Animated Children’s Films: Spirited Away

  This is a guest review by Jason Feldstein. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has been one of my favorite stories for years now. Artists have used the storyline of a young girl finding herself in a magical world numerous times. If there is one version that resonates with me, it is a film called Spirited … Continue reading “Animated Children’s Films: Spirited Away”

Guest Writer Wednesday: Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan: Viewers’ and Critics’ Miss-steps in a Dance with a Female Protagonist

Black Swan (2010) As Mila Kunis’s character descends upon Natalie Portman’s in the (dream) oral sex scene in Black Swan, a college-age young woman in the movie theater audibly whispers, “And this is why every guy in the theater is here.”  Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 Black Swan is a film about repression, perfection, and letting go.  … Continue reading “Guest Writer Wednesday: Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan: Viewers’ and Critics’ Miss-steps in a Dance with a Female Protagonist”

Swiffer Reminds Us that Women Are Dirt

We’ve all been here before: watching a television show, cut to commercial break, and on comes that particular ad that you absolutely loathe. You switch the channel, mute the TV, or just rant through the entire thing…again (I’m not the only one, right?). Not too long ago, I wrote about the spate of “man up … Continue reading “Swiffer Reminds Us that Women Are Dirt”

I Feel Like Hell …

I went to the doctor, and she tried to convince me I’m only developing allergies, but I told her I don’t understand how allergies can make my entire face, head, neck, and body feel like they might simultaneously explode, but you know, what do I know. So I’m slacking off today while I get my … Continue reading “I Feel Like Hell …”

In ‘Women, War & Peace’s ‘I Came to Testify’ Brave Bosnian Women Speak Out About Surviving Rape as a Weapon of War

  This is a guest post from Megan Kearns. It originally appeared at The Opinioness of the World.   When we discuss war and security, we don’t often explore its ramifications on women. Rape and sexual assault are common threats women face globally. But of all the artillery and tactics soldiers use, we rarely think … Continue reading “In ‘Women, War & Peace’s ‘I Came to Testify’ Brave Bosnian Women Speak Out About Surviving Rape as a Weapon of War”

Director Spotlight: Nicole Holofcener

When Megan Kearns reviewed the documentary !Women Art Revolution, she began her post with a challenge to readers: Name three artists. A simple request, and one she suspected would yield an answer consisting of three male artists.  If challenged to name three directors, would responses be similar–three male directors? If you’re familiar with this site … Continue reading “Director Spotlight: Nicole Holofcener”

Bitch Flicks’ Weekly Picks

Flick Chicks: A guide to women in the movies by Mindy Kaling for The New Yorker Kickstarter campaign for ‘The Punk Singer is Kathleen Hanna’ by Sini Anderson Tomi-Ann Roberts on the sexualization of girls from SPARK Summit CNN’s “Gender Identity: A Change in Childhood” from Bitch Early Signs of a “Bridesmaids” Bump by Rebecca … Continue reading “Bitch Flicks’ Weekly Picks”

Emmy Week 2011: Mags Bennett: As Wholesome As Apple Pie

Mags Bennett, played by Margo Martindale After watching the first couple episodes of Justified with me, my good friend asked the question that I ask myself, “Why do you like this show?” See, she knows me and my general dislike of the Western aesthetic: all wide shots and swagger. Add in that it is “inspired” … Continue reading “Emmy Week 2011: Mags Bennett: As Wholesome As Apple Pie”

Emmy Week 2011: Leslie Knope

Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope “It’s a great time to be a woman in politics… Get on board and buckle up, ‘cos my ride’s gonna be a big one.” In the Parks and Recreation pilot, Leslie Knope made clear the extent of her political ambitions. But it was also clear that she was deluded. The Deputy Director of … Continue reading “Emmy Week 2011: Leslie Knope”

Emmy Week 2011: Glee!

Not since E! has any one thing on television been so damn exclamatory. Glee! celebrated its everyman song-and-dance style before its slushy flying face-offs ever aired. After a Journey-style breakthrough and myriad episodes featuring pop music gone oh so right, the show ended its first Emmy award-winning season and began a second. Can the plotlines … Continue reading “Emmy Week 2011: Glee!”

Mad Men Week: Is Mad Men the Most Feminist Show on TV?

Written by Megan Kearns, cross-posted from The Opinioness of the World. So I arrived very late to the Mad Men party. As a self-proclaimed TV connoisseur and a feminist, I’m picky about the shows I choose to let into my life. But due to the urgings of my boyfriend Jeff and my girlfriends Lauren and … Continue reading “Mad Men Week: Is Mad Men the Most Feminist Show on TV?”

Things They Haven’t Seen: Women and Class in Mad Men

Towards the end of the first season, Peggy Olson goes out on a date set up by her mother. The guy, Carl, drives a potato chip delivery truck, and makes it clear that he doesn’t think too highly of Peggy’s chosen profession. “You don’t look like those girls,” he tells her. Peggy storms off, snapping at Carl, “They are better than … Continue reading “Things They Haven’t Seen: Women and Class in Mad Men”