Comedy

Because women have always been funny.

One More Award Due to ‘Baby Reindeer’: Best Filming of a Rape Scene

Much ink has been spilled on the extraordinary series Baby Reindeer, especially its refusal to be reductive in depicting complex and charged sexually subjects and the groundbreaking nature of its portrayal of male-on-male sexual assault and its consequences. What gets overlooked: Baby Reindeer is a vivid, visceral lesson in how to film a rape scene.

The filming of episode four—the construction, the point of view, the relentless focus, the utter absence of sensationalism and exploitation—can serve as a valuable lesson in how to film a rape scene: steering difficult scenes away from the abuser’s point of view, placing them in a space that allows the audience to understand, defend and respect the survivor.

Sarah Jones’ New Podcast ‘America, Who Hurt You?’ Puts America on the Therapist’s Couch

Sarah Jones—the face of Ms. magazine’s October 2000 issue—is using storytelling to teach us how to heal. Tony Award-winning performer, activist and comedian, Jones brings her multicultural characters to life to examine our country’s myth of resilience in her debut podcast America, Who Hurt You?

The first season of the podcast, released last month, combines storytelling and interviews with guests such as Laverne Cox, Jane Fonda, Ai-jen Poo and Krista Tippett. She explores the personal and the political, both critiquing the systems in power while revealing our universal connections that are often overlooked. In doing so, America, Who Hurt You? provides renewed hope and optimism for our future. 

Because We’re ‘Still Working 9 to 5’: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton Win ERA Coalition’s Trailblazer Award at Hollywood Premiere

The ERA Coalition Forward awarded Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton with the Women’s Equality Trailblazer Award for their fearless work to bring the film Still Working 9 to 5 to fruition, as well as Fonda and Tomlin’s steadfast commitment to getting the ERA enshrined in the Constitution. 

As Tomlin told Ms., “The ERA is fundamental to the culture. We’re one of the few industrialized countries that does not have some kind of law… [for] equality between the sexes,” and Fonda leaned in with a message for Congress: “Come on! It’s time! It’s been 100 years!” Then added, “It’s been ratified, so get it published already!”

Martha Kempner on Sexuality in the U.S.: ‘This Is a Really Scary Moment for Sexuality and Sexual Agency’

Martha Kempner spoke to Ms. about her weekly newsletter ‘Sex on Wednesday’ and the current political climate in the U.S. Sex, sexuality and sexual health are her subjects—and lately, she has no shortage of material to draw from.

“We are in a really critical period right now. This is a really scary moment for sexuality and sexual agency.”