Feminism / Films

Bitch Flicks Horror Week 2011: Ellen Ripley, a Feminist Film Icon, Battles Horrifying Aliens…and Patriarchy

Originally published at Bitch Flicks as part of their Horror Week 2011 series. When I was 10 years old, the scariest movie I ever saw was Aliens. I remember the first time I saw it like it was yesterday. Late one night, plagued with insomnia (perhaps a product of my tumultuous childhood), I heard the … Continue reading

Feminism / Films

Women in Horror Films Week at Bitch Flicks!

In October, I love seeing the leaves change color, visiting historic Salem to learn about the frightful witch trials, and of course watching scary movies. With Halloween right around the corner, this marks the perfect time to celebrate horror films, particularly women in horror films. All week long, one of my absolute favorite feminist blogs … Continue reading

Feminism / Films

Guest Post: Cracked.com Makes Obnoxious Assumptions While Critiquing Hollywood’s Obnoxious Assumptions

Written by Stephanie Rogers. Originally published at Bitch Flicks. Cross-posted with permission. Last week, I somehow ended up on Cracked.com reading a post called, “6 Obnoxious Assumptions Hollywood Makes About Women.” It’s no surprise that I ended up there, given that I write for Bitch Flicks and have a vested interest in Hollywood’s Obnoxious Assumptions, … Continue reading

Feminism / Films

Best Picture Nominee Review Series for Bitch Flicks: ‘The Reader’

Originally published at Bitch Flicks as part of their “Best Picture Nominee Review Series.” When we read books or watch movies, we often do so to feel inspired, educate ourselves or escape our daily lives. We frequently look for stories filled with passion, love, sacrifice, revenge, wit and camaraderie.  We don’t usually examine how shame … Continue reading

Feminism / Films

The Feminine Mystique? A Feminist Flashback Review of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

Originally published at Bitch Flicks. When I was young, my mom raised me on classic films: Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, The Great Escape, Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  I fondly remember watching Elizabeth Taylor on-screen.  Hollywood royalty, we often think of her arresting beauty, numerous marriages, struggle with alcohol, philanthropy and perfume commercials.  It’s easy to … Continue reading

Feminism / Films

Even Angels Fall: ‘Something Borrowed’ Reduces Women to Stereotypes of Good Girls & Bad Girls

Originally published at Bitch Flicks. I’m usually no fan of chick flicks romantic comedies or chick lit women’s commercial fiction (god I hate the infantilizing term “chick”). While I enjoy romance, I cringe over the vapid dialogue, shallow characters, the reinforcing of stereotypical gender roles, the obsession over men, getting married and finding The One. … Continue reading

Feminism / Films

Snow White Meets The Terminator: ‘Hanna’ is a Modern-Day Fairy Tale Featuring a Fearless Female Assassin

Once upon a time, I anxiously awaited to see the film Hanna.  I’ve been eager to see it ever since I read about it at Women and Hollywood almost a year ago.  I’m often excited to watch movies featuring women and girls due to the dearth of female characters depicted in films.  But my feminist radar … Continue reading

Veganism

The Devil Wears Fur (and Prada): Documentary ‘Skin Trade’ Exposes the Truth about Fur in the Fashion Industry

The exquisite Chanel jackets…the lush Prada bags…the sexy Jimmy Choo shoes…I love watching the movie The Devil Wears Prada; getting lost in the eye candy whirlwind of NYC and high fashion.  Like many people, flipping through the glossy pages of fashion magazines excites yet soothes me; it’s escapist fun.  But I also know that there’s … Continue reading

Feminism / Films

Good Girl Gone Bad: Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander Burns Up the Screen in ‘The Girl Who Played with Fire’

Cross-posted at Bitch Flicks. I shared with you all last week that I’ve been utterly consumed by Swedish author Stieg Larsson’s gripping Millennium Trilogy (I’ll be reading the third book soon…so excited!).  I loved the first film, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, entranced by the burning intensity of the controversial heroine, Lisbeth Salander.  So … Continue reading

Wonder Women?: The Myth of Action Heroines in Film Shattering Gender Stereotypes
Feminism / Film, Media & TV / Films

Wonder Women?: The Myth of Action Heroines in Film Shattering Gender Stereotypes

Does watching powerful women fight crime and kick ass on-screen inspire other women?  Does it shatter barriers of gender roles? Last month, my fave blogger Melissa Silverstein at Women & Hollywood explored this very question: do women in action films break gender stereotypes?  She came across a new study that emphatically said no.  Silverstein examined … Continue reading