The Blogaround
This week Ana Mardoll posted:
Deconstruction: The Dilemma of Female Fantasies
“Twilight” and “Red Riding Hood” are not good movies. They’re not well-acted, they’re not well-directed, and they try to use stunning visuals in place of a gripping plot or good characterization. But they’re not bad movies simply because they deal with female fantasies, and to criticize them as such ignores the fact that a good many ‘good’ movies deal with male fantasies presented as the universal human experience.
The solution to bad movies isn’t writing fewer female fantasies; it’s demanding better ones.
Deconstruction: The Dilemma of Female Fantasies
“Twilight” and “Red Riding Hood” are not good movies. They’re not well-acted, they’re not well-directed, and they try to use stunning visuals in place of a gripping plot or good characterization. But they’re not bad movies simply because they deal with female fantasies, and to criticize them as such ignores the fact that a good many ‘good’ movies deal with male fantasies presented as the universal human experience.
The solution to bad movies isn’t writing fewer female fantasies; it’s demanding better ones.
This week Ana Mardoll posted:
Narnia: The Emperor's Hangwoman
For whatever reason, the Narnian Emperor-God is a blood-god. Maybe that's the way the world works. Maybe there's no point in questioning it. But I'm not sure that's automatically a reason to accept it. Maybe the Narnians can't help but fear the Emperor, but they don't have to worship him. Maybe they can't help but obey Aslan, but they don't have to love him. And maybe they can't help but hate the Witch, but they don't have to refuse to see that she's employed by their god.
Narnia: The Emperor's Hangwoman
For whatever reason, the Narnian Emperor-God is a blood-god. Maybe that's the way the world works. Maybe there's no point in questioning it. But I'm not sure that's automatically a reason to accept it. Maybe the Narnians can't help but fear the Emperor, but they don't have to worship him. Maybe they can't help but obey Aslan, but they don't have to love him. And maybe they can't help but hate the Witch, but they don't have to refuse to see that she's employed by their god.
This week Ana Mardoll posted:
Twilight: The Breaking Dawn (Part 1!) Movie Review
It is absolutely problematic for Hollywood to continue to refuse to show positive abortions, but taken as a single microcosm, I’m not ready to call Breaking Dawn “anti-choice”. I don’t like the way the author chose to set up the situation, and I think it’s problematic as all get out, but even though Bella’s choice is one I disagree with, it’s a choice that I think she has a right to make.
However, I most certainly will call this movie incredibly racist.
Twilight: The Breaking Dawn (Part 1!) Movie Review
It is absolutely problematic for Hollywood to continue to refuse to show positive abortions, but taken as a single microcosm, I’m not ready to call Breaking Dawn “anti-choice”. I don’t like the way the author chose to set up the situation, and I think it’s problematic as all get out, but even though Bella’s choice is one I disagree with, it’s a choice that I think she has a right to make.
However, I most certainly will call this movie incredibly racist.
Sarah reports:
This week, I posted winter poems and an entry on two of my family's Christmas traditions.
Michael Mock writes: This week at Mock Ramblings: I composed an article offering advice to Christian parents of atheist or agnostic children, continued my dissection of Night of the Living Dead Christian, expressed my displeasure with holiday drivers, shared a very old Christmas joke and rambled a little about celebrating Christmas as a non-Christian.
This week Storiteller contemplated how despite her best intentions, she still had a surprisingly deep relationship with her first car in A Cyclist's Vehicular Confession. Then, turning to think about buying things for others, she presents some ideas on what to buy a sustainable foodie in A Permaculture Gift Guide.
Coleslaw writes: Last week, Sarah expressed an interest in poems about Advent, and I just so happen to have one I wrote about 25 years ago. I have finally finished my Christmas Decorating. I've also finished my account of life as a host mom with Foreign Exchange, Part 5. And LSU seems to be the team of Destiny this year, leading me to muse about determinism and free will.
This week Ruby writes: Continuing my Wintermas review of 'Twas the Night Before, I follow the course of Tom and Noella's romance in Chapters 1-4: Tom and Noella, Part One and Part Two.
