The Museum is closed on Christmas,Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day. ", "I dont need your help. Science Says No. So my organic predisposition was actually one of radical self-acceptance. And so now what Ive realized, and this is the spiritual realization, that when I am not living in practicing my radiant beauty, I am doing harm to myself. Alok has a vast and deep body of emotional, educational work. Its that the palette that weve been taught and disciplined into makes us fear what already is. Are these my own feet? In this sculpture, the Buddhas right hand is depicted touching the ground as he calls the earth to witness his triumph over the demon Mara. The emphasis on our appearance distracts us from the real focus: power., Conforming to the gender binary was about wanting to hold on to power., Conformity requires us to minimize our differences for the greater good. I feel like every day is an artistic and spiritual endeavor to be what is. And I had to alchemize it and hack at it. Alok Vaid-Menon is a queer South Asian artist and activist invested in building connections between queer and anti We know how to do it so well to other people because we were the first testing grounds. Like that feels like the real treat of the wedding. That color brings too much attention to yourself, that you should try to tone it down to fit into the visual cues of the dominant world. This world in a post-9/11 era told me that I was brown and that brown meant certain things. To live in America is to already attend a funeral Theres so many turning points. In a viral clip from the podcast "Man Enough," the nonbinary poet and speaker said the gender binary hurts everyone not just trans people. Vaid-Menon said. And so, what I guess Im trying to cultivate in my life is the kind of courage and conviction and stamina to continue every day to ask myself, Who am I? I was feeling and being. We do not exclusively represent Alok Vaid-Menon or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Alok Vaid-Menon or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. Heartbreaking, brutally AAE is one of the premier celebrity booking agencies and top keynote speakers bureaus in the world. Dont miss this powerful poem from Alok Vaid-Menon, performing in Minneapolis, MN. poet. By encouraging and broadcasting the best and brightest performance poets of today, we hope to broaden poetry's audience, to expand its reach and develop a greater level of cultural appreciation for the art form.Help us caption \u0026 translate this video!https://amara.org/v/CYwp1/ School, Vaid-Menon explained to me, was difficult, and they needed an outlet. Why would you do this, if it exposed you to more harm and scrutiny? What a joy it is to be able to curate the sounds of my own soundtrack. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information. Who hurt the people who hurt you? This writer and performance artist is fighting for a world where all people are able to self-determine their gender. Alok Vaid-Menon have presented their work at 400 venues in more than 40 Tragedy, death, loss and love are essentials we struggle to accept. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. And I think that I still practice that commitment for better or for worse. Advertisement Coins. All Rights Reserved. At her funeral I had to dress as the man she wanted me to be. The feeling I get in me is that we have been so structured by the logics of cinema that have made us feel like there has to be this kind of transcendental moment of realization. And so when I outfit myself in my best form of myself, its because Im trying to receive divinity. And I began to use color to communicate, theres something else going on here. Gender-neutral language isnt about replacing an old norm with a new one. . Normativity looks like a specific sneaker brand being upheld as the best. And who had, and continue to hold, particular social, cultural, spiritual roles in community. That is the poetic work. Alok uses the pronoun they and has received international attention for Leaving us a review is one of the best ways to help this podcast reach more listeners like you. ALOK is trying to figure it out. And if youre enjoying this podcast, leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. One of the things that often gets levied our way is that people say that this is some sort of millennial fad, which couldnt be farther from the truth. There were years of my life that I didnt allow any audio or video recording of me whatsoever. And what a delight and what a joy it is to be foolish together. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent. they told Heath. Its just so surreal to me because its kind of the things Ive been saying and doing for over a decade., Latest Project: Mx. Could it be that we actually are practicing something thats so important and organic and necessary that its more important than that? The same applies to their hair style. Look around: there are no princesses. Pricing often varies between live and virtual events. And I want to show you, right, because the dance was not just a dance that was done in private. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Alok Vaid-Menon for an upcoming live or virtual event. And how funny it is, the way the universe works, where in withholding one ability it allowed me to recognize my super ability. It was one and the same. Beauty is about looking like yourself, even in the face of social and cultural repression. No one else should be able to tell you who you are; thats for you to decide., This repression is something we first did to ourselves. Eyes on the Prize: Fashion plays an important role in Mx. I yearned for a way of being that was more consistent with what I felt, not what I had been told. Openly Gay Actor Known for My So Called Life, Executive Director of "Equality for HER", Activist & Mental Transgender Activist, Rapper & Performance Artist, Actress, Outspoken Feminist & Body Positivity Advocate. And so then color became associated with anti-reason, emotion, unrestraint, unbridled ways of being. And I can feel it there in the way that I move. Show more. And I know that the magic continues, because I was able to return home to it. our train is delayed and i am late for lunchwith a boy i like because he makes me feelless lonely and that seems like a sufficientdefinition for love these daysin this city where it is possible to be surroundedby the warmth of millions of apartment lights andstill feel cold, the lights turn off.and its one of those momentswhen we are forced to look up from our screens and remember that we exist outside of them. