tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post4141968949658501225..comments2023-06-16T03:54:00.078-05:00Comments on From Austin to A&M: Connecting with female characters in geek televisionCourtneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17351518605068734277noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post-21230926399284885422010-10-12T23:11:44.881-05:002010-10-12T23:11:44.881-05:00When I was younger I definitely fell into a simila...When I was younger I definitely fell into a similar attitude. However, I've found recently that what I actually hate, rather than the characters, is a stereotypical portrayal of women. Note: I have grown out of this, but I would get incredibly annoyed with female characters that were "slutty" or "whiny", much in the way you're describing above (though I don't have the character background because British television production value generally makes me want to vomit). What was really affecting me, however, was that I felt that the media couldn't get past writing a woman who is either emotional or promiscuous. Seriously, I felt like this was all I ever saw. <br />Now I focus my attention on how the South is portrayed in the media. Seriously, name a character from Texas on television that doesn't wear a cowboy hat.Devinatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post-89337792301021132142010-10-11T23:11:33.198-05:002010-10-11T23:11:33.198-05:00Simon...
I agree your points to a certain extent-...Simon...<br /><br />I agree your points to a certain extent- I totally agree that River is a bit of a shallow (in the literary sense) character. She isn't very flushed out. And I would love to know her better and see her flaws. And yet- you language still fits into what Courtney's great post is about... you want to see her "taken down a notch"? Can you see how that is EXACTLY the violent language that really does seem to suggest misogyny. Can't you see how your presentation is different than my presentation of seeing her flaws or seeing her character developed more... And the Mary Sue comments... gender/sex problems galore there.Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08528685395824023291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post-6403145238231964512010-10-09T01:22:12.434-05:002010-10-09T01:22:12.434-05:00"..."I don't get along with women&qu..."..."I don't get along with women" is dealbreaker for me. Any woman who says this is either a) telling me that I can never expect more than perfunctory friendship with them or b) inviting me to denigrate women as well, as the basis of our friendship. And no thank you."<br /><br />What a fabulous point.Hutchyhttp://hutchyswan.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post-89313086580997707682010-10-08T13:07:19.746-05:002010-10-08T13:07:19.746-05:00Just once, I would like someone who says they hate...Just once, I would like someone who says they hate female characters to name a few that are poorly written cliches of womanhood, instead of whining about the characters that are actually seen to do something with their (fictional!) lives. if the people who dislike female characters were asking for better writing or more realistic characters, I would get it, but no. It's all about the 'Amy Pond, what a whore' stuff for geeks, aparently.Gemmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06075728435255928088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post-7636003138712271372010-10-07T09:39:05.656-05:002010-10-07T09:39:05.656-05:00Thanks so much for this post, Courtney! My girlfri...Thanks so much for this post, Courtney! My girlfriend is a long-time DW and TW fan, and introduced me to the series. We both adore Gwen, in no small part because of her complicated, flawed, personhood, and were stunned to find out via your post that there's so much vitriol directed at her!<br /><br />On a more general vein, I continue to be really surprised by the prevelance of misogyny that goes unchecked within feminist circles, precisely because the feminists themselves are still running so hard from "feminine" behaviors and associations. They haven't stopped to think that by being "one of the guys" and hating on "silly" women, they're reinforcing the kyriarchy by accepting the misogynist paradigm that accepts feminine-typed behaviors, affects, etc. as being of less value.annajcookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17573723390785613915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post-40933361170041838712010-10-06T10:50:33.658-05:002010-10-06T10:50:33.658-05:00I wish I could have read this some years ago.
I re...I wish I could have read this some years ago.<br />I recently encountered geek feminism - and suddenly, a lot of things made sense. I study computer science, and see a lot of these attitudes at my university.<br /><br />I have not considered the hate for female characters before (mostly because I don't read forums, I think) but I'm quite certain I'll notice those attitudes amongst my peers when we discuss TV-series. Sadly.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16837784391770398430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627855023521770072.post-54982068399106754362010-10-06T10:03:15.205-05:002010-10-06T10:03:15.205-05:00Ugh. I love the idea of River Song -- her out-of-s...Ugh. I love the <em>idea</em> of River Song -- her out-of-sync history with the Doctor is mysterious, sinister, and romantic, and I love the actor who plays her -- but the writers don't do her character justice at all. Instead of coming across as clever and competent, she's a Mary Sue: never fucks up, beloved by all (on screen, anyway), can kill a Dalek, fly the TARDIS, and outwit, outfight, and score with the Doctor. There's no conflict when she's on the screen, because if she's on the screen, she's going to win. (And then be weirdly condescending to everybody.)<br /><br />Which sounds a lot like Jack, but Jack has vulnerability, compassion, and flaws: his occasional recklessness and callousness are shown as liabilities, not further proof that OMG HE'S SO BADASS.<br /><br />I'd like to see River taken down a notch. I'd like to see her not be better than the Doctor at everything ever. I'd like to see someone say "uh, so we're hanging out with a <em>murderer</em>, here?" and have it be a source of tension. I'd like to see some depth to her character, basically, because a dangerously smart, morally ambiguous, and heavily-armed woman who can kick some ass while retaining any feminine traits whatsoever is something my TV needs more of, and as it stands she's kind of disappointingly one-note, and that one note is LOOK HOW PERFECT SHE IS ALL THE TIME.<br /><br />Still, if being "anti-River" means joining a group who wants to "punch the pig in the neck" because she's so old and uppity and gross, I will table my reservations, STFU, and hope they bring her back as a goddamn regular.Simon C.noreply@blogger.com