This week, Jarred continued his examination of Raised Right, noting how simple slogans can become troubling when taken in light of a much starker and more complex reality. He also continued his analysis of Frank Peretti's book, noting a couple ways in which the author seems to misunderstand/mischaracterize his own characters. In addition to reviewing books, he takes a look at both the tendency of some anti-gay evangelical spokespeople to act deceitfully and the courage and integrity that at least one conservative evangelical is demonstrating in calling attention to it.
chris the cynic reports: I haven't written an update for This Week for about a month, so I just made a post telling about everything I've posted to the blog since then. The vast majority of it is story fragments, a few things are about less than pleasant aspects of my life, and one thing is about attempts to create Romulan Tangerine Lamps.
mmy writes: This week I reviewed Letter of Intent by Ursula Curtis, revisited the horror of A massacre in Montréal, pointed out that a "witty" column by Maureen Dowd actually demonstrated how much she really didn't "get it,", and mused about first sentences and the challenges of translating genius. I also continued my 100 years ago today series with Defending traditional marriage and Fighting demon nicotine.
J. Enigma reports: This week I wrote two posts. The first on is about the collision of a Republican candidate and Reality, and how neither fared well following their meeting (Trigger Warning: Health Care Crisis, Homophobia, Language, Mild Crude Humor). A student caught up with would-be presidential candidate Rick Santorum and hit him with a few facts and figures. It turns out about as well as you'd expect. The second post deals with two topics; the recent stink that Glenn Beck raised over a building in South Korea's design and a call from RedState, implementing a new diabolical scheme that calls for conservative trolls to go forth and raid liberal forums (because they're apparently behind the curve) "Once Again, Right-Wingers Make Poor Villains...".
Last week Ana Mardoll posted:
Twilight: Cultural Vocabulary and Cultured Ignorance
It’s one thing for Edward to not treat Bella right because he can’t read her mind; maybe having access to constant feedback for most of his existence has left him unable to parse body language and conversational cues. But he can still read other people and those other people are telling him mentally that he’s upsetting Bella. And he’s not listening.
Twilight: Cultural Vocabulary and Cultured Ignorance
It’s one thing for Edward to not treat Bella right because he can’t read her mind; maybe having access to constant feedback for most of his existence has left him unable to parse body language and conversational cues. But he can still read other people and those other people are telling him mentally that he’s upsetting Bella. And he’s not listening.
In case you missed this
From
"Invisible Among the Uncounted", (The New York Times December 6 2011:
Officially, Chandni doesn’t exist, nor is there any space for her in Delhi. Unofficially, the 14-year-old has grown up in the national capital, on its streets, one of the thousands of uncounted homeless women and girls in a city that has little time or empathy for her.
Officially, Chandni doesn’t exist, nor is there any space for her in Delhi. Unofficially, the 14-year-old has grown up in the national capital, on its streets, one of the thousands of uncounted homeless women and girls in a city that has little time or empathy for her.
From Israeli women facing backlash on rights: The subject of a women’s place in public dominated Israel’s headlines this week after a series of incidents highlighted what some say is the growing repression of Israeli women.
From the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union):
The ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging the pervasive practice of school-sponsored prayer, preaching and religious activities in the Chesterfield County School District, in South Carolina.....To get a sense of just how extreme this behavior is please check out this video of BSHOC and a minister literally bragging about being able proselytize in a public school. Our plaintiffs, Jonathan Anderson and his son “J.A.,” also described how being forced to engage in religious activities at school made them feel on our blog.
The ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging the pervasive practice of school-sponsored prayer, preaching and religious activities in the Chesterfield County School District, in South Carolina.....To get a sense of just how extreme this behavior is please check out this video of BSHOC and a minister literally bragging about being able proselytize in a public school. Our plaintiffs, Jonathan Anderson and his son “J.A.,” also described how being forced to engage in religious activities at school made them feel on our blog.
Things you can do
The World Food Programme is looking for donations in time, money and support to fight food shortages all over the world.
In the United Kingdom you can sign an e-petition calling on the government to grant a pardon to Alan Turing.