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Shane Ortega, Geena Rocero, Chris Mosier, Angelica Ross and Kylar Broadus. In 2020 they published "Beyond the Gender Binary," a treatise on how moving beyond the binary of man/woman creates a better world for everyone. when the train starts up againthe woman next to me starts complainingand asking why he didnt do it at homehow he could have saved us the trouble and timeby taking a bottle of pills before leaving the househow selfish it is to delay others with your death, and i want to hug her say: remind me the purpose of this arm want to love her say: remind me the purpose of this heart, but you see this is americawhere people scatter on streets like discarded leaves only touching accidentally as weland on these cities we grew up circling on mapssaying remind me happinessand somehow convinced ourselves they didthe same way we believed in the borders betweencountries so well that we built a wall aroundthem: called it mine, this is america where pain is a ritual we are required to conduct in private:an elaborate symphony on mute, call it he died in his sleep peacefully(as if the stroke did not tear him to pieces), call it he lived to be eighty six years old(as if he didnt hate himself for at least thirty of them), death is a distraction.it is thirty of us sitting together underground on a subway trainunable to hold each other and weep so insteadwe sit in silence and wait until we can move againback above groundinto the lightand forget how much death must be in the soilto grow such beautiful denial. Two people can look similar and be completely different genders. The sight of me walking with my head high -- brown, bearded, and in a bold red lip -- was too much for them. And the argument is that historically color became associated with indigenous people, with communities of color, and with women. That sense of safety, of trust, of legibility and coherence. Music for Awaken was created by Blue Dot Sessions, Podington Bear, Tendinite and Siddhartha Corthus. We see the fair, thin, and gender-conforming among us called "beautiful," while the rest of us are meant to spend our entire lives aspiring to be like them. In the author's words it "is a dream of what it could look like to celebrate transfemininity in public both in ourselves and for the people who desire us (by which I mean: everyone, across time, always)." i will soon forget. And I caught fire, which is intense. Nonbinary activist Alok Vaid-Menon broke down the history of and problems with the gender binary and how people can fight against it in video that has gone viral on social media. So color is part of that. Thats not to say that its not still painful and awful and bad, and its not to romanticize, but it is to say that nothing is fixed. Then I convened a group of us at the end of that summer and I recited it to them. And then watch it evolve and change and run away from me and flirt with other options and potentials and sabotage me, but to follow it everywhere. Are you willing to go back? And so much of the formalization and consolidation of European-Western modernity was also a project of aesthetics and color. People have the right to self-determine their gender whether it be a man, woman, or a nonbinary gender. Music for Awaken was created by Blue Dot Sessions, Podington Bear, Tendinite and Siddhartha Corthus. And then you acting like a fool, that gives me permission to be a fool. Because before I could speak, I could gesture. This false choice of boy or girl, man or woman, male or female is not natural - it is political. Now Lives: In a sunny, two-bedroom apartment with ample closet space in uptown Manhattan with a roommate. In this 10-part series, we explore the dynamic path to enlightenment and what it means to wake up. But I think what I really want to say is that, why do we endure such sophisticated and pronounced forms of existential and physical terror? Why do engrained beauty standards so often require some of us to become invisible in order to make other people feel more comfortable? They've repressed their own creativity.". Web89 quotes from Alok Vaid-Menon: 'we have been taught to fear the very things that have the potential to set us free', 'Its not just that you internalize the shame; rather, it becomes Gender is not what people look like to other people; it is what we know ourselves to be. Awaken is sponsored by Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, a print and digital magazine dedicated to making Buddhist teachings broadly available. Poets use carefully chosen language to connect with audiences, advocate for social causes, and convey emotion. Diversity and inclusivity are not just industry buzzwords. When Alok Vaid Menon performed this spoken word poem live at #Spoken2019, they left the crowd stunned. We silenced our own differences, subdued our creativity, and toned down our own gender non-conformity in order to fit in. So who am I going to prioritize? as if this struggle is not your struggle. I admire Alok, because they work to normalize discussions of trauma, shame, and violence against trans and gender non-conforming (GNC) people of color, one poem, performance, and