Somewhere my sister is feeling an alarming disturbance in the fashion force because I’m the first to admit I’m not always “hip” to cool new styles. I’ve been known to bend the rules of fashion. I have no idea when or where white is appropriate, but I know it’s something to do with Labor Day. But one rule I’ve always known, followed, and cherished is brown and black are not to be worn together. From my early days of self-dressing I was taught brown and black are un-mixey things, like oil and water. Yet lately I’ve noticed rampant breaking of this cardinal rule. Not just women wearing brown and black articles of clothing together in the same ensemble, but such atrocities as brown and black boots, shirts, pants, headscarf thingamajigs, etc. I feel I must confess to the God of fashion, but I myself recently purchased one such eyesore. A pair of Kenneth Cole heels that are black with brown wood finished heels that have only found their way into my closet based on their reasonable price and my ability to walk in them.
So are the rules of fashion changing? Is this once forbidden pairing now an accepted trend? Do we do it because it is taboo? Can we find a way to blame this on Bush? Answer me ye who know better than I!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
Dollhouse: Unorthodox or Unfocused?
The latest episode of Joss Whedon's hit or miss sci-fi thriller Dollhouse has me wondering if the much hyped "sixth episode comeback" is enough to save this increasingly convoluted show. Don't get me wrong, I worship at the house of Joss like any other self-respecting geek, and have the appropriate schwag to prove it. Yet it seems just as Dollhouse reels me in there is something either turning me off or making me say "huh".
Let's start with what I like.
Ever since the sixth episode Dollhouse has changed it's pace from an infuriating slow burn to a quicker pace. The past two episodes we have finally given the audience glimpses into the lives and personalities of the actives before they entered the Dollhouse, and the bits of backstory are refreshing after six episodes of not knowing who to root for. Finally the audience has an idea of who are core group is going to be, Echo, Sierra, Victor, and November/Mellie. The last two episodes have started incorporating the sardonic humor Joss fans have come to love. Topher is by far my favorite character thus far, which leads me to another Jossian (Jossesque? Joss-like?) element to the show- lovely shades of gray, blue and rainbow to our villians. Our villians aren't mustache twirling men determined to tie the poor damsal to the tracks, they have depth, humor, and can be sympathetic.
Plus, shirtless Agent Ballard and the thought of Victor in those spankey pants definite bonus points!
On to what I didn't like.
The first one is a big one, and an issue I've had with Dollhouse from episode one, and that is it's treatment of women. The rape themes made me uncomfortable and seemed pointless in the first few episodes, though they have been significantly toned down as the season has progressed. As a Joss Whedon show I expected complex and controversial female characters, but I feel like all we have seen so far are cookie cutter women who reinforce socitally accepted gender roles. The flat characters were forgivable when the actives were in their doll states, but as some of their personalities were revealed in Needs I was disappointed to find our actives aren't particularly orignal female characters. Sierra is shaping out to be a classic femme fatal, one who consistantly thought of only herself throughout the show and is ultimately "put in her place" by the masculine authority. Echo is a rebel, but a rebel who is impractical, rash, and seems to fail at almost everything she sets out to do. Mellie is the classic nuturer female who lost her reason and will to live with the loss of her child and comfortable mothering role. This is, of course, extreme analysis most likely tainted by the snobbery of an analytical liberal arts education. And a bit hypocritical since I'm STILL enjoying my mental image of Victor in those spanky pants!
But I digress. One other thing that bugged me generally was the juxtaposition between Echo and November/Mellie in the opening scene. I have to celebrate the use of a curvier (by Hollywood standards) woman in a major part, but any positive impact it might have is undermined by Ballard's obsession with Echo, the skinny, pretty, fake fantasy girl.
Clearly I have spent too many hours analysing literature. If you haven't already decided to snooze through this blog I have just a few thoughts on where Dollhouse is going, and does it have a second season in its future.
I appreciated the idea of a slow burn, but television is fast paced and I fear no matter what improvements the show makes it can't make up the audience it failed to initially capture. And even now after the much hyped episode six I feel like the show is too unfocused. While it tries to cleverly reveal backstories without giving any of the actives their memories back the audience becomes restless and questions where is this going? If none of our current actives are going to retain their memories soon then it's time to swing focus on the mysterious Alpha. Alias has already provided a template for how a show like this can be successful, and frankly we need someone to start fighting something. And soon.
So will Dollhouse get a second chance or the big ax? This article seems to think there is hope- http://www.airlockalpha.com/news426236.html. I hope we get to see more Dollhouse, if only so I can see where this is all going!
Let's start with what I like.