This is the international website of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors without Borders. There are links (at the bottom of the page) to national websites as well as links on the page to various charities and campaigns.
From Occupy Wall Street:
Though it seems our fight is a perpetual uphill battle we have to press harder now than ever before as they try to shut us down and silence our voices! We will not waiver and we will not fold, we will stand our ground in a peaceful demonstration against inequality and greed.
We know that it's not possible for everyone to take it to the streets and protest but you can help us out. We need volunteers and donations. 100% of all donations go toward food,water and blankets for the thousands of protesters. Alone we can do nothing but together WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT!
Please visit WWW.WEARETHE99PERCENT.NET
Though it seems our fight is a perpetual uphill battle we have to press harder now than ever before as they try to shut us down and silence our voices! We will not waiver and we will not fold, we will stand our ground in a peaceful demonstration against inequality and greed.
We know that it's not possible for everyone to take it to the streets and protest but you can help us out. We need volunteers and donations. 100% of all donations go toward food,water and blankets for the thousands of protesters. Alone we can do nothing but together WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT!
Please visit WWW.WEARETHE99PERCENT.NET
--Co-authored by the Slacktiverse Community
The Board Administration Team(hapax, Kit Whitfield and mmy)
Maureen Dowd actually demonstrated how much she really didn't "get it,"
The URL for this one has an apostrophe on the end, preventing the link from working.
Posted by: Brin | Dec 10, 2011 at 10:26 PM
Thanks Brin, it should work now
Posted by: The Board Administration Team | Dec 10, 2011 at 10:46 PM
Also, the link to the Occupy website is missing an E. Tries to go to WeArThe99Percent.
Posted by: BrokenBell | Dec 10, 2011 at 11:09 PM
@BrokenBell: Wow, that was cut and pasted from their copy. I wonder how many people have broken links on their sites?
It should work now.
Posted by: The Board Administration Team | Dec 10, 2011 at 11:20 PM
Occupy Boston was raided/evicted two nights ago. I don't know what they are planning to do next.
Posted by: Lonespark | Dec 11, 2011 at 08:19 AM
Argh y'all everything is complicated but sometimes I just like pithy slogans and I post them on facebook because I kinda use it like I think Twitter gets used, and then people want to have discussions and I don't care.
Also, and in line with that, FDR has lots of great quotes and did some awesome stuff. And apparently Andrew Jackson has some...not terrible quotes? That does NOT mean you can get away with referring to racism and genocide as "just one mistake." kthanx.
Posted by: Lonespark | Dec 11, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Hey Coleslaw, thanks for the Advent poem! :)
Posted by: sarah | Dec 11, 2011 at 11:42 AM
OT, but Izzy, if you're reading...
I've just started your book (a Christmas present from another Slacktivite) and am enjoying it enormously. Only 30 pages in, and I'm already having immense difficulty putting it down so I can get back to work.
Brava!
Posted by: Deird, who knows no other way to contact Izzy... | Dec 11, 2011 at 08:32 PM
Izzy's on FB/Slacktivites, but I don't remember if you are...
Posted by: cjmr | Dec 11, 2011 at 08:55 PM
I am, but under my RL name - no-one would recognise me!
Posted by: Deird, who is secretive and incognito | Dec 11, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Does anyone know of a site or sites which have prompts for science fiction stories? I am really dying to write something but I don't know what (and the writing project I currently have going is not sufficiently inspirational).
Posted by: truth is life | Dec 11, 2011 at 09:25 PM
Awesome spam!
Posted by: Rebecca | Dec 12, 2011 at 03:41 AM
The link behind this: "A student caught up with would-be presidential candidate Rick Santorum and hit him with a few facts and figures." is kinda scrambled.
You've got it as http://post-modernenlightenment.blogspot.-die-in-america-because-people.htmlcom/2011/12/people
It should be http://post-modernenlightenment.blogspot.com/2011/12/people-die-in-america-because-people.html
Posted by: Darth Ember | Dec 12, 2011 at 07:48 AM
I has a dilemma.
Mom's writing the Christmas letter, which summarizes her children's accomplishments for the year. The thing I'm proudest of is blogging here. I'm trying to figure out if I should ask her to put it in the letter.
