“We’re going to be Jewish!”
“Really? I’m going to be a woman!”

This is Sandy Stone. She’s talking about transgender issues.

I didn’t initially take to her videos, but that soon changed – she’s a good performer. Yes, this may be a lecture, but it’s an interesting blur of boundaries that it could also easily earn a place in theatre (official website: Sandy Stone: Would you like theory with that?). Dark humour, sadness, somewhat acerbic – and determination. I can’t stop watching her.

Interesting sidenote: She’s worked with Jimi Hendrix, Velvet Underground, Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead!

I didn’t even realise I watched the entire thing till I arrived at the last video in the series. So. Maybe you would like it too.

And when you’re done, this video is from the European Graduate School’s Youtube channel. The easiest browsing is through the playlist section – many great public lectures available here, covering a range that includes philosophy, art, language and media theory.

To crudely summarise some recognisable names of other lecturers available, and maybe the areas they cover:

• Judith Butler (every feminist / queer theory student probably had to read her work),
• Manuel deLanda (makes Deleuze approchable),
• Donna Haraway (“I’d rather be a cyborg than a goddess”),
• Jacques Derrida (“I came up with deconstruction, kinda. I mean, that’s not really what it is. But let’s call it that for now” – Lainie’s interpretation of Derrida)
• Slavoj Zizek(You can get his film “The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema” on Bittorrent).

Philosophy not your thing? For lighter fun, Tomboy’s music video OK 2B Gay is great – as any video with men in makeup and a song punctuated by “WHEEEE!” can be. I’m so gonna get Sarchan to play this at the next WILD! party