The radical notion that women like good movies
“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” – William Faulkner Written by Leigh Kolb Spoilers ahead In 2011, two presidential hopefuls signed a pledge that, in its original form, insinuated that African-American children had families that were more cohesive and better off during slavery. Texas and Tennessee both in the last two years have … Continue reading “The Power of Narrative in ‘Django Unchained’”
This Christmas will be my second in a row spent 5000 miles away from my family and the happy, traditional celebrations that characterized the first 21 Christmases of my life. I am feeling pretty okay about this, though, because I’ve discovered the essential ingredients for Christmas to be Christmas. They’re not family or presents or … Continue reading “Six Essential Christmas Specials”
Horror films have a long-standing tradition of commenting on the social fears and anxieties of their time. Another universally recognized truth of horror is that scary children are terrifying–especially little girls. While an analysis of “creepy children” in horror films usually proclaims that they are providing commentary on a loss of innocence, and it would … Continue reading “The Terror of Little Girls: Social Anxiety About Women in Horrifying Girlhood”
Last week, there was a RiffTrax live event all across the country. If you’re not familiar with RiffTrax, it’s what some of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 crew do now. If you’re not familiar with MST3K, well, you’re in for a (possibly life-changing) treat. In all of its iterations – MST3K, the Film Crew, Cinematic … Continue reading “Movie Riffing: A White Man’s World”
The Problem with Female Representation in Science Fiction on Television by Paul and Renee The wonderful thing about science fiction is that the writers have the opportunity to create a world, which while based on ours, can be markedly different. This means that there should be a place for strong female characters who are not … Continue reading “Women in Science Fiction Week: The Roundup”
Guest post written by Carissa Harwood. In the past, the act of writing science fiction has been a traditionally male dominated genre. Women have sought to create their own meanings in the books they read that don’t often include their perspectives and experiences. In recent decades, though, women writers have searched for and taken control … Continue reading “Women in Science Fiction Week: Examining Stereotypes with Ursula K. Le Guin”
Here is a roundup of all the pieces we published during our LGBTQI Theme Week! Thanks so much to all the guest writers for making this such a successful and important week. (Please note that some of these excerpts contain spoilers.) The Birdcage: Where You Can Come as You Are by Candice Frederick That’s the … Continue reading “LGBTQI Week: The Roundup”
This is a guest review by Stephen Ira. “I got a phone call last night from a juvenile inmate of the New York prison system. He claimed to be Stanley’s son,” the trans woman explains, trying her best to articulate herself to her therapist. It’s hard to talk about her life in her assigned … Continue reading “LGBTQI Week: Transamerica”
Movie poster for Kissing Jessica Stein This is a review by monthly guest contributor Carrie Nelson. (Warning: Contains spoilers about Kissing Jessica Stein.) Ten years ago, I saw Kissing Jessica Stein on a date with my first girlfriend. We liked the movie, but when we walked out of the theater, we laughed and said to … Continue reading “LGBTQI Week: Kissing Jessica Stein”
Here are the pieces for our series on Motherhood in Film and Television–all in one place! Thanks so much to all the writers who contributed reviews. ———- Nine Months Forward, Three Centuries Back by Tyler Adams: Nine Months, contrary to all expectations, is not about pregnancy. It’s about a man coping with a pregnancy. Yes. … Continue reading “Motherhood in Film & Television: The Roundup”
Urban Fantasy is here to stay This is a guest post from Paul and Renee. Urban Fantasy — the bringing of the fantastic (vampires, werewolves, magic, fae and so much more) to a modern, real world setting — has become ever more popular as a mainstream genre. From Twilight to True Blood to The Vampire … Continue reading “Motherhood in Film & Television: Absent Mothers in Urban Fantasy”
Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek (1976 film) This piece is from Monthly Contributor Carrie Nelson. (Warning: Contains spoilers about Stephen King’s Carrie and its film and stage adaptations.) I love Stephen King’s Carrie, and not just because we share the same name. More than anything, I love the way that Carrie honestly explores the tensions … Continue reading “Motherhood in Film & Television: The Evolution of Margaret White”
