Make 'em, to Break 'em

***Warning***: This post will include accounts of rape and sexual assault. This could be triggering for some people. 

Rape culture is something that continues to grow, and grow with each passing year. Almost to the point where it seems acceptable. To the point that we can sense where the scene is heading. To the point where we expect it. 

The idea of rape seems to be a common reoccurrence on how to break superheroes. It can be the superhero herself (himself as well), or it can be attacking a superhero by going after their loved one with the intent of rape. For some bizarre reason, writer seem to have their mind wrapped around the idea that the only way to break a woman, is to rape them. It is the ultimate, go to plot change.

What’s sad is that when you type in “rape in comics” into Google, you can easily find a list of victims.

*Arella
*Artemis
*Bleez
*Grace Choi
*Harriet Arkam
*Hippolyta
*Lady Flash
*Starfire
*Mirage
*Sue Dibny
*Silk Spectre
*Windfall

This list is limited to female characters from DC comics alone. This list does not include rapes that have been either “attempted” or “implied,” but never confirmed.
 

One of the most controversial rape scenes in the comic book world, is the rape of Katie Deauxma, and how it would play out in the Kick-Ass 2 film adaptation.

In relation to the comic, here is the author’s (Mark Miller's) response:

Miller: “The ultimate [act] that would be the taboo, to show how bad some villain is, was to have somebody being raped, you know? I don’t really think it matters. It’s the same as, like, a decapitation. It’s just a horrible act to show that somebody’s a bad guy.”

(Me: Face-palm)

Laura Hudson: “There’s one and only one reason that happens, and it’s to piss off the male character,” she said. “It’s using a trauma you don’t understand in a way whose implications you can’t understand, and then talking about it as though you’re doing the same thing as having someone’s head explode. You’re not. Those two things are not equivalent, and if you don’t understand, you shouldn’t be writing rape scenes.”

(Me: Woohoo! Well said, Ms. Hudson! Someone give this woman a giant cookie, and a pat on the back!)

Miller: “I think it’s meaningless. A tiny storm in a tea-cup. And in ten years time I’ll copy and paste this again when the argument raises it’s head like it did a decade ago. The fact is that more women are reading comics right now than at any point in my life and they’re not picking them up because they feel they’re demeaning in any way.”

(Me: I... I can’t even. It’s not even worth it.)

And, now the director’s (Christopher Minzt-Plasse's) response:

Mintz-Plasse: “I love really, really dark things like if there’s a rape scene it’s gotta be a dark movie it can’t be—I just didn’t think it would fit for this movie cause you’re watching it and it’s so colorful and fun and violent and you’re laughing, you’re getting excited and I don’t think a rape scene fits that vibe. In the comic—Jeff sets it right—in the comic they are not real people so you can put a rape in there and you’re not like feeling emotion towards it it’s just people on a piece of paper--

(Me: Whoa, whoa, I'm sorry, says who?! You?!)

"But in a movie when you have real tangible people playing these parts it gets deep and it gets heavier on a bigger scale. I just don’t think a rape scene was needed. You know in the movie “Irreversible”—have you ever seen that?

“How crazy is that [movie]? But that movie CAN have a rape scene cause it’s so fucking twisted and dark; a movie like ‘Kick-Ass 2′… I just don’t think a rape scene was needed.”

(Me: Oh, so you like dark things? You think it's okay in the right kind of dark movie? Well lets see what you think when you're cornered in a 'dark' alley, and someone decides to shove something up your--)

So as you can see people, rape is dark, and given the right scenarios, it’s fine. Especially since they’re just comics. Great. Well said, boys. Well said. 

NOT!

I’m a girl, and I’m not even going to pretend like I have any idea what it’s like to be a boy, but seriously? Seriously?! COME ON, PEOPLE! I’m all for character development, but I can say, for a fact, there are a thousand other ways to break a girl without having to turn to assault. Quite frankly, in this day in age, and alternative could be quite refreshing!

And another thing! So many writers seem to be under the impression that they can use attempted rape for only half the hassle. They get the point across, damage her, create a cause for vengeance, and the fact that she’s not actually raped, means less drama, no after effects, lets move a long with the story.

You know, because an attempt isn’t traumatizing. Nope. Not. At. All.

*Please note the intended sarcasm

And the worst part, somehow you know that this will all come back to victim blaming again. You know, because of all the revealing outfits these girls prance around in.             

Well, first off, an outfit is by no means an invitation. EVER. And secondly, if the outfit is the problem, then whose fault is it for putting her in that particular get up in the first place?! Just saying.

