I think there is some meta out and about on LJ etc. on this subject, the treatment of women on the show, powers; how disturbing Alisha's is in light of how discourse on race, rape, women converge etc. Not as much as I'd expect given how insanely problematic this show can be and I hope to see more discussion on these issues because there's a lot to critique and unravel here. TBH, I'd feel better about things if I knew people were discussing and thinking about the show on this level --- I know they are but it's not always easy to find, I have read some great stuff.
I think I'm yet to reach the breaking point with this show, although last week really put me off on so many levels with the gorilla storyline and 'poor Bruno giving in to his "inner beast"' juxtaposed with the near-incestuous violence and control of Jessica's sexuality by her father (I was disturbed by that A LOT, didn't see it as a father looking out for his daughter personally and yet much of the time the show decided to have Jessica fending off aggressive male advances so... idek), amongst other things.
I've been trying to figure out if Overman is even thinking about how deeply WRONG these things are, particularly Alisha's power. God. I'm fine if a writer decides to approach something without an overt 'political'/whatever agenda; in fact, I support that wholly. I don't want to walk away with a 'lesson' or whatever, that's never what it's about for me. But I just keep wondering if he's at all self-aware of the show and what he's doing with these characters on a meta level. I honestly can't tell, I think you'd have to be brain dead to NOT be but... jeez.
EVERY (very nearly) female character has been the victim of violence in one way or another and oftentimes that's somehow inverted so that SHE bears the blame for suffering that violence and SHE has somehow brought it upon herself. Let's not even start with the sexist, heteronormative, ageist, you name it tone to most things that happen.
I think what's still keeping me watching is that I'm drawn to the characters, imperfect and really problematic, I'm interested in them and their experiences and just how miserably human and complicated they are. I don't think that Overman is trying to romanticize or idealize any of them, and I find that fascinating --- they're all really f*cked up. And I mean all, women and men. Fandom is a whole other issue when it comes to this but, then again, it always is. I'm also compelled by how the show works with certain genres, subverts them, plays with them (even though I don't think it's as ZOMG!groundbreakingly smart as they say it is, it really isn't most of the time *shrug*).
So, I guess I'll have to see how it goes. It takes a lot for me to quit a show because of my problems with the way women/minorities/'others' (and that's really important to me) are depicted because I feel like I wouldn't watch anything; or read etc. But hopefully I'll get my ass into gear and start working through the problems on my journal or find more of the folks who already are.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, agree with so much here, and it's really worth it to put these on the table. I'll try come back to discuss things a little deeper since I feel like I've just rambled about irrelevant things :/
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momijizukamori
no subject
Date: 2010-12-16 02:58 am (UTC)I think I'm yet to reach the breaking point with this show, although last week really put me off on so many levels with the gorilla storyline and 'poor Bruno giving in to his "inner beast"' juxtaposed with the near-incestuous violence and control of Jessica's sexuality by her father (I was disturbed by that A LOT, didn't see it as a father looking out for his daughter personally and yet much of the time the show decided to have Jessica fending off aggressive male advances so... idek), amongst other things.
I've been trying to figure out if Overman is even thinking about how deeply WRONG these things are, particularly Alisha's power. God. I'm fine if a writer decides to approach something without an overt 'political'/whatever agenda; in fact, I support that wholly. I don't want to walk away with a 'lesson' or whatever, that's never what it's about for me. But I just keep wondering if he's at all self-aware of the show and what he's doing with these characters on a meta level. I honestly can't tell, I think you'd have to be brain dead to NOT be but... jeez.
EVERY (very nearly) female character has been the victim of violence in one way or another and oftentimes that's somehow inverted so that SHE bears the blame for suffering that violence and SHE has somehow brought it upon herself. Let's not even start with the sexist, heteronormative, ageist, you name it tone to most things that happen.
I think what's still keeping me watching is that I'm drawn to the characters, imperfect and really problematic, I'm interested in them and their experiences and just how miserably human and complicated they are. I don't think that Overman is trying to romanticize or idealize any of them, and I find that fascinating --- they're all really f*cked up. And I mean all, women and men. Fandom is a whole other issue when it comes to this but, then again, it always is. I'm also compelled by how the show works with certain genres, subverts them, plays with them (even though I don't think it's as ZOMG!groundbreakingly smart as they say it is, it really isn't most of the time *shrug*).
So, I guess I'll have to see how it goes. It takes a lot for me to quit a show because of my problems with the way women/minorities/'others' (and that's really important to me) are depicted because I feel like I wouldn't watch anything; or read etc. But hopefully I'll get my ass into gear and start working through the problems on my journal or find more of the folks who already are.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, agree with so much here, and it's really worth it to put these on the table. I'll try come back to discuss things a little deeper since I feel like I've just rambled about irrelevant things :/
eta: forgive me for the excessive additions.