Letters to the Editor
Somnambulicious
Published Letters: 3
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Too right
[Read the article: To Pixar: We love it. But next time, could you add a girl?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It's difficult to find movies (or other media, for that matter) with a strong female lead who's an acceptable role model for girls. That's why our DVD shelf is stocked with Miyazaki's films (Spirited Away, Nausicaa, Kiki's Delivery Service, et. al.) These films were remarkably successful in Japan. Why can't US filmmakers do the same?
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Cabbages and Condoms pics
[Read the article: A condom for every city]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You can find photos of the Cabbages and Condoms restaurant on their official website (though the only condoms I spotted were arranged decoratively on a tabletop. Where are the helium-filled condom balloons???) Link here:
http://www.cabbagesandcondoms.co.th/pattaya/zone_res/img_list.asp
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Johnathan -
[Read the article: To Pixar: We love it. But next time, could you add a girl?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"Would you hold up the japanese female protagonist as a model if you also knew that most are regarded as sexualized characters by their intended audience? Animation in Japan is a COMPLETELY different animal. For every "Nausica" there's 20 alien rape movies aimed at an exclusively male audience. Check out the number of Sailor Moon "fan art" on the web and tell me again that this is what you want American animation to emulate."
Thank you for proving my point. If movies with strong, nonsexualized female leads like Miyazaki's - and I can point out a dozen other examples off the top of my head, like the book and anime series The Twelve Kingdoms - can do so well in the country that brought us bukkake and tentacle rape, then why can't they do well here in the US? Why don't we even have anyone trying?
As for what fans do with the characters, yes, I'm well aware of that. (I've been to Yaoi-con multiple times. Nothing surprises me anymore.) What does that have to do with anything? For that matter, are you trying to say that American audiences don't do the same with nonsexualized characters from shows aimed at the 3-to-11-year-old audience? Because I assure you, they do. I could show you some Care Bear fanart that would curl your hair. I don't even want to think about what's been done to poor Winnie-the-Pooh and his dear friend Christopher Robin. Does that mean I should refrain from reading The House at Pooh Corner to my daughters?
"The intended audience for Pixar movies are children between the ages of 3 and 11. I'd venture most of that demographic have yet to grasp the concept of gender differences on the level you are articulating here."
Of course they don't. That's the age when they're learning about gender roles, and that's precisely why it's important to have good role models, both in real life and in the media they're exposed to - for both boys and girls.
Oh, and one last thing: I'm perfectly capable of both keeping Bratz dolls out of my daughters' hands and wanting them to watch movies with strong female protagonists simultaneously. I'm quite the multitasker when it comes to my children.