Re-Sisters

1. Three Women, Bound by Defiance and Self-Discovery

Three defiant women with our individual, unconventional attitude to life.

Shared Spirit. The book explores the lives of Cosey Fanni Tutti, Delia Derbyshire, and Margery Kempe, highlighting their shared defiance against societal constraints and their pursuit of self-discovery. Despite living in vastly different eras, these women were united by their unconventional attitudes, their resistance to inequalities, and their determination to retain their sense of self.

Individualism. The author emphasizes the importance of individualism, exploring what drives individuals to seek alternative ways of living and expressing themselves, even when less troublesome options are available. The book celebrates the courage to "say" what one chooses, despite the difficulties, and to traverse the world on one's own terms.

Recordings. The "recordings" of these women—Cosey's multimedia art, Delia's pioneering sound recordings, and Margery's autobiography—played a vital role in sustaining them, making their lives meaningful, and providing a sense of freedom. These recordings serve as lasting imprints of their presence in the world, offering insights into their true selves and the reasons behind their life choices.

2. Art as Life: Cosey Fanni Tutti's Radical Expression

My art projects of the 1970s involved my working as a model in the sex industry, performing in pornographic films, appearing in hard- and softcore magazines and as a striptease artist.

Breaking Boundaries. Cosey Fanni Tutti's artistic journey involved pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms through her work in the sex industry and her involvement in the art collective COUM Transmissions. Her "art is life, life is art" approach centered on equality, freedom of expression, and breaking down notions of art, music, sex, and gender.

Controversy and Reappraisal. Cosey's work often faced public scrutiny and controversy, particularly in response to the COUM exhibition "Prostitution" in 1976. However, changes in views about art, sex, and women have led to a reappraisal of her work, which has found its place in international exhibitions and prestigious collections, often within a feminist context.

Music as Passion. Music has always been Cosey's passion, especially innovative electronic music, leading to her co-founding of the industrial music genre as part of the band Throbbing Gristle. Her musical endeavors, including collaborations with Chris Carter as Chris & Cosey and Carter Tutti, have resulted in over fifty albums and performances across the world.

3. Delia Derbyshire: Infiltrating the System for Sonic Innovation

I was told in no uncertain terms that the BBC does not employ composers and so it was only by kind of infiltrating the system that I managed to do music.

Breaking Barriers. Delia Derbyshire's career was marked by her determination to compose electronic music within the confines of the BBC, an institution that did not traditionally employ composers. She secured a job at the BBC and strategically worked her way into the Radiophonic Workshop, despite facing sexism and resistance to her progressive musical ideas.

Pioneering Spirit. Delia's relentless pursuit to join the BBC was central to her plan to end music being her 'forbidden paradise'. It would enable her to live and breathe music openly in an environment that encouraged sound experimentation and composition.

Legacy. Delia's innovative techniques and unique approach to sound have had a lasting impact on electronic music, inspiring countless artists and shaping the landscape of experimental sound. Her work continues to be celebrated and studied, solidifying her status as a visionary in the field.

4. Margery Kempe: A Mystic's Battle for Autonomy in a Medieval World

The ‘recording’ of her process of self-transformation, with all its trials and tribulations, exposes misogyny, absolute male entitlement and female subjugation on a level difficult to relate to from a twenty-first-century perspective.

Defying Conventions. Margery Kempe, a fifteenth-century mystic and author, challenged the religious and social rules imposed on women through her unorthodox ways and public displays of piety. Her nonconformity, including her loud weeping and unconventional dress, became the source of her notoriety and numerous difficulties.

Religious Fervor. The level of religious fervor was high in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, not least because of the Black Death, which had set people praying to God for forgiveness of what they feared they’d done to cause such a horrifying disease. Any such scourge was perceived as a judgement and punishment from God.

The Book. Margery's autobiography, The Book of Margery Kempe, serves as a testament to her spirituality and individual form of piety, documenting her process of self-transformation and exposing the misogyny and female subjugation prevalent in medieval society. The book is a unique historical record, offering insights into the life and struggles of a woman seeking autonomy in a restrictive world.

5. The Radiophonic Workshop: A Crucible of Innovation and Inequality

The workshop was a vital space for Delia.

Experimental Hub. The BBC Radiophonic Workshop was a unique environment that fostered innovation and experimentation in electronic music, providing Delia Derbyshire with the means to pursue her passion for sound. Despite its progressive output, the workshop was plagued by a military-style hierarchy, sexism, and a lack of recognition for individual contributions.

Gender Disparity. Delia faced numerous challenges as a woman in the male-dominated world of electronic music, including condescension from colleagues, limited opportunities for advancement, and a lack of credit for her work. She had no real status, being the most junior, even though she was the best-qualified musician.

