So, Your Favourite Show is Problematic...

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Monday, 17 April 2017

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Nowadays, a lot of focus is on whether things are ‘problematic’ or not, and if they, to boycott them and then end up being shamed for liking something that is even slightly problematic. But I don’t think that’s necessarily right.

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One of my favourite TV shows is FRIENDS, a beloved 90s/00s classics adored by literally millions. Whilst it is now cherished, there is no doubt that the show is very problematic. There are lots of jokes based around subjects that are a little insensitive and perhaps offensive – gay jokes, jokes about sexual assault (see: Joey, the tailor taking advantage of him and various comments about consent regarding his sex life) and various other jokes that I can’t even think of.

The characters also demean and laugh at femininity in men. When Joey gets a bag from Rachel, he is made fun of; there are repeated jokes made about some of the boys wearing make-up. The comments made by the characters further enforces a stereotype of men that can be quite toxic – sexual promiscuity and rejection of anything considered to be remotely feminine. Not that healthy a message to be sending out really.

FRIENDs is also a show that is really not diverse in any way. I think there’s only been two BAME main/recurring characters (Julie and Charlie, but please correct me if there are any characters I’ve forgotten), not very accurate for a show that’s meant to be set in New York. And whilst it has a steady lesbian relationship in the form of Carol and Susan throughout the whole show and Chandler’s father (to whom attitudes towards are really negative and just generally not okay), LGBT relationships aren’t portrayed in the best way and are often fetishized (mostly lesbianism by the boys). So yeah, FRIENDS isn’t great as a way of promoting social justice and acceptance, and there is way more I could discuss in regards to this show but I won't because you'll get bored and my hands will ache after typing for so long.

Many (read: all) shows, films, books – any piece of art really - are problematic in some way, particularly ones that are perhaps a bit older. But I don’t think that that necessarily means they shouldn’t be consumed. Well, unless it’s all about promoting Nazism and seriously pushing bigotry of any kind and acceptable or that being the main element of the show. I don’t think that we should sacrifice art we enjoy because of aspects of it are problematic, and I also want to make clear that bigotry or discrimination of any kind is unacceptable, and that things are more complicated because no piece of art is perfect in that sense nowadays. Instead, I think that we should acknowledge what makes the art we are consuming problematic and make sure that when we discuss it with others, calling it out on whatever makes it problematic, we are sharing those opinions and information about the art in question.

We should bear in mind the problematic art we have consumed when we go to make our own so that we can try to produce ours so that it’s the best it can be.




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5 Reasons to Love the 2017 Beauty and the Beast

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Friday, 14 April 2017

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Having seen the first trailer for the new live-action Beauty and the Beast a while back and crying ever since, I saw the film the day after its UK release and the crying just got worse. It’s fair to say I’m obsessed and this film has just reminded me of my lifelong love for Beauty and the Beast.

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1. It’s more feminist!


Something that really struck me about the film was the way it was more feminist than the 1991 film. For a start, Belle is the inventor, not Maurice. She makes an early version of a washing machine so that she can spend more time reading then teaches another girl in the village to read in that spare time. Belle actively tries to escape the castle initially rather than lying on the floor and weeping. It’s things like that that really make me happy. 

(Believe me, it's not perfect, but it's an improvement.)

2. Character development!!!


One of my favourite things about the new version of Beauty and the Beast is the added development to basically all of the characters and consequently the relationships they have. I find this really evident in the main couple’s relationship in particular, as I feel you can see them growing closer more gradually. I also love how each character was given more of a back story, giving the audience better understanding of their actions and behaviour.

3. The new songs!


The new songs (also written by Alan Menken) are amazing. I honestly love them so much. There are 3: Days in the Sun, How Does a Moment Last Forever and Evermore. Each of these songs I find adds to the development of the characters and they are all so beautiful and in keeping with the already well-known and love songs from the animated film. Let’s be honest, an Alan Menken song is never going to be bad, is it?

4. Luke Evans and Josh Gad’s relationship


I have watched so many interviews with these guys and I just love them and their friendship, which I think translates really well onscreen. I love these two. They’re great.

5. The Enchantress



The Enchantress features a lot more heavily in the new version of the story, which I have to admit, I do really like. It gives it an added sense of supernatural control magic about it. In my opinion, it also highlights the redemption of the Beast in a more prominent way and shows how the same ideas applied to the Beast apply to the villagers also.



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Why Elle Woods is my Feminist Icon

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Monday, 10 April 2017

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When I was about 12 or 13 I became obsessed with the Legally Blonde films, along with that, the protagonist Elle Woods. And when I say obsessed, I mean obsessed. I still basically know it off by heart.

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For those of you who haven’t heard of her, Elle Woods is a Bel Air sorority girl fitting all the stereotypes. When her seemingly perfect boyfriend Warner Huntington the Third breaks up with her instead of proposing (citing that she isn’t “serious enough” for someone wanting to become a senator by the time he’s thirty) she is devastated and ends up applying to Harvard Law School (the school he happens to be attending) to prove to him that she is serious and win him back. Doesn’t sound so feminist at the moment, does it?

I know Legally Blonde doesn’t portray the problems of all women (The Woods’ biggest problem is when their favourite cocktail is out of supply) and it does have a very complicated relationship with stereotypes in my eyes. This is due to the fact that Elle’s character is all about breaking stereotypes but then she wins the end case (spoiler alert there) by using a stereotype to make assumptions about someone’s sexuality. But I never said Elle was a perfect feminist (is there even such a thing?).

Elle is an icon to me because she was the first female character who made me feel like I could do anything, no matter what everyone else thinks of you and your capabilities. She showed me that I can be smart and successful without sacrificing my femininity. And that, to me, is so so important.

