New Productions
Right now I am collaborating on two short documentary projects, as part of my Visual Anthrpology MA.
The Dancers is a short experimental documentary about the experiences of migrant dancers in Berlin. The film has been shot already and is currently in the editing process. A rough cut of the film was screened at Moviemento in Kreuzberg earlier this year.
Alternative Healers Project - This is a commission for the WERKSTATT DER ETHNOLOGIE that I am working on with two other visual anthropologists. The film is an informative portrait of alternative healers currently practising in Berlin. When it is completed the film will be screened as part of an educational exhibit.
Fat Femme Clothes Swap & other Fat Positive events in Berlin
I created a fat femme clothes swapping event in Berlin on 28th May, as part of Rebel Bellies Berlin.
Below is some information about the event.
The next event I am planning is a fat positive art show and performance night. There is no fixed date yet but we are aiming for May 2012!
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We would like to invite you to Berlin’s first Fat Femme Clothing Sale/Swap!
Being a stylish fat/chubby person in Berlin can be frustrating as the clothes in shops/free boxes/markets are often much too small. If you are a person who is into clothes and dressing up, then this can be a big problem! - But don’t worry, this is what this event is for!
First to be clear: its directed at fat femmes because so far fat femmes are the only people who are involved and so we only have femme clothes! We dont want to falsely advertise the event as all genders-inclusive when we only have dresses & handbags.
We would like for all genders and style preferences to be included, but for this you need to help us by donating your old clothes or bringing them with you to trade or sell. - Or tell us where the good free boxes are so we can rummage through them and hopefully find some good stuff. Then we will have more variety which is a good thing.
I will bring my sew machine with me and can help people with adjusting the clothes to fit them better. I’m not a super-skilled seamstress but can do the basics.
The idea of the event is mostly to exchange and reuse plus size clothes within our community rather than just giving them to a Humana or something. We will be selling clothes and also doing exchanges & will probably give a lot away at the end. We are doing it this way as clothes can be expensive and we’re all short of cash so sometimes we cant afford to give everything away. But don’t worry if you can’t afford to buy, there will also be stuff for free/trade.
So far we have dresses, skirts, sweaters, tshirts, winter coats, jackets, cardigans, shoes, bags, accessories and more!
*********************UPDATE***********************
This Fat Femme & others Clothes Swap was repeated on January 12th 2012 and the focus was on DIY fashion and clothing adaptation. It was a big success and more will take place in the future.
Publications
Public Stretch Mark Announcement (Chapter)
Published in: Hot and Heavy - Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love and Fashion. Edited by Virgie Tovar Publication date: late 2012
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Queer and Trans experience in Second Life - an experimental dialogue (chapter).
Published in: Virtual Environments and Cultures -A Collection of Social Anthropological Research
in virtual Cultures and Landscapes Publication date: September 2011
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Everyday Actions - published in Make/Shift magazine, Spring 2011
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Film workshops/teaching
Radical feminist dialogue in auto-ethnographic film: exploring the power of feminist film making for self actualisation, survival and subversive disruption! - Presentation and film making workshop
(Workshop has so far been delivered at the Carnival of Feminist Activism held at York University, early 2011).
This workshop is designed to be 3-fold. It begins with a presentation on radical feminist auto-ethnographic film makers, followed by a discussion on how we as feminists can similarly use film as a tool in our own lives to realise and express our potential, in terms of our ideas, our identities and our politics. What possibilities does film hold for the radical telling of our stories?
The third phase is about practical film making. I will discuss some techniques and provide technical support with regards to the cameras. The aim for this part of the workshop is for you to create your own short films, either in groups or individually depending on preference, using the inspiration gained from the presentation and working within a selection of creative briefs that we will discuss. We will be using in-camera editing (this will be explained!) and at the end of the session there will be an opportunity for us to screen and discuss what we have made. This is a very user-friendly workshop, no previous experience is required and the emphasis is on ideas rather than technical ability.
The workshop will be 5 hours long including lunch and some short breaks. *Please bring along a camcorder if you have access to one, we can provide some but in limited numbers*
Presentation/Lecture
Undeterred by the male dominated world of film, more and more women are making films and pushing at the celluloid ceiling to actualise their ambitions. Still more are picking up cameras to tell their stories and try out their creative ideas. This presentation looks at the power of feminist film making to go beyond ratings and ‘commercial viability’ to become a radical tool for re-visioning our world and ourselves. Featuring the work of veteran and contemporary film makers Chantal Akerman, Gwen Haworth, Birgit Hein, Sadie Benning, Thirza Cuthand, Breda Beban and others, we examine the radical feminist potential of women who have turned the lens on themselves to tell powerful narratives that challenge the status quo and fearlessly return the gaze. Themes explored include ageing and sexuality, queer coming out, cultural and political identity, motherhood, gender transition, dealing with death, fantasy escapism and more! As well as examining the content and different approaches of the featured film makers, I will also discuss technique and style. There will also be room in this presentation to open up discussion around finding our own voices using auto-ethnographic film and how we can utilise it as both a tool and a creative outlet.