Finding a Way. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, Delia found ways to work within the rules and surreptitiously bend them to suit her own aims, creating groundbreaking music and leaving a lasting legacy on the world of sound. She was a ‘novelty’ female among many males.

6. The Power of "Recordings": Leaving a Lasting Imprint

As I grappled with finding ‘Delia’ it made me wonder how, from what we leave in our wake, we expect people to have any understanding of who we really are or the reasons behind our life choices.

Legacy. The author reflects on the importance of "recordings" in conveying an understanding of who we really are and the reasons behind our life choices. These recordings, whether in the form of art, music, or autobiography, serve as imprints of our presence in the world, shaping how we are remembered long after we are gone.

Truth. It is difficult to know what’s true. I investigated life in the fifteenth century to determine what was plausible as far as Margery’s life and actions were concerned, to help me reach some understanding of her, particularly what it could have felt like and meant for her always to be regarded as lesser than men.

Individualism. The book emphasizes the importance of individualism, exploring what drives individuals to seek alternative ways of living and expressing themselves, even when less troublesome options are available. The author celebrates the courage to "say" what one chooses, despite the difficulties, and to traverse the world on one's own terms.

7. Navigating the Alternative: Freedom, Exploitation, and the Search for Self

I have a need to get the most I can out of the present.

Radical Fringe. Living on the radical fringe can be amazingly thrilling and at times a nightmare. The reaction to so-called ‘radical behavior’ is a curiously love/hate, negative/positive thing. By stepping out of line and meeting with disapproval and contempt, you’re faced with attempts to break your spirit, so you’re consequently in a permanent state of repairing and reinforcing your defenses to ensure any precious new discoveries of self can’t be violated.

Conditions. Within the so-called ‘free and alternative’ relationship I was in, there was an assumed contractual obligation, an unspoken debt, for me to surrender my body on the command of my partner. It flew in the face of the awakening of women’s sexual freedom in the 1970s, and later it struck me as a version of Margery’s ‘debt’ experience with her husband John.

Self-Preservation. The author, Delia, and Margery all sought and found some degree of refuge and affirmation by, at times, being part of like-minded groups which advocated autonomy, freedom and an unconventional, creative approach to life. It’s good to be among people who share your sense of otherness, who struggle to fit in and be the person they never were.

8. The Enduring Influence of Childhood and Early Experiences

Since childhood I’ve been fascinated by things that aren’t of my world, different cultures, the past, the future.

Formative Years. The book highlights the lasting impact of childhood experiences on shaping individuals' perspectives, values, and creative pursuits. Delia's early exposure to the sounds of wartime sirens and her strict Catholic upbringing influenced her musical compositions and her approach to life.

Rebellious Spirit. Delia and I both had an aptitude for the arts and science. Delia’s first love was music and she started learning to play the piano at the age of eight, but the educational system viewed the arts as secondary to academic subjects.

Early Influences. The author's childhood fascination with the mystical and magical, as well as her exposure to the wailings and bleeps of her father's radios, played a significant role in shaping her musical output and her willingness to explore unconventional sounds.

9. Finding Strength in Shared Struggles and Collective Resistance

I see myself, Delia and Margery as ‘pockets of resistance’ – despite often being targets for derision, striving for and actively seeking the as yet undiscovered, to try and find a solution to the restless, unquantifiable passion and emotional expression we call creativity.

Pockets of Resistance. The author, Delia, and Margery are portrayed as "pockets of resistance," individuals who defied societal norms and challenged the status quo in their respective fields. Their shared struggles against adversity and their commitment to self-expression serve as a source of inspiration.

Collective of Others. Being ‘other’ in a collective of ‘others’ helps. It gives you the freedom to be who you are and helps relieve the sense of remoteness, of difference. It eases the everyday pressure of handling prejudices and provides reassurance that we’re not crazy but just people with a different view and expectation of what life is about and our active role within it.

Strength. The book emphasizes the importance of finding strength in shared struggles and collective resistance, highlighting the power of community and the support that can be found in connecting with like-minded individuals.

10. The Inexplicable Connections Across Time and Creative Pursuits

I was getting to know Delia through talking with those who knew her, through her music and through spending time at the archive, listening to so many audio files, reading and holding papers she’d written on and touched.

Serendipity. The author explores the inexplicable connections that can exist between individuals across time and space, highlighting the coincidences and synchronicities that brought her, Delia, and Margery together. These connections suggest a deeper, underlying force at work, guiding their creative pursuits and shaping their destinies.

Personal Connection. The smaller, more personal things about her loomed large, and in part displaced the academic writings I’d read that focused more on her technical achievements. I began to connect with her on a deeper level.

Influence. The book celebrates the power of influence, demonstrating how the lives and works of these three women continue to resonate and inspire others, leaving a lasting legacy on the world of art, music, and literature.

Last updated: February 23, 2025