Sirens Panels

[rachelmanija]

I am on two panels which I might be moderating - I'm not sure. One is going to be more of a general discussion, though, since there's only three of us

Comments

[oracne]

For the first panel, it might be interesting to look at how Panem is willing to put girls at risk as well as boys - how does that make their society different from ours? At the same time, there's the fake romance plot to appeal to the voters in the first book. Also, Katniss is shown as protective of younger females twice - how does this role as guardian equate to mothers portrayed in the series, or other mentoring characters?

For the second panel, perhaps how the animal companions take a role that family or society has previously denied the human character? Animal companions taking the role of female role models (even if the animals are male or magically neuter)? Animal companions representing aspects of the personality that have been previously denied expression?

[sartorias]

Why is it acceptable that the dragons and mediated rape in the Pern books is seen as unobjectionable by so many people?

[rachelmanija]

Thanks!

Sherwood, can you think of other earlyish fantasies with women and companion animals?

[sartorias]

Andre Norton had several, then there were the Seychuli novels . . . let me think--I know I read a lot of them, but that was nearly forty years ago!

[sartorias]

Cheysuli?

[marfisa]

Also, you could bring up the whole "young girls and cute animal sidekicks" trope characteristic of both Disney princess movies and many Japanese magical girl anime. In Disney the animals seem to start out as glorified pets who mostly can't speak human language (even when they wear clothes and are obviously reasonably sentient, like the mice in "Cinderella") and only help in relatively minor ways. But in some later films like "Mulan" and the non-Disney (I think), non-princess protagonist Shrek, the animal sidekicks (a fast-talking undersized dragon and a donkey, both with the voice of Eddie Murphy) act more like coaches or meddling best friends who are always full of well-meaning (if not always terribly useful) advice, whether the protagonist wants it or not

[rachelmanija]

Thanks! I wonder if I'd have time to marathon Madoka before I leave...

I once wrote a play loosely based on "The Goose Girl." It was a clunker preaching about how bad it was to be biased against immigrants - not one of my better moments.

[erikagillian]

For some reason I thought of Red Mars, but both male. Then I thought of Star Beast. Which has that lovely twist at the end. Of course the sexism when it comes to his girlfriend is.. gah