7/22/2003
Brains AND Booty. Not or.
Heroine addiction
As you can see in my non recommendations, I didn't like Charlie's Angels. I, like everyone else, saw it opening weekend and had medium sized hopes that it would be an hour and a half of mindless entertainment. Instead, I walked away disturbed and annoyed, but I could never articulate why. Until I read this article.
I am a feminist. I have no qualms saying it. To me, the word does not carry with it any negativity. Of course, I define it as being an advocate free choice. The ability to choose your own destiny and to be independent and true to yourself. That's feminism to me. You don't HAVE to kick ass. But you should be free to do so. Just like you should be free to decide that you want to be barefoot and pregnant. Both scenarios are fine with me. So long as you HAVE A CHOICE.
So imagine my shock when after seeing Charlie's Angels, I read so many reviews praising the Angels for being good role models, and the next step in female independence. What? That is the exact opposite of my reaction to the movie.
Don't get me wrong. I watch Buffy, Alias, La Femme Nikita, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Crouching Tiger, etc. I am all for chicks who kick ass and look good doing it. Part of being a woman is being a woman. Being sexy, attractive, made up, sure I'm all for it (though don't get me STARTED on chicks who wear makeup at the gym. What?).
But there was something crass and tasteless going on in Charlie's Angels. Where were the independent "Anything you can do I can do better," women of the first movie? Here, they were using sex as a tool, the way smart kids use their intelligence. But here, they were using sex in lieu of intelligence. In lieu of maturity. In lieu of wit. And that is where I lost all respect for the movie. This is the message we want our young girls to see? I think not. Give me Sydney Bristow using her intelligence, along with her sexuality (which she does reluctantly) to be a kick ass spy instead. I can respect that. I can admire that. I can desire to achieve that. That's a role model. Women who use their sexuality because they have nothing else? Where's the choice there?
As you can see in my non recommendations, I didn't like Charlie's Angels. I, like everyone else, saw it opening weekend and had medium sized hopes that it would be an hour and a half of mindless entertainment. Instead, I walked away disturbed and annoyed, but I could never articulate why. Until I read this article.
I am a feminist. I have no qualms saying it. To me, the word does not carry with it any negativity. Of course, I define it as being an advocate free choice. The ability to choose your own destiny and to be independent and true to yourself. That's feminism to me. You don't HAVE to kick ass. But you should be free to do so. Just like you should be free to decide that you want to be barefoot and pregnant. Both scenarios are fine with me. So long as you HAVE A CHOICE.
So imagine my shock when after seeing Charlie's Angels, I read so many reviews praising the Angels for being good role models, and the next step in female independence. What? That is the exact opposite of my reaction to the movie.
Don't get me wrong. I watch Buffy, Alias, La Femme Nikita, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Crouching Tiger, etc. I am all for chicks who kick ass and look good doing it. Part of being a woman is being a woman. Being sexy, attractive, made up, sure I'm all for it (though don't get me STARTED on chicks who wear makeup at the gym. What?).
But there was something crass and tasteless going on in Charlie's Angels. Where were the independent "Anything you can do I can do better," women of the first movie? Here, they were using sex as a tool, the way smart kids use their intelligence. But here, they were using sex in lieu of intelligence. In lieu of maturity. In lieu of wit. And that is where I lost all respect for the movie. This is the message we want our young girls to see? I think not. Give me Sydney Bristow using her intelligence, along with her sexuality (which she does reluctantly) to be a kick ass spy instead. I can respect that. I can admire that. I can desire to achieve that. That's a role model. Women who use their sexuality because they have nothing else? Where's the choice there?
7/20/2003
Mix of the Week
1. She Will Have Her Way, Neil Finn
2. Crazy in Love, Beyonce feat. Jay-Z
3. Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Oasis
4. Jesse James, Cher
5. Sublime, Supreme Beings of Leisure
6. It's True That We Love Another, White Stripes
7. Seven Nation Army, White Stripes
8. In the Cold, Cold Night, White Stripes
9. Ain't Going Down Till the Sun Comes Up, Garth Brooks
10. Bombs Over Baghdad, OutKast
2. Crazy in Love, Beyonce feat. Jay-Z
3. Stop Crying Your Heart Out, Oasis
4. Jesse James, Cher
5. Sublime, Supreme Beings of Leisure
6. It's True That We Love Another, White Stripes
7. Seven Nation Army, White Stripes
8. In the Cold, Cold Night, White Stripes
9. Ain't Going Down Till the Sun Comes Up, Garth Brooks
10. Bombs Over Baghdad, OutKast