This presentation is designed to inspire future feminist film makers and bring their awareness to the power of auto-ethnographic film as an activist medium and cultural phenomenon. Also to showcase a number of brilliant feminist film makers who don’t get much exposure due to the challenging and non-conformist nature of their work.
Rebel Bellies Berlin - Creative fat positive community initiatives!
Rebel Bellies is all about creating a feminist queer space for fat pride and body positive initiatives in Berlin & beyond! Our aim is to create a respectful, affirmative community for dialogue, celebration, activist initiatives and art - whatever we want really! Everyone effected by body image issues is welcome to take part, though we particularly love fatties ;)
We had our first event at Oh la la tartes shop in November 2011, which featured a fat positive mini-film-fest, spoken word performances and a presentation by Charlotte Cooper (veteran UK fat activist). We and have many more exciting things planned, workshops, collective zines, further events, art projects and more.Participation is not always limited to people who live in Berlin, there are projects and opportunities for everyone to get in involved in!
Please have a look at our facebook page
The latest project of Rebel Bellies is below. Please take a look and forward it to anyone who might be interested!
Interactive Fat Positive Community Project!
I’m creating this project in order to open more positive dialogue about fat and how we feel about our bodies, how this has evolved and how it effects our perception and experience as fat people. I also just really want to create a community document that we can all have access to.
I’m circulating a series of questions and collecting responses, which will become available online and will also form part of an exhibition (so will not just exist virtually!)
I invite all fat identified people to share their thoughts and responses. I also want to translate these questions and have them available in as many languages as possible, so if you can help with translation please let me know! Please do forward this to anyone you think might be interested.
Big fat thanks to *Charlotte Cooper* for providing me with most of the questions and getting the ball rolling :D
* What do you like about being fat? Put another way; what do you see as the benefits to being fat?
* Who was the first fat person that you knew?
* What ways have you found to resist body prejudice/fat phobia?
* What changes would you like to see in your community/ies around how fat is perceived and treated?
Please send all answers to: ekca_1980 @ yahoo.com
Or post them directly onto the page/group wall.
Thanks
Emma (Rebel Bellies Berlin)
Mental Health Workshop for LesMigras
I designed a workshop for LGBTI people experiencing mental health difficulties for LesMigras in Berlin. The workshop formed part of their ‘Tapesh - Empowerment’ workshop series. LesMigras is a Berlin based organisation for Lesbian/bisexual Migrants, Black Lesbians and Trans*People. LesMigraS is engaged in antidiscrimination and antiviolence work, offers counselling and a space for self-empowerment. For more information see the website: http://www.lesmigras.de/lesmigras-home.html
LGBTI Mental Health Workshop
For all LGBTI persons expeiencing or effected by mental health difficulties.
This workshop aims to open dialogue and discussion on the topic of mental health in our LGBTI scenes. We will discuss issues such as access to healthcare, pathologizing, sex and sexuality, relationships, coping with the influence of trauma, the medical system and discuss what sort of changes we want to see in our communities around mental health. Sharing strategies for self-awareness, support, self care and advocacy forms a significant part of the workshop. In addition, there will be plenty of information for allies!
Psychische Gesundheit für LGBTI
Workshop für alle LSBTI Personen, die mit ihrem psychischen Zustand zu tun haben, auch für Angehörige und Unterstützer_innen.
Emma CA and Anna Peak
Dieser Workshop soll Dialog und Diskussion über das Thema psychische Gesundheit in unseren LGBTI-Szenen eröffnen. Wir werden über Themen wie Zugang zu Krankenversicherung, Pathologisierung, Sex und Sexualität, Beziehungen, sich beeinflussende Traumata, im medizinischen System zurechtkommen und erwünschte Veränderungen in unseren Szenen sprechen. Besonders Übungen zu Strategien der Selbst-Achtsamkeit, der Unterstützung und der Fürsprache in unseren Szenen werden einen Teil des Workshops ausmachen. Außerdem wird es auch viele Informationen für Unterstützer_innen geben.
Sa, 11.12.2010, 10:00-17:00
Production still from Go Big or Go Home!
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Fat positive burlesque workshop!
I was invited to give the workshop as part of the Oslo Queer Festival. There was a strong emphasis on ‘Femme’ in the workshop because it was also intended to raise awareness & provide a jumping point for the Oslo Femme movement. I received really positive feedback and would love to give the workshop again sometime. Please get in touch if you would like to book.
