The radical notion that women like good movies
In many shows, pregnancy is a simplistic and glossed-over story line, a plot device that comes nowhere near to a realistic depiction of a woman’s experience. How many times have you seen a woman in a television show or movie throw up and know: She’s pregnant! Then you see montages, baby bumps, pregnant women behaving … Continue reading “Reproduction and Abortion Week: Friday Night Lights”
This piece on Obvious Child, by Amber Leab, originally appeared at Bitch Flicks on November 4, 2009. ———- Abortion is a legal medical procedure, and it’s presented as such in this film. That alone is a welcome change–as others have stated–from recent film and television. Obvious comparisons have been made to Knocked Up and Juno, … Continue reading “Reproduction & Abortion Week: Obvious Child”
The cast of Battlestar Galactica This is a guest review by Leigh Kolb. “All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again.” The opening credits of each episode of Battlestar Galactica, which aired from 2004 – 2009, set the premise for the plot: “The Cylons were created by man. They evolved. … Continue reading “Reproduction & Abortion Week: Procreation at the End of Civilization: Reproductive Rights on ‘Battlestar Galactica’”
Movie poster for October Baby This guest review by Erin Fenner originally appeared at Trust Women and is republished with the author’s permission. ———- This is the second part of a two-part series where I examined first how abortion has been portrayed in contemporary films, and in this post how October Baby addresses it. What … Continue reading “Reproduction & Abortion Week: October Baby”
Dirty Dancing poster This is a guest review by Myrna Waldron. I was less than a year old when Dirty Dancing came out. It is known for the chemistry between its stars, incredible choreography, and a fantastic soundtrack that balances the sounds of the 60s and the 80s. It’s a typical coming-of-age story, but one … Continue reading “Reproduction & Abortion Week: The Dancer’s Dilemma”
Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games Part 1 of the Review in Conversation on The Hunger Games. Megan’s Take:In a dystopian future, the nation of Panem stands where North America once existed. The government at the Capitol, which controls the country, mandates a girl and boy between the ages of 12 and … Continue reading “‘The Hunger Games’ Review in Conversation: Part 1 on Jennifer Lawrence, Female Protagonists, Body Image, Disability, Whitewashing, Hunger & Food”
Stephanie‘s Picks: “Ashley Judd, Kate Winslet and Jennifer Lawrence vs. Our Toxic Misogynist Culture” by Sophia Savage for Thompson on Hollywood “The Hunger Games, Hollywood and Fighting Fuck Toys” by Caroline Heldman for Ms. Magazine “Talking to Lena Dunham About Being A ‘Girl’” by Kase Wickman for The Awl “Film Corner” (On The Lucky One) … Continue reading “Bitch Flicks’ Weekly Picks”
Snow White’s beautifully coiffed hair, blue, red, and gold gown, and seven trusty sidekicks all have made her one of Disney’s most recognizable princesses. But, is she worthy of the adoration of many young girls worldwide? Many people have argued that no, she is not a good role model, due to her passive nature (“Someday, … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: Snow White and the Huntsman: A Better Role Model?”
Arresting Ana (2009) In February of this year, Tumblr made news when it announced it would no longer host “self harm” sites–which promote anorexia or bulimia as a lifestyle choice, among other subjects–and would pop up a public service announcement (PSA) whenever someone searches for a keyword associated with self harm. Recently I participated in a feminist … Continue reading “Arresting Ana: A Short Film about Pro-Anorexia Websites”
Moviegoers seeking a simple, erotic film laden with illicit trysts between a teacher and student may be left unsatisfied with Notes on a Scandal. While an affair between a teacher, Sheba (Cate Blanchett), and high school student, Steven (Andrew Simpson) serves as a definitive catalyst, Notes largely centers around the … Continue reading “Notes on ‘Notes on a Scandal’”
Elena Anaya and Natasha Yarovenko in Room In Rome This is a guest review by Djelloul Marbrook. ———- Room In Rome, the Spanish director Julio Medem’s deft pas de deux with Psyche, is everything Hollywood blockbusters are not. It consists of three people, a street, a hotel room and a piazza in Rome. By comparison, … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: Room In Rome”
In the United States we are experiencing unprecedented attacks on reproductive rights, with record numbers of bills introduced in states in 2011 and already in 2012 that restrict access to abortion. A major national debate revolving around female contraception and whether or not it constitutes “preventative care,” and whether employers and insurance companies should be … Continue reading “Call for Writers: Reproduction and Abortion in Film and Television”
