English Version | What to see, do, hear...

01 Sep 2023
By Ana Murcho & Pedro Vasconcelos

Back to Work Issue

What to read, what to see, where to go.

Ten new books (all written) by women

All these books were written by women. They were all released in 2023. All of them have been suggested and acclaimed by specialized critics. After centuries of occupying a minor place on the literary scene, women are increasingly prominent on the cultural scene. It took time, but it happened.

Iconic movies about office life (with women)

The reality of an office has been the focus of much attention in the seventh art. But there is a period in the history of cinema that, as well as capturing everyday working life, also documented the trajectory of women within the labor system. Let's go back to the 1980s when the only thing taller than the permanents were the shoulder pads.

Today's world isn't exactly perfect. From climate change to the inevitable disappointment at the promise of flying cars, the 21st century is, so far, a frustrating time. However, certain facts make us grateful to live in this era. One of which is that we live in a world where the movie 9 to 5 (1980) exists. This masterpiece brings together the cinematic equivalent of father, son, and kindred spirit: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. In addition to a perfect cast and a hilarious plot, the film is an almost museum-like archive of women's conquest of the job market.

After the success of Fonda, Tomlin, and Parton's film, others followed, although less ambitious in their premise, dared to focus on women in their professional context. Special Edition (1987) tells the story of three journalists and television producers, with the female protagonist standing out for her ambition, which is far greater than that of her colleagues of the opposite sex. In the same year, Baby Boom (1987) sees Diane Keaton as a woman who prioritizes her career and who, although she understands the importance of having a family, sees her professional satisfaction as a priority.

Conquest is certainly the right word to describe what From 9 to 5 has achieved. Masquerading as a campy comedy typical of the era, the movie is a feminist manifesto. We'd warn you about spoilers, but given that it came out more than four decades ago, the statute of limitations for the crime passed long before the concept of a spoiler was even invented. In the movie, the three protagonists kidnap their sexist boss and turn his company into a socialist utopia: free daycare, equal pay, flexible hours, etc. As well as being brilliant, From 9 to 5 had perfect timing. Its premiere coincided with the mass entry of women into the skilled labor market. The 1980s was the first decade in which the number of female university admissions exceeded those of their male counterparts, a trend that continues to this day. With the changing social landscape, films in which women were reduced to their love and family lives were increasingly disconnected from reality.

After the success of Fonda, Tomlin, and Parton's film, others followed, although less ambitious in their premise, dared to focus on women in their professional context. Special Edition (1987) tells the story of three journalists and television producers, with the female protagonist standing out for her ambition, which is far greater than that of her colleagues of the opposite sex. In the same year, Baby Boom (1987) sees Diane Keaton as a woman who prioritizes her career and who, although she understands the importance of having a family, sees her professional satisfaction as a priority.

It's impossible to approach the topic in question without mentioning Working Girl (1988). Nominated for six Oscars and winner of one, the film was a rallying cry for the professional rise of women. Unlike its predecessors, A Successful Woman doesn't hide the problems women face in the workplace behind a veil of comedy. It discusses harassment, sexism, and even the dangers a woman faces in a space dominated by men. The movie is not perfect. There are several moments where the social sensibilities of 2023 are challenged. In a post-Barbie world (2023), the notion that there can only be one woman at the helm of a multi-million dollar company is easily challenged. It's not very girl boss of Melanie Griffith, the heroine of the story when she usurps not only the job of Sigourney Weaver, her boss but also her boyfriend. Moral anachronisms aside, the movie remains a classic of 80s cinema.

Unfortunately, the problems these films expose are not a distant memory. Sexual harassment, unequal pa,y, and discrimination are (still) part of everyday working life for an overwhelming majority of women. But even in the face of resistance to change, there is hope that one day we will be able to laugh at films like 9 to 5 in the same way we laughed at Life of Brian (1979). As Dolly Parton sings, "Waitin' for the day your ship come in, and the tide's gonna turn".

