Book Review 9
Apr. 7th, 2011 04:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
drownedinlight Title: Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology
By: Jennifer K. Stuller
Summary: A look at the development of superwomen since the birth of Wonder Woman in the 1940's but finding a focus in the 90s and early 2000s.
Okay, I think I mentioned in my review of Girl Power how I'm kind of a budding feminist. But this book spoke to me on many different levels--to me as a woman, and also to me as a perveyor of science fiction and fantasy (though there was spy-fi involved as well). Jennifer Stuller does a great job examining the way the superwoman has grown from Wonder Woman in the foties and the different adversities both women of fiction and reality have faced on their way to becoming superwomen. This ranges from a constantly lowered statis (the girlfriend, but never the superhero, and as one of the chapter titles suggests, always the mother never the messiah), to, when being put in the possition of heriosm, shocking deaths and easy targets for rape (focusing on the list which came to be known as the trend of "Women in Refrigerators" first published and recognized by comic book author Gail Simone).
But it's not just about that. Instead of foucsing on how women are subjegated, Stuller also recognize how women rise above that, and how many strong female leaders lead differently from males, choosing to raise up the group as a sort of family unit, rather than trying to bind by a sense of duty. She writes also how women are empowered and empower others with the strength of love. Heck, she even gives credence, to the men of these women's lives when they follow similar patterns, and do right by their friends. That seemed like a really strong point to me, as not many authors might chose to step out of the mold of their subject.
It was wonderful to see not just an author talk about the subject of how women are treated it the genres I love most (sci-fi, spy-fi, fantasy, and comic books [though the later are not a genre]), but to see all of the women, fictious and real, who stand up for them selves in tehse places and times. It was empowering.
Overall: Femgasim good and empowering
But See for yourself: Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology
Going to start reading: The Child in Film: Tears, Fears and Fairy Tales by Karen Lury.
By: Jennifer K. Stuller
Summary: A look at the development of superwomen since the birth of Wonder Woman in the 1940's but finding a focus in the 90s and early 2000s.
Okay, I think I mentioned in my review of Girl Power how I'm kind of a budding feminist. But this book spoke to me on many different levels--to me as a woman, and also to me as a perveyor of science fiction and fantasy (though there was spy-fi involved as well). Jennifer Stuller does a great job examining the way the superwoman has grown from Wonder Woman in the foties and the different adversities both women of fiction and reality have faced on their way to becoming superwomen. This ranges from a constantly lowered statis (the girlfriend, but never the superhero, and as one of the chapter titles suggests, always the mother never the messiah), to, when being put in the possition of heriosm, shocking deaths and easy targets for rape (focusing on the list which came to be known as the trend of "Women in Refrigerators" first published and recognized by comic book author Gail Simone).
But it's not just about that. Instead of foucsing on how women are subjegated, Stuller also recognize how women rise above that, and how many strong female leaders lead differently from males, choosing to raise up the group as a sort of family unit, rather than trying to bind by a sense of duty. She writes also how women are empowered and empower others with the strength of love. Heck, she even gives credence, to the men of these women's lives when they follow similar patterns, and do right by their friends. That seemed like a really strong point to me, as not many authors might chose to step out of the mold of their subject.
It was wonderful to see not just an author talk about the subject of how women are treated it the genres I love most (sci-fi, spy-fi, fantasy, and comic books [though the later are not a genre]), but to see all of the women, fictious and real, who stand up for them selves in tehse places and times. It was empowering.
Overall: Femgasim good and empowering
But See for yourself: Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology
Going to start reading: The Child in Film: Tears, Fears and Fairy Tales by Karen Lury.
