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Tammy Oler

guest blogger: The Female Gaze

http://www.tammyoler.com

Who I am:

I haven't gotten around to disclosing that information.

What I'm reading:

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion. Re-reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. Also, Wonder Woman and DC's completely awesome new Secret Six series.

What I'm listening to:

I like the new Glen Campbell album a lot.

What I'm watching:

Movies: If it's a smart comedy, a thoughtful drama, or an even-handed documentary, I'm probably in. If it has a zombie, a werewolf, a bionic woman or someone wielding a sword, I'm definitely in. TV: BSG, Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles, Torchwood, The Amazing Race, the NCAA basketball tourney. DVD: The Wire, Buffy, Firefly. Other: My roommate's cats.

What blogs I like:

Boing Boing

Ladies' Camp Rock

Wrocking ’n’ Rowling with wizard- and  Twilight-themed bands

Article by Tammy Oler, Illustrated by Krista Messer, appeared in issue Consumed; published in 2009; filed under Music; tagged Bella Rocks!, fandom, Harry and the Potters, Harry Potter, music, Twilight, Twirock, wizard rock, Women in Rock, young women.

You only have to look to the history of Star Trek– inspired music—ranging from surf-punkers No Kill I to the Klingon heavy-metal band Stovokor—to see that fantasy and science- fiction fans have made music devoted to their obsessions for generations. Nothing in the history of fandom, though, can compare to wizard rock, a thriving subculture of musicians and fans devoted to Harry Potter–inspired rock ’n’ roll. But don’t let the name fool you: It’s witches, not wizards, who dominate this scene.

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Holy Rollers

Is Roller Derby the New Burlesque?

Article by Tammy Oler, appeared in issue Fun & Games; published in 2005; filed under Social commentary; tagged competition, riot grrrl, roller derby, sexualizing, sports, violence.

Talk about old school. In skating rinks around the nation, saucy dames are getting together and strapping on old-fashioned quad roller skates to jam, block, and pummel each other. The roller derby revival is on. More than two dozen leagues operate across the country, with an average of 30 to 40 active skaters each (some leagues even boast as many as 60), and many more are in the works.

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