Culture
Tube Tied: "Teen Mom" and the Problem With Social Realism In Reality Television
MTV's been having a good summer. In part, that's because the second season of its reality series Teen Mom has been generating huge ratings for the network—it is this summer's third-most-watched original cable... Read more »
Push(back) at the Intersections: Sick of This: Mental Illness in Pop Culture
One area of pop culture where really problematic and questionable depictions of people come up is that of mental illness. The way that mental illness is depicted, whether it is within the context of a celebrity scandal; the characterization of a person in a film, comic, or television show; a book;... Read more »
Push(back) at the Intersections: 'I Just Don't Like That Many Female Characters'
As I read discussions about pop culture and see responses to female characters, I see a lot of hate for female characters, but not a lot of basis for that hate. Take Tara on True Blood. People say she’s ‘whiny’ and ‘boring.’ These aren’t really criticisms that add in a... Read more »
Push(back) at the Intersections: Veronica Mars and the Straw Feminists
I feel like people watching the show who haven’t really been exposed to feminism were internalizing some feminist messages until they got to the actual feminists, at which point they learned that feminists are bad. What’s more important, the delivery of the message, or naming the... Read more »
Adventures in Feministory: Norma Rae
Today is Labor Day, and while the most significant impact this has for many of us is on our wardrobes (see you next year, white pants) the holiday actually serves as a celebration of the contributions of American workers.
I’m sure I... Read more »
Racy Thoughts: No Media Sensation Without Representation
I'd be remiss to begin a blog on the intersection of race, gender and pop culture without mentioning that, in reading various other blogs on all three topics, I've kept happening upon the same complaint: that pop culture and many feminist publications often exclude or oversee the unique... Read more »
Bitchtapes: Musicfest Northwest
Who needs overpriced beer and heatstroke when you can enjoy a music festival in the comfort of your own city? That’s how I feel about Musicfest Northwest, taking place in Portland next week from September 8-11. Bitch Media will doing special daily blog... Read more »
Douchebag Decree: Michael Arrington, Technological Determinist
OK, so we can all agree that there is a lack of women in positions of power in the tech industry, right? Right. Well, according to Douche du Jour Michael Arrington, it’s our own damn fault. In his piece for TechCrunch (charmingly titled... Read more »
Push(back) at the Intersections: You Said What?! About Lady Gaga?!
The silencing of trans people, and trans women in particular, in feminist spaces isn’t just limited to discussions about pop culture, unfortunately. Cis voices are centered over trans voices consistently, and sometimes very dangerously, while trans folks are denied autonomy, identity, and... Read more »
Push(back) at the Intersections: Hello, Appropriation!
Appropriation is often done in the name of a supposedly greater cause. Those in power tell us that we should wait our turn. They are working on extending a helping hand, it’s OK for them to speak for us, because they need to speak for us to help us achieve liberation. Even speaking up about... Read more »
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