Back to art

In September, the paradisiacal destinations of summer are replaced by the cultural capitals of the world. We no longer travel for the tan, now we travel for the art.

Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto

August 19th of this year marked the 140th anniversary of the birth of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, one of the most important couturiers in history. But despite being born more than a century ago, the designer's vision remains as relevant as when it was first introduced. In honor of a legacy that continues to inspire the world of fashion, the Victoria & Albert Museum is hosting Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto. Although the exhibition has been developed by the Palais Galliera, the London museum draws on its collection to complement it, creating a rare opportunity to understand Chanel's true impact on the world. Victoria & Albert Museum, London, from September 16 to February 25, 2024.

Azzedine Alaïa, Couturier Collectionneur

These days, fashion is perceived with a degree of cynicism, interpreted as the multi-million dollar industry it has become since the beginning of the 21st century. However, some designers reignite the romance of fashion, one of whom is certainly Azzedine Alaïa. The couturier's dedication is the subject of the latest exhibition at the Palais Galliera, which focuses on the archive that Alaïa has accumulated of pieces by other designers: the designer has collected more than 20,000 pieces to study them. From this immense collection, 140 of the most relevant pieces of a puzzle explaining the intersection between fashion and art are on display. Palais Galliera, Paris, from September 24 until January 21, 2024.

Fashion and Sports: From One Podium to Another

Anyone who keeps an eye on fashion news knows that the industry and the world of sports have never been as intertwined as they are now. Not incidentally, LVMH, the most important company in the luxury industry, has created an unprecedented partnership with the 2024 Olympics. This collaboration marks a new era for the relationship between fashion and sport, but this is not a recent relationship. Going back to Ancient Greece, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs explores this often undervalued dynamic. With pieces ranging from Schiaparelli to Off-White, the exhibition is an excellent way to understand the future of this connection through its past. Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, from September 20 until April 7, 2024.

Joan Miró / Alexander Calder: Space in Motion

Art is thought of as a solitary process. An artist is observed in a vacuum, understood only through their life story. But what happens when the personal journeys of two artists are intertwined? This is the case of Joan Miró and Alexander Calder, two artists who shared a strong friendship. Their relationship is the entry point for the latest exhibition at Casa de Serralves. Calder's sculptures are the physical materialization of Miró's idealizations. Existing in a similar aesthetic universe, both were essential in deconstructing the traditional approach to sculpture and painting. Casa de Serralves, Porto, until January 7, 2024.

Yayoi Kusama: Desde 1945 hasta Hoy

Few artists have established such an intense cultural footprint as Yayoi Kusama. Through different collections with Louis Vuitton, as well as some of today's most recognizable works of art (think of the ridiculously Instagrammable Infinity Mirror Room), the Japanese artist is one of the most successful of the last century. Although her aesthetic is part of the zeitgeist, the journey to achieve it was made over her 94 years of life. At the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, there is a retrospective that follows the path of her life and the artistic vision that allows us to understand her success. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, until October 8th.

Balenciaga. Character

Nowadays, the definition of a successful designer is based on their ability to create a recognizable aesthetic, capable of evolving over the seasons. Unfortunately, the proliferation of logomania has made this ability hollow. Design elements don't need to be idiosyncratic if you can use a logo. However, the couturiers of the past, such as Cristóbal Balenciaga, were tied to the idea of fashion as a craft. The designer was famous for his attention to detail and the silhouette of the garments he produced. In the museum dedicated to Balenciaga's legacy, there is an exhibition that seeks to answer a simple question: "What makes a piece by the Spanish designer so recognizable?". Cristóbal Balenciaga Museoa, Getaria, until January 7, 2024.

Translated from the original on The Coming Back Issue, published September 2023. Full stories and credits on the print issue.

Ana Murcho & Pedro Vasconcelos By Ana Murcho & Pedro Vasconcelos

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