedo,nthohefehfbaiuldnl.dasHlefm,oorsatpnudsbilanigcflebewr-ohoaatdnhcdeaersdtlRiyenphguebillndiacunapneafsufetonrhatot-toors, odfefAficuMinaLdliWbnigiosgoprfaaarpltlheoPrfacBoilffaiPccrakesfHoiirdsetanoitrriyGnemgooArnMgteLhBWautsKhP)FsKo.ugInht
had insisted upon amendments requiring enforcement of 1992, it featured speeches by Dn Martin Luther King,
Malcolm X, James Baldwin and many other famous
the "objectivity and balance" language in the Public
Broadcasting Act....language that had long been ruled African Americans. It also included interviews with Prof.
Leonard Jeffries and Rev. Louis Farrakhan.
vague and unenforceable by the courts.
Horowitz and Gold contended that airing these
Dole began his address by insisting he was not an
speeches consisted ofspreading hate and warranted
enemy ofpublic broadcasting. It was a myth, he said,
that he wanted a conservative network. But "others" defunding ofall Pacifica. It did not matter that the pro-
were unwilling to let go and let the "public in." This gram did not receive CPB funds; that it was indepen-
dently produced; that there had been serious problems
was, after all, publicly funded broadcasting and the
with offensive remarks by the producerofthe program
"public" demands fair access (as ifDole truly stands for
that led to disciplinaryaction and eventual termination.
access to broadcasting). And furthermore, there was a
And, lastly and most importantly, that Pacifica had
station in Los Angeles (WBAI's sister station) KPFK that
was using public funds to "spread messages ofhate." reviewed its internal policies prohibiting racist, sexist,
Those grants needed to be scrutinized, he said. ehnofmoorpcheombeinctaprnodceadnutri-esse.miWteicamraeteorniealofatnhdetfiegwhtneentewdoirtkss
I sat bolt upright. Pacifica, at a public conference ofall in the country that specifically prohibits culturally offen-
radio managers, was being accused ofhate, anti-semi-
sive material as part ofour mission. None ofthis was
tism and racism.
How had the batde for"objectivityand balance" repViocrtGeodledvaenndthDaovuigdh Hmoorsotwoiftzitnococwurtroeodkathyeeiarrceoamr-lier.
become a private war on Pacifica? I knew all the details plaint directly to CPB's Board under the guise of"bal-
... in fact, I had been living them forover a year, but I ance." We were asked for a copy ofthe tapes and
had not seen this coming. refused. This was not a national program.
pubIlniAcprbirloaodfca1s9t9e2r,simnatdheefaacdeeaolfwRietphubtlhiecSaennoaptpeoswihtiiconh, miCnPeBd'sthBaotatrhdisapctreodgrparmomwpatslynoatndwictohrirnectthleyjIutridsedtiecrt-ion
accepted amendments permitting review by the Board of ofits policies. It was a local program subject to local
Directors ofthe Corporation for Public Broadcasting of
control.
"BoobajredctiisvivtiyrtaunadllybaalllanRceep.u"blIticwaans.nAontdatghreeactomdpelala.inTthse jusBtubtejguusnt.asDoIlte'hsousgphetecthhewabastttlheewmaasjoorvesrt,aritnotfruathneitwhas
regarding balance were "code talk" for greater campaign against Pacifica. Why? Clearly Senator Dole is
Republican access. The keycomplaints in the Senate had not staying up nights worried about KPFKora terminat-
nothing to do with Pacifica ... rather they were angry ed producer. Editorials have now appeared in the
over the assignment ofBill Moyers to the Republican National Review, CNN's Capital Gang, the Washington
convention and angry over Nina Totenberg's disclosures Times and Post and every conservative byline in the
around the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. It country. "Funding Pacifica is a hate crime" is the theme.
was blatant political content thatwas sought. Good grief..why the heavy artillery. It really is simple.
