Blog posting written by Isabel Galupo, Cinema and Photography '14, FLEFF Intern, Towson, MD

A woman strides on stage.

She is tall, with big, diva-like hair, and she is brimming with confidence and attitude. She stares at us, the audience, before shouting; "my vagina is angry!"

I feel the man sitting to my left shift uncomfortably in his seat. 

On Sunday, February 26, I attended the IC Players performance of "The Vagina Monologues." Written by Eve Ensler and performed for the first time in 1996, "The Vagina Monologues" is a play based off of interviews with over 200 women about their sexualities and memories. 

Over the years, "The Vagina Monologues" has inspired the creation of "V-Day," a movement aiming to end violence against women and girls around the globe. 

As I sat and listened to the performer on stage denounce tampons and detail the horror of gynecologist appointments, I also listened to the sounds of the audience around me. 

We women were laughing, clutching our sides, howling at the absurdities being described on stage. We cocked our heads in sympathy and understanding during the more serious parts of the monologue.

We turned to each other to mouth, "that's so true!" or, "that's totally happened to me!" 

In that moment, I found a microtopia among the other engaged women of the audience. 

And it struck me that creating an environment of mutual understanding, empathy, and connection is exactly what FLEFF aims to do for its audience. 

By coming to FLEFF and committing to being active and engaged audience members, women, men, artists, observers, seasoned and new environmentalists, students, professionals, musicians, and everyone in between can enter into a safe space-- a microtopia-- in which sharing ideas, connecting to each other, growing, evolving, and empathizing with each other becomes possible.

How will you be an engaged audience member during FLEFF week 2012?