The radical notion that women like good movies
By Myrna Waldron In the film’s opening sequence, Sita rubs Rama’s leg. So before I start, let’s address the elephant in the room. This film is about The Ramayana, an important text in Hindu mythology, and primarily focuses on Sita, an avatar of the goddess Lakshmi, who is married to Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. But … Continue reading “Women of Color In Film and TV: Conflicting Thoughts On ‘Sita Sings The Blues’”
This guest review by Diane Shipley previously appeared at Bea Magazine and is cross-posted with permission. I love Scandal. Halfway through the second season, it’s still some of the most sharp, fast-paced, thrilling TV I’ve ever sat through. Sure, it’s often improbable and features silly banter, but it’s never predictable, and Kerry Washington shines like … Continue reading “Women of Color in Film and TV: Talk About a ‘Scandal’: ‘Bunheads,’ the Whitey-Whiteness of TV, and Why Shonda Rhimes Is a Goddamn Hero”
This guest review by Diane Shipley previously appeared at Bea Magazine and is cross-posted with permission. I love Scandal. Halfway through the second season, it’s still some of the most sharp, fast-paced, thrilling TV I’ve ever sat through. Sure, it’s often improbable and features silly banter, but it’s never predictable, and Kerry Washington shines like … Continue reading “Women of Color in Film and TV: Talk About a "Scandal": ‘Bunheads,’ the Whitey-Whiteness of TV, and Why Shonda Rhimes Is a Goddamn Hero”
Scandal Guest post written by Nakeesha Seneb, originally published at Structured Breakdown. Cross posted with permission. I think Shonda Rhimes, and her writing round table, are some of the most prolific storytellers of our times. Yes, I said prolific and I’m going to stand by such a big SAT word. Prolific actually means producing much … Continue reading “Women of Color in Film and TV: ‘Scandal’ Pilot: Loosen Up Your Buttons, Baby”
Written by Megan Kearns. Yelling to the Skystruck a visceral chord with me. I related to it in a way I often don’t with films. I’m not a biracial woman growing up impoverished, who turns to selling drugs as a means of survival. But I grew up with an absent father and a single mother … Continue reading “Women of Color in Film and TV Week: A Girl Struggles to Survive Her Chaotic Homelife in ‘Yelling to the Sky’”
Scandal, created by Shonda Rimes and starring Kerry Washington Guest post written by Atima Omara-Alwala. Like every other woman of color who enjoys film and probably many film and TV critics alike, I waited with baited breath to see what the debut of Scandal, the first major network television show in nearly 40 years with … Continue reading “Women of Color in Film and TV: Mammy, Sapphire, or Jezebel, Olivia Pope is Not: A Review of ‘Scandal’”
Guest post written by Natalie Wilson, originally published at Ms. Magazine. Cross-posted with permission. While Les Misérables is not your typical musical–or, as this Guardian review puts it, “There’s no dancing, there are no jazz hands and there is next to no speech”–it is typical of the genre in that, like opera, it includes more … Continue reading “2013 Oscar Week: ‘Les Misérables’: Some Musicals Are More Feminist Than Others”
Written by Amanda Rodriguez *Spoiler Alert* If you’re at all like me, you’re constantly frustrated by the characterizations of the women of The Walking Dead AMC series, their choices, and their actions. The show has received significant criticism for its paternalistic attitude, its throwback gender roles, and its lack of strong, capable female characters. Though … Continue reading “The Women of The Walking Dead: A Comparative Analysis of the Comic vs. TV”
When Seth MacFarlane was picked to host the 2013 Academy Awards, my esteemed colleague Robin Hitchcock wrote a list of preferable hosts, including the Oogieloves, the Romney sons, and Jennifer Aniston handcuffed to Angelina Jolie. I share many of Robin’s criticisms of him and his mean style of comedy that continually marginalizes already-marginalized people. Occasionally, … Continue reading “5 People Who Should Host the Oscars At Some Point”
When Seth MacFarlane was picked to host the 2013 Academy Awards, my esteemed colleague Robin Hitchcock wrote a list of preferable hosts, including the Oogieloves, the Romney sons, and Jennifer Aniston handcuffed to Angelina Jolie. I share many of Robin’s criticisms of him and his mean style of comedy that continually marginalizes already-marginalized people. Occasionally, … Continue reading “5 People Who Should Host the Oscars At Some Point”
“Period stories are a no-brainer: There’s blood, there’s surprise, there’s drama. And more often than not, a whole lot of comedy.” – Vanessa Matsui Written by Leigh Kolb In 1978, Gloria Steinhem’s “If Men Could Menstruate” appeared in Ms. She says, answering the question of what would happen if suddenly women stopped menstruating and men began: … Continue reading “Go With the Flow: On-Screen Menstruation and the Crankyfest Film Festival”
Lena Dunham and the cast of Girls Written by Stephanie Rogers. Dear Lena Dunham Haters, I’m sick of the Lena Dunham hate. I’m not referring to the criticisms of Dunham, which are—in most cases—valid and necessary critiques of her privilege, especially how that privilege translates into her work. The first season of Girls in particular … Continue reading “Let’s All Take a Deep Breath and Calm the Fuck Down About Lena Dunham”
