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[filkertom]

Ahhh, DC Comics. Always with the maturity and good clean fun.

I don't think it's any secret that I've had it up to HERE with what the writers and editors at Marvel and especially DC Comics consider to be cutting-edge material, mostly because their material tends to include lots of cutting edges. But this is just frickin' nuts

Comments

[marrael]

Due to work, I've had incidental sabbatical from the Internet the last week or so. The last fiasco I was steeped in online before this DC thing was Miley Cyrus' VMA performance. Now this, and I can't help but feel it's all part of a wider culture, the culture that still doesn't GET IT, that mistakenly believes that being EDGY means hypersexualizing and objectifying women to whatever extreme they can get away with. Because you know, the opposite and cop-out would be staying "politically correct", a phrase which has been villainised like no other. One might as well go watch a rom-com if you want a film without controversy, action or half-dressed wimmen to gawk at and judge. And we all know those are wimmen's touchy-feely movies are of no worth, AMIRITE.

Personally, I got tired of this envelope pushing of science-fiction/superhero media long ago. It may be me getting old, or it may be that I've long wondered where the limits are, how much more violent and sexual films and "edgy" media are going to push the line to help people to get their kicks. It's de-sensitizing, like drug use. I think it can be argued that youth/male-target-audience films/media have a lot of signs traditionally associated with addiction--you get numb, you go "I've seen this before, now I need more" and the makers of these things are only too happy to provide.

I don't want to offend anyone here with these musings, but it's just something that strikes me strongly after years of not going to the movies, following my pregnancy. When I do go back, I'm overwhelmed by the OTT special effects, sexualisation of women, the violence and overblown stakes, and I HATE IT. I'm waiting for others to opt out like I have, but I suspect I'm in a tiny minority.

I mean, for me, screw these franchises and blockbusters, it makes no diff to me--I used to be a fan of some things until I cut the cords. I don't even have a team I'm rooting for (DC/Marvel)--it's a false choice to me. I like the actors in some of these films but I wish I could see them in other things. I don't like where a lot of media and big media is heading, so I've opted out.

[alverant]

I think you made some excellent points. Personally I don't mind the OTT special effects or stakes if it adds something to the story and it entertains me. That's all I want from a movie, entertainment, and if it makes me ponder some things about life that's a bonus. If it's not you're thing, that's OK.

The idea of PC is (as I understand it) is not to be unnecessarily offensive by using harmful labels. Now I think most of the push against PC are people who are just looking for a license to offend everyone else for their own amusement and shore up their fractured egos and other such reasons. Basically they're looking for an excuse to be a jerk.

I haven't been doing much new sci-fi lately pretty much for the reasons you described. I just haven't found one that appeals to me for a while and I haven't had the time to read any books in light of all the other things I do. It's made me doubt my position as a fan. So thanks for posting what you did. It's good to know I'm not alone.

[gardnerhill]

"Political correctness" used to be an in-joke among lesbians about friends so hyper-aware of all the oppressed and marginalized groups that they pretty much couldn't walk, eat or breathe (How can I be a vegan and wear cotton? How many bees died pollinating the cotton field that made this blouse?).

The term's been co-opted by the right-wing and its attendant assholes - and now it's sneered by white straight Christian males who are upset that they can't tell racist and rape jokes without getting backtalk from the Untermenschen.