Feminist Speeches & Feminist Fairytales

[beccatoria]

1. Feminist Speeches

Okay, so, I really don't follow Australian politics at ALL beyond being passingly familiar with the name of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, but I saw this amazing speech via calapine, and had to share. It's 15 minutes long, but really, it's worth watching. I'm so impressed and refreshed by her unapologetic attitude, her willingness to frickin' say MISOGYNY like it's not a concept that needs to be defended every time it's raised. I miss speeches like this, substantive, pointed speeches, that aren't afraid to attack a position, or person, that needs attacking.

I mean, guys, come on, it starts with, "I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. And the government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man, not now, not ever."

Feminist Fairytales

Secondly, you guys, I've been...really, really enjoying the second season of Once Upon a Time. It probably deserves its own post at some point, but briefly let me say that I feel like there's some subtle and retrospectively redemptive character work involved in Regina and Henry's relationship now that mitigates some of the issues I had around its treatment of adoption last season, and I am still slightly stunned that with Red and Belle being upgraded to series regulars, it's a show which stars five women, two men and a boychild without it being marketed or thought of as a show aimed at women.

I still think it's a shame it's so damn white (here's hoping Mulan and Lancelot stick around), and I wish that the enormous queerness weren't relegated to subtext (man that's ANOTHER post I need to make: why can't I ship Emma/Regina, dammit?!).

That said, Regina in particular has just been getting some fantastic character work in the opening episodes, and while I have a personal hatred of love triangles, even I appreciate the swiftness with which Prince Phillip was moved offstage to set up a team of Mulan and Sleeping Beauty vs Emma and Snow, and judging from the sneak peeks for next week, well, dudes, let's just say I'm impressed by this show's commitment to grounding itself with mother-daughter relationships, even from angles and characters I was never expecting to see again.

Keep it up, Once Upon A Time!

Comments

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

My god, she's fantastic. I want to move to Australia so that I can vote for her.

Politically, I should think all her opposition member could do to that would be to stand up and apologise. But I bet he didn't.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I know right?! I mean, I'm aware I don't know much else about her, but that speech was just fantastic. And comments lower down this post, sadly, indicate that you're probably right about the leader of the opposition. :(

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Well yes, putting my cynic hat back on, I suppose one can never forget that at the end of the day, career politicians are still career politicians.

But it was still a great speech.

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELINGS, for Once Upon a Time!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

I KNOWWWWWWW, it's just been so good since it came back!

[sabaceanbabe.livejournal.com]

I think I love her.

(And I really need to get caught up on OUaT. I haven't seen any of this season yet. *sniffle*)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

ME TOO.

I totally recommend getting caught on on OUAT - you're only two episodes behind! I need to post about it properly, but it's firing on all cylinders right now.

[goodbyebird]

Saw someone else post about that speech as well, sadly followed up by how the media coverage of it in Australia hasn't exactly been a standing ovation :/

Gave up on OUaT a few eps in, but if people keep saying good stuff I might have to give it another shot!

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the mainstream media has been all, "How dare she invoke sexism and make herself look like a victim! THAT'S JUST SEXIST!" and wondering how the women of Australia are coping.

Meanwhile, the women of Australia (the ones who aren't part of the mainstream media) have been all, ABOUT TIME! THAT WAS AMAZING! NOW HOW ABOUT THAT THING WHERE SHE JUST CUT BENEFITS FOR SINGLE MOTHERS?

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

That's depressing to hear. :( I bet the same thing would happen here, honestly.

Also yeah, I do think it's important for me to be noting that I don't really know anything about this person's politics in general, so I'm glad that if there is praise of her speech it's happening in a holistic environment.

I think most of us need some luck with our politicians right now? *sigh*


eta: I have no idea why this comment originally posted with my RIDDIKULUS icon? ...thanks LJ for unintended implications from icon choices. *facepalm* I have no one who can possibly compare with Lin Bei Fong for badassery though, so we'll just stick with Darth Vader. ;)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Also yeah, I do think it's important for me to be noting that I don't really know anything about this person's politics in general, so I'm glad that if there is praise of her speech it's happening in a holistic environment.

I think in a lot of ways Gillard is a victim of the expectation that women will hold themselves to a higher standard. I admire her for a lot of things she's achieved -- she's supremely good at brokering compromise, which has gotten a lot of unpopular but important legislation through.

On the other hand, being good at compromise means important things are lost -- to take power, she had to do a deal with the right wing faction in her party, and she basically promised her government would never support gay marriage. Among other things. It leaves us with the odd spectacle of an unmarried-but-partnered atheist declaring that marriage is a Biblical institution that shouldn't be tampered with.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

That makes a lot of sense and sounds like depressing reality in action.

I can only imagine how frustrating the situation is to live with, but I have to admit that the absurdity of the situation you describe with her position on gay marriage vs her personal situation is...an almost poetic in its arbitrary ludicrousness. There's a sense of pathos in how depressingly pointless it is?

Then again at least you have a prime minister who's getting some important stuff done instead of a guy trying to dismantle every public institution he can get his hands on. Damn Tories. :(

Ugh, we should run away and elect River as our queen.

