The Other Shoe Is Ready To Fall, Sir
from Heidi's blog regarding various and sundry kerfluffles as of late:
"BTW, I’ve received a few oblique communications that hint that TPTB are not as oblivious to the issues being raised over the last few days as their public silence would indicate. Developing."
You know, I've been following these things for several years now, these issues regarding women both working in comics and how they are portrayed as comic characters. I've never seen the other shoe drop. The closest I've ever seen the other shoe dropping is the swiftness with with the editor on Supergirl was replaced and various rumors that following my "Goodbye To Comics" some of the art on certain comic books were altered either in the penciling or inking stage to change potentially offensive images of women.
I love comics. I don't want to hurt comics. I love Marvel and I've managed to work up a tolerance for DC.
But to TPTBs everywhere: drop the other shoe. Say something. Do something. Acknowledge what's going on. I know you really don't want to see women alienated from this industry. But the silence only adds more fuel to this fire.
In my own case, nobody wanted to let that other shoe drop. Nobody wanted to admit anything happened, that anything was wrong. So everything was silenced, erased, quieted. And then one day I "rebooted" this blog and said what nobody wanted said. Because the silence from those who had the power to defuse the situation in a proper way demanded it be said.
But this mounting silence creates resentment, anger, and eventually, it comes out in one blog or 1,000 blogs. Or a book. Or a movie. Who knows?
Let the other shoe drop. Defuse this clusterf**k and the many clusterf**ks like it and the many clusterf**ks we aren't even aware of.
And whichever company takes the first step and makes a public stand on this issue is going to be the winner.
you. rock. the end.
ReplyDeletei agree with you. i think more women should put on their power bracelets and kick some ass.
want to know one of my issues?
i love when "liberal" and "progressive" writers act like they are so ahead of the times because they feature a gay character, but the moment you actually sexualize such a character it becomes offensive.
will and grace was the stereotypical "neutered" gay comedy, as long as there was no man on man action it was ok.
oh, but you know, lesbians are ok. or some man flirting.
but man on man action? no way jose, thats faggot shit.
The thing I don't get is that there are so many simple changes that publishers (DC/Marvel mainly) could make. These changes might get more women into makeing superhero comics and also get more women into reading superhero comics. WHY, when they could sell more comics, they decide not to, confuses me. Publishers could get more people into the superhero genre, but instead they're worried about loosing the long-time fans. However, I'd argue that many of those fans wouldn't miss the oversexaulized women - most wouldn't even notice. Most of them are such "fans" that they'll buy stuff no matter who draws or writes or how good or bad it is. And those that get angry that there aren't more oversexualized women can start picking up other comics - there are plenty of indie comics made specifically for fans of that.
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