Less Wonder(ful) Woman
Joss Whedon has officially announced on Wheonesque that he will not be writing and directing Wonder Woman.
Sigh.
This is upsetting for many reasons. Selfishly, I loves me some Joss, so I’m sad to have less of his creativity to enjoy. Wonder Woman may also have made an even bigger name for him, leading to more projects, leading to more Joss goodness for me, etc.
On another note, I’m worried about what Wonder Woman will be like now for specific cultural reasons.
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On a more positive note, I have hopes that JKR’s Deathly Hallows will portray an active, strong Hermione participating in the Final Battle. The fanfics that lock her away in a tower - some of them literally - while the men go off to fight are less satisfying (unless they’re being written to protest such patronization of women, but I haven’t seen one work at that level yet). To go one step further, I also want Tonks, Molly, Ginny, Luna, Susan, etc. standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the guys and holding their own. And may Minerva emerge as the competent leader I know she can be.
Sigh.
This is upsetting for many reasons. Selfishly, I loves me some Joss, so I’m sad to have less of his creativity to enjoy. Wonder Woman may also have made an even bigger name for him, leading to more projects, leading to more Joss goodness for me, etc.
On another note, I’m worried about what Wonder Woman will be like now for specific cultural reasons.
- Batman, Spiderman, and Superman are all major characters. The female super hero movies have so far focused on side-roles. WW could change all of that, but only if it’s good.
- We can all look at Cat Woman and Electra and shiver in repulsion. Beyond having horrific plots, etc, the movies are never going to be much more than vehicles for getting Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner into skimpy outfits. Since they can both act, this is a double slap in the face. WW may now stoop to this.
- WW was going to be the movie that proved that women can be super heroes, that women can make hard decisions and accomplish difficult tasks. Competency and capability over D-cups.
- Joss gets women - he really does. Buffy was flawed yet courageous, strong yet still wanting to be pretty, bubbly yet responsible. She was complex. She was a hero and still a woman - not just a male hero role acted by a female.
- Even if WW is good, it’s highly likely that without Joss it will be at least somewhat sexist; especially if it follows the trend of America’s turn towards the conservative.
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On a more positive note, I have hopes that JKR’s Deathly Hallows will portray an active, strong Hermione participating in the Final Battle. The fanfics that lock her away in a tower - some of them literally - while the men go off to fight are less satisfying (unless they’re being written to protest such patronization of women, but I haven’t seen one work at that level yet). To go one step further, I also want Tonks, Molly, Ginny, Luna, Susan, etc. standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the guys and holding their own. And may Minerva emerge as the competent leader I know she can be.