The radical notion that women like good movies
However, there are animated shows that do present female sex positivity and appear to subvert the current patriarchal control of female sexuality in media. ‘Archer’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers’ are both refreshing examples of portrayals of positive female sexuality.
What helps ‘Evangelion’ continue to grow its popularity is not the focus on religious or sci-fi elements, but its commitment to showcasing the fragility of humanity through its flawed and destructive characters tasked with saving the world and themselves. And how does the franchise show this? By literally placing the future of what’s left of the world in the hand of dysfunctional and emotionally fragile children.
And just as the film articulates these contrasting attitudes and dilemmas with regard to controlling powers and zero sum attitudes, so too does it address these issues within themes of gender, sexuality and authority.
‘Orphan Black’ tackles two very different hot-button topics in a way that’s considered entertaining, insightful, and groundbreaking: the possible repercussions of cloning and the dynamics of the female personality. Show creators Graeme Manson and John Fawcett are earning praise for breaking decades of television stereotypes that resulted in most female characters either taking a backseat role or displaying a single, overriding personality trait (i.e., the ditzy blonde, the butch female, the submissive housewife). As the feminism in ‘Orphan Black’ earns praise, however, there’s been some criticism of the show’s underdeveloped male characters–a glaring contradiction that may be intentional.
The Oxford Dictionary defines dystopia as “An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one.” Literature and pop culture are brimming with examples of dystopian landscapes because they serve as a vehicle through which we can follow certain ills in society to their potentially logical and tragic conclusions.
Two distinct masculinities pull the Trilogy’s heroes in different directions. Given Wright’s frequent use of pop culture references, I’ve opted to borrow Dungeons and Dragons’ terminology and describe these extremes as lawful and chaotic. Lawful masculinity is characterized by competency and order; it is the hallmark of the responsible (but rigid) adult. Chaotic masculinity is characterized by hedonism and anti-authoritarianism, usually embodied in the series by characters in a state of adolescence (whether age-appropriate or not).
Check out what we’ve been reading this week–and let us know what you’ve been reading/writing in the comments!
‘The New Adult’ is a small slice of life in the post-Aughts. Amber Morse plays Amber, a 30-something who, after being kicked out of the family home, is living uncomfortably with her best friend, her best friend’s husband, and their young child. The pilot opens with Amber passed out in the backyard. Upon waking she goes inside to get breakfast, and what follows is almost seven solid minutes of excellence.
Review and Q&A with creator/director Katherine Murray-Satchell.
# The 100 3rd Rock from the Sun 30 Rock 2 Broke Girls A Ackee & Saltfish Adventure Time Agent Carter Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Alias All-American Girl Ally McBeal Alphas American Crime American Horror Story American Horror Story: Asylum American Horror Story: Coven American Ninja Warrior The Americans Angel Anne of Green Gables Archer The … Continue reading “TV Directory”
Did you miss these popular posts on Bitch Flicks? If so, here’s your chance to catch up. “Gratuitous Female Nudity and Complex Female Characters in Game of Thrones“ by Lady T “How to Recognize the Signs of Feminist Burnout” by Myrna Waldron “Nothing Can Save The Walking Dead‘s Sexist Woman Problem” by Megan Kearns “In … Continue reading “The Ten Most-Read Posts from April 2013”
Tyler Perry’s Rape Problem by Carolyn Edgar Jessica Chastain, “Roles for Women Have Taken a Step Back” by Sasha Stone via Women and Hollywood Think ‘The Walking Dead’ Has a Woman Problem? Here’s the Source by Simon Abrams via The Village Voice Rick Ross, Don Draper, and the Fantasy World of Masculinity by Mychal Denzel … Continue reading “Bitch Flicks’ Weekly Picks”
Did you miss these popular posts on Bitch Flicks? If so, here’s your chance to catch up. “A Post About Community‘s Shirley? That’s Nice.” by Lady T “Bitch Slapped: Female Violence in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters“ by Rachel Redfern “The Complex, Unlikable Women of House of Cards“ by Leigh Kolb “Feminism and the Oscars: … Continue reading “The Ten Most-Read Posts from February 2013”