In December, CPB's Board fashioned new policies on These are not fans ofpublic broadcasting. Vic Gold
"balance." Pacifica, along with People for the American has now requested that all public broadcasting be
Way, organized a coalition ofover 30 groups to petition defunded. That was his agenda all along. CPB responded
CPB to amend these proposed policies and eventually simply and quickly to the demand for"balance" so a
many ofthe amendments were accepted. CPB would new theme is needed and Pacifica is it. We are to
review only national coverage (by all sources) ofan become to public broadcasting what Karen Finley
issue (not specific programs) and ifan issue had not became to the National Endowment ofthe Arts.
been fully covered, it would provide additional funding We plan to fight back. Please listen in late July and
for balance. There would be no penalties and "balance" earlyAugust for our response to these attacks and more
within a specific program was not required. Local pro- than ever support our efforts to sustain Pacifica in one of
grams would be unaffected. Review by a politically the most intense First Amendment battles ofthe last
appointed Board is chilling enough, but the industrywas decade. As one ofDole's aides put it later at the confer-
relieved. Only Pacifica threatened continued monitoring ence... "we tell farmers what to plant... why is public
and legal action. broadcasting any different!"
Days Programs
Five Special of
Our Minidrive July 26-30
Monday July 26, 2:00-11:00PM be explored by Dr Michio Kaku and guests
Who Really Controls America? in this special edition ofExplorations -
reflecting upon US policies and strategies
Issues of Power and Powerlessness under almost a quarter century of
Following nearly a quarter century ofRepublican Party rule, a new Republican rule.
Democratic president has taken office in Washington- amidst talk, and Produced by Dr. Michio Kaku and the
high expectations of"change." But six months since taking office, and Public Affairs Department
even with a majority in both Houses ofcongress, the president finds
that he's unable to make even the slightest progress in getting support Thursday July 29,
for his own economic program ... his own national healthcare reform 7:00-11:00PM
plan ... his own plan to restructure the Defense department's expendi- The Afrocentricity Debate
tures, and move toward a 'peacetime' oriented budget. He's been
forced to discard old and trusted friends and advisors, and compelled Part 2
to put in their place, seasoned, established policymakers and communi- Host, Playthell Benjamin, brings togeth-
cations specialists who've been instrumental in serving and promoting er some ofthe leading theorists, propo-
the programs ofno less than 3 consecutive Republican administrations. nents and critics ofthis controversial phe-
Amply qualified candidates recommended by the President himselffor nomenon for an in depth examination of
a number ofkey positions have been rejected by "traditionalists" ... and the concept ... its origins and evolution,
ultimately by the president himself. and impact upon social movements over
In the areas offoreign policy and Intelligence matters, the new presi- the years. Among the guests will be
dent has retained, or recruited from a pool ofcrusty old veterans, advi- Molefe Asante, Henry Lewis Gates, Cornel
sors who, for the most part, are advising him to stay the course on criti- West, Asa Hilliard, Mwalana Karenga,
cal international matters. Military force - not diplomacy- remains the Arthur SchlesingerJr., Diane Ravitch,
principal means to be employed in attempting to redress international Kwame AnthonyAppiah, and many
conflicts. Or, as the new president himselfput it, the United States - others.
along with the United Nations - "...must apply the militant use offorce
to ensure the peace and security ofthe world" (sic) Friday July 30, 2:00-6:00PM
Why is President Clinton unable to even begin the process ofmaking
the changes many people thought they'd elected him to pursue? Why Tito Puente:
are so many 'old hands' inside his administration Why are so many The King of Latin Music
ofhis top appointees associated onlywith a small number ofnarrow
The highlights ofour 24 hour special,
think tanks and policymaking centers?
for which producer Nancy Rodriguez won
Who, or what are the sources ofeconomic, political and social influ-
ences upon the presidency .... How much ofthis influence extends aFeSdielrvaetriRoenelofaCwoamrmdufnriotmytBhreoNaadctaisotnearls.
beyond the shores ofthe U.S. What about the Intelligence communi-
ty',how much influence does it really have on this particular adminis-
tration? And what about the military..could there be in this country
Monday July 26 thru
(as GoreVidal and others have suggested) a military takeover?