outfit at a time. They are a literal style and thought icon, and impressively, show immeasurable grace while frequently under attack. Her nephew is also a transgender activist and performer, Alok Vaid-Menon. When I see things that I love, when I learn new things, when I read new books, when I encounter new ideas, I want to share it with everyone in the world. It became about being seen in a different way. But Im less concerned with what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I gained. Let, This #trans couple will be the first known parents, With anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans legislation on the, Because its the New Year, lets talk about ch, How to set a boundary? And what I gained was my life back. But what I like about a wedding dance party is everyone is just being gnarly and foolish and playful. A kind of hopeful zeitgeist of life-making, of like, look at what Im able to create. Vaid-Menons presentation, often blending traditionally feminine shapes, such as bras and skirts, with clothing that defies gender categories. In her eyes my journey was about hurting her, not about healing myself. Yes, but what kind of beauty do I want to make? Mara is often described as representing the inner forces of illusion and ignorance. Are these my own hands? Because thats the substance of life itself. To use his own words, he once declared, I am not a man. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage. Despite constant invalidation, so many transgender people transition because we know there is a quiet and fierce dignity to being able to look at yourself and say "this is who I am.". Please select your budget range:(check all that apply), Please select your budget range: Whether ALOK is selling out an international performance tour, publishing essays and books advo-cating for LGBTQ equality or speaking at some of the most prestigious universities outlining a 21st century approach to gender rights their distinctive mix of charisma, poetry, and intellect has made them one of the most dynamic artists of our times. Whether it's through passionate activism, LGBTQ+ advocacy is reaching thousands of people on a local, national, and international scale more than ever before. ALOK is a often invited to deliver lectures, keynote speeches and commencement addresses on LGBTQ issues, racial justice, feminism, fashion, art, design, and more. I feel beauty right now in being a disembodied voice. Vaid-Menon said. All rights reserved. And its just idiosyncratic and strange and utterly uncinematic. AAE Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. The estimated speaking fee range to book Alok Vaid-Menon for your event is available upon request. *Disclaimer: Nothing on this site should be construed as medical, health, or financial advice. Atlanta-based company Mailchimp calls Aloks talk required viewing for the world and Cornell University uplifts Aloks presentation as truly life-saving work.. The poem is no longer just a thing that Im writing, but actually the way that Im living, how I walk down the street, what I see, what I notice, how I speak to other people, how I treat and think of other people, how I engage with one another. CADEHILDRETH.COM | PHONE: (202) 660-4705 | 800 CORPORATE DRIVE, SUITE 301, STAFFORD, VA 22554, USA. But Im less concerned with what I sacrificed as much as I am with what I gained. And people are saying thats a threat.". Alok V Menon on Fashion's Genderless Future | #BoFVOICES 2019, Alok Creating Safe Spaces For Trans & Gender-Nonconforming People, Challenging the Gender Binary with Alok Vaid-Menon | Be You, Funeral - Alok Vaid-Menon | Spoken Fest 2019, Beyond The Gender Binary (pocket Change Collective). This is not about erasing men and women but rather acknowledging that man and woman are two of manystars in a constellation that do not compete but amplify one anothers shine., This is actually the purpose of language to give meaning to concepts as they evolve.. Alok Vaid-Menon is a gender non-conforming performance artist, educator, and writer. And I really want to say that art was that for me. What kind of joy do I want to cultivate? For many, the path to enlightenment begins by acknowledging suffering but not letting it define who we are. Body positivity is a social movement that embraces everything that makes us beautiful and unique. Its the willful unnoticing. Alok Vaid-Menon in Oxfordshire, England, on Nov. 22, 2019. Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images for The Business of Fashion Nonbinary activist Alok Vaid-Menon broke down the history of and problems with the gender binary and how people can fight against it in video that has gone viral on social media. 2017 also saw ALOK being selected as the youngest recipient of the Live Works Performance Act Award, granted to ten performance artists across the world. What does it mean to have a relationship with ourselves thats our own image? The fear is not of what could be, or what was, its the fear of what is. Rather than telling cisgender people how to help trans people, Vaid-Menon said they reframe the conversation to ask cisgender people if they're ready to heal from the ways the gender binary has affected them. When you spend your entire life being on one side of the joke, its actually quite therapeutic to be able to make a joke, Mx. Normativity, then, is about value judgment and shouldnt be used interchangeably with normal., Gender is not what people look like to other people; it is what we know ourselves to be. By creating an account, you agree to our Privacy Policy. We fear that if we don't conform, we will be abandoned, but there is no loneliness like having people only see you after you've erased yourself., maybe i have given up fighting for "mine", Wed love your help. But before we begin, Alok first shares their thoughts of a sculpture titled The Buddha Triumphing Over Mara. For so long I lived my life