Retro Fixit: Some old Papers Part 2: Darna
just looking for a place to dump theses stuff, did em 3 years ago in college
Kainis Dis Darna : A Feminist Criticism
The 53 year old Darna franchise by Mars Ravelo has inspired different artists, directors, and performers to base their masterpieces around the heroine’s story and her battles that represent good and evil. This criticism will focus on the feminism present in the latest installment of the “Darna” franchise, the dance-musical. The musical play was directed by Chris Millado and was held at the CCP, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.
This essay will be based on different studies done by Jose Javier Reyes, Melanie Casul Barinaga and E. Anne Kaplan and would analyze female roles, world views, stereotypes,
Ideologies and the type of feministic approach present at the dance musical. Analysis on how multimedia helped convey feminism in the story will also be included.
Girl power
Darna plays different feminist roles in the musical. First she plays as the source of hope and energy not just of her family but the society. Narda protects her brother and takes care of him when they are in the labyrinth shantytown (act 1 scene 10 & 11). In the society Darna becomes the symbol of hope and provides motivation for the Filipino people. In a way she represents the force against the different struggles and problems in the real society.
Another feminist role for Darna is her being the friend or lover of Arman. Narda’s love for Arman leads her to danger and eventually caused Valentina’s acquisition of the rock that transforms her into a superhero just like Darna.
Meanwhile Valentina, the super villain also has an alter ego like Narda and Darna. Tina, the alter ego of Valentina traces her problems in her childhood where she is a bald girl. She is a victim of the stereotypes young children give to different kids. That common stereotype made her a loner therefore motivating her to be “evil”.
Lola also has a feminist role in the play being Narda’s source of strength and inspiration. Lola gave Narda the rock, she too taught Narda to fly without the rock.
Girls Rule, Boys Drool
The men on the other hand are the beaten-up guys, the beloved and, the oppressed. Ding, Narda’s younger brother, was often the “background” boy. Ding’s only famous moment is when Narda asks him to give the rock that transforms her into Darna. Arman meanwhile is the “prince charming”, the “I-need-to-be-saved” in the play. Darna turned out to be the “I’ll-do-everything-to-save-him” character giving more emphasis on feminism in the play.
The “Boy Toys”, Valentina’s dirty men, turned out to be another proof of the existence of feminism in the story. They depend on Valentina relying on her judgment and power. They try to beat Darna up but they were unsuccessful to overpower her.
The male characters on this play like on the soap operas rely upon woman's socialized skills in attending to the needs and desires of others. They don’t just rely on their skills but on their opinion, heart and their perception to the world.
‘Pag nagtiis, we have the power
The world view of suffering for Narda can be seen on Scene 10, when the song “Mahirap Maging Mahirap” was being danced in the labyrinth of shantytown. Even though their love story was not properly established, Narda’s belief that her fate was with Arman made her sacrifice everything in order to be with the love of her life, Arman.
The Ideal Stereotypic Representation
There is a different representation of the world in this story. Although the view on unusual people are the same as shown on Tina’s plight to evil hood, views on men saving the day has changed. Now it is women who screws up, makes and saves the day. Male characters have become passive as they now are the ones who get beaten up, rescued, cared for and ordered to do things. The female characters are now on the other side of the whore dichotomy. They are the independent, adventurous, and dangerous women in the play.
It’s also a stereotypical scheme to invite famous people in order to lure more people into the perpetrator’s scam. The case of the bold star, the preacher, and the politician, shown in Scene 9, who all want their photos taken with Darna, confirms the fact that some people want to be included in the lime light as well and are using someone’s popularity to promote their social status.
A stereotype of famous people is also evident even nowadays, when ordinary citizens regard people in the showbiz industry to be using their popularity as their stepping stone to run for positions in the government. But as any qualified lawyer or college graduate for that matter, a person can run for office provided he or she has sufficient understanding of the task at hand.
On the ideological aspect, the whole play, which is centered on the life of Darna, upholds female empowerment. In a society where women are still stereotypically regarded as the weaker sex, women are empowered in Darna. Although some might disagree because Darna is just a fictional character spawned from the 50-year old Filipino comics character that she is today, Darna still has the power to affect women through her strong will and courage. The ballet took the story of Darna into a whole new level by integrating it with the postmodern events that have taken place in our society and have shown the roles of women in those situations.
