![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Two of my favorite things: feminism and Whedon shows
Via a recent link on whedonesque, I stumbled across a series at meloukhia.net about feminism and Joss Whedon's shows. The one linked to on whedonesque is on Dollhouse, and is a bit disappointing--it opens arguments without really exploring them, to be honest. But some of the older articles are worth checking out.
Like this one on sex and punishment on Joss's shows--not anything that hasn't been said before, but still, nice to see someone examining it again.
But I really, really like this two part exploration of how Angel is really pretty antifeminist. It especially delves into Cordelia's character and hints at how it was destroyed (I still want to yell "WTF, JOSS?" about that one), and it had one especially insightful quote I wanted to share.
We see a recurring theme with Cordelia: she is not allowed control of her body, because her body “needs” to be used by others. Yes. I had never, ever noticed this before (probably mostly because I got into Angel before I really learned how to read texts from a feminist perspective), but it is so, so true. From demon pregnancies to visions forced on her against her will to having her body stolen from her to be the vessel of Jasmine, poor Cordy is never allowed to be Cordy for very long before her body is stolen from her again. Since she's far and away my favorite character on that show (with Gunn in a close second), and since I love her so hardcore on Buffy, where she's always HBIC, this still makes me bitter.
And then Fred goes through the same thing! It's troubling, and not something I'd thought about on a conscious level, even if I would have told you that Angel isn't exactly a feminist show.
On the other hand, the second part includes some truly great moments for women on Angel and also has some love for Lilah, who I think is just an incredibly fabulous character in every way.
I don't agree with all her points in all the articles (obviously), but still, there's some interesting stuff going on all of them. I really appreciate that she's examining all this from the point of view of a fan who still sees problematic aspects of shows she loves (just like me!).
ALSO: Go vote for Buffy here! Because River is beating her, and we can't have that! As much as I love River, Buffy is my hero.
[ETA] While we're on the topic of Joss-criticism, I thought I'd throw out this link, too, since it's someone who is far more knowledgeable than I am calling him out about something else that's really bothered me about his shows.
Like this one on sex and punishment on Joss's shows--not anything that hasn't been said before, but still, nice to see someone examining it again.
But I really, really like this two part exploration of how Angel is really pretty antifeminist. It especially delves into Cordelia's character and hints at how it was destroyed (I still want to yell "WTF, JOSS?" about that one), and it had one especially insightful quote I wanted to share.
We see a recurring theme with Cordelia: she is not allowed control of her body, because her body “needs” to be used by others. Yes. I had never, ever noticed this before (probably mostly because I got into Angel before I really learned how to read texts from a feminist perspective), but it is so, so true. From demon pregnancies to visions forced on her against her will to having her body stolen from her to be the vessel of Jasmine, poor Cordy is never allowed to be Cordy for very long before her body is stolen from her again. Since she's far and away my favorite character on that show (with Gunn in a close second), and since I love her so hardcore on Buffy, where she's always HBIC, this still makes me bitter.
And then Fred goes through the same thing! It's troubling, and not something I'd thought about on a conscious level, even if I would have told you that Angel isn't exactly a feminist show.
On the other hand, the second part includes some truly great moments for women on Angel and also has some love for Lilah, who I think is just an incredibly fabulous character in every way.
I don't agree with all her points in all the articles (obviously), but still, there's some interesting stuff going on all of them. I really appreciate that she's examining all this from the point of view of a fan who still sees problematic aspects of shows she loves (just like me!).
ALSO: Go vote for Buffy here! Because River is beating her, and we can't have that! As much as I love River, Buffy is my hero.
[ETA] While we're on the topic of Joss-criticism, I thought I'd throw out this link, too, since it's someone who is far more knowledgeable than I am calling him out about something else that's really bothered me about his shows.
no subject
I really love ATS for a lot of things, but my feminist-googles (they're more like glasses, really. I feel nekkid and blind without them) there is a lot of fail to be had. The links + comments to this are a little depressing to my soul. Buffy is as close to my heart as media get and ATS sort of hangs out in the corner and yeah, we talk a lot but sometimes argue and I feel like kneeing him in the groin. And then he goes back to his corner.
(Cordy! My poor Cordy. Ugh, come hang out with me and we can be snarky HBICs and there will be no demonic pregnancies (leave that to Bella and Eddiekins, yo).)
The sheer superficiality of the "Oriental" cultural infusion in Firefly is always disappointing to me. There's a littleeee part of me that hopes Joss would have maybe progressed a bit if the show had been given room to grow.
Thank you for the linkage, consider them bookmarked.
no subject
In other news: SIMON. SIMON GOING MADE IN "JAYNESTOWN." SO MUCH LOVE.
But back to the meta.
ATS sort of hangs out in the corner and yeah, we talk a lot but sometimes argue and I feel like kneeing him in the groin. And then he goes back to his corner. Haha! Yes! You're just like Buffy with the groin-kicking!
(Cordy! My poor Cordy. Ugh, come hang out with me and we can be snarky HBICs and there will be no demonic pregnancies (leave that to Bella and Eddiekins, yo).) YES. Just...yes.
I certainly hope he would have, too, but honestly, considering his other racial issues...I kind of doubt it.
You're welcome! Always happy to help people with their meta-fix!
no subject
Metalovin' high-five.
Or something.
no subject
That sounds like something Barney Stinson would say. If he were, you know, into meta.