Have some links:

[skywaterblue]

1. I think this article about Pixar's 'girl problem' is completely retarded. While true that none of the Pixar films have a lead female, they are a response in part to traditional animation - where believe it or not, it is thin on the ground to find a film with a male lead. (And lots of them fail at feminism WAY HARDER than not passing the Bechdel test, looking at you 'Little Mermaid'.)

Also it means you're discounting that the women characters Pixar do have starring in their films are usually genuinely feminist. EVE has big guns and is the muscle. Mrs. Incredible and Violet are far more powerful and competent than the boys. And what about Collette?

So, fuck that noise hard. Call me back when Pixar fails harder on this issue.

2. WETA makes mermaid prosthesis for woman. Pretty awesome looking.

3. caboodleranch runs a ranch/sanctuary for abandoned cats and needs your help.

4. Neil Gaiman is posting lots of his old journalism articles on comics.

5. Doctor Who: The Whispering Gallery is out today. I really waaaant it but I don't want to spend more money today because I let myself have Starbucks and Subway.

6. This is a pretty awesome political ad. Will Rahm clean up his potty mouth? FUCK NO. Good times, would vote and lol again.

Comments

[hjordis.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on Pixar. Maybe there are no female-driven movies, but at least the women that are featured are good, strong role models for girls.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

Right? Also, 'The Incredibles' does pass the Bechdel test, I believe.

[trishalynn.livejournal.com]

Not really... her entire convo with Edna though while being about the costumes is driven by Helen's need to find her man.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

She also has seperate conversations with Violet. Some of them involve Dash though, and I'm not sure where you'd place 'son/brother' on the Bechdel scale.

[trishalynn.livejournal.com]

In a militant feminist way, son/brother still = man.

Family and hearth are more problematic, because IIRC, the reason why she was given the Elastigirl powers was that Brad Bird thought it a metaphor for how the modern woman is pulled in every direction, balancing work and home.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

I know, but Dash is def. a minor, whereas Violet is a young teenager and the movie treats them with those respective differences.

Elastigirl is also an interesting character because she's a feminist and still a housemom.

Anyway, I think Incredibles deserves a higher score than it has, even though it's really only a technical pass of the Bechdel test.

[wickedolbaggins.livejournal.com]

I'd rather Pixar do a good job with the women they have (which they usually do). Would I mind a female lead? 'Course not. But Pixar's an odd target to attack. Their gals are usually complex and very likable, which is often more than we can say for Disney's female leads. I think it's telling that Pocahontas's signature move in the ol' Game Boy game is to flutter her hair.

[skywaterblue.livejournal.com]

Like I said, Pixar is a responsa to classic Disney, in which there are only a handful of movies with male leads. (Off the top of my head: Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, 101 Dalmatians, Robin Hood, Jungle Book, Fox and the Hound, Aladdin, the Lion King.)

[wickedolbaggins.livejournal.com]

Yes, Disney does primarily have female leads, even when they're somewhat passive ones. The main reason to want Pixar to have a female lead sometime is that they'd, well, do a better job, not because they're horrible, sexist people who avoid writing strong women and need to be lawsuited into it.

[orbitaldiamonds.livejournal.com]

Awesome links, especially the mermaid one!