Mary Wollstonecraft is awesome. And yes, in case you were wondering, that is the literary term for her style and influence. Someone once told, in regard to politicians that the American people tend to vote for the candidate they could most see themselves sharing a beer with. Well, although I’m not voting for my favorite theorist or critic, I think this idea works well when trying to apply the ideas of each thinker.
If I was having a party, I would invite Wollstonecraft. In addition, just to make things interesting, I’d also invite Christine De Pizan, and Lady Gaga. It might happen like this:
Me: Did anyone see Black Swan this past week? I loved the mixture of camp and terror, and the interesting negative portrayal of sexuality.
Pizan: Women cannot be evil, sexual, creatures, for that goes against our nature. Indeed, poor Portman’s character of Nina, embodies the immanent doom that occurs if men force us into the role of temptress or seducer, we, like Nina become monsters, for “it’s true that there’s nothing worse than a woman who is dissolute and depraved: she’s like a monster” (214). Our true nature, like lovely Nina in the start of the film is to be “timid, meek, and pure” (214).
Wollstonecraft: What is wrong with you Pizan?! While this film was wonderful, it clearly showed the danger of growing up in a society that has demanded “the good conduct of women [is best implemented] by attempting to keep them always in a state of childhood” (497). Her director falls under the category of both tyrant and sensualist who only want “slaves and the latter a plaything” (501). I for one was repulsed by the negative portrayal of sexuality, but applauded their criticism and revelations of the consequences of a closed and ignorant upbringing of women. Gaga, I too am educated and sexually liberal, but most of all I am seeking vindication for women. Would you agree that we need to argue against “the degradation and subjugation of women justified by ‘the arbitrary power of beauty’”(495)?
Gaga: Well, people judge me based on my appearance, then on my stunts, then on my music. I mean people think I’m a man. "At first it was very strange and everyone sorta said, 'That's really quite a story!' But in a sense, I portray myself in a very androgynous way, and I love androgyny.” (http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9640579). Plus, I think if anything I free women! Plus I tackle serious issues, like dancing, drinking, and being yourself!
Me: Does this issue influence literature?
Pizan: Yes, I wish women would be portrayed as anything other than a harlot, that way we can honor God and be free.
Wollstonecraft: Of course it does! What we argue in print shapes the way our government and in turn arts function!
Gaga: I don’t read books. But I’m on the over of Vogue this month!
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the dialogue format for this. Your choice of women to represent different feminist viewpoints also works well. Though I haven't seen "Black Swan" I feel like you convey the major concepts presented in the film in relation to the idea of femininity as discussed in "A Vindication of the Rights of Women." I'm interested in what you think Lady Gaga would say in response to Wollstonecraft's claim that a woman's "first wish would be to make herself respectable" (504). Do you think she would agree? Or do you think she falls into the traps of pleasure (and the desire to please) that Wollstonecraft so despises?
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteIn your case, the dialogue works very well, and it illustrates how women (who even might agree) from different periods view women's societal roles. Brava.
The dialogue was, as previous comments assert, wonderful. I've always wanted to put Plato into an 'actual' dialogue, not one in which someone (with the same name as his brother--what?)always agrees with him in some degree.
ReplyDeleteI would also be curious, though, to explore how Pizan and Wollstonecraft would have reacted to Lady Gaga her(him?)self. Is she a negative influence on the portrayal of women, or would they agree with her in saying she 'frees' women?
It is interesting to me that Christine suggests that a women is a monster if she is working outside of her natural role. Lady Gaga would deny the existence of such a role and assert that we are all monsters, as she calls her fans "little monsters." This fits Christine's definition of monstrosity with a postmodern twist. The idea that everyone in some way is outside of the prescribed role for women or men or people, but that is because all the roles we have imagined are merely constructions that we ought to break out of. Thus, Gaga amps up the monstrosity in order to critique women's roles and open up new possibilities for the future of those roles.
ReplyDeleteBasically I think that Gaga would say that Pizan's monstrosity is a good thing, but now we are smart, powerful, monsters.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate that you chose a still from the Paparazzi video in which she is actually preparing to kill her betraying ex-boyfriend. It is strikingly appropriate for the feminist conversation.
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