Susan:
I have heard a bit about Matthew Fox's writing, but have never read any. I
think he embraces a more holistic approach to deity doesn't he? I've seen him
written about along with Wiccans. I think the Catholic church chucked him
out. This is all coming off of a shaky memory.
I also want to clarify this Leia issue. I don't think that anyone was
castigating her for that outfit. I was stating the issue, because that outfit
seems to be a kind of sexual turnon for men. I think my point was more what
people have made of the outfit rather than her wearing it. I don't know if
that was Lucas' way of sexualizing a "cold" female character. who knows. (she
does dress in white...hmmm.)
Since you brought this one up...i'm curious...what do you think then about
dress and feminism? Do you think that dress isn't responsible for seeing
women as objects? Does dress matter? is it an issue? I think it must be in
some light. Merchandisers of really bad B movies know that they can increase
video sales of a movie with a no name cast, director, or scriptwriter simply
by putting a sexy, scantily clad woman on the cover of their box and mention
the words "hot, sexy..."etc. Clothes or lack there of must make some
impression upon the consumer.
Julien
PS: Now whether we can castigate a woman for dressing like that to sell...well
that's another story;) This is a late response but I'm going to say it
anyhow...about the Uma Thurman character in Gattaca. I felt that yes she
stretched a bit beyond her role. However, I also was a bit bothered by the
lines (mentioned several times) "you look alright from where i'm standing"
She was to some degree a show piece, a beautiful object...remember the
ballroom scene?
----------
From: For discussion of feminist SF, fantastic & utopian literature on behalf
of Susan Palwick
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 1997 3:43 PM
To: FEMINISTSF@LISTSERV.UIC.EDU
Subject: [*FSFFU*] 7th Annual Cultural Studies Symposium, Religion, Leia,
Starship , Troopers
In response to Julien's question about the Kansas conference -- which is
in Manhattan, not Wichita -- it's subtitled "Violence Incorporated" and is
being held from March 12-14, 1998. I think the conference has a website,
but I don't know the URL.
Those of you out there debating the oppression of women in religion: what
does anyone think of the work of Matthew Fox? I discovered his books a
few years ago and felt as if FINALLY someone was describing my own
spiritual beliefs -- beliefs I'd held for a long time but had never found
written down in one place. For those of you who don't know his work, I
recommend "A Spirituality Named Compassion" and "The Reinvention of Work."
Now I'm going to go into Devil's Advocate mode. To the folks who are
complaining about the Leia-in-bondage doll: yeah, it's a pretty silly
outfit, but please remember that in the movie, that's what she's wearing
when she strangles what's-his-face with the chain and manages to get away.
She needs a bit of help to do it, but the silly outfit doesn't remove any
of her spunk. Please, let's not judge the character even of so 2D a
persona as Leia by what she's wearing: that's a bit anti-feminist in
itself, no? To me, one of the things feminism is about is realizing that
women have brains even when they're wearing skimpy outfits . . . and even
(*gasp!*) when they may have *chosen,* unlike Leia, to wear those outfits,
for whatever reason. Granted, this may not have been the rationale of the
people doing the marketing. *Sigh*
And to Barbara Benesch, who writes of "Starship Troopers," "both the 'war'
storyline, as well as the violence on the screen . . . will make most
women avoid it altogether," please watch your assumptions. :) I know
*plenty* of women who enjoy the occasional shlock gore-fest, and who
aren't inherently opposed to militarism. Heck, I know women who've been
in the armed services. I'll probably be seeing the movie myself this
weekend, and I cheerfully expect to hate it on a number of grounds (not
least the fact that it's based on a Heinlein novel, and most of the women
*I* know DO object to his misogyny). Still, there have been plenty of
violent movies I've enjoyed (the work of Quentin Tarantino springs to
mind). Again, for me, feminism means being able to define my *own*
preferences and priorities, rather than having to accept the labels either
of patriarchal men or of other feminists.
Oh, one last thing -- although this may be off-topic (moderator, please
squelch me if it is): what do folks here think about the SUNY
controversy? (Seems to me that sexual imagination falls into the realm of
fantasy, but maybe that's too broad an interpretation.)
Okay, I'm done playing Devil's Advocate for the moment. <g>
Peace to all,
Susan
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