Elle is an incredible lawyer, cracking cases with knowledge that comes from her femininity, but also demonstrating shrewd legal skills in other aspects of her life. She maintains her client’s trust, she holds her own and sticks to her guns when her professor objectifies her and tries to take advantage of her. She remains modest about her achievements, when I know I probably wouldn’t be! And all of this with fabulous nails and an attitude of supporting her fellow women and looking out for one another.

So yeah, she goes to Harvard chasing after a guy, but through that experience she finds the ability to see through her infatuation with him to see him for who he really is and decides that she really doesn’t need someone like him (*cough* “bone-head” *cough*) in her life anymore, eventually ending up with a guy who is so much better for her. Whilst seeing her opinions about Warner change, she also breaks past first impressions so that she and the girl she is immediately pitted against unite and become friends.

I love Elle, and whilst she has her problems and many other people may not agree with me, she means a lot to me both as a character and as my feminist icon.

Who’s yours?



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5 Podcasts You Should Listen To

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Friday, 7 April 2017

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Recently, I’ve been getting really into podcasts, and I love them! They’re so nice to have on in the background whilst doing other things or just to lie in bed and listen to them solely.


1. Banging Book Club


The Banging Book Club is, as you probably guessed, a book club that reads books focused around sex, gender and all that jazz. I have to admit, I have only read one of the books on their list (The Vagina Monologues), but I still love listening to their episodes despite hardly ever having read the book (I do plan on reading them at some point). I became aware of the Banging Book Club as I was already a fan of the channels of the women who make it (Hannah Witton, Leena Norms and Lucy Moon, who I know I’ve all mentioned at varying points on this here blog before) and I do love just listening to them having a chat as I can guarantee I’ll have a good giggle at some point in every episode.

2. TALKING POLITICS


It’s no secret that I love politics. I am currently doing Government & Politics A Level and hope to do Politics as part of a Joint Honours at university and try desperately to keep up with current affairs, both domestically and internationally. This podcast is so useful for that. With a handful of hosts and guests (both irregular and regular) from across the globe, this podcast is essentially a collection of intelligent discussion on a range of political issues, from the state of the UK’s Labour party to the goings on in Turkey. Such a great listen for anyone who is interested in politics, especially as all of those speaking on here really know their stuff in regards to politics (either through study or having worked in politics, and probably both in most cases).

3. The Guilty Feminist


Oh, The Guilty Feminist, how I love you. Deborah and Sofie (who is no longer co-hosting but I still think she deserves mentioning in here) are wonderful. Every time I listen to an episode of the Guilty Feminist I probably cry with laughter and come away knowing that my feelings of being an inadequate feminist are shared by everyone and that it’s okay as long as we are all doing our best. I love listening these women (hosted by comedians, guest are often comedians) talking about issues I hadn’t even thought of in a feminist way and I love the challenges they all get up to each week. Just listen to it. Top quality feminist entertainment.

4. iTunes U


Okay, so this one isn’t one particular podcast, but I think it fits into one point nicely. I discovered this section of iTunes thanks to my friend Charlotte, and I can’t believe I wasn’t aware of it until recently! iTunes U is a collection of lectures from a range of top universities on a range of subjects. This is particularly useful for me at the moment as I am doing my A Levels and am preparing for university in the next few years. This a great way for any A Level student to carry out their wider research and learning, consolidating the content of the courses you are doing and I would recommend it to anyone!

5. Dan Snow’s HISTORY HIT



I first started listening to this podcast when looking for more podcasts relating to one of my A Level subjects, and this hits the spot nicely (pun not intended but now that I’ve seen it, I love it). You have probably at least heard of Dan Snow as the guy who pops up on the TV sometimes talking about history stuff, and this is basically the same thing, just with appearances from other historians you may know (Lucy Worsley, for example). I find it really useful with wider ‘reading’ for History, especially as he has covered some of the areas that are included in my course, s it’s great to get further information. Dan also tends to tailor some of his episodes around current events, recently doing an episode on Islam and the Tudors. I would really recommend this to anyone who loves history and wants to know more!

What podcasts would you recommend?



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Even Her Eyes Were Shut

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Monday, 3 April 2017

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A large cappuccino. That had been her order. To have in, please.

She’d smiled, politely enough, so that the wings of her smudged eyeliner creased and spread outwards, into her pupils. Then, with an almost-whispered “thank you,” she had paced to the back of the room, to where the more scratched and bruised tables stood – proud despite their wounds. It was on one such table that the girl had set down her grey plastic tray and moved her corporate mug of steaming coffee, which was to leave an irremovable stain on the wood when it would be taken away two hours later.

She placed her handbag down on the floor, blinked with a sigh, then hauled herself back up again. Back to perfect posture. Slowly, she brought the mug to her lips, pinky in the air with a smirk. She steadily drank a mouthful of the coffee before setting it back down again. The ceramic peeled away from her lips, a heavy kiss left imprinted on its side in deep scarlet and the trail of a single brown tear trickling down the white edge.

Another breath. And now, she could hear the conversations of the wrinkled couple sitting in the opposite corner to her, nursing two medium chai teas.
          “No Barry, it just can’t cut it. Look, I have to start again, there’s no other option.”

Screams of children cooled her bones, as their mother found herself draped over the side of a rickety wooden chair, almost unconscious.
          “But I want the bigger slice!”
She sat quiet and undisturbed. Her hands lay on top of one another, except for when they reached for the coffee mug. Her chest moved to the beat of the coffee machines clinking at the front of the shop. Metal on metal. Even her eyes were shut.



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