With great enthusiasm (despite the trailer – which I’ll point out later) I went to see “The Kids Are All Right” last week. I was pretty stoked to be seeing a mainstream, Hollywood film produced and directed by a lesbian feminist – Lisa Cholodenko – whose other directorial credits include “Hung,” “The L Word,” and “Six Feet Under.”
The film is about two teenagers (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) who are being raised by their lesbian moms (Julianne Moore and Annette Benning). We pick up their story as they decide to contact their biological father/sperm donor (Mark Ruffalo) much to the chagrin of Benning’s character, Nic.
First off, I want to get out of the way that I was really entertained by, and actually, liked the Bechdel-approved, film overall. So, don’t think I’m not a total stick in the mud. BUT, you can assume if that’s the preface to everything else I’m about to say – it was not without its problems. The number one most irritating aspect of this film is its depiction of lesbian sexuality. Surprising, given that it was written and directed by a lesbian…just goes to show how powerful those production dollars are.
While most recaps focus on the entire aspect of a show, this one’s going to be a little bit different. As this is a feminist blog deconstructing images and portrayals of women in pop culture, why spend an entire post rambling on about the men of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price. Instead, these recaps will focus on the women of Mad Men – the main ladies: Peggy, Joan, and Betty, and any new additions or guest stars – hence the title “Mad Women.”
Apologies for the late recap this week.
Peggy I feel this week’s episode proved that this is turning out to be a very Peggy-centric season. In my opinion, it was the best episode of the series so far. Although I haven’t felt this type of vibe from her and Don’s relationship in the past, I really felt in this episode that they should be together. They balance each other out, and neither judges the other for their past, their current mishaps, or their secrets and anger. They both opened up to one another in emotionally revealing ways, and Peggy telling Don that he didn’t lose the only person who truly knew him, was spot on. I believe that Don could sit down and tell Peggy all of his secrets, and she wouldn’t hold it against him, or be angry. I thought when Peggy and Don were talking at the bar, she would tell him that Pete was the father of her child, and while she didn’t say who it was, I think that she’ll tell Don at some point down the line.
While I think Trudy’s comment to Peggy in the ladies room noticeably bothered her, her actions proved she isn’t caving to the pressure to be a “real” or “good” woman of the time, and let her life just become about marriage and children. By the end of the episode, it didn’t bother her that instead of dinner with her boyfriend and family, she spent her birthday brainstorming, drinking with, and consoling a grieving Don Draper. She is smart, and knows the stigma attached to her choice to focus on her career instead of landing a husband.
Joan While I think Joan had only two lines the entire episode, I loved her exchange with the guys. She proved that she is no longer just the girl who cleans up after the messes other employees make, she now has the power to tell people what to do.
Betty No thoughts on Betty this week, she was absent once again
Leave your thoughts on Peggy and Don’s relationship, Trudy’s comments, and anything else from this week’s episode in the comments.
Originally posted at A Spot in Time by Ms. Sarit. Cross-posted with permission.
…or at least that’s what Levi’s wants us to think!
A couple of weeks ago, I walked into a Levi’s store with the intention of picking up another pair of my beloved jeans–the ones that fit my curves, are comfortable, and don’t make me feel like a stuffed sausage. Sadly, I discover, as with so many other things, they’ve discontinued the style. Instead, they have their new “Curve ID” line, which has subsequently taken over the women’s section. Their claim: these jeans allow each woman a custom fit. Great concept, not going to lie, but the truth is there are only 3 options: Slight Curve, Demi Curve, and Bold Curve. Sounded interesting….at first. According to the new branding, “all asses were not created equal.” Frankly, upon reading that, I agree…at least from a superficial standpoint. But as I scan the rest of their advertisement and take in the criteria for each of their 3 new fits, I am flabbergasted. For starters, none of these models are of an average size. In fact, they “average” a size 2–a far cry from the actual average, which is about a 14. As they tell consumers that our asses are individual and should be celebrated as they are, there is an even stronger implication that one ass is far superior than the others: the one ready to fill out their Demi Curve jeans.
Levi’s breakdown of “curvature” goes like this:
Slight Curve
celebrates straight figures
defines your waist
enhances your curves
Demi Curve:
frames perfect proportions
flatters your waist
smooths your shape
Bold Curve:
honors real curves
hugs your waist
no gaping or pulling
So, I guess having hardly any curves at all needs to be corrected, and having a lot should be honored, but those whose curves meet their description of “perfection,” well, hell, frame it and flatter it. To me, who sadly only fit into one wash and style of the Bold Curve jean, it would appear that Levi’s is just another company marketing for the exceptionally thin, young, pre-motherhood, barely pubescent crew.
