Give 'em Hell!
My hero growing up was a strong woman. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn’t afraid to go get it. She was refined and fashionable. She had attitude, brains, and beauty. She was talented, and keen to share that talent with the world. She was confident and didn’t take crap from anyone.
I am, of course, talking about Miss Piggy.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Piggy’s got problems, I admit. She’s got a pretty problematic relationship to food, and her take-no-prisoners approach to romance isn’t what I’d call healthy, either. It’s clear that she’s got some insecurities, and tries to hide those behind a veneer of over-confidence. She also might resort to violence a little too often to solve her problems. All that hiyaaaa-chopping is not what anyone would call diplomatic.
But for all her flaws, she was still the muppet I wanted to be when I grew up.
Somehow, though, I lost sight of my inner Miss Piggy. I grew up to be Kermit, instead.
I love Kermit! He’s a gentle, sweet soul, and his arm-flailing enthusiasm for things is great fun. That’s the kind of geek I am, unapologetically enthusiastic and inclined to YAY all over the things I think are nifty! And really, he’s the one who makes everything work for his muppet friends and family. He’s the social glue and the one who focuses enough on practicalities that Fozzy can spend time writing his terrible jokes and Animal can just play the damn drums and Gonzo can go on being Gonzo… whatever the hell that is. Kermit is necessary. He’s important. And goodness knows, it ain’t easy being green.
But let’s face it folks: Kermit is a bit of a pushover.
You know it. I know it. And Piggy certainly knows it. I mean, she basically bullies the frog into a relationship. That just ain’t right.
I’ve never been that easy to walk over, but I certainly see in me more Kermit the accommodating boss than Piggy the bossy. When did I lose the drive to be loud, proud, and damn the consequences? When did I start worrying more about fixing other people’s problems instead of focusing on what I want even if it causes problems for others?
The transmutation of pig to frog is a strange one, and not easy to puzzle out. From what I can tell, it involved a strange alchemical mix of societal pressure, a heaping helping of southern values for a ‘nice young lady’, and a dash of shyness and introversion. It’s hard to be a star when you’re really not that fond of the limelight, after all.
I wonder what it would be like to be the one who’s the force of nature, the personality that can’t be denied and won’t take no for an answer. Could I demand the solo, even (no, especially!) in the face of younger and prettier talent showing up? Could I lay the smackdown on anyone who gave me crap about my appearance, especially about my weight? Could I be the blonde bombshell pig I always wanted to be as a little girl?
I don’t know. Maybe it’s just a matter of putting on the makeup, of dressing up right, of playing the music and lighting the lights. Maybe it’s time to get things started. Maybe I’d be a frog in pig’s clothing for a while, a strange muppety chimera that can’t decide whether to apologize or kick the shit out of someone. Still, I think it’ll be fun to try.
While I'm busy figuring out a spell for unleashing my inner pig onto the world once more, let's talk about the magic of felt and fur and Jim Henson! Tell me about your favorite muppets! Has your inner muppet changed over the years, too?
And while we're considering Miss Piggy, what do you think of the argument for Piggy as a feminist icon1? I have to admit, she was the ultimate and original Strong Female Character for me when I was growing up.2
~~~
1. I found this argument while doing research3 for this entry, and I think it's pretty compelling. Piggy does seem a little dependent on external validation - she really seems to need those accolades - but she's fairly independent, successful, and certainly strong-willed.
2. This may say more about my taste in visual media growing up than anything else. I mean, I thought Princess Leia was ok, I guess, but really? Piggy was the best, and pretty much the only female character I latched onto for role model material. I didn't watch a lot of movies, and the television shows I gravitated towards were usually geared for boys. She-Ra and her ilk failed to impress, is what I'm saying.
3. "Research" of course involved watching lots of Muppet Show videos and reading analysis and criticism of Miss Piggy. I need more of this kind of research in my life.
I am, of course, talking about Miss Piggy.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Piggy’s got problems, I admit. She’s got a pretty problematic relationship to food, and her take-no-prisoners approach to romance isn’t what I’d call healthy, either. It’s clear that she’s got some insecurities, and tries to hide those behind a veneer of over-confidence. She also might resort to violence a little too often to solve her problems. All that hiyaaaa-chopping is not what anyone would call diplomatic.
But for all her flaws, she was still the muppet I wanted to be when I grew up.
Somehow, though, I lost sight of my inner Miss Piggy. I grew up to be Kermit, instead.
I love Kermit! He’s a gentle, sweet soul, and his arm-flailing enthusiasm for things is great fun. That’s the kind of geek I am, unapologetically enthusiastic and inclined to YAY all over the things I think are nifty! And really, he’s the one who makes everything work for his muppet friends and family. He’s the social glue and the one who focuses enough on practicalities that Fozzy can spend time writing his terrible jokes and Animal can just play the damn drums and Gonzo can go on being Gonzo… whatever the hell that is. Kermit is necessary. He’s important. And goodness knows, it ain’t easy being green.
But let’s face it folks: Kermit is a bit of a pushover.
You know it. I know it. And Piggy certainly knows it. I mean, she basically bullies the frog into a relationship. That just ain’t right.
I’ve never been that easy to walk over, but I certainly see in me more Kermit the accommodating boss than Piggy the bossy. When did I lose the drive to be loud, proud, and damn the consequences? When did I start worrying more about fixing other people’s problems instead of focusing on what I want even if it causes problems for others?
The transmutation of pig to frog is a strange one, and not easy to puzzle out. From what I can tell, it involved a strange alchemical mix of societal pressure, a heaping helping of southern values for a ‘nice young lady’, and a dash of shyness and introversion. It’s hard to be a star when you’re really not that fond of the limelight, after all.
I wonder what it would be like to be the one who’s the force of nature, the personality that can’t be denied and won’t take no for an answer. Could I demand the solo, even (no, especially!) in the face of younger and prettier talent showing up? Could I lay the smackdown on anyone who gave me crap about my appearance, especially about my weight? Could I be the blonde bombshell pig I always wanted to be as a little girl?
I don’t know. Maybe it’s just a matter of putting on the makeup, of dressing up right, of playing the music and lighting the lights. Maybe it’s time to get things started. Maybe I’d be a frog in pig’s clothing for a while, a strange muppety chimera that can’t decide whether to apologize or kick the shit out of someone. Still, I think it’ll be fun to try.
Click to viewWhile I'm busy figuring out a spell for unleashing my inner pig onto the world once more, let's talk about the magic of felt and fur and Jim Henson! Tell me about your favorite muppets! Has your inner muppet changed over the years, too?
And while we're considering Miss Piggy, what do you think of the argument for Piggy as a feminist icon1? I have to admit, she was the ultimate and original Strong Female Character for me when I was growing up.2
~~~
1. I found this argument while doing research3 for this entry, and I think it's pretty compelling. Piggy does seem a little dependent on external validation - she really seems to need those accolades - but she's fairly independent, successful, and certainly strong-willed.
2. This may say more about my taste in visual media growing up than anything else. I mean, I thought Princess Leia was ok, I guess, but really? Piggy was the best, and pretty much the only female character I latched onto for role model material. I didn't watch a lot of movies, and the television shows I gravitated towards were usually geared for boys. She-Ra and her ilk failed to impress, is what I'm saying.
3. "Research" of course involved watching lots of Muppet Show videos and reading analysis and criticism of Miss Piggy. I need more of this kind of research in my life.