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.

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.

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.

Little things we'll forget...

Found some mediocre Post-it print work via Coolz0r:

A) “Look Up:” I’m glad that Post-it is trying reminding guys to look up, but as AdRants points out, the presence of the note itself may give guys an excuse to stare. (One commenter even said “If she really wanted me to look up, don't wear it so low!”) It’s a nice cheeky response for women who are tired of men’s drifting eyes, but overall, the execution could have come off a lot stronger and less voyeuristic.
B) “Jade:” I think this one’s also trying to capture the humor of the first ad, but falls a tad flat. “For all the little things you’ll forget?” Regardless of your views on hook-up culture, I hope that you’d show a little more respect to your paramour, regardless of gender. The fact that is IS a woman who’s physically labeled just further reinforces negative stereotypes and behaviors.

Note to agency: try again. (Though... might it be spec? More can be found here.)

Agency: The Jupiter Drawing Room (Johannesburg)

I might not be able to park, but at least I don't crash.

In a step towards debunking the long-held stereotype that men are better drivers than women, a recent study shows that women are better at splitting their attention on a number of tasks at once and have better overall “mental flexibility.” We may not be that hot at reading a map or parallel parking, but we’re less aggressive drivers and the accidents we do have happen at lower speeds.

Happily, a South African insurance company, 1^st for Women insurance, has noted this, and is offering lower premiums to female drivers. (Many insurers already offer slightly lower rates for women 18-25 when compared to their male counterparts, but these rates tend to level out as drivers age.)

According to the ads, “If men were women, we’d insure them. But they’re not. So they don’t get to pay substantially lower car insurance premiums. Cover with care.” Black River Football Club, from Johannesburg, South Africa, handled the campaign. (Click the images for larger versions.)

Huzzah!

Via Adpunch.

Does it grow on you?

I buy cage-free eggs. I don’t own any fur. I’m against foie gras. As much as I admire PETA and their cause, I'm not sure I agree with some of their marketing techniques. Does using sex to sell an idea really further their cause?

I know people are going to say that these models are vegetarians, and that they’re choosing to do this, and there’s nothing like a sexy woman to make being animal-friendly seem cool. But after a few campaigns of the same thing (the Pamela Anderson ads are from last year, if not earlier), isn’t it time to use a new approach?

I do sort of like the cabbage leaf dress- it feels classier and more on-target. The lettuce bikinis just don’t do it for me. Where are the sexy guys in lettuce thongs, I ask you?

via Houtlust

Mirror, Mirror

Another difficult-to-watch PSA about the horrors of eating disorders, perhaps giving us a glimmer into a victim's mind. Sponsored by Anorexi/Bulimi-Kontakt, this visceral spot aired on MTV Sweden-- can you imagine a PSA like this airing in the States? It would certainly make people sit up and take notice.


via Houtlust