Charlyne's stand-up performances aren't the traditional stand in front of a microphone and tell jokes. They include music, magic, games and even audience participation, during one performance she had her head shaved whilst singing 'Nothing Compares 2 U'. 

Aside from her unusual stand-up Charlyne writes scripts, her screen writing debut was the feature film Paper Heart, which she also starred in and composed the music for. Along side all that it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

She's also been doing charity work since 2010. Even starting her own charity, Caring Is Cool in 2011 and hosting a benefit show to raise money for the organisation. 

I first saw Charlyne in Knocked Up, a 2007 comedy film by Judd Apatow. I saw her again when I went through a strange Martin Starr phase and watched her film Paper Hearts. I was intrigued by her writing style so went on to watch her stand-up, some of the strangest stuff I have seen but I loved it. If you aren't a fan of more unusual comedy this won't be for you, but if you're bored of the more traditional stand-up performances, you should definitely take a few minutes to watch some of her stuff. Including her appearance on Conan which is still one of my favourite interviews ever. Her knock knock joke at the end is honestly amazing. 

Is Funny Thursday's to obvious of  title? What about Wild Women Wednesday's? Too Funny For TV Tuesdays? I'll work on it. 

One of the best things about being a girl is the friendships and connections you make with other girls. Whether it's the syncing of periods or that you bond over the fact that Nick is your favourite Jonas brother, I don't quite know, but there's something special about it. However, there comes a time in every girls life were the phrase 'I'm not like other girls' will fall out of her mouth. This is a time where she starts to hate being a girl, not because she is in the wrong body but because she just hates girls.

The media is especially guilty of the over use of this phrase. The female protagonist in the majority of teen films and books will confess they are 'not like other girls'. They are unique, they aren't obsessed with boys and they hate drama. These type of films confirm to young girls that they shouldn't aspire to be like 'other girls' and they shouldn't even attempt being friends with girls because they aren't nice people. Just furthering the Girl vs Girl mentality and separating them from their gender.

Mean Girls (2004) - a classic example of Girl vs Girl.

 I have had many female friends throughout my life. There has never been a time when I haven't had a best friend, who was a girl, or a group of friends, mainly consisting of girls, and I never thought there was anything wrong with this. Until, I turned 14 and I began to think that being friends with girls was wrong. 'I'm not like most girls. I just don't like the things girls like. I have more guy friends'. At the time I did have more guy friends, but I had girl friends too, but I had managed to separate them from the 'other girls', making it acceptable for me to like being with them. 

Me and my best friend would happily tell people that we didn't like having friends who were girls, we just got on better with the boys in our group. A very contradictory statement coming from two people who are both, female and best friends. But, again, we had separated ourselves, and each other, from the 'other girls'. The other girls are the enemy and we did not want to be associated with them. 

I'm still not sure who these, 'other girls' were and at the time it didn't matter who they were, all I knew is that I was not one of them. 

Every girl goes through this phase, maybe some girls do get on with guys better, but saying you're not like 'other girls' is a form of internalised misogyny, which sounds complicated but really isn't. In relation to this topic, it's basically being taught to think that girls are bad, everything to do with girls is bad and being a girl, well, that's the worst of all. As a girl you feel you should separate yourself from that, from the girls. This is not something you should do, unless you generally get on with men better, you should try to find a few friends who are girls. Don't let the fact that they are girls scare you away. 

There's nothing wrong with being 'like the other girls'.

These videos cover this in a more in-depth and personal way: 

Arden Rose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5VTVELhY0M

Savannah Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpelSFTFkHc

Steve Buscemi is most commonly known for his eyes. Granted, they are pretty unique, but he has done many other things that deserve a little more attention. So, I have created a list of all the things about Steve Buscemi that makes him the bomb. 

Fargo (1996)

1. He was a fire-fighter: Before he was an actor Steve Buscemi was a member of the NYC Fire Department. During the aftermath of 9/11, he returned to the department to help out in anyway he could. He still visits regularly, attending charity events and even making a small documentary series about them. 

2. He is humble and down to earth: He doesn't seem to take for granted any of his roles or his popularity as an actor, he's just so sweet.

3. He has had to deal with being known as the 'creep' and being ignored for a lot of roles he would have been great for: He's played a creep in a lot of films, from smaller ones such as Delirious, to huge films like Monsters, Inc. 

4. He's a great actor: Even when he is cast as the 'creeps', who seem like they have no features other than being just that, he still brings substance to the roles. In Delirious he plays a paparazzi who is constantly grumpy and mean, however, we see the softer side of this character when we meet his parents - he shrinks back into a child again, (not physically, but still) it's amazing to watch. From being constantly given smaller roles, in 2011 he was given the role of Nucky Thompson, a politician and gangster living and working in Atlantic City, finally the star of something. 

5. He has directed a few things too: Steve Buscemi has directed and starred in his own film, Trees Lounge, as well as directing a few TV shows, including a few episodes of The Sopranos and 30 Rock.

6. He also works on smaller projects: For example, Park Bench and AMEX UNSTAGED where he works with Vampire Weekend and Grimes - making funny and cringey scripted videos on Youtube.

7. He used to do stand up comedy: I love stand-up comedy and for me, this just adds to the fact he is the best. 

8. The characters he plays: In 1986 he starred in the film Parting Glances, where he played a gay man, struggling with HIV. This film was released at a time when AID's was a very controversial and rarely discussed topic, but he wasn't shy to take on this role - as many just starting actors would have been at the time. 

