So, I bought a comic. I haven’t purchased a comic book since I bought my last Archie at […]
women
So I went home last night with the intention of writing something thought-provoking and borderline academic for y’all. I had an outline in my head and everything….and then I turned on Netflix.
You know what that means.
Almost four hours later, I’d watched ten episodes of Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23.
Now, if you’ve been to our blog before, you may have noticed that I feel rather strongly about how the media portrays women. I mourn the lack of quality, diverse women on the big and small screen, and I look forward to the day when someone hires me to pen the world’s next big thing, featuring a female lead that’s kick-ass and womanly.
So why watch a show that is, to quote a friend, “so obviously and disgustingly anti-feminist and shallow?”
Call it morbid curiosity.
Now, I can see why this show would be criticized. The “B—-“, Chloe (played by Krysten Ritter), is rude and obnoxious. She parties hard, has sex with strangers, and generally cares about no one but herself. Her best friend is Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek (played oh so satirically by James Van Der Beek). She’s shallow; she’s selfish; she’s mean. She is the epitome of the entitled white girl who lives the “fabulous life” and cares more about her shoes than world hunger. She’s the kind of person I would never want as a friend.

Grrl Power
According to Lee Edwards in his book, Psyche as Hero (1984) “By the beginning of the twentieth century, novelists seem readier to abandon the project of entrapping the female heroic character and begin the task of inventing maneuvers whereby she can break out of familial, sexual, and social bondage into an altered and appropriate world” (16). Suzanne Collins’ “Girl on Fire” is a heroic alternative to limited female archetypes bound inextricably to traditionally assigned gender roles. Katniss is not tied to a matriarchal role, in fact, she cannot and will not bare children until social change is achieved in Panem. Readers encounter a love triangle of sorts, yet it is not central to the action. Katniss cannot settle into any role comfortably until she achieves social and spiritual growth and her journey is over. On her quest, the female hero must risk violating social norms regarding gender roles to fully realize her heroic qualities. Katniss must “incorporate change into [her] private life [and then] move with confidence into a newly constituted world” (Edwards 16).
Did you know Geena Davis was a semi-finalist for the 2000 Olympic archery team and is currently a MENSA member?

While we are a cosplaying Collective here, I’ll admit I haven’t participated in much crossplay. Um, what’s crossplay, you ask? Well…
It’s basically crossdressing cosplay. Duh. But, more than that, crossplaying gives men and women the opportunity to dress up as their favorite characters without gender-enforced stereotypes, and we love that. While there are some crossplaying dudes, many of them (that I have run into) perform Japanimation crossplay, which I know nothing about. What I do know is that in British and American television, my forte, there are more strong male characters than female characters. Case and point; I am a Doctor Who fan but if I’m dressing up, why do I have to be a companion? Why can’t I be the Doctor? Well, with crossplay, I can and I shall be brilliant. And, let me just add, if you are a purist who thinks that ONLY a man can dress like the Doctor or Sherlock or any other male character, well, bugger off and don’t read this post because you will not be happy.
An important topic and an interesting take. Imagine being black and a woman…
I live the notion that I can fangirl and be feminist. I can be a mother and a […]
This weekend, Man of Steel, This is the End and The Bling Ring open in theaters, amongst other films. […]