Traveling At The Speed Of Rage

[redbrunja]

During a conversation with the_sun_is_up  (prompted by guess what) I realized that since I stopped caring about Naruto, it's been a long time since I've really ranted.

So give me some suggestions, and we'll see what sticks. It's like a drabble meme, only with rage.

Comments

[sureasdawn.livejournal.com]

Well if you still have any vitriol left for it, misogyny in comics (Japanese or U.S.). Is it more editorial(editors dictating a formula and specific guidelines for content that is misogynistic but culturally accepted) or authorial in origin (bad writing, ignorance, active dislike of female characters) or an unholy alliance of the two?

Also, the effect that buying and accepting these sort of products has on the younger people who read them. Doesn't it make you mad that people just keep eating this sort of thing up - not just in comics but in popular literature?

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

It's an unholy combination of the two. I don't think there can be any doubt about that. If people didn't buy them, they wouldn't get published; if the authors didn't agree with the gender dynamics, they wouldn't be writing them.

Also, the effect that buying and accepting these sort of products has on the younger people who read them. Doesn't it make you mad that people just keep eating this sort of thing up - not just in comics but in popular literature?

This part of the cycle right there is both the most dangerous and the easiest place to make your voice heard. It's the worst part of the cycle because this is where sexual violence and sexism is normalized (I'm thinking of shows like Supernatural and throwing up in my mouth a little). This is where both women and men are learning that sexism is the status quo. It's ALSO the place where consumers can make the most difference by showing their opinions with their dollars. This isn't twenty years ago - as my teenage reading habits proved, you can have a VAST amount of reading material even if you refuse to read anything that doesn't have a female lead or a female in a strong secondary role.

Great icon, by the way.

[sureasdawn.livejournal.com]

I pretty much knew the answer to that, I just was having trouble coming up with a topic. XD

Everything I've heard about Supernatural makes me not want to watch it (not that I watch much TV anyway). I think we're pretty lucky to be living now, when there's so much material out there that is geared towards women and positive portrayals of strong female characters.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

The first and second season of Supernatural is quite enjoyable, and they do a good job of having awesome female guest stars, but in later seasons in just gets more and more anti-women.

I think we're pretty lucky to be living now, when there's so much material out there that is geared towards women and positive portrayals of strong female characters.

Yes! And imagine how much awesome media future generations will have!

[afigureofspeech.livejournal.com]

I have just caught up on Legend of the Seeker, and though I greatly enjoyed it there are some things that have brought me up short. For instance, although it has fantastically kickass ladies like Kahlan and Cara, I feel like the show puts this weird taboo on female sexuality. Thoughts/comments?

Vaginas That Could Eat You Alive

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

I agree. Frankly, the love lives you hear the most about are the confessors, in which their love is presented as being dangerous and soul-killing to the men they are interested in. There are relationships where the man has been stripped of his agency, and there are relationships where the woman has been stripped of her power, but there is no middle ground. And while I think Richard and Kahlan are going to buck that trend, it doesn't change the fact that it's been said over and over that Kahlan's desire is a threat to Richard does actually change the subtext that the ladies + sex = DEATH.

(Though this is a glass half full situation, but I have to admit, the way the show presents sex as having potential dangerous repercussions FOR THE MEN is nice. Typically, it's women who bear all the risks of intercourse - I'm thinking specifically of Buffy here.)

That said, I think that Cara is wonderfully helpful for defusing the dangers of female sexuality, in the sense that she freaking owns hers. We've seen her have sex and enjoy it just because, and the fact that one of her hubbies died right after owes much more to the genre of the show than Cara.

So what are YOUR thoughts on this issue?

Re: Vaginas That Could Eat You Alive

[afigureofspeech.livejournal.com]

Oh Kahlan. The thing is, she wants sex, but she is pretty much completely unable to vocalize it directly. (Which isn't in itself a bad thing, because it is rather realistic considering her background.) And then the one time she actually does have sex, well, she was not exactly herself, and then she doesn't remember it at all afterward. It's like they want her to be sexually appealing (helloooo outfit) but not too sexual.

(Though this is a glass half full situation, but I have to admit, the way the show presents sex as having potential dangerous repercussions FOR THE MEN is nice. Typically, it's women who bear all the risks of intercourse - I'm thinking specifically of Buffy here.)

I understand what you mean. At least Confessors don't have to worry about rape. Or do they? Hmmm. Anyway, it is typically women that have to deal with the repercussions, which is very much reflective of real life unfortunately. And I have seen Buffy but it's been a little while - what are you thinking of?

Cara does own her sexuality, and I love her for it. The thing is though, she's still a Mord'Sith. They're despised and feared, for good reason. And they are all about domination, including with sex. Let's not forget that their job is basically to remove agency. So I still feel like it's a mixed message. And there's also that Cara has been shown on several occasions to have entirely different values from the rest of the group, who are generally portrayed as right and good. If Cara's values are not right and good, what does that say about her sexuality? Also I wasn't a real fan of Leo anyway. *cough*

There's one throw-away statement though that I was really thinking about. Darken Rahl said it when Zedd's "princess" got sent to the Underworld, I think, about the Keeper having a special hell for those who worked in pleasure, or something like that. So basically prostitutes and the like. And that may have been just a threat to get her to do what he wanted, but really? Prostitutes deserve their own special hell? Even ones that are only doing it to support their family, like the woman that Dennee possessed? I don't know, it just bothered me.

Re: Vaginas That Could Eat You Alive

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

The thing is, she wants sex, but she is pretty much completely unable to vocalize it directly. (Which isn't in itself a bad thing, because it is rather realistic considering her background.) And then the one time she actually does have sex, well, she was not exactly herself, and then she doesn't remember it at all afterward.

Not only was she not herself SHE WAS WITHOUT HER POWERS.

At least Confessors don't have to worry about rape. Or do they?

Well, they do in the books, but the books are pretty rapetasitc in general.

So I still feel like it's a mixed message. And there's also that Cara has been shown on several occasions to have entirely different values from the rest of the group, who are generally portrayed as right and good. If Cara's values are not right and good, what does that say about her sexuality?

I would actually partially disagree with this. While Cara has been shown as having different values than the rest of the group, (especially as the season goes on) a lot of times her values are shown as being reasonable (I'm thinking of her insistence on getting the stone of tears/being plot driven and "Princess" which was all about Cara having the right idea about how to go about things. So I agree that Cara is a mixed message, but it is definitely a MIX of positive and negative representation.

I think, about the Keeper having a special hell for those who worked in pleasure, or something like that. So basically prostitutes and the like. And that may have been just a threat to get her to do what he wanted, but really? Prostitutes deserve their own special hell?

If that is true, that pisses me off so much. So much.

[meitah.livejournal.com]

Anti-intellectualism in media

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

SO MUCH RAGE. SO MUCH IT CANNOT BE TEXTUALLY RENDERED.

The root of anti-intellectualism is saying that being smart is bad, which is a moronic belief perpetuated by morons who are trying to bring everyone down to there level. And I cannot THINK of a more damaging idea when choosing leaders than picking someone who is all 'aww shucks' about it. Our best and brightest should be the ones leading us. Never in our history have we had such a bias against being intelligent and history will tell of the hugely damaging effect it has had (and continues to have) on our country at all levels.