Ever since the sixth episode Dollhouse has changed it's pace from an infuriating slow burn to a quicker pace. The past two episodes we have finally given the audience glimpses into the lives and personalities of the actives before they entered the Dollhouse, and the bits of backstory are refreshing after six episodes of not knowing who to root for. Finally the audience has an idea of who are core group is going to be, Echo, Sierra, Victor, and November/Mellie. The last two episodes have started incorporating the sardonic humor Joss fans have come to love. Topher is by far my favorite character thus far, which leads me to another Jossian (Jossesque? Joss-like?) element to the show- lovely shades of gray, blue and rainbow to our villians. Our villians aren't mustache twirling men determined to tie the poor damsal to the tracks, they have depth, humor, and can be sympathetic.
Plus, shirtless Agent Ballard and the thought of Victor in those spankey pants definite bonus points!
On to what I didn't like.
The first one is a big one, and an issue I've had with Dollhouse from episode one, and that is it's treatment of women. The rape themes made me uncomfortable and seemed pointless in the first few episodes, though they have been significantly toned down as the season has progressed. As a Joss Whedon show I expected complex and controversial female characters, but I feel like all we have seen so far are cookie cutter women who reinforce socitally accepted gender roles. The flat characters were forgivable when the actives were in their doll states, but as some of their personalities were revealed in Needs I was disappointed to find our actives aren't particularly orignal female characters. Sierra is shaping out to be a classic femme fatal, one who consistantly thought of only herself throughout the show and is ultimately "put in her place" by the masculine authority. Echo is a rebel, but a rebel who is impractical, rash, and seems to fail at almost everything she sets out to do. Mellie is the classic nuturer female who lost her reason and will to live with the loss of her child and comfortable mothering role. This is, of course, extreme analysis most likely tainted by the snobbery of an analytical liberal arts education. And a bit hypocritical since I'm STILL enjoying my mental image of Victor in those spanky pants!
But I digress. One other thing that bugged me generally was the juxtaposition between Echo and November/Mellie in the opening scene. I have to celebrate the use of a curvier (by Hollywood standards) woman in a major part, but any positive impact it might have is undermined by Ballard's obsession with Echo, the skinny, pretty, fake fantasy girl.
Clearly I have spent too many hours analysing literature. If you haven't already decided to snooze through this blog I have just a few thoughts on where Dollhouse is going, and does it have a second season in its future.
I appreciated the idea of a slow burn, but television is fast paced and I fear no matter what improvements the show makes it can't make up the audience it failed to initially capture. And even now after the much hyped episode six I feel like the show is too unfocused. While it tries to cleverly reveal backstories without giving any of the actives their memories back the audience becomes restless and questions where is this going? If none of our current actives are going to retain their memories soon then it's time to swing focus on the mysterious Alpha. Alias has already provided a template for how a show like this can be successful, and frankly we need someone to start fighting something. And soon.
So will Dollhouse get a second chance or the big ax? This article seems to think there is hope- http://www.airlockalpha.com/news426236.html. I hope we get to see more Dollhouse, if only so I can see where this is all going!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Be Gentle!
It's my first blog time. Lately the creative juices have been less than juicy, and I'm hoping word vomiting my thoughts across the interweb may in some way loosen the brilliant ideas I know are knocking about somewhere. Deep, deep down. Most likely I'll use my new verbal platform to critique the creative talents of others (read: geek out over the newest episode of Dollhouse or discuss my hatred for all things Heroes), post random pictures of the sillyness that is my life, and possibly discuss my love life. Or the lack thereof :-0
I'm still collecting my thoughts on the newest episode of Dollhouse, which I will post later tonight/tomorrow. Until then, I'll end this new bloggy endeavor with a few things about me. I graduated from The University of Georgia with a double major in English and Film, I like red wine, dancing, and the color blue. I love all things Joss Whedon, Kevin Smith, most things comic related, and I'm a bit of a geek. Ok, bit of a big geek. I've also finally bowed to peer pressure and joined twitter, come follow me if you dare http://twitter.com/kat820
That'll do as far as short introductions go. Next up will be my thoughts on Dollhouse, and what I think the show's odds of surviving are. Ta till then!
I'm still collecting my thoughts on the newest episode of Dollhouse, which I will post later tonight/tomorrow. Until then, I'll end this new bloggy endeavor with a few things about me. I graduated from The University of Georgia with a double major in English and Film, I like red wine, dancing, and the color blue. I love all things Joss Whedon, Kevin Smith, most things comic related, and I'm a bit of a geek. Ok, bit of a big geek. I've also finally bowed to peer pressure and joined twitter, come follow me if you dare http://twitter.com/kat820
That'll do as far as short introductions go. Next up will be my thoughts on Dollhouse, and what I think the show's odds of surviving are. Ta till then!
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