On "Cool" characters

[istne_pieklo]

I honestly don't care how many people are going to call me sexist, but I'm kind of tired of the glorification of women on Tumblr. In fiction, I mean. Mind you, I'm not talking about RL. It's just when I see all those gifsets like "Most badass female characters", I can't help wondering where all the "Most badass guys" are. Lately, a woman is a

Comments

[harmonyfb]

My current 'cool' fictional male characters are all really, really smart (Smart=sexy. Is why I married a chemist.) or really brave/loyal.

Like...well, most of the Avengers. Or Monroe from Grimm.

I was going to say 'Ichabod Crane' as well, but you know, that's not about smarts or loyalty. I think it has more to do with his accent, hair, and frock coat. Mmmm. What was I saying?

Actually, right this second, my very favorite fictional male character is Hank Palace, the detective from the books The Last Policeman and Countdown City, who is calmly going about his job even in the face of the giant life-ending asteroid about to hit the earth.

[istne_pieklo]

Avengers rock. XD This is what I like about Tony f.ex.: he does have a lot of angst in his life but he doesn't wallow in it. It doesn't define him.
Crane is definitely sexy but the show itself is soooooo bad that I can't watch it. And yet it is hailed as great because it has a woman of colour in the lead. I get it: it's important. But the mythology is predictable, the whole Apocalypse thing is overused...
I don't get it: we complain when a woman is "just sexy" and has nothing much going on in the characterization department, but for a man to be just sexy and completely boring is suddenly okay. B/c imho, tons of angst don't make up for the lack of personality. T_T
Hank Palace, the detective from the books The Last Policeman and Countdown City, who is calmly going about his job even in the face of the giant life-ending asteroid about to hit the earth. LOOOL, that sounds awesome. XDDD

[harmonyfb]

B/c imho, tons of angst don't make up for the lack of personality. T_T

Heh. You aren't wrong. I quit watching Sleepy Hollow around the third episode, but my 12 year old son is hooked on it, so it still plays on Monday night. I read and enjoy the melodious accent without having to nerdrage over the ridiculous plot holes and characterization issues.

that sounds awesome.

They are fantastic - written by Ben Winters. Definitely check them out. I can't wait for the third one.

[istne_pieklo]

Yes, I think I also watched 3 or 4 episodes and then quit... I like the relationship between Abbie and Ichabod, but even that wasn't enough to keep me going. T_T I think I could have liked it if I hadn't seen a ton of shows like this before.
Thanks for the rec! :) I will.

[zoicite]

Tumblr's very good at making so many things completely obnoxious.

Also, I have no idea why, but I chuckled at this: "I know, like, 2 and a half guys I don't find boring"

I can think of more than 2.5, but generally, yeah.

[istne_pieklo]

So very true... It's wonderful that people are fighting against sexism and other stuff, but Tumblr makes it look: a) extreme and b) like a fad. Like it's something we should do b/c everybody's doing it. O_o
Ugh, idk, most guys I've met IRL are so... I can't even explain it. There's nothing to talk to them about.

[rosalui]

It's mostly us taking what we can get

[rosalui]

Oh yeah, here's the thing I was looking for - about how in 2012 less than a third of speaking roles in top-grossing film were women's, and how producer/director/writer ladies ranged from only 4% to 20%. http://www.torontosun.com/2013/05/16/depressing-stats-for-women-in-film

So people get excited when there's more because we... need more, I guess, lol!

[istne_pieklo]

I guess to me gender is different from ethnicity and orientation in the sense that it's largely a matter of opinion what makes a badass woman or man. Like, you have these characters but it's up to you whether you view them as badass or not. Like I said, there may be so many male characters now - but I personally don't view them as a badss, whereas I can name a lot of badass ladies. Women are all different; men are just following two or three patterns of characterization lately. In that sense, Battlestar Galactica is a perfect show for me because it has really compelling characters of both genders and there's not even a question of equality because it's obvious that women are equal to men in every aspect in their society and I think it's shown well in the show. Again, I'm not talking about RL b/c yes, RL is crazy and unfair and I'm not a social justice fighter, sorry. As for statistics, it varies, but I'd never choose a show to watch or a book to read based solely on how many men or women there are. A lot of classical works barely have

[rosalui]

It's deffo a matter of opinion what makes a badass, but for women it's largely the same as anyone or anything else, ethnicity and orientation regardless imho. The biggest thing is equality in representation, both in terms of accurate amount (literally just how many of them there are compared to IRL) and variety - sensitive or emotionless, gun-toting girly-girl or peace-loving muscle-bound hothead

bravo

[geekgirl62]

"but don't automatically assume that a "strong" woman in the lead makes it a good show. Good writing is what makes a show good, no matter who your character is."
"Feminism is a great thing until it becomes all about throwing all men off a cliff."
"The result should be the same! While cool ladies are out there being layered and multi-faceted, cool guys are rapidly becoming an endangered species."
"Maybe it's time we remembered that feminism means equality, not women being better than men."

This is the most profound piece of writing I have ever seen on the subject.
I love cool, butt-kicking, well rounded female lead characters, but why can't we have it all. Where are the equivalent male lead characters?

Currently my fav male lead is Red from The Blacklist. Ok, so he does have a tragic past, but it doesn't overshadow the current story line, and it doesn't make him a wimp. While he mourns the family he lost, he is also very cool, ass-kicking villain. He admits he is a "monster" and makes no apologies about it.