Based on a true story, the film Carrington profoundly changed how I understand love, identity, and LGBTQ+ acceptance. Through the unconventional bond between Dora Carrington and Lytton Strachey, I came to realise that love doesn’t follow rules — it simply finds the soul it recognises. This reflection explores how one film helped me walk in another’s shoes and redefined what it means to love and be loved.
Before Madonna struck a pose, Mae West struck a match.
She was the original provocateur — arrested for writing about sex, banned from Broadway for celebrating desire, and censored by Hollywood for refusing to play nice. Yet through wit, glamour, and sheer audacity, she rewrote the rules of womanhood on screen and off.
Come Up and See Me Sometime: Mae West and the Making of a Feminist Icon traces how one woman’s defiance shaped modern feminism, queer aesthetics, and the art of female self-invention.
A feminist icon embodies independence, strength, emotional intelligence, and authenticity. Such a figure challenges traditional gender roles and stereotypes without sacrificing essential femininity or personal depth. Beth Dutton exemplifies these qualities, asserting herself in male-dominated arenas while openly expressing vulnerability.