This reoccuring theme, unfortuntunately doesn’t limit itself to just comic books. It has always been present in the media, in literature. However, the problem is, it’s becoming something that’s more and more common. It's becoming a commonplace. It’s spreading and can be found in shows, literature, to the point where it has begun to affect women working behind the scenes. Women working in the comic book industry, for example, are victims of rape threats. You can read more about this in my partner in crime's post, here. 

My fellow geek girls (and guys), let us fight to put an end to this messed up cultural norm. If you ever needed a hate crime worthy of putting on the mask and cape (and you don't even need the ensemble, but it'd still look pretty freaking cool) then now is the time!

~Story

She's the One Named Sailor Moon

“Fighting evil by moonlight

Winning love by daylight

Never running from a real fight,

She’s the one named Sailor Moon”

Cartoons, superheroes, they become a part of every child’s childhood in some way, shape, or form. For me, I entered the world of superheroes through the world of:

Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon is an anime, which is a drawn in a Japanese cartoon style that features large eyes, wild color combinations, hair that defies all logics at times, and disproportionate bodies. This particular style is an art form that continues to grow increasingly popular.

With Sailor Moon, it was the catchy songs, the bright colors, the sparkles, the pink, that immediately drew me, a young, extremely “girly” five-year old, in. Much like a moth to to flame, this is the series that first introduced me to the world of anime, and in an even broader perspective, superheroes. 

Taking a look at this cartoon from where I stand now, this series seems to be the epitome of femininity in our culture today. The fact that this series was created in Japan, just goes to show how cultural norms, more specifically Americanized cultural norms, have spread. 

For example, the main girl Usagi, or Serena, which would be her english dubbed counter part, is a blonde haired, big-blue eyed, young white girl. I mean, does this particular racial identity seem familiar? I might just add this series takes place in modern day Japan.

On another note, she is a fairly gluttonous girl, who lives off of junk food, video games, and being lazy. And still, even before her secret life as a vigilant by moonlight, she has always had, and always will, a perfect figure by most standards; slim waist, busty, and long, slender legs.

She’s pretty much fully developed. And she’s only thirteen, and in the eighth grade during the pilot episode. 

Together, along with her friends, all essentially middle school students for the first season at least, the girls stand for truth, love and justice. They are cute, but sexy as the prance along in their sailor uniforms, consisting of: skin tight leotards, short skirts, and high heels that are a really questionable choice in footwear while fighting crime.

Aside from their life fighting crime, the big theme of many episodes is love. Whether it be going gaga over a guy, fighting over a guy, or attempting maintain a relationship (you know, eight grade girl, with freshman guy in college, but hey, they were soulmates in a past life, and don’t forget the twist when their daughter is sent from the future) with a guy. This age gap, is most likely due to cultural differences though, and may be more accepted in it’s original culture of Japan vs. America.


Ironically, while the girls (especially Sailor Moon) do find themselves in peril on a pretty daily basis, Tuxedo mask, is often the character that we’d call the ‘damsel in distress.’ The guy equivalent, anyway. He’s been kidnapped, brain-washed, turned against the team, kidnapped again, etc. He adds quite the twist to generalized gender norms, dare I say. Also, note that his power is throwing roses that somehow make everyone stop what they’re doing. Something that means well, but is kind of a joke compared to the other powers that are represented in this show.

Still, it’s a nice change, because he and Sailor Moon together, it’s their love (and the help of their friends) that acts as the ultimate source to destroying all evil! Hell yeah! Cheesy. Extremely cheesy, I’ll admit it, but it shows a sense of equality in their relationship, which is quite refreshing. With their age gap aside, their difference in personality does tend to bring out the best in one another other. (Plus they're pretty cute, but that may just be me)

I think the most interesting thing about this series has to be how much was cut as the show was prepped for the English dub. In the Americanized adaption, all the scenes featuring same-sex couples (to the point where they even changed a guy character into a girl) were cut, a lot of the violence was lost, and they didn’t even dub the final season which involved the gender bending of three characters that literally transformed back and forth from guys into girls. I do mean literally, by the way.

Basically there was a big shift in the intended audience as it went from teens, to children, where every episode would end in with a, “Sailor Says” that would describe in full pep, what do to in various scenarios, and then back to teens again. That was a transition that even I, as a five year old, was able to pick up on. 

Do not get me wrong, because even though there's a lot of negativity from my observations, I still love Sailor Moon. It was one of the biggest impacts on my childhood, and I’m completely psyched for the remake that should be (so they say) released this summer '14! It’s just looking back now, there are a lot of things that make more sense because I have the original plot line that was altered, to look back on. That said, there are a lot of things that are just as confusing as they were when I was a kid as well. I'm still fascinated with all the cultural references with some that are the same, and some very different. And I think that despite the skimpy outfits (the ones my parents feared I'd cosplay some day as I got older), the show can be very empowering for young girls. Because for me at least, Sailor Moon was the show that made me think that girls could be powerful. Girls could be heroes too. 

