It's all about me(n)

[theatokos]

10,000 BC. I saw it. Last night, with Adam, alizarin71 and our upstairs neighbor. It was a fun outing. But SUCH a stupid movie. It is possible that my extreme tiredness made me prone to the severe crankiness I experienced upon leaving the theatre. Besides being a ridiculous hodgepodge of culture, archeological, geographical and historical elements and being pretty dull in plot, the film also triggered one of my major pet peeves: a movie made by men all about men, featuring nothing but men (I'm sorry, two women characters don't count).

Yet when I enumerate the good things about this film I wonder why I'm so annoyed. Here are the good things about the movie:
+Beautifully shot, great art design, nice music
+Features hardly any white people!! *(BUT...)
+The love interest saves herself at the end *
+Great values - loyalty, keeping your word, being brave, stepping up to responsibility, affection between men, banding together in unity makes great things possible *
+Very well done special effects
+No sex or nudity or swearing (how rare is that in a grown up movie??)

I want to add silly escapist fun to that list, but honestly the movie was kind of boring. Very formulaic. We know what's going to happen. Let's get to those Buts:
-There were hardly any white people, or at least plain white faces. However, the two whitest faces were the main man and woman. Perhaps I'm just picking a fight on this point, but I don't think so. There was some legend about a blue eyed woman, blah blah blah, so the main girl wore these horrible blue contacts, making her look vapid since her pupils never changed in size. Not something we think about normally, but try reading a face whose pupils never alter. Weird.

-The love interest/main woman (Evolet) does indeed save herself when she is taken by one of the baddies in the end. Which was great. And she does show strength of character and resourcefulness throughout the film. But the movie isn't about her, even though she's the reason D'let (main guy) goes on this journey. Evolet is a woman to whom things happen. In that regard she is a completely passive woman. Her lines, which are few, consist mainly of "You came back for me" "You left me behind" etc. Pah! The other woman is the main tribal elder, the seer-woman. But she also doesn't DO anything. Again, she is a passive woman to whom visions come. I AM SO BORED WITH THIS FEMALE TROPE.

-The values of the film are great. I wholly support them - for men or for women. Yet repeatedly these values are only demonstrated by men and discussed in male terms. There is a great set of lines where Tik'tik, D'let's mentor and tribal chief, tells D'let that "Every man draws a circle around himself. For most men that involves himself, his woman and his children. Some men draw a larger circle that encompasses his larger family and maybe his tribe. But some men draw an even bigger circle that encompasses even more people." (paraphrased, emphasis mine) I guess women don't need to think about their own boundaries since we're just objects to be won and bred with. Where are the movies showing women acting valiantly, with strength and honor and dedication to a higher cause? Oh, I'm sure they're out there, but let's also clarify this: where are those movies with women embodying those values without being martyrs or at the expense of their male counterparts?

I also think that so many of modern middle class films employ the "band together and rise up against injustice/usurpers!" motif and I am continually confused by this. Do we like this and relate because it reminds us of our early American history? Because we sure as hell ain't banding together to overthrow injustice, tyranny or theocracy today. In the film, the tribal people band together to free their people from slavery at the hands of the greedy, religiously insane proto-Egyptians building their pyramidical symbols of power and largesse. So we root for these tribes - they are in the right! Down with tyranny! But do we connect this kind of injustice with sweat shop labor? Or migrant produce pickers? Or sex trafficking? Or even religious hegemony in our own modern politics? Of course we don't. Do we just live vicariously through these characters? That's my guess. Better to support honor and loyalty and bravery in the face of injustice in fictional characters than have to be those things ourselves.

Ok, I may be taking a silly movie out of context. Sure. Each movie on it's own is fine, but when we have the vast majority of films with this sort of structure, and CERTAINLY the vast majority of films made by men about men for men, I do not think I'm overreacting. [This is where I get shit for loving 300. I do see the irony, the hypocrisy. I still maintain that 300 is camp. I also still have no problem with people liking individual films. Hell, if I hated every misogynist, patriarchal film I'd never like anything. By the way, no comments on 300. I'm looking at you Alizarin!]

As an experiment, I decided to reorder my netflix queue to reflect movies about women (for example, Fellini films about women don't count) or by women - 22 out of 170. I've decided that I need a break from all this maleness. So for some undefined period of time I will only listen to music by women, watch films about women and/or by women, and read books by and/or about women. Depending how long I decide to do this I may have to make an exception in June for the first opera in Wagner's Ring Cycle at the SF Opera. And of course, there's the new Batman film coming out this summer AND the Ironman movie (both movies made by men about men, superheroes no less) starring the immeasurably wonderful Robert Downy Jr. But those I can catch on DVD if need be.