9. He's never done anything problematic: He once got stabbed above the eye, in the throat, jaw and arm when he tried to break up a fight between Vince Vaughn and a screenwriter in a bar. He has to wear make-up on set to cover up the scars. 

10. He's worked with some amazing people, e.g. Quentin Tarantio and Joel and Ethan Coen: Steve Buscemi starred as Mr Pink in one of Quentin Tarantio's first films, Reservoir Dogs, playing a slimy thief, who couldn't keep very calm. He also had a small role in Pulp Fiction, playing a Buddy Holly waiter in Jack Rabbit Slims. The Coen Brothers have had him in a number of their films, Fargo, Millers Crossing and The Big Lebowski. 

11. Probably the most important, he's just adorable. 

My favourite Steve Buscemi films include:

(When reading this remember: I am not a music critique or have any musical talent I just really like the stuff she creates.)

Soko's musical style is described as new wave, post-punk and goth-pop, her clothing style also perfectly fitting this description. I was first introduced to Soko's music when I found out she was rumoured to be dating Kristen Stewart (a huge celebrity crush of mine), I had to check her out. However, I was unaware that I had already heard her and most of you probably have too. Her song 'We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow' was featured in the viral video 'First Kiss', a black and white video of strangers kissing for the first time, her also being one of the kissers (in a dark coloured beanie).

Not knowing I had already listened to her, I found her first album, 'I Thought I Was an Alien' and listened to it with no interruptions. Simply this, proves she is an amazing artist, in my opinion. If the first time you ever hear someone's music you can't - and never want to - stop listening, it must be good. I hadn't heard anything like this before and I quickly fell in love with this album, it's soft and soothing, her accent and the slight crackle in her voice bringing something really amazing to the songs. My favourites from this album include: How Are You?, Don't Touch Me and I Just Want To Make It New With You.

I Wish I Was an Alien (2012) & My Dreams Dictate My Reality (2015)

Her second album, 'My Dreams Dictate My Reality' is very different from the first one, much more pop and sounding happier than her previous record. I really really like this album, her voice suits the more cheerful songs as well as the louder ones. There are songs you can really dance to, opposed to the last album where they were songs you could really cry to. If you don't want to listen to the whole album you should check out the songs: Ocean of Tears, Temporary Mood Swings and Bad Poetry. All great for dancing and shouting

Soko is also an award winning actress and she taught herself to play guitar, bass and drums. Pretty talented, huh?

Something about her music is magical, I feel like everyone will find at least one song of hers they will fall in love with.

2. Dope

This film focuses on two neo-cool teenagers, who's outfits include, leopard print, leather and green hair - "obviously, a 1977 original punk rock look". (also bucket hats)

With the best couple outfits, from cowboy boots to Hawaiian shirts, this film has every piece of clothing we hide our love for.

Lena Dunham is a woman who, if you spend any time at all on the internet, you won't be able to avoid and because of this fact, people have very strong opinions on her. It seems that there is no middle ground for view points on Lena Dunham.

First of all, I am a fan of Lena, her book, her film, her HBO show, her podcast and her activism. I think she's using her position of fame and power in a very positive and effective way, shown overtly in her podcast - Women Of The Hour - a feminist podcast, presented by Lena and Buzzfeed (Buzzfeed: another thing that people have very strong opinions on). Lena is a cis white feminist, coming from a position of privilege, however this position is not shown in her podcast. Her show includes conversations between women and girls of all ages, races and sexualities; 11 year old's who are members of a social justice group, transgender rights activist Janet Mock, singer Mindie Lind, writer Zadie Smith and comedian and self proclaimed "size bitch" Aidy Bryant.

 Even though the show only consists of 5 episodes, it hosts a large spectrum of women, each with very different life experiences, discussing issues that are important to them and effect most women on a day-to-day basis. And Lena is enabling their voices to be projected even further. As a young white feminist, I would highly recommend this podcast, if you want to have your knowledge of women's issues expanded.  

The recent controversy surrounding Lena involved Photoshop and body-image, Lena posed a photograph on Instagram claiming that a magazine had airbrushed an image of her. Understandably, she was frustrated at not knowing what her body looked like any more, as it was constantly being edited to fit society's standards for the bodies that women in Hollywood should have. However, that particular image had not been retouched, the magazine came forward with the original, proving they hadn't changed it. Even though Lena was wrong, the fact she no longer knew whether the version of herself she was seeing was real or not, is worrying. 

The female bodies that we see in the media are constantly being altered, male bodies are too, but not nearly as much, or to the same drastic extent. For instance Lena's images from her shoot with Vogue had been hugely edited, whilst not even slighting editing the man in the photo with her (Adam Driver, co-star of Girls). Lena standing up for injustices like these is another reason I respect her, she uses her platform in a way that will positively influence young people and hopefully, inspire young girls to be comfortable and confident in their bodies. Their bodies that don't need to be altered. 

"ALL that matters is that this body works, not that it be milky white and slim."

Lena's writing style is unique and fun, personal and open, she writes thought provoking essays on her life experiences, without sounding condescending. She inspired me to start writing again, I hugely admire how she can be so open within her work. Her character on Girls, Hannah, is extremely open, she doesn't come with a filter, making her character vulnerable and loveable, if slightly annoying. But, her openness works in her favour. Lena in her book is similar to the character of Hannah, and I aim to be like them, possibly not as open as Hannah, but at least a little. 

I think we can all learn something from Lena Dunham. 

(I have a lot more to say on Lena Dunham so expect the next instalment of this soon)