Sounds wonderful - Shrill is now in my queue and I cannot wait to watch (will also be watching for an Austen connection, or course!) Have a beautiful new year.
Fantastic essay! Shrill is a great series, and so refreshingly unique in its honesty about women’s bodies. As you say, we consume a lot of media that focus on female characters with the same characteristics. I love the connections you’ve made to Orbach’s seminal text here, it seems this is an important feminist discussion for us to consider
As always, you push the boundaries around theoretical perspectives into the NOW. This wave of feminism is really hard to define; I've read a lot of conflicting ideas about it. It seems to me, like more than #metoo (also important of course), the diversity and representation element is more important, as you suggest.
It's interesting to look at discourse around social media in relation to this topic, too. There's conflicting research and thought about is it allowing individuals to shine and embrace who they are (celebrating bodies, no matter how big etc) vs an even more idealized feminine shape (and skin and hair color...) through all kinds of filtering.
Anyway, thanks for the TV recs! Something for the holidays...
Thank you, Kate! I agree that there are so many conflicting ideas around these topics, and even some push back against the 'body positivity' movement, with some commentators suggesting this can be detrimental to the health of individuals. But diversity and representation is a must, I think, within all areas of media and art.
I would definitely recommend 'Shrill' - as well as its representation, it is also very funny!
Sounds wonderful - Shrill is now in my queue and I cannot wait to watch (will also be watching for an Austen connection, or course!) Have a beautiful new year.
Would definitely recommend! I think there would be some Austen connections, especially with its representations of courtship and female autonomy.
That's a great place to start! Will keep you posted :) :)
Fantastic essay! Shrill is a great series, and so refreshingly unique in its honesty about women’s bodies. As you say, we consume a lot of media that focus on female characters with the same characteristics. I love the connections you’ve made to Orbach’s seminal text here, it seems this is an important feminist discussion for us to consider
Thank you! I agree, Shrill is such a refreshing change : )
As always, you push the boundaries around theoretical perspectives into the NOW. This wave of feminism is really hard to define; I've read a lot of conflicting ideas about it. It seems to me, like more than #metoo (also important of course), the diversity and representation element is more important, as you suggest.
It's interesting to look at discourse around social media in relation to this topic, too. There's conflicting research and thought about is it allowing individuals to shine and embrace who they are (celebrating bodies, no matter how big etc) vs an even more idealized feminine shape (and skin and hair color...) through all kinds of filtering.
Anyway, thanks for the TV recs! Something for the holidays...
Thank you, Kate! I agree that there are so many conflicting ideas around these topics, and even some push back against the 'body positivity' movement, with some commentators suggesting this can be detrimental to the health of individuals. But diversity and representation is a must, I think, within all areas of media and art.
I would definitely recommend 'Shrill' - as well as its representation, it is also very funny!