It's not that I hate men, it's that I loathe the patriarchy.

Comments

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Sorry, Ms Snowcalla. Not letting you get away with that excuse! That ENTIRE film was anachronistic. Nothing historical about AT ALL. Don't tell me that in a made up movie the women should at least be played historically accurate.

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

You mean the entire film was a load of crap. *grin* As a tale...it was OK. As a historical...load of crap.

But...nothing ticks me off faster than when even crap movies go the "Girl Power" route when there is no way it would have gone down that way *back then*. If either female would have started acting like a trained warrior...I would have yelled "Bullshit" and walked out. I find that (gratutious Girl Power) more insulting to women, as if we are so stupid, pathetic, and hard up that we would actually believe/accept that crap. Please. I'm just fine and have plenty of female role models, thankyouverymuch, and won't be relying on Hollywood for that.

As it was...it was a close deal anyway for me walking out. In fact...my husband grabbed my arm when the friggin pyramids came into sight. I think I did say "Bullshit" then.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

I also did much eye-rolling and muttered a few "oh my gods" (not the good ones) out loud.

However, I am going to have to compose myself for a little bit before I reply to this. Since I respect you very much and know you to be a strong and smart woman I want to choose my words carefully, because I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH YOU.

To be continued.

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

hmmmmm....it sounds like you're trying hard not to say "fuck you, you idiot". I'll thank you for holding off. I'll look for your post later.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Ok. I have chilled out some and eaten (that last one being so important these days) and feel like I can perhaps hold a discussion! I admit, I have been a raging cranky bitch lately and I do feel very strongly about feminist issues, so I didn't want to go off on you. Really, it's not you, it's me. :)

I hear what you say about "gratuitous Girl Power" - usually it's just wussy "empowerfullment" that's a load of crap. Sexy warrior girls - a cheap hand out to women and still sexy for the guys! It's like a back handed compliment. And proves that smart, powerful women still aren't taken seriously.

Honestly, 10000BC isn't the worst offender, I was (am) just cranky and bored with the film. But I am annoyed at the general portrayal of women in film and media. I don't think there are plenty of role models, although I don't doubt that a smart, independent woman such as yourself (and me!) has found plenty of role models on your own. I also don't rely on Hollywood for my role models, but Hollywood does shape a lot of people's perceptions, particularly younger people's. Women in media continue to be portrayed primarily as passive and as sexualized objects. This bothers me a great deal. It reflects what society in general accepts. And the general acceptance of this crap frustrates me and makes me sad.

Your statements above only raise my alarms because it's easy to say "well, I'M not in need of Hollywood's approval!" and then dismiss a very powerful force in our society for shaping attitudes toward women. Or to say "Well, I'M not oppressed by the patriarchy, so whatever" which dismisses the fact that so many women ARE oppressed. Just because I am not personally touched by a particular issue (abortion has rarely been a personal issue in my life, nor has domestic violence -thanks be to Allah) doesn't mean that it's not important and vital to women in the world for these issues to be dealt with and spoken about.

Again, this movie is not the worst offender and I know I'm making a bigger deal of this film than is necessary. My hackles were up. I mean, there is any number of juvenile films more degrading to women out there - and they are often big big sellers.

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

hmmmm...I've been thinking about this and these are some of my thoughts....not in any order - they may leap around a bit.

Have I been on the short end of the stick at times? Yes. I have been raped. I have had a boss give me the "fuck or walk" option. I have had people be jerks to me because of my gender and they made a point of letting me know that. So it's not like I live in a fantasy land. I don't.

This used to pissed me off. (and it still does, but in another way) I would get angry at how "society" treated women. How society depicted women. I decried films, books, advertisments, etc.

But society is us. And I don't know about you...but I am an individual, with my own hopes, fears, experiences, dreams, and attitudes. I can be nice and I can be an asshole. I turn into a serious asshole when someone tries to treat me like...some nameless mass, not as the individual that I am.

Everyone out there is an individual. They have a choice in how they will treat their fellow human beings and in how they will react to situations. Some people will always choose to be jerks and will treat others like shit for no good reason. No amount of changing their environment will change that. We can have every awesome movie, book, role models, etc...and they will still be class A assholes.

I can only control my behaviour - that's all I can do. I choose to not give a shit about race, gender, religion in how I treat other humans. To me, they are all humans. Period. If more people made that choice, we would see change in this world. The change, the decision can only come from within each individual, it can't be imposed from the outside. (Although we can punish outward behavior)

Controlling my reaction - internally and externally...that's another thing I can do. That's a power that I have. I do not need anyones' permission or approval to be equal, to have worth. While others may do things to me, they do not change the condition of my Being, what I AM. Here is part of the difference...I was raped 19 years ago. I allowed myself to rape myself everyday for about 7 years after that.

