anti action babes

[kattahj]

While looking at a picture of Buffy, it struck me that I really, really hate that little pout she sports. And then it struck me that the pout is part of her face and not a form of characterisation.

It sounds weird. It is weird. But I have a very fundamental dislike for Buffy that has nothing to do with her actions in canon (such as the unethical

Comments

[fajrdrako]

I'm not fair to Buffy either, for very similar reasons. I'm surprised to hear I'm not the only one.

[kattahj]

To start with, I was surprised to find most people didn't think the way I do. Now, I have nearly given up. So it's always nice to see people on this side of the fence. *g*

[fajrdrako]

People tend to take it for granted that I am a big fan of Buffy - and then they're surprised when I'm not. I tried. And I adore Spike. Ah well, you can't have everything.

[meri_oddities]

I like Buffy. I like her on a lot of levels and for a lot of reasons. I like the image she sends to the girls watching her.

Yes, the clothes arguments are true. You don't fight in those clothes, but by having Buffy do it, tells girls that it's all right to fight. That they don't have to give in or roll over to be a girl. So, yeah, I like Buffy as a concept lot.

[kattahj]

You don't fight in those clothes, but by having Buffy do it, tells girls that it's all right to fight. That they don't have to give in or roll over to be a girl.

I'm all for that concept. I just think it comes in better alternatives, and when it doesn't, that it should.

I honestly don't see why ass-kicking women these days have to come with so much annoying baggage. Princess Leia was a girl, and she kicked ass without all the powers-the-world-must-not-know-about and star-crossed loving and all that shtick. And the only person who made her show her cleavage she strangled.

As I said, if it was just Buffy I wouldn't mind so much. After all, cleavages and hidden powers and star crossed lovers etc. come in other forms as well. It's just a bit too common to be ignorable.

[_redpanda_]

Hear, hear. Why on earth would a girl want to fight in a COSTUME? Jeans (or leggings, I can concede that), a comfortable tee-shirt, a snug bra, and trustworthy sneakers should be all you need. :)

[kattahj]

I'd say leggings are probably better than jeans, and both are better than leather.

[thornsilver]

Things that don't quite work as a fighting girl power attire: high heels, long nails, boobs that are not properly restrained, long hair that gets into your eyes.

I do cut Buffy and Co some slack because they are "special", but I cringe every time Faith went ass-kicking in platforms.

[marag]

::happy sigh:: Ah yes, Modesty Blaise. She and Emma Peel were the formative influences in my life :)

Emma Peel

[blktauna]

I bow in worship!!!!

and a woman with excellent style, skills and brains.

[littlesammy]

Heh. I've grown tired of the action babe syndrom for a long, long time. Buffy, sadly, started it, but Buffy was different because there was the story that mattered (if we disregard seasons 6 and 7), and that was good. I am at a point where I simply don't buy that "I'm cute and I kick ass!" any more. I want some intelligence, please. Some original ideas. Something that isn't a cliché with a cleavage. So, thank you very much for this post.

[kattahj]

I didn't start actively disliking Buffy until season 4 or thereabouts. So it correlates with the decline in story arcs and with the added action babes all around the place.

Plus, I saw the film somewhere around that point, and Kristy Swanson's total bimbo struck me as more fun, even though that's also something that has turned cliche lately.