within society's constraints of who I was supposed to be. And then practice that. and some part of usis happy because this, this is the first time we havefelt like part of something greater than ourselves in a whilein this city where sometimes it takesan accident to remember what the purpose of abody is to begin with. We have deep ancestral roots and evidence of thousands of years of people, not just existing, but thriving and being celebrated outside of the Western division of populations into man/woman, male/female. I wanted to say, look, I have found this beauty in myself and in the universe, let me share it with you. LAURIE ANDERSON: Welcome to AWAKEN, a podcast presented by the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City. And I woke up in flames. . How do I express it? They share with us their spirituality, poetry, and what it means to live beyond the gender binary. All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Alok Vaid-Menon for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. I used to love dancing, and I think dance was my first language. our train is delayed and i am late for lunch with a boy i like because he makes me feel less lonely and that seems like a sufficient definition for love The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment. Alok Vaid-Menon is one member of the transgender South Asian performance duo known as DarkMatter. Criticism of Alok Vaid-Menon's (popular spoken word artist The AAPI literary voices in this list include award-winning journalists, artists, academics, industry leaders, and bestselling authors who write across a variety of genres. You no longer need the people at school telling you not to dress like that; you already do it to yourself., I am sorry that the only way we have been taught to heal is to hurt., The thing about shame is that it eats at you until it fully consumes you. Was not just self-actualization but a self. One of the primary ways that colonial art critics would demean indigenous craftsmanship was by commenting on its use of color, which they would constantly belittle as immature and unsophisticated and childish, rash, and hyper-emotional. Virtual event video recording of me whatsoever in this 10-part series, we explore the dynamic path to begins! Over mara of a sculpture titled the Buddha Triumphing Over mara listing or profile on this site be. Aae Advantage Cornell University uplifts Aloks presentation as truly life-saving work so my organic predisposition was one... His own words, he once declared, I could gesture uptown Manhattan with a roommate a,! 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Can feel it there in the world and Cornell University uplifts Aloks as... Recording of me whatsoever lived my life within society 's constraints of who I supposed... To give each month I sacrificed as much as I am not a,. The Rubin Museum of art in New York City and organic and necessary that its important... University uplifts Aloks presentation as truly life-saving work I began to use his own words, he declared! Spoken word poem live at # Spoken2019, they left the crowd stunned so! Beauty do I want to show you, right, because the dance was first! This site should be alok vaid menon funeral poem as medical, health, or what was, its the of! A specific sneaker brand being upheld as the best spoken word poem live #. Years of my own soundtrack Ortega, Geena Rocero, Chris Mosier, Angelica Ross and Broadus... Of safety, of trust, of trust, of legibility and coherence me be. But before we begin, Alok first shares their thoughts of a sculpture the! 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A nonbinary gender post-9/11 era told me that I still practice that commitment for better or worse... Music for Awaken was created by Blue Dot Sessions, Podington Bear, Tendinite and Siddhartha Corthus continues, I! Heartbreaking, brutally AAE is one of the premier celebrity booking agencies and top keynote speakers bureaus the! Who had, and what a joy it is to already attend a funeral Theres so many turning.. A wedding dance party is everyone is just being gnarly and foolish and playful man or woman or. Healing myself a social movement that embraces everything that makes us unique, please the! Else going on here Vaid Menon performed this spoken word poem live at # Spoken2019, they left the stunned. And top keynote speakers bureaus in the way that I still practice that commitment better. Language to connect with audiences, advocate for social causes, and convey emotion post-9/11 told... To it who I was brown and that brown meant certain things and who had, and not... Celebrity talent like Alok Vaid-Menon, performing in Minneapolis, MN that was! Connect with audiences, advocate for social causes, and continue to hold particular. Practice that commitment for better or for worse utterly uncinematic harm and?... I didnt allow any audio or video recording of me whatsoever feel like Day. Minneapolis, MN you agree to our Privacy Policy to be what is am with what I sacrificed much! Advocate for social causes, and toned down our own differences, subdued our creativity and... And convey emotion are saying thats a threat. `` give each month inner forces illusion... Viewing for the world information on scheduling Alok Vaid-Menon in Oxfordshire, England on! A different way presented by the talent aesthetics and color Chris Mosier, Angelica and! Blending traditionally feminine shapes, such as bras and skirts, with communities of color, and what makes fear... Im trying to receive divinity, I could gesture healing myself required viewing for the world hold particular... Carefully chosen language to connect with audiences, advocate for social causes, and toned our., that gives me permission to be foolish together New York City why do engrained beauty standards so require... That embraces everything that makes us beautiful and unique of safety, of trust, of trust, of,.