I think too many women still look to men (society) to grant them the approval of being equal. You said that one of the things that bothered you in the film was the chick saying things like "you came back for me" or "you left me behind". Isn't that what many women say today? "You haven't validated how awesome I am by making better movies about women." That kind of thing. It's still waiting for others, and holding them responsible, for your (plural, general) sense of worth. Their approval is not needed. Sounds corny...but I do believe in "Be the change you wish to see in the world" - because you ARE the world. You are not insignifigant, powerless, beholden.

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

Off on a tangent...Endurance is strength. I'm thinking of the the movie again, but other things also. Historically, men have been pushed to show outward strength, be the warrior. Women were pushed to show inward strength, to endure, have staying power. Now it is more OK for women to be the warrior, and we look down on enduring as being passive and weak - we only value the warrior type of strength. It's not. It's harder. A researcher wanted to know why, when villages were taken by another into slavery, greater numbers of women lived than men. It was assumed that more of the men were killed during battle and that the women were treated better as slaves since the men would want to fuck them. After researching how this currently plays out...more men were killed. But a larger percentage of men than women died after they were made slaves. The women usually received worse physical abuse, less food, and had worse conditions than the male slaves...yet women survived in a great percentage. Why? Because the men would only take so much before they mentally and spiritually gave up and then they died. The women endured...they dug in and no matter what came their way...they endured and some of them rose from the ashes. That is strength too. It isn't flashy, we don't see it as heroic, there are no ballads sung about it. Isn't that a bit sad? Isn't it sad that even other women can't see the value, the worth in that kind of strength? (And to be clear...I'm not talking about staying voluntarily in a bad, evil, or abusive situation)

As another aside...it saddens me that you aren't very excited that you are having a baby boy. I'm not knocking on you one bit, believe me. But you are going to give birth to a human being. That's it. A unique human being who can do great things or horrible things, but will leave a mark upon the world. How he treats others and what he does with his life is what's important - not what gender he is. That is so unimportant. But it can't BE unimportant unless we decide for ourselves that it IS unimportant. And Damn society, damn what they think or do...this is your child...who carries the spark of the Divine within him just as you do.

ok...this is long....and it rambled and is probably not real clear.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Again, I agree absolutely. I think patriarchy fucks it up for men too. I am really really blessed to have so many wonderful men in my life - all different kinds, expressing themselves in complex ways, unafraid to be vulnerable and strong and dorky and "manly" and "feminine" all in one bundle. Just as I know women who embody so many complex aspects of being human. Patriarchy isn't about me being anti-man, it's really anti-powers that be and the uncritical social forces that encourage the status quo, usually to maintain unjust systems of power and the bottom line.

As for me and my issues with having a boy..... it's hard to talk about because, again, I agree with you and in one part of me I totally get excited about this little life in me. I know I will be so excited to meet him - I am already. His father is an incredible example of what it means to be a man in this world, as is his namesake/uncle, and I couldn't be more confident that he's got a great headstart in the world.

But, sadly, it does raise some black murky gunk that's not had to be dealt with until now. I'm constantly surprised at my own anger and issues, as well as disappointed in my own disappointment! Clearly, I've got some reverse sexism going on! I admit it and I'm working to deal with it before my little guy arrives.

I want to add to all of this that your perspectives and experiences are of immense value to me. I think you are incredibly thoughtful and bold - qualities I admire in all of my friends. I love that we don't agree on everything, but we seem to agree on the fundamental principles, we just want those things maybe expressed slightly differently.

And thanks for the stern talking to about my boy. As a hot-head, I need that from time to time!

[snowcalla.livejournal.com]

Not stern...I had all kinds of isues to face when I was pregnant. It was just sooo...emotional.

*laughs* I remember ripping a book apart, literally shredding it, because I was pissed at the book, the author, the world.

I can also say that once I held my sweet little baby...it was all good. When I look at him...I can't even describe it to you. But I really do see that spark of the Divine in his eyes and his heart. It chokes me up and my heart sings.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I agree with all of this. Too many women do look to men for approval and validation. And to the larger society as a whole. We are individuals - and we should hold ourselves and each other accountable for our personal actions. I am big on accountability. And that spills over into me holding media and government accountable too.

Sadly, I don't think accountability is encouraged or supported, nor is critical thinking. While I can't control what people or groups produce or what people choose to think or how they express themselves, I do think that many people - particularly those in positions of power- get away with bullshit because no one is calling them on their bullshit. Anytime we can speak out and discuss bullshit is good. I'm in no way calling for a censor to stop movies I think are stupid, but by talking about why I think it's stupid I can raise awareness of this stuff.

Again, this movie was not the right film to get all worked up over!