On the one hand, if I really cared about keeping offline and online identities separate, none of y'all would know I have an Etsy shop, because my address is attached to everything I ship from same. And I've said nothing in my posts or comments that I'm ashamed of saying.
On the other hand, if any of my extended family remember my mercuryblue144 email from previous letters (this one is definitely going out with the easurname email) and come here armed with that knowledge, it will not exactly be difficult for them to figure out which handle is mine, and a little more detective work (they won't even have to look at the comments) will reveal that I'm a bisexual atheist, and there are reasons I haven't come out on either point to the extended family. And a glance at the blogroll will lead them to my Dreamwidth, where there is gay incest porn (not much and not recently, but it's there) and other things I would be quite content to have my various relations never ever see.
On the one foot, those reasons for not coming out mostly boil down to I don't know my extended family real well, except for Mom's sister's lot, and who knows maybe somebody will read y'all's erudition and actually learn something. And I seem to recall Dreamwidth having a panic-lock button.
On the other foot, if this detective expedition occurs after my holiday-themed post goes up and if the detective is on Mom's side of the family, shit will rain from the sky.
Typing all this out has mostly convinced me to go ahead and put it in the Christmas letter, since the cons all start with 'if', but I'd still like to hear some thoughts.
Posted by: MercuryBlue | Dec 12, 2011 at 07:45 PM
I cannot, WILL not give anyone advice on coming out to friends and family from my extremely privileged position.
If you choose not to, but still wish to highlight your (excellent), you can make a vague-ish statement like "[MercuryBlue] had several articles on social and ethical issues published in an online magazine."
Posted by: hapax | Dec 12, 2011 at 08:06 PM
I shall consider that. Thank you.
Posted by: MercuryBlue | Dec 12, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Hey all, a bit late for this week's news, but: I'm a daddy.
Posted by: Ross | Dec 12, 2011 at 11:21 PM
WOO! GO ROSS!
*hangs out flags*
Posted by: Deird, who is easily excited | Dec 12, 2011 at 11:28 PM
Congratulations to you all!
Posted by: Brin | Dec 12, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Wooo congratulations!
Posted by: Rebecca | Dec 13, 2011 at 01:36 AM
MercuryBlue,
A couple of questions that may help you sort things out.
1. Does your mother already know about all the things you're worried about the extended family discovering?
Anything that you're worried about them finding out, she might find out as well, if she doesn't already know. And I suspect that her reaction will matter much more to you than that of the extended family.
2. If your mother does know everything that you are worried about the extended family discovering, what is her opinion of them discovering these things, and how will it affect her?
After all, this is her letter. And her extended family. So everything that you're concerned about will affect her as well. Since it is her letter, she probably should be fully informed about the potential consequences of what she is including. And she should have some say about whether or not she's ready to deal with the consequences of her friends and family learning what she is putting in her letter.
My suggestions:
1. You need to talk to your mother about what you're considering having her include and the potential fallout, since it is her letter and that fallout will land on her as well as you. She'll have an opinion about what she is ready to deal with.
2. If there is anything that you aren't comfortable talking to your mother about, you shouldn't have her include it in her letter. Because if there is a problem, it will reach her before you. And then you'll have to deal with it and her and the interaction of the two.
Posted by: Ursula L | Dec 13, 2011 at 01:38 AM
MercuryBlue,
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that your mother should have any control about what your choose to reveal to friends and extended family.
I'm only saying that she needs to be fully informed and to fully consent to the consequences of anything that is included in her letter.
If you wish to share anything that she is not 100% ready to deal with, it needs to be in a letter from you, not her.
Posted by: Ursula L | Dec 13, 2011 at 01:43 AM
Oh goody, more spam.
Ursula: She knows, though she doesn't want to believe, I'm bisexual, and she knows I'm an atheist. (She also knows about the gay incest porn, though I'm not sure she realizes the incest part, because she caught me writing it one time.) I suspect she would rather no one else know any of that. I'll talk to her; thank you.
Posted by: MercuryBlue | Dec 13, 2011 at 06:42 AM
Congratulations, Ross!