Some world representations in the play such as the use of a sacred or enchanted object to symbolize strength and power, which if would fall into the hands of an evil person can unleash madness, proves that neither man nor woman has greater power than the other. This means that power is objective, and does not lie in the gender of a person. In contemporary times, women are regarded to be the weaklings and all the power goes to the man, evident in the ideally patriarchal Filipino family, where domineering husbands and submissive wives are nothing new.
Darna, being a woman, was made to look lavishly heroic basically because the audiences are already accustomed to the red and gold costume that she wears. But more than the physical, Darna has in her a will to help others in danger, something that no normal woman would do. Most women in media are portrayed as helpless wives or whores, but stories like Darna gives a whole new meaning to the word “female.”
Rigged Multimedia
Imatech© was behind the multimedia presentation in the Dance musical didn’t
really affect the feminist assumptions. The main objective of the multimedia presentations brought about basically by the projector was simply to provide information, supplemental effects and a new trick that makes the audiences think that they are flying over the city. Midi-triggered video images with sound bytes emphasize the comic feel.
The riggers on the other hand give the athletic and muscular feel to the audience. By showing them to the audience, the ballet gives the female characters, especially Darna, the dynamic look emphasizing her powers.
Ding ang Bato
Darna: A Dance - Musical illustrated the struggle of good and evil in a different manner. Roles played by Narda and Darna presented feminist roles. A plot that didn’t just give women the primary roles but also made the story around the female characters. Ideas, representations and stereotypes in the narrative turn the usual into a girl powered tale. The story did not just show total feminism, it also gives an idea on how can comic representations give energy and motivation not just for women in the Philippines but also men. These representations and ideas are good for the problem-beset Filipino society. Hey this is weird, a guy writing feminist criticism, at least there’s something for a change. But for sure I’m not gay
References:
Feminist Criticism, Melanie Casul-Barinaga, 2003.
RADIO DRAMA, Jose Javier Reyes, Mass Media: A Book of Readings by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. 1986
Kainis Dis Darna : A Feminist Criticism
The 53 year old Darna franchise by Mars Ravelo has inspired different artists, directors, and performers to base their masterpieces around the heroine’s story and her battles that represent good and evil. This criticism will focus on the feminism present in the latest installment of the “Darna” franchise, the dance-musical. The musical play was directed by Chris Millado and was held at the CCP, Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo.
This essay will be based on different studies done by Jose Javier Reyes, Melanie Casul Barinaga and E. Anne Kaplan and would analyze female roles, world views, stereotypes,
Ideologies and the type of feministic approach present at the dance musical. Analysis on how multimedia helped convey feminism in the story will also be included.
Girl power
Darna plays different feminist roles in the musical. First she plays as the source of hope and energy not just of her family but the society. Narda protects her brother and takes care of him when they are in the labyrinth shantytown (act 1 scene 10 & 11). In the society Darna becomes the symbol of hope and provides motivation for the Filipino people. In a way she represents the force against the different struggles and problems in the real society.
Another feminist role for Darna is her being the friend or lover of Arman. Narda’s love for Arman leads her to danger and eventually caused Valentina’s acquisition of the rock that transforms her into a superhero just like Darna.
Meanwhile Valentina, the super villain also has an alter ego like Narda and Darna. Tina, the alter ego of Valentina traces her problems in her childhood where she is a bald girl. She is a victim of the stereotypes young children give to different kids. That common stereotype made her a loner therefore motivating her to be “evil”.
Lola also has a feminist role in the play being Narda’s source of strength and inspiration. Lola gave Narda the rock, she too taught Narda to fly without the rock.
Girls Rule, Boys Drool
The men on the other hand are the beaten-up guys, the beloved and, the oppressed. Ding, Narda’s younger brother, was often the “background” boy. Ding’s only famous moment is when Narda asks him to give the rock that transforms her into Darna. Arman meanwhile is the “prince charming”, the “I-need-to-be-saved” in the play. Darna turned out to be the “I’ll-do-everything-to-save-him” character giving more emphasis on feminism in the play.
