I certainly haven't seen any shortage of female VJs, but then there's a disconnect with the larger performance scene. And I think the issue of the lack of women in certain scenes and the issue of the inability of many venues to treat VJs fairly and professionally are absolutely related. We're looking for ways of making the support for artists more mature and inclusive. So it's two issues, but it's all part of a connected problem.

I'm not entirely convinced on the "interested in technology" versus "how they are going to use it" question, because I think a lot of us in this medium, whatever our gender happens to be, care about the former because this is a technological art. I guess we're talking about an interest in technology that doesn't connect to artmaking. I think I know what you and Solu are saying, of course, but I haven't necessarily seen the same gender divide. There's a range of technological interest and technical skill — and, indeed, I've seen great art from people who aren't necessarily as technically skilled and visa versa. I think there is just a boy bias.

And, PS, Holly knows and cares a hell of a lot more about video hardware than I do. I don't see any particular disinterest in particulars of technology, just in software.

Anyway, that's just my personal take. I hope we'll discuss this stuff more.

Raquel Meyers (http://www.raquelmeyers.com/)
Marula (http://www.marula.es/)
Dothy (http://www.myspace.com/dothyhomeland)
Chika (http://www.imagima.com/)
Holly Daggers (http://www.wetcircuit.com/)
C-TRL (Nika Offenbac) (http://www.c-trl.com/)
VJ Oxygen (http://www.videology.nu/)
Chiaki Watanabe (http://www.vusik.net/)

There are actually more that I know of but these do not have web sites or I just don't have time at the moment to list all of them.

To me the most important thing is that I get to see good visuals. I don't care what is doing them. It is of little interest to me what kind of software, hardware, ukulele, frozen armadillo carcass they are using to do so. I look for that spark. This spark lies beneath anything the artist is trying to express.

That said I have noticed that some of my favorite [person mixing images in a live context] works are produced by women. My vague theory? They appear to be less interested in the technology and its particulars and more concerned with how they are going to use it.

I want to also ad that Solu (a good friend whom I have the greatest respect for) also recently compiled together a really great book called 'Live Cinema' that was a worth distraction from my usual interest in graphic novels (where real inspiration comes from for me), NYTimes, Blogs etc. It contains one of the more serious contemporary non-hype analysis of this multi-faceted medium.

As a past television host of a now gone economics panel once said at the end of each program: 'read it and reap'
http://aminima.net/