Libraries of Irritations

What irritates you?

Stickers on fruit, plastic overpackaging, white SUVs that reverse park in underground car parks, insect zappers, tailgating, all male management, developmentalism, check-lists,  supersized restaurant meals …?

These irritations are important because they are small, everyday happenings that get under our skin. These minor irritations relate to broader ethical and political issues that often drive feminist research. These irritations also reveal privilege and power relations which can be uncomfortable, unsavoury, and ugly. Sometimes they motivate us to act.

Libraries of irritations might seem insignificant, but we think otherwise. These tiny libraries of irritations help us pay attention to and archive matters of fact, care, and concern. 

What irritates you and how does this drive your feminist research?

Library of irritations created at Wee Jasper, NSW by Mindy Blaise and Affrica Taylor in response to Emilie’s provocations.

(This entry was was co-written by Mindy Blaise, Jane Merewether, and Jo Pollitt and inspired by the presentation, Exploring the ugly as part of feminist creative practice, given by Emilie Collyer at the Ediths Roundtable Series 2021)