Now I'm Only Falling Apart

[redbrunja]

My reaction to this week's Glee: Oh, Rachel.

God, my heart just bleeds for that girl. As she said, she just wants everything so much and no one will ever stick by her, regardless of whether she's right or wrong. Honestly, if this keeps up I don't know if I can watch another season. Also, I loved her hair in the first scene, when it was all wrapped around her head in a braid.

Emma calling Will a slut will never, ever not be awesome. Sue and she should team up more.

Enjoyed Kurt and co's subplot, and the song were really enjoyable again. My favorite was 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' with all the ballet dancing. This episode was actually the first time I had doubts about Jesse being a double agent. Faint, incorrect doubts (these are the same doubts that watch the last several episodes of Avatar and went 'but if Zuko and Katara aren't going to end up together then why...') but still. Also, loved Puck and Rachel's eye-sexing and the nod to fandom (usually I hate those).

And this week's fannish5 :

Name your five favorite spaceships.

5.) Kara "Starbuck" Thrace's Viper
4.) Picard's Enterprise
3.) The TARDIS
2.) The Millenium Falcon
1.) Serenity.

Also, you asked me what you'd like to see more of in my livejournal, and I obeyed your command:

On Employment for qualapec  : I'm working as a barista, which isn't in my field of study but is something I wanted more experience with. I also have a line on a position that might have me waiting tables, which is something I want to learn how to do.

On pets for aj : My household has four cats and one betta fish, which is too many cats for two people. Two of the cats we took in because they needed a good home but they don't always mix well with the original two cats we had, plus our eldest cat is getting very needy. So mom and I are both so sick of opening doors for cats and making sure that they behave themselves. In short, no, I don't want anymore pets.

On my favorite charity for lady_with_cats : I am ashamed to admit I don't have a favorite charity. I don't have a lot of money to spend, which is part of it. I'm a fan of Planned Parenthood, but the way they have been so aggressive about trying to get more money from me after I gave once has kind of soured me. One of the charities I really adore, though I've yet to give money, is the companies that give micro-loans to women in developing nations. I think that is one of the most effective ways to promote women's rights, reduce poverty, and stablize unstable regions.

Best Fictional Mums for xlovelylightx : Lorelei Gilmore perennially tops this list. After her is Paige Winterbourne, Izumi Curtis, and Priya. Yes, it's a very short list. That is because I was raised by the best mother in the universe, and she sets the bar - fictional and real - pretty damn high.

On the objectification of lesbianism for anonymous, who asked "today there is a lot of music videos that seem to have a lot of girlxgirl action like christina aguilera's not myself tonight or even implied girlxgirl relationships such as honey B and lady gaga. While it is a good thing to see such freedom in sexuality (and advocacy of gay/lesbians) or even a celebration of women as seen in music videos, do you think that, to a certain extent, its just another way to subjugate women and a way for men to fantasize about women?"

I think that one of the reasons that lesbianism is as common as it is one music videos and the like is because it ties into classic male, heterosexual fantasies about girl-on-girl, yes. However, I don't think there is any objective way to tell when a music video is being objective versus empowering - different people are going to view that differently.

However, I think we well know we're getting more freedom with regardless to sexuality when music videos show gay couples of both genders, and some music videos don't show the singers in a sexualized light. While I have good things to say about the music of Aguilera, Spears, and Gaga, in their videos their bodies are relentlessly portrayed as sexual, which I think is a sign of the ingrained sexism and objectification of the music business.

[I find it really interesting that after most of these questions got asked but before I posted my response, I ended up talking about most of these things in other posts and comments. I guess suggestion really works. :-) ]

Comments

[ivy-chan.livejournal.com]

I feel you about Rachel. I can't take any more episodes of her getting repeatedly crapped on. For the next episode, I'm reading the spoilers before I bring myself to watch it.

The one Gaga video I saw was Bad Romance, and her body and the bodies of the women involved were sexualized, but at the same time the video itself was so aware of sexualization and objectification as a problem that I'm not sure where I stand on it being empowering/objective. I don't often watch music videos for the reason you stated, though: the female singers are extremely eye-candied.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

The one Gaga video I saw was Bad Romance, and her body and the bodies of the women involved were sexualized, but at the same time the video itself was so aware of sexualization and objectification as a problem that I'm not sure where I stand on it being empowering/objective.