The “Boy Toys”, Valentina’s dirty men, turned out to be another proof of the existence of feminism in the story. They depend on Valentina relying on her judgment and power. They try to beat Darna up but they were unsuccessful to overpower her.
The male characters on this play like on the soap operas rely upon woman's socialized skills in attending to the needs and desires of others. They don’t just rely on their skills but on their opinion, heart and their perception to the world.
‘Pag nagtiis, we have the power
The world view of suffering for Narda can be seen on Scene 10, when the song “Mahirap Maging Mahirap” was being danced in the labyrinth of shantytown. Even though their love story was not properly established, Narda’s belief that her fate was with Arman made her sacrifice everything in order to be with the love of her life, Arman.
The Ideal Stereotypic Representation
There is a different representation of the world in this story. Although the view on unusual people are the same as shown on Tina’s plight to evil hood, views on men saving the day has changed. Now it is women who screws up, makes and saves the day. Male characters have become passive as they now are the ones who get beaten up, rescued, cared for and ordered to do things. The female characters are now on the other side of the whore dichotomy. They are the independent, adventurous, and dangerous women in the play.
It’s also a stereotypical scheme to invite famous people in order to lure more people into the perpetrator’s scam. The case of the bold star, the preacher, and the politician, shown in Scene 9, who all want their photos taken with Darna, confirms the fact that some people want to be included in the lime light as well and are using someone’s popularity to promote their social status.
A stereotype of famous people is also evident even nowadays, when ordinary citizens regard people in the showbiz industry to be using their popularity as their stepping stone to run for positions in the government. But as any qualified lawyer or college graduate for that matter, a person can run for office provided he or she has sufficient understanding of the task at hand.
On the ideological aspect, the whole play, which is centered on the life of Darna, upholds female empowerment. In a society where women are still stereotypically regarded as the weaker sex, women are empowered in Darna. Although some might disagree because Darna is just a fictional character spawned from the 50-year old Filipino comics character that she is today, Darna still has the power to affect women through her strong will and courage. The ballet took the story of Darna into a whole new level by integrating it with the postmodern events that have taken place in our society and have shown the roles of women in those situations.
Some world representations in the play such as the use of a sacred or enchanted object to symbolize strength and power, which if would fall into the hands of an evil person can unleash madness, proves that neither man nor woman has greater power than the other. This means that power is objective, and does not lie in the gender of a person. In contemporary times, women are regarded to be the weaklings and all the power goes to the man, evident in the ideally patriarchal Filipino family, where domineering husbands and submissive wives are nothing new.
Darna, being a woman, was made to look lavishly heroic basically because the audiences are already accustomed to the red and gold costume that she wears. But more than the physical, Darna has in her a will to help others in danger, something that no normal woman would do. Most women in media are portrayed as helpless wives or whores, but stories like Darna gives a whole new meaning to the word “female.”
Rigged Multimedia
Imatech© was behind the multimedia presentation in the Dance musical didn’t
really affect the feminist assumptions. The main objective of the multimedia presentations brought about basically by the projector was simply to provide information, supplemental effects and a new trick that makes the audiences think that they are flying over the city. Midi-triggered video images with sound bytes emphasize the comic feel.
The riggers on the other hand give the athletic and muscular feel to the audience. By showing them to the audience, the ballet gives the female characters, especially Darna, the dynamic look emphasizing her powers.
Ding ang Bato
Darna: A Dance - Musical illustrated the struggle of good and evil in a different manner. Roles played by Narda and Darna presented feminist roles. A plot that didn’t just give women the primary roles but also made the story around the female characters. Ideas, representations and stereotypes in the narrative turn the usual into a girl powered tale. The story did not just show total feminism, it also gives an idea on how can comic representations give energy and motivation not just for women in the Philippines but also men. These representations and ideas are good for the problem-beset Filipino society. Hey this is weird, a guy writing feminist criticism, at least there’s something for a change. But for sure I’m not gay
References:
Feminist Criticism, Melanie Casul-Barinaga, 2003.
RADIO DRAMA, Jose Javier Reyes, Mass Media: A Book of Readings by Clodualdo del Mundo Jr. 1986