Thanks for the link, Scotty.
It seems most of my friends are now on the search for interesting active female characters.
The basic rules?
1. there will be 2 or more female characters, and they will talk to each other about something other than men.
2. they will kick arse.
The second is pretty ambitious, considering how difficult it is to fulfill that first rule (can’t remember where I read that one, either, sorry – props to whoever it was). But we are on the case.
Perhaps some of the scribblers out there could consider scribbling a female protagonist who meets these criteria… and a couple more?
3. her costume will cover her arse and her tits and her belly. It will not be skin-tight (but it will be well-made, well-cut and comfortably ‘cool’). She will not wear high heels.
4. she will kick arse.
I am currently reading a series of freakin’ awesome sf books by Karen Traviss (I’d link to them within the site but it’s got some nasty frame-type action happening). The protagonist is a woman. An angry woman. There are ongoing discussions about what it means to be ‘human’, a ‘person’, in a relationship (where matriarchal polyamoury is the norm), a parent, a soldier, an ‘environmentalist’, a woman or a man.
I try not to read these before bed because I end up staying up really late because I can’t put the damn things down.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read female characters who actually work for me – lots of female characters talking to each other about things other than men. Traviss’ Shan Frankland reminds me of Bet Yaeger from C J Cherryh’s Rimrunners.
…and while I love this stuff, why is it that the best female characters have to be miserable sods? Guess we’ve got Tanya Huff for happy female space soldiers who can still kick arse and the women Miles pines for in Lois McMaster Bujold‘s (fab) books.
–:Edit:– You can read a bit more about ‘the rules’ here
Author Archives: dogpossum
you know you’re in the right job when…
You get to say things like this:
“There has been no final and conclusive research to support this particular idea of ‘media effects’ – there are no definitive studies showing that watching violence on TV does turn you into a serial killer (which is kind of unfortunate because I like the idea that watching Alien and Terminator 2 will make me a superhero).”
Accompanied by these two lovely Ladeez on a giant screen.
I guess the interesting part of this particular segue involves some sort of discussion about the point of diversity in representation – if effects theory is crap (and that’s a bit of a long bow I know, but I’m making a dramatic point here), what’s the point of agitating for, well, female action heroes?
Teaching this semester I noticed (putting together a lecture on cowboys) that there really haven’t been any seriously arse kicking mainstream action film chicks since the 1990s. Where are the Linda Hamiltons, the Sigourney Weavers of the 21st century?
Are we, like totally over that now?
Please don’t tell me that all we’re left with are (literally) Invisible Women who really only seem up for defensive tactics and getting really really upset.
And hey, why the fuck isn’t Sue Storm the boss of the F4 anyway? She has the best name, she has the most versatile superpowers, she’s totally the boss of annoying people like her brother Johnny… Maybe if she had some sort of serious responsibilities she’d quit obsessing about her wedding and actually have something challenging to occupy her (supposed) super-scientist brain.
Do I need to talk about superhero costumes? I’m as much a fan of the hawt body action as the next red blooded sistah, but I’d kind of like to see some overalls like Siggy’s or perhaps some mucho extremo body armour c/o Aliens.
[deep breath] But, as I was saying, it is way neat to be able to actually talk about this stuff with students. And preparing all this lecture material is really reminding me of the pretty radical roots of media and cultural studies. I’ve been hanging out with swing dancers so long I’ve forgotten that it’s actually way uncool to just accept bullshit gender stereotypes and perpetuate that whole ‘boys look after girls, girls look pretty and shut their mouths‘ crap.
Today I choose to wear full body armour and decimate the patriarchy.
(Hand over that phallus to someone who knows how to use it, motherfucker – the sistah has some multi-tasking to do).
rly!!!1!
we can has feminzm now k thx
stealing other people’s ideas when I should be finding photos of Britney Spears for work.
friday frankie blogging
this will mean nothing to non dancers.
argh! another cult!
Facebook has eaten my life. I’m trying to write lectures but. can’t. stop. checking. wall.
argh!
facebook = virus!
Listening to this discussion about Facebook, I was struck by the guy’s description of face to face and telephone communication ‘inefficient’.
The entire presentation emphasises ‘efficency’ in communicative and networking practices. An interesting project for someone who’s interested in how men and women and different people communicate in person and online?
John Frow = fushizzle
The paper that made hardened ackas cry like babies has been on my mind for weeks now… hell, since December last year when I heard the Fushizz give it (or bring it, depending).
“unbelievable teaching tool!”
I’ve been spending a fair bit of time on YouTube lately – can you say
“Unbelievable teaching tool!”
Why, yes I can.
But while there’s a whole host of fantastic things on there, from 1980s Solo ads (go solo man, go) and weird Japanese ads for McDonalds, some of the very weirdest things start off extremely normal.
Rudolph Valentino: tango legs
Ok, so I’m a bit of a tango nut (kinda lapsed). I’ve been reading about Rudolph Valentino and how popular he was for ages – it’s a stock story in cinema studies: Valentino was so hawt, the chicks dug him, he was the first real male star, chicks really really thought he was hawt, etc etc etc.
I’ve looked at the photos and thought ‘yeah, whatever. dood wears too much makeup for me but whatever floats your boat, 20s chicks’
UNTIL
I went and watched some clips of him to find one for a lecture I’m doing on celebrity.
Check THIS out. They used to call him ‘Tango Legs’ and now I see why. He is one hot dancer. He’s all rough and manly, but he can dance like a mo-fo. He’s all about that good, sweet connection and the smoldering facial expressions.
Valentino is so hawt in this clip I’d totally have him. And spurs! He’s tangoing in spurs! I love the way his partner is so overcome by his hawt dancing body that she almost swoons… and then he grabs her and kisses her and I am so with her.
Dang!