*nods*

And it goes back to my questions about 'why don't you love me?' I don't think just being AWARE of the objectification means you can't or won't ever be participating in it.

[ivy-chan.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. The vid is just sort of a...weird, psychological cycle of input-output: objectification and sexualization of women, so when you watch you're viewing the women as sex objects and possibly getting off, but also a self-awareness of the industry, so the commentary on how wrong it is- and you get this message while objectifying.

It's probably very difficult to work in that industry and never participate in the problem.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure it's almost impossible.

[lady-with-cats.livejournal.com]

Shakira scares me a little with her very sexual music videos. But at the same time, at the back of my mind, I'm fairly certain some artists do it in a subversive way. I guess it depends on the song that goes with it, and what's being said.

Though the fact that parody and not-parody are so close together is saddening.

P.S. My favourite charity is the Salvation Army, mostly because I've always felt the most empathy for the homeless. One day (after this horrible year is over) I will try and volunteer there.

[lady-with-cats.livejournal.com]

Also, OH NOES. This ep of Glee has been soundly written off by everyone! I'm scared to watch!

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

It's not that bad... it just continues patterns with Rachel that I think my flist (and me) are all quite sick of.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

But at the same time, at the back of my mind, I'm fairly certain some artists do it in a subversive way. I guess it depends on the song that goes with it, and what's being said.

True, but if it's ubiquitous, even if some artists are being subversive, how can you tell?

[mildmay.livejournal.com]

Ugh. The way the narrative of Glee treats Rachel bugs me more and more as the series continues. They treat the fact that she's motivated and has goals as a bad thing. Which skeeves me a bit. God forbid a girl want things for herself.

I can understand people being upset that she was misleading about her video while she was making it, but I still felt there was a massive over-reaction to it.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Which skeeves me a bit. God forbid a girl want things for herself.

You know, they really do. And the narrative is SO unsympathetic towards when Rachel's goals are more superficial, like she really, really wants to be popular even when Finn will dump her for partially that reason, and he never gets any backlash.

[mildmay.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Lots of kids (both girls and boys) want to be popular. Treating it as something so unforgivable and unsympathetic with Rachel is ridiculous and unfair.

[qualapec.livejournal.com]

That sounds nice. It seems as though bartista's hands are always moving, and the coffee smell...I could see that being a very fun job.

In short, no, I don't want anymore pets.

Ever?

I'm a HUGE fan of the Micro-Loans donations- I agree that it seems like a wonderful way to support women's rights and poverty stricken areas. Still, my favorite charities are the ones during Christmastime where you can buy toys and books for underprivileged or sick children. Especially books. I love giving books to little kids. Another charity that I'm deeply in love with is freerice.com, which is basically a vocabulary quiz that donates rice to the UN World Hunger Foundation for every right answer; supports literacy and international endeavors. Is love.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

In short, no, I don't want anymore pets.

Ever?

Not until all the current pets die and I have some time pet-free. ...Which is looking like ten or fifteen years, which feels like 'ever' right now.

Still, my favorite charities are the ones during Christmastime where you can buy toys and books for underprivileged or sick children. Especially books. I love giving books to little kids. Another charity that I'm deeply in love with is freerice.com, which is basically a vocabulary quiz that donates rice to the UN World Hunger Foundation for every right answer; supports literacy and international endeavors. Is love.

Those do sound really awesome. I'm off to check out free rice right now!

[renegadekitsune.livejournal.com]

I think Rachel might grow this season. And I really think Idina Menzel Vocal Adrenaline coach is her mom. Is that bad?

Also major major props to having Kara Thrace's viper in your favorite ships :3. She's my favorite ever.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Just about everyone in fandom is like 'Idina Menzel HAS to be Rachel's mom. She just HAS to be.'

Also major major props to having Kara Thrace's viper in your favorite ships :3. She's my favorite ever.

Kara is just so epic.