[goodbyebird]

Politics alway conspire to make me sadfaced :/ And then the news joins the pile.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Ugh, that's sad to hear. :(

I don't know whether I'd recommend OUAT to you or not, except to say that I'm really enjoying it, but then it took until the middle of S1 before the padding episodes wore me down and I fell behind and even then once the finale was around the corner, I wanted to catch up and felt like it really gathered momentum towards the end of the first season.

As I said, it's got some issues, but at least right now, I feel like a lot of the "well, that was two dimensional..." complaints I had about some of the characterisation are being addressed by complexifying things as they move forward, which I suppose is a real strength of revealing backstory in a nonlinear fashion.

And I guess I'm always going to have a soft spot for any show that chooses to focus on mothers and daughters instead of fathers and sons. And I feel...marginally safe in that assertion because the showrunners, who were previously associated with LOST, I think? They were actually the ones who came up with that comparison - that if LOST was about fathers and sons, OUAT is about mothers and daughters.

Anyways, as I said, if you gave up so early on, it may just not be for you, but I suppose I'd at least give it another shot and see if it holds your interest? I'm tempted to say start with S2, but also there are a lot of lovely, but small, payoffs to seemingly minor things throughout S1 in there. But I could just be being a continuity addict. ;)

[goodbyebird]

That's why I liked the show and its potential to begin with: the focus on the female characters. And I think I actually faltered right about the time you did? So could be I give it a second shot, once there's a bit more of s2 around. Read below that badass Snow is back, and a big hells yes to that *g*

I've completely abandoned GoT, so if when I try Sinbad that doesn't work out, I shall indeed be in need of another fantasy show ;)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, Sinbad, yes, that looked kind of interesting? I haven't seen any of it though - let me know if it's good? It looked kind of like Xena, in a good nostalgic way, but probably less cheesy?

[goodbyebird]

Haven't seen any yet either, but I'll let you know :)

[grimorie.livejournal.com]

I've been enjoying OUAT this season too (I really hope things won't slow down after they hit episode 8 like it did on season 1).

I knew I loved Badass!Snow but I didn't realize how much I missed her until she was there in Story Brooke! Also Snow + Fire OTP.

I really do like that when it comes to Regina she keeps things close to her vest, she's not *pleased* about Regina but she wasn't vocal about wanting Regina to die either. Complicated mother and daughter relationships, please show give me an episode with current!Snow and Regina!

I can't wait for the next episode Snow and Emma's big adventure in Post Apocalyptic Enchanted Forests with Mulan and Aurora!

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yes - I totally agree. I'm somewhat hopeful that since they seem to be splitting their episodes - judging by the first two and the trailer for the third, into largely overhere and largely overthere both still with flashback, that'll help spread out the main plot a bit more and there'll be less filler?

And you're spot on about Snow. I didn't realise how compelling she'd be, and I continue to find the actress's ability to mix her kickassery with her, I don't know how to say it, but I suppose, unembarrassed emotionality, compelling. Plus, FIRE.

I wonder if Snow and Henry will ever talk to each other about what it's like to be a child in Regina's care. The points at which we remember in some way - even if not by choice - Regina is also Snow's mother, are fascinating, though I like it as much for its contrast to Henry as its similarity; Regina's genuine love for Henry is something I'm enjoying being, finally, allowed to see.

I'm psyched for the next episode for sure. Though I'm always so conflicted about looking forward to it since it airs RIGHT at the end of the weekend...

[grimorie.livejournal.com]

I wonder if Snow and Henry will ever talk to each other about what it's like to be a child in Regina's care. The points at which we remember in some way - even if not by choice - Regina is also Snow's mother, are fascinating, though I like it as much for its contrast to Henry as its similarity; Regina's genuine love for Henry is something I'm enjoying being, finally, allowed to see.


Ohhh. Now you put it out there I also want Henry and Snow to kind of sit down and talk about the differences and similarities of growing up with Regina as a mother.

Her grandson is also her stepbrother... I just needed to write that down.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yeah it's pretty circuitous and strange, but I'd like to see it. Probably not as a fully fledged like...point about their relationship because that would just be odd, but just...in moments, you know? Like, Snow remembering the things Regina would sometimes do that were nice for her, and wondering if it was all always an act, and then Henry commenting that, yeah, she did that for him once, too?

I'm fascinated by Regina's apparent desire for kids that are her own. She tried it with Hansel and Gretel first, and they always turn away from her, when the one child who would have accepted her with love, unquestioningly, was the child about whom she couldn't bring herself to feel anything but rage. While I know - and am relieved we're now seeing - that she feels genuine love for Henry, I do wonder if initially her quests to find a child who will accept her were always attempts to replace Snow and the hole that toxic relationship left in her heart.

[grimorie.livejournal.com]

I'm fascinated by Regina's apparent desire for kids that are her own. She tried it with Hansel and Gretel first, and they always turn away from her, when the one child who would have accepted her with love, unquestioningly, was the child about whom she couldn't bring herself to feel anything but rage. While I know - and am relieved we're now seeing - that she feels genuine love for Henry, I do wonder if initially her quests to find a child who will accept her were always attempts to replace Snow and the hole that toxic relationship left in her heart.

This. I've been wondering the same thing! All the children she tries to adopt, and does finally adopt, especially Henry is directly related to Snow.

I'm so fascinated by their broken relationship especially after we saw how instantly Snow and Regina liked each other when they first met.