Friday, April 27, 2007

Rivitalizing Wonder Woman


Good news and a disappointing fact.

Good news: Jodi Piccoult is writing a short run of Wonder Woman for DC comics.

Disappointment: Wonder Woman’s character is over sixty years old, and this is the second time she’s being written by a woman. For a character that’s supposed to embody empowerment, it’s pretty disappointing. No wonder she falls kind of flat—she’s never struck me as having any substance. As Piccoult notes, "Over the years, she has had many different incarnations in the human world, some that I thought were pathetic," she says. "[But] there's never been something that a reader could sink their teeth into and say, 'Oh yeah, this is why I'm like her.' (CNN’s article here.)

Piccoult plans to focus more on Diana Prince, Wonder Woman’s alter ego, and the pressures upon her to succeed. I’m looking forward to reading the six-issue run. It could revitalize a hero that felt glossy and fake—all make-up and spangles, no real nerve, struggle, or heart. She’s a terrific metaphor for the internal struggle women face today, and if written correctly, could be a great vehicle to explore gender politics and pressures.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

A six is a six, a ten is a ten- in Spain, at least.

I like clothes. They're useful. They keep me warm. They protect my skin and body from the sun and weather. They're soft and pastel, sturdy and denim, comforting and flannel. As much as I like clothing though, sometimes shopping for it is a royal pain in the ass.

Picking up a pair of jeans can be a nightmare- besides having to decide on a cut and a wash, supposedly simple details like what size I wear can become ordeals. Express is an eight. Fashion Bug, 6. Old Navy, 10. What gives? Why does this have to be such a head ache? My waist doesn't change size in between stores-- mall pretzels aren't that fattening.

So, you can imagine that this is great news from MSNBC-- Spain is regulating the size of the mannequins shown in store displays (none will be smaller than a size 6) and, even better, is going to standardize all women's sizes so that a size 6 is a size 6 (or whatever size it is) no matter what store you shop in. I think that's a great idea- guys have long had it pretty easy since their measurement are in inches. Girls on the other hand deal with the inconvienance of varying sizes as you shop at different stores. Besides convienance, it'll also help eliminate some embarrassment-- no longer will you feel fat at one particular store. Everything'll be the same.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Hump this.



I’ve never liked the Black Eyed Peas song “My Humps.” Sure the beat is catchy, I’ll admit that, but I’m no fan of the lyrics. I think it’s pretty tawdry, and not exactly a celebration of women’s gifts, humps aside.

Turns out I’m not the only lady who’s peeved at the song: Alanis Morissette made a hilarious video spoofing the song and original music video.

A few people on the Salon forum (coverage here) have said that even the original video was a joke—the byproduct of goofing off in the studio, and that it’s not anti-feminist. Whether or not there’s truth in the BEP story of the song’s origin, asking a woman about her lumps/humps/bumps/dumps etc isn’t the most polite discourse you could have. How is it feminist?

Speaking on the topic of annoying gentlemen who need some lessons, check out Holla Back NYC. Best idea I’ve seen in ages.