Best wishes to the new family. I hope everyone's doing well?
(Is this a little early, or did I just lose track of time again?)
Posted by: Amaryllis | Dec 13, 2011 at 07:11 AM
Slacktibaby yay!!! Congrats Ross & family!
Posted by: Lonespark | Dec 13, 2011 at 07:55 AM
@Amaryllis: Just a hair early. He was due on the 20th, but was about a week larger than expected. There was a very tiny bit of complication, but everything worked out and mom & son are doing fantastic so far.
Posted by: Ross | Dec 13, 2011 at 08:51 AM
@Ross: Congrats! Glad everything is going well.
Posted by: sarah | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:18 AM
@Ross: Mazel tov!
Posted by: Froborr | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:22 AM
@Ross: Congrats.
Posted by: Mmy | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:27 AM
@Ross: that's great.
For some reason, I had a vague impression that the next Slacktibaby was due after Christmas rather than before, so I was a trifle worried, but a week one way or the other is not so much.
Was the baby actually born yesterday? That's my daughter's birthday!
Posted by: Amaryllis | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:31 AM
Thank you very much, Deird!
And congrats, Ross! Yay baby!
Like hapax, I'm in a relatively privileged position re: extended family--although this Christmas should be Interesting, what with the novel--but I like the idea of talking to your mom, MB. If it was me, I'd figure that most of my family wouldn't bother with the detective work, and if they did...then I'd get a couple pointed comments about "praying for me", and I can deal.
But that's my situation, and yours is probably different, so.
Posted by: Izzy | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:43 AM
Ross, congratulations.
Posted by: chris the cynic | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:43 AM
Congratulations Ross and Ross's wife! I wish her a comfortable and swift recovery, and both of you a quickly-established sleeping routine. :-)
Posted by: Kit Whitfield | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:48 AM
Congratulations, Ross! I think Kit probably put it best, though.
Posted by: cjmr | Dec 13, 2011 at 10:01 AM
@Ross -- congratulations to you and your wife, and welcome to baby son!
Posted by: hapax | Dec 13, 2011 at 10:48 AM
Congrats to you and your family, Ross! Welcome to the world, baby!
Posted by: Ruby | Dec 13, 2011 at 04:34 PM
Congratulations to Ross and his wife on their new baby!
Posted by: kisekileia | Dec 13, 2011 at 07:51 PM
(Seriously, this book...)
Posted by: Deird, who is fangirling like mad | Dec 13, 2011 at 07:59 PM
Congratulations, Ross & family.
Posted by: Winter | Dec 13, 2011 at 08:14 PM
Congrats, Ross and many blessings upon you and your family!
Posted by: storiteller | Dec 13, 2011 at 09:41 PM
Hey, you know what would be fantastic? Paternity leave. Or failing that, the removal of paragraph F of section 102 of the family medical leave act of 1993.
It's like the freaking dark ages.
Posted by: Ross | Dec 14, 2011 at 12:18 AM
Spam has family? Spam writes novels? (Spam should only be so lucky.)
the removal of paragraph F of section 102 of the family medical leave act of 1993.
* looks it up *
Does that mean mean you and your wife are supposed to split your leave entitlement between you? Sheesh, that sucks.
Posted by: Amaryllis | Dec 14, 2011 at 07:01 AM
Ugh, didn't know about that; glad to know about that as it does apply to my family, thanks for the heads-up.
Posted by: Allie | Dec 14, 2011 at 08:19 AM
FMLA is a wonderful thing, if you qualify for it, in the sense that nearly everything else is much worse. And yet, it is so inadequate.
Posted by: Lonespark | Dec 14, 2011 at 08:45 AM
Conclusion of the Christmas letter drama: the bit about The Slacktiverse is not going in, by parental decree. I don't know what to feel about that. And also by parental decree, the bit about the ex-boyfriend is not coming out. I tried pointing out that my sixteen-year-old sister's second date wasn't in the letter so my second date shouldn't be either; now my sister's second date is in the letter. *sulk*
Posted by: MercuryBlue | Dec 16, 2011 at 08:58 PM