These are some ofthe questions which will be addressed as part of Thursday July 29
this 9 hour special from 2:00 pm - 11:00 pm. Produced by Samori From 11:00PM until 6:00AM
Marksman, Gerald Home, Malachy McCourt, Phyllis Bennis and others.
Tuesday July 27 7:00-11:00PM Music
From Generation to Generation
All Night Long
The 1993 Frederick Douglass Awards
The very best from our Music
See Page 5 for details
Department live guests, tapes
Wednesday July 28 ,7:00pm - 11:00pm from the New Music Nights,
and very special mixes.
From Saigon to Somalia:
New Technologies, Science, and Militarism
Old and new weapons ofmass destruction. Covert and overt wars. THIS NOT A WEEK
IS
Biotechnology and chemical sciences in the service ofmilitarism.
Militarythinking and 'logic' These will be among the areas which will TO SLEEP!
6HO$T$
artists release chart-
"Why women
topping gold records,
INTHE some male critic at
artists?" people some newspaper or
magazine declares it
still ask. MACHINE: "The Year ofthe
Women."
"Don't you find Then, again, maybe,
A just maybe, it's the
STILL
simple fact that with-
limiting?"
it out hearing a woman
WRENCH
How can singing, most listening
I audiences (male and
female) still assume
answer that INTHE that the music they're
enjoying is being per-
question? formed by men.
VICKI STARR
SYSTEM? The bright side, of
Should say, course, is that in the five or so years
I
since "Ghosts in the Machine" has
that it's because Victoria Starr been highlighting women in music on
WBAI, a lot has changed. Where
when Joan "Why women artists?" people still "women in music" once meant the
ask. "Don't you find it limiting?" stereotypical girl-with-guitar, or the
Armotrading How can I answer that question? sexy front singer for the male musi-
Should I say, that it's because when cians, today women are in hundreds
Joan Armatrading was a little girl her of rock and pop bands, playing every-
was a little girl father hid her new guitar from her? thing from violin to drums, bass to
Orbecause Caron Wheeler (who's synthesizers, lead guitar, rhythm gui-
her father hid second album "Beach of the War tar, horns and more. Women have
Goddess" (something every music become more prominent in rock, jazz,
her new guitar lover should own) was once denied rap, reggae, classical music and
songwriting credits and royalties by rhythm and blues, and are even
from her? her songwriting partner (male)? beginning (albeit slowly) to become
Is it because as recently as two recognized not only for their talents
Or because years ago, five well-known women in as musicians but as writers and pro-
the music industry actually consid- ducers as well. In some instances, as
ered the question "When are women is the case with "alternative" rock
artists like overreacting?" using the example of (a.k.a. "college rock"), it's so common
Nora Dunn refusing to appear on to find women as band members that
PJ Harvey, who Saturday Night Live at the same time it really has become a non-issue. On
as Andrew Dice Clay? a strictly musical level the doors to
write songs that Or because artists like PJ Harvey, equal access have begun to swing
who write songs that overflow with wide open, and that makes it much
overflow with female anger, are still being written easier and a lot more fun to select
about in national magazines like music for Ghosts in the Machine.
female anger, "Entertainment Weekly" as lacking a But there are still a lot ofissues to
sense ofhumor? consider.
are still being Maybe it's because a drummer I There was a time when it wasn't
know recently told me she was con- unusual, during a Wednesday morn-
written about as sidering quitting music since she fig- ing run through music made by
ured no record company was ever women, to receive at least one call
going to sign a rock band comprised questioning the anger heard in some
locking o sense ofwomen over the age of forty? ofthe music being played. At times
Or maybe it's because for every this was a reference to venomous
humor?
of year in which three or more female lyrics; other times it was a simple
