Game of Thrones
It's all over the blogosphere, particularly in geek circles, and I don't have anything to add that someone somewhere hasn't already said, but I'd like to address it anyway.
The "review" of HBO's A Game of Thrones from the New York Times.
I put "review" in quotes, because there is no mention of plot beyond a hasty (and apparently inaccurate) parallel to global warming, no note of characters, no note of actors. It is merely a diatribe against fantasy fiction as a whole, and a rather sexist one at that. For fantasy is "boy fiction," and doesn't appeal to women unless there's lurid sex as well. Because we all know that sex scenes are just there for women, and men don't enjoy such things at all. And, worse, this story is too confusing and unless you are a brilliant card-counter (in other words, if you're a typical woman, it implies), you should go back to "Sex in the City" reruns.
Full disclosure: I haven't read any of the books in the series, or indeed any books written by this author. I had no specific interest in seeing the series. (This review, and the fallout one can find all over the blogosphere, has convinced me to remedy both these points immediately.)
However, I wish to stand up and take note of the blatant sexism and bigotry in this so-called review -- and from a female reviewer, no less. I feel it is particularly appropriate to do so here in this season just before NorWesCon, which I will be attending this upcoming weekend. Science-fiction fandom owes a great deal to women. It was female fans of Star Trek who began organizing science fiction conventions in the first place. It was a woman who was the first science fiction genre author, writing two novels which could be considered the foundation of the entire genre (Mary Shelley, who wrote both Frankenstein and The Last Man.) I know far more female geeks than male geeks, truth be told.
I remember the heartbreaking tale of Katie which was all over the blogosphere a few months back, a little girl was teased at school for bringing a Star Wars thermos to school because she liked "boy" things; she was willing to pretend to stop liking Star Wars and just have a pink thermos if it would help her fit in. The fan community responded, and Katie was shown she doesn't have to hide who she is. She was visited by actors from the Star Wars TV show, who encouraged her to be proud for who she is. And her school made a "proud to be me" day where everyone was encouraged to be themselves, differences and all (a good way to turn a moment of early-grade bullying into a learning experience, I think).
But it's not just at the elementary school level such bullying takes place. Reviewers such as Ginia Bellafante prove that it does not stop when one moves on from 3rd, 6th, or even 12th grade. Women should stop playing make-believe with epic fantasy and go back to Sex & the City, and book groups involving only realistic (and depressing) fiction. There is "boy fiction" and there is "girl fiction," and ne'er the twain shall meet.
So my male friends who like Sex & the City (who, admittedly, are predominantly, though not exclusively, gay)? They need to stop, or they're weird. My female friends who like Dr. Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and superheroes, or who enjoy RPing? They need to stop, or they're not "real" women. People who enjoy plots that are somewhat complex? They're card-counting wierdos.
Okay, she doesn't like the genre. That's fine. It's not for everyone. My mother doesn't much like the genre overall (with some exceptions -- I recall she enjoyed Star Trek: the Next Generation), though she has been very patient putting up with my brother's and my tastes. To excoriate those who like it for being strange, particularly if they have a uterus, is not only lazy, but socially irresponsible as it feeds all sorts of negative stereotypes.
It's sad to see such obvious and disgusting sexism and bigotry come across in a mainstream paper such as the New York Times. It is, however, heartening to learn that geek culture has responded, and responded strongly.
To my fellow geeks, regardless of what type of anatomy you possess: thank you for being so awesome and for standing up and saying "no" when confronted by such terrible bigotry.
The "review" of HBO's A Game of Thrones from the New York Times.
I put "review" in quotes, because there is no mention of plot beyond a hasty (and apparently inaccurate) parallel to global warming, no note of characters, no note of actors. It is merely a diatribe against fantasy fiction as a whole, and a rather sexist one at that. For fantasy is "boy fiction," and doesn't appeal to women unless there's lurid sex as well. Because we all know that sex scenes are just there for women, and men don't enjoy such things at all. And, worse, this story is too confusing and unless you are a brilliant card-counter (in other words, if you're a typical woman, it implies), you should go back to "Sex in the City" reruns.
Full disclosure: I haven't read any of the books in the series, or indeed any books written by this author. I had no specific interest in seeing the series. (This review, and the fallout one can find all over the blogosphere, has convinced me to remedy both these points immediately.)
However, I wish to stand up and take note of the blatant sexism and bigotry in this so-called review -- and from a female reviewer, no less. I feel it is particularly appropriate to do so here in this season just before NorWesCon, which I will be attending this upcoming weekend. Science-fiction fandom owes a great deal to women. It was female fans of Star Trek who began organizing science fiction conventions in the first place. It was a woman who was the first science fiction genre author, writing two novels which could be considered the foundation of the entire genre (Mary Shelley, who wrote both Frankenstein and The Last Man.) I know far more female geeks than male geeks, truth be told.
I remember the heartbreaking tale of Katie which was all over the blogosphere a few months back, a little girl was teased at school for bringing a Star Wars thermos to school because she liked "boy" things; she was willing to pretend to stop liking Star Wars and just have a pink thermos if it would help her fit in. The fan community responded, and Katie was shown she doesn't have to hide who she is. She was visited by actors from the Star Wars TV show, who encouraged her to be proud for who she is. And her school made a "proud to be me" day where everyone was encouraged to be themselves, differences and all (a good way to turn a moment of early-grade bullying into a learning experience, I think).
But it's not just at the elementary school level such bullying takes place. Reviewers such as Ginia Bellafante prove that it does not stop when one moves on from 3rd, 6th, or even 12th grade. Women should stop playing make-believe with epic fantasy and go back to Sex & the City, and book groups involving only realistic (and depressing) fiction. There is "boy fiction" and there is "girl fiction," and ne'er the twain shall meet.
So my male friends who like Sex & the City (who, admittedly, are predominantly, though not exclusively, gay)? They need to stop, or they're weird. My female friends who like Dr. Who, Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and superheroes, or who enjoy RPing? They need to stop, or they're not "real" women. People who enjoy plots that are somewhat complex? They're card-counting wierdos.
Okay, she doesn't like the genre. That's fine. It's not for everyone. My mother doesn't much like the genre overall (with some exceptions -- I recall she enjoyed Star Trek: the Next Generation), though she has been very patient putting up with my brother's and my tastes. To excoriate those who like it for being strange, particularly if they have a uterus, is not only lazy, but socially irresponsible as it feeds all sorts of negative stereotypes.
It's sad to see such obvious and disgusting sexism and bigotry come across in a mainstream paper such as the New York Times. It is, however, heartening to learn that geek culture has responded, and responded strongly.
To my fellow geeks, regardless of what type of anatomy you possess: thank you for being so awesome and for standing up and saying "no" when confronted by such terrible bigotry.