~ Story

Wonder Woman... Who is She?

We all know who Wonder Woman is. Clad in red, white in blue, she is a warrior, a princess, a hero, and an American feminist icon. 

She is all of the above, but here lies the real question: Who is she?

I bring this to mind, because I love Wonder Woman, and so did my grandma. With that in mind though, while we both enjoy the character, and know the name, we’re referring to what it seems to be two completely different personas.

My grandmother grew up with the first version of the Wonder Woman comics, but more specifically, the live-action adaption. Portrayed by Lynda Carter, she is self-righteous, and kind. Very different in comparison to the version I grew up with.

I grew up with the Wonder Woman in the animated series: Justice League. In this version she is very rash, brash, and extremely short-tempered. In fact, in all other adaptions of her that I’ve seen, she retains these exact traits

So with one character and two completely different personas, it begs to ask the question, who is Wonder Woman really? Like what changed her? Was it the screen writers choice? The producers? The age? Is it a promotion that’s trying to appeal to the audience? And the ‘audience’ would be... who exactly? Young girls, or boys? 

Her personalitly isn’t the only thing that changes either.

Her orgin varies depending on which ‘universe’ you read into. They story remains pretty much the same, with Diana, AKA Wonder Woman, was sculpted from clay by her mother, Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. And by the wishes of her mother, and the power of the gods, she was born.

How she left the island of Themyscira is where the story arc changes. One thing that remains the same is she joined a competition where the victor would leave and represent Themyscira. However, whether she entered as herself, or in disguise depends on the version. Which makes one wonder, what is it that writers obtained by changing this small detail?

Like many female icons in the media, she has her fair share of lovers as well. From Steve Trevor, the pilot who crash landed in her homeland of Themyscira and would eventually take her to America, to the Batman, to Superman even. Once again, this all depends on the version you pick up.

The last, most obvious change in her character, is her character design. Through the ages, her hair has lost it’s short curly style that is similar to Disney’s Snow White, and become longer, straighter, and more luscious like a Dove’s shampoo add. Her costume, originally a skirt, was then turned to shorts, that turned into basically a variation underwear, and now people are debating putting some actual pants on her. You can literally watch as she went from a character, to an icon, to a sex symbol, to... what now?

So by stopping to put the original Wonder Woman, next to the woman we see now, side by side, they’re two different people. She seems to go from a princess, to badass warrior. And so:

Who is she? Because if it was me, and people kept changing my personality and what I'm supposed to wear, I'd probably be having an identity crisis. Just saying...

~Story

Lets talk about... costumes!

Going to Comic Cons are great! They truly are. You get to find hidden gems when it comes to comic books, buy pieces of artwork in the Artist Alley, and dress up like one of your favorite superheroes, Jedi or Doctor (basically anything your want to dress up as that’s the best part). But how come when a woman wants to dress up in a costume, there cannot be any flaws to her physique and she has to look perfect? It’s like a costume on a woman’s body cannot have a single flaw or slight imperfection on it what so ever. Something that I cannot stand in this geek culture is how no matter how hard a girl/woman tries to be geeky there is someone who is going to put them down. It is almost impossible for a woman wearing lets say a Wonder Woman outfit to not be overly critiques or creepy stared at by boys, EW.  And wearing these costumes apparently give men (not all men just the ones who are a tad pervy) this idea that it is okay to touch us in inappropriate places, like can you not?  let’s think about costumes for a second: so if we were to think of a man (lets go with superman for this one) we see him fully covered in his uniform and completely protected, now going to one of his family members, Powergirl, she has all the same powers as superman but why is she dressed in a fashion that makes no sense? Fun fact of the day is that the artist for Power girl was so upset about not being taking seriously he decided to draw power girl’s breast bigger and bigger until someone noticed. So not only are her breast some level that could never be reached by women, but it furthers the idea about woman having to look and be perfect. Women are more than this idea of being 0% fat and 100% lean mean fighting machine. When woman go to comic cons and meet ups there are always the possibility of being under the eyes of men and always feeling like they are watching you. Women should not have to be subjected to this type of ideology. I want to do what I love and that is to dress in kick ass costumes and pretend to be that character, not for you to be all up in my business trying to touch me. We live in a culture that makes it seem like woman are up for the display of men and lets be real we are not! It is time for us to start the change in the system to show that we are more than just costumes, we are women who like nerdy things and we should let a few men get in the way of what we like most. I know that this does not happen in all occasions because there has been a long evolution to show that girls can be geeks too!So let’s all be respectful and responsible people and enjoy all things geeky together!