The radical notion that women like good movies
No other type of character seems to tug at our nostalgic heartstrings like TV moms. So we asked you to tell us: who are your favorite moms on television? While the answers crossed boundaries of socio-economic status, race and TV genre, the female characters named embody many similar traits — warm, intelligent, loving, educated, stern, … Continue reading “Weekly Feminist Film Question: Who Are Your Favorite TV Moms?”
This piece by Adam Howard previously appeared at his Web site The Blank Projector and is cross-posted with permission. Buffy, jumping off the ledge in Season Five I don’t intend to write about TV too often here, as the volume of serious television criticism on the internet is close to saturation point and I’m not … Continue reading “Buffy the Vampire Slayer Week: Death Is Your Gift–In Praise of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Fifth Season”
You’ve probably noticed some wonderful new writers around here. They’ll each be writing weekly posts, so you’ll definitely want to check back here often to read their fabulous pieces. In case you missed any of their introductions last week, I’ve included excerpts below. Make sure to read their full bios to learn more about them–and … Continue reading “Welcome New Contributors!”
Megan‘s Picks: Olympic Women Succeed, But Is It Really Fair Play? by via Adios Barbie NBC’s Bizarre Attempt to Turn Female Olympians Into Eye Candy by Alyssa Rosenberg via ThinkProgress Sexism, Racism and Swimming at the London 2012 Olympics by Sarah Keenan via Racialicious Round Table: Julie Delpy, Ava DuVernay and Leslye Headland on Directing … Continue reading “Bitch Flicks Weekly Picks”
As a teenager, I didn’t necessarily see a place for feminism in my life. Looking back, I realize that’s because I was surrounded by it. I went to Lilith Fairs. Tori Amos and Ani DiFranco were voices that inspired me and female protagonists like Angela Chase, Cher Horowitz, and Daria served as reminders that teenage … Continue reading “New ‘Bitch Flicks’ Regular Contributor: Leigh Kolb”
Hello all. I’m Max Thornton, known in other corners of the web as Rainicorn or Gay Christian Geek. My previous Bitch Flicks contributions are No Country For Old Men and Growing Up Queer: Water Lilies (2007) and Tomboy (2011), which prove that I can appreciate good films even though my heart really belongs to Syfy … Continue reading “New Bitch Flicks Regular Contributor: Max Thornton”
Promotional poster for the new reality TV series Push Girls A new reality TV show called Push Girls, starring four disabled women in wheelchairs, premiered on the Sundance Channel last night. And it’s gotten glowing reviews. Jill Serjeant writes for the Huffington Post: Angela is a stunning model, Auti is a dancer who is trying … Continue reading “Television Preview: Push Girls”
Here they are! I don’t have much to say about these (yet), but if we’ve reviewed them or commented on them, I’ll link you up. Best Motion Picture — Drama “The Descendants”“The Help”“Hugo”“The Ides of March”“Moneyball”“War Horse” Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”Viola Davis, “The Help”Rooney … Continue reading “2012 Golden Globe Nominations”
In ‘Ravenous,’ the primary meat and potatoes of the terror the audience feels isn’t provided by novel sights on the screen. While the visuals are gorgeous, its true potency comes from its sense of self-confidence. … Director Antonia Bird is unafraid of long silences; she trusts her skills to communicate plot and character visually without the need for exposition. … It makes for a moody, evocative, distinctive, and extremely memorable personal style.
It’s pretty uncommon in Hollywood to see a movie directed by a woman as only 3.4% of all film directors are women. It’s even more uncommon to see women directing films in genres intended for a largely male audience. Granted, all movies of any genre can be and are watched and enjoyed by people of any gender. However, Hollywood tends to market certain genres towards men, and for that reason, it’s even more difficult for women directors to get in on the market.
In spite of the ending or what the trailer suggests, ‘Christopher Strong’ doesn’t demonize Cynthia for her ambition and her desires; instead, the film sheds a sympathetic light on her story even as it depicts her pursuit of independence and love as an impossible one within the context of the world she occupies. The story of such a pursuit and the societal pressures attached likely felt familiar to director Dorothy Arzner, writer Zoë Akins, and star Katharine Hepburn — each of whom occupied positions of creative control in the film’s production and led successful careers in an industry still notorious for undervaluing women today.
These two women directors, Amy Heckerling (‘Clueless’) and Kelly Fremon Craig (‘The Edge of Seventeen’), use their films to give a focused examination on the insecurity and self-doubt teen girls face. Cher and Nadine’s personal struggles, as well as their relationships with older mentors, reveal how patriarchal expectations shape their lives as they come of age.