Frills, feathers and fabulousness! ~ A femme powered burlesque workshop by dame goldie dartmouth!
*This workshop is open and welcoming to femmes of all genders and all body types - this is a fat-positive space! also shy person friendly - participate as much as you feel comfortable!*
This is a multi-layered workshop focusing on the power of all things femme and fabulous! As it is also intended as a jumping point for the Oslo femme movement, we’ll begin by having a discussion on the recent growth of femme presence, politics & visibility in Europe and what this means for us and our communities. As a facilitator, I will share my own experiences of femme community building in Berlin with the Berlin Femme Mafia and my experiences from the US femme conference this summer. I look forward to hearing all of your perspectives & ideas also!
The rest of the workshop is performance-focused. We’ll discuss queer performance critically in relation to body-positivity, feminism, race and gender and last but not least, the use of performance as an element of our own unique self expression. As part of this process, we will do some non-scary exercises around discovering our inner diva! To inspire us, I’m also going to screen some extracts from a documentary I’m working on about fat femme performance artists. This will include interviews and also footage from live performance, to give you an idea of what is out there & what is possible!
For the final part of the workshop, we will get dressed up (or dressed down!) and learn a simple burlesque routine encorporating some classic moves and of course tassle twirling for those who feel brave enough! We are also invited to perform the peice as part of the show the same night :) Along with our shyness friendly policy, you are welcome to take part in the performance as much or as little as you like. No one is required to do anything they are not comfortable with!Please bring along some clothes or accessories that match your most glamourous, diva self & that you will feel good in :) I will bring some extra items also. *Please note that this is a cultural appropriation aware space! Please consider this when choosing your dress up clothes*
Performances!
Queere Performance GeburtstagGala, 2012 -Feburary 26th, Köpi, Berlin, Germany
Rattenbar Soli Party, 2011 - November 5th, Berlin Germany
Other Nature Opening Party, 2011 - October 22nd, Berlin, Germany
Copenhagen Queer Festival, 2011 - July 30th, Copenhagen, Denmark
OHRHÄPPCHEN-die Soliparty für das trans*tonale Ohrenfestival quEAR! in Kooperation mit Wigstöckel, 2011 - July 16th, Berlin, Germany (Presenter/MC)
Soliparty für den Transgenialen CSD 2011 - April 2nd, Berlin, Germany
HerStory - The Myths and Misrepresentations of Femininity 26th March, Berlin, Germany
Ladyfest Toulouse - 12th February 2011, Toulouse, France
Oslo Queer Festival, October 2nd, 2010 - Oslo, Norway
Glitteratti: An Evening of Fierce Femme Sparkling Entertainment, Oakland Metro Opera House, August 21st 2010, Femme Conference, USA
Queerfest Copenhagen, 30th July 2010, Copenhagen, Denmark
Queertopia, 22nd & 24th July 2010, Norberg, Sweden
Entzaubert Queer Film Festival, 3rd July 2010, Berlin, Germany
Femme Book Reading & Performance Evening, 18th June 2010, Hamburg, Germany
Ladyfest Toulouse 2010, 23rd April 2010, Toulouse, France
Queeristan, 27th March 2010, Amsterdam, Holland
The Femme Show, 6th, March 2010, LUX, Berlin, Germany
Soli @ Liebig 14, 4th February 2010, Berlin, Germany
30 Jahre Bildwechsel, Kabarett und Tanz, 7th February 2010, Lido, Berlin, Germany
Queer & Rebel Cabaret, October 2009, Schwarzer Kanal, Berlin, Germany
Glitteratti: An Evening of Fierce Femme Sparkling Entertainment
Oakland Metro Opera House, August 21st, as part of the Femme Conference 2010
Goldie Dartmouth
I perform radical punk burlesque as Goldie Dartmouth. So far I have performed in Manchester, Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Toulouse, Sweden and the US at various queer and feminist events. My style is a mixture of burlesque, theatre, strip tease and comedy, with plenty of slasher/trashy b-movie high drama!
Very little footage of my work is available as this helps me maintain the element of surprise and dare I say it ‘mystery’. But some photos will be added to this section.
Welcome!
Welcome to my website. Here you will find all the information you could ever want about the sort of art/films/work/activism that I do.
Goldie Dartmouth is my performance name and I sometimes use if for other projects. For everything else I’m Emma CA. I fluctuate between wanting to make this website look and sound very professional, and just wanting it to represent me. I think at the moment its a combination of both!
These days I am mostly working on my own film ventures and various creative community activism projects, along with my MA.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me using the contact button. Enjoy!
