So Mutiny was doing a sort of challenge to Valentine's Day, a calling-out, if you will. With all sorts of exciting performances and debates, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but my friend Lola Sparkle was hosting, so I wore my Marie Curie teeshirt and went along to the Resistance Gallery to check it out.

I had a fantastic time at this event, actually! It started out with some speed debating with Tansy Hoskins- a topic would be raised, people would have a minute to debate, and then the microphone would be turned to a few people to say what they had concluded/discussed. Then everyone would move along and start the process again- a neat way to meet other political people and have a nice bouncing off session.  A nifty idea- I was a little nervous to engage myself though, as it takes me a little bit to formulate an argument and check it for logical fallacies!

Then Helen Arney did some hilarious, amazing songs- I particularly liked the one about making love like a variety of animals- no, seriously, not just doggie style, but like rabbits, angler fish and, ultimately, pandas. Awwww. Her songs were quite smart and funny and I hope to catch more performances from her in the future!

Another highlight was Bird la Bird, someone I've heard much about but hadn't met, performing the SCUC Manifesto (Society for Cutting Up Couples) which was fantastic, both thought provoking and funny. I found her performance riveting.

There were three 45 minute discussions where people from the audience were invited to come up and ask questions that the panels would answer- one theme was how we learn love, and what we learn, another was how institutions teach and regulate love, and the final one was about love activism (which I sadly missed as I was pretty tired). I found the discussions interesting but sometimes hard to hear and engage in fully- lots of chatter going on! Still, I definitely look forward to going to another. I love politics, and debate, and there were a hot group of people there. It was sexy and inspiring.

So well done, Mutiny- you put love on trial and I don't know who won, but you certainly had me walk away thinking, and that's a win.

Want to check out the next one? It'll be Violence on Trial, April 28th 2011. Keep updated on their blog or their facebook group.