Is Shane being pigeon-holed into another monogamous commitment?
First, I just have to get it out there. What's with the poor bike riding? Look at Shane: pedal pedal, stand and coast. She won't get too far too fast that way, yet she still gives Molly a run for her money in their little race. So Molly chases Shane down, dismantles her by telling her she's in love with her, which turns out to be a lie just so she could beat Shane to the checkpoint and talk to her. Somehow Shane is wooed by Molly's rambling pledge to return the oral favor and shuts her up with a kiss. So now we have Shane possibly entering another relationship, and we can't help but wonder how long it will be until this one falls apart. Also, why can there never be a straight woman on the show who doesn't experience lesbian sex? Even Kit had her own little go 'round with Papi. I'm all about showing how heterosexuality can be malleable and move into same-sex experimentation, but it's also problematic when not a single hetero female character can avoid the lustful seduction of another woman. Some people just don't go there, so let's be realistic.
What constitutes cheating?
It was good to see this dialogue open up about the different ways in which relationships can be negotiated from monogamy to open relationships, even if such a variety is not actually exemplified on the show. However, there was still a big lack of resolution when even after all the debate and discussion, most of the characters still agreed that kissing constitutes cheating. When Bette didn't raise her hand, she was interrogated and her relativist answer was lambasted by Alice as being a bullshit non-answer, and the whole thing quickly devolved into a dramatic revelation of her affair with Tina. In any case half a kudos for at least opening up the dialogue around relationships that fall outside of heteronormative monogamy.
"It's mostly black; it's kind of a different scene."
Such is Tasha's reply to Alice when they run into some of Tasha's old friends who happen to be riding for Coco's, a lesbian club of which Alice is not aware. Alice just says "oh" and the conversation shifts to questions of jealousy. This was interesting because it brought the race issue to the surface, but then played it off like no real divide. I like that it illustrates that race is not a barrier in the relationship between Alice and Tasha. But then one also wonders if it is not a dangerous erasure of difference to blow the race thing off. Why is it that Tasha hasn't seen her friends in so long or been to Coco's? Because she's been hanging out with Alice and all the white girls? To what extent should each of them cross into each other's worlds that are divided by racial lines? Is Tasha and Alice's relationship portrayed as too easy in terms of race? Maybe we'll find out when Tasha and Alice move into their cute vinyl sided home on a quiet cul-de-sac as they enact their normative domestication.
Only two more left . . .
What's to come in the last two episodes? So Jodi will be back for answers next episode, but then I'm guessing we won't be seeing any more of her, so there goes the disability minority. I wonder which minority representative will be put in that opening. Maybe an Asian woman finally? Anyway, I hope Tom sticks around because I'd like to see some more development in relation to Max, but it's hard to imagine them keeping Tom around if Jodi is out of the picture.
And what the hell is going to happen with creepy Adele? The questions around her sexuality have been intriguing. I found myself at times hoping that maybe she is asexual, especially when she told Alice that instead of being hooked up, she'd prefer to focus on her work. Sounds like something I used to say. But actually if she were asexual, I would disapprove because she seems to be such a psychopath, and that would only perpetuate the pathologizing of asexuality. But the L Word has been steadfast and faithful in the perpetuation of myths and stereotypes, so who knows?
March 15, 2008
March 8, 2008
"Liquid Heat" : An Orgasmic Culmination
So I know I missed a review of the last episode, "Lay Down The Law." Things just got too hectic for me. Anyway, the most interesting thing I was going to write about was the rhetoric around "freedom" during Tasha's don't ask, don't tell trial. Alas, I shall move on to the hot hot heat of the most recent episode 9.
Hooray for a condom! Maybe...
Finally after four and a half seasons, we see a condom actively being used during sex. Yes, Tom suavely rips open the wrapper with his teeth during the sex scene with Max. I was initially excited (no, not sexually excited, you sleaze!), feeling that my longstanding complaint about a lack of any safer sex practices on the show has finally been addressed. Then, the more I thought about it, I started to have my doubts about this condom in particular. Now, we know Tom is gay, and if we take Max to be the man that he is, then this is a man on man gay sex scene. In past seasons of the L Word, we have witnessed heterosexual sex scenes, which were noticeably lacking in condom use (see Tim and Jenny and Tina and Henry). Now why is it that the condom surfaces in the gay sex scene and not in the other sex scenes involving a penis? Could it be another myth/stereotype perpetuated again by a show that purports to be subversive? Gasp! I think it just might be a reinforcement of the "all gay men have HIV/AIDS and always need to use condoms" myth. Meanwhile, Shane continuous to have promiscuous lesbian sex without any protection, and while we haven't seen any het sex in a while, the only time a condom was ever mentioned before was regarding sperm and pregnancy, not STIs. I'm referring to the time Bette and Tina surreptitiously tried to steal sperm from the guy they met at the party by seducing him and attempting to trick him into fucking Tina without protection. So could this be suggesting that only gay men have to worry about STIs and everyone else is immune? Unfortunately, that's what it's looking like here.
When did Alice become such a pussy? And when did she become bi again?
Even though I've written about the problems of compulsory monogamy on the show, it doesn't mean I'm against monogamy. In fact, I've become a rather monogamous individual myself. Love can fuck you up sometimes. The point is that the show should make room for positive representations of polyamory and open relationships, but there is definitely still room for monogamy. That said, I'm glad that Alice and Tasha have repaired their relationship and so we have a happy interracial love thing going on. But what's this girly girl crap Alice busts out with from time to time, like saying to Tasha, "maybe I need you to protect me," while she bats her eyes and pouts like "look at me, the poor defenseless blonde upper-class white girl." Puke! Why can't this be a relationship between two strong women? Why does one of them have to move into a weaker more submissive position? (See also power dynamics of Dawn and Lover Cindy) And why does Alice take on this role? (See also my post about Tasha's blackness, and the attempts to push her as more butch).
As for the bi thing...I'm all about the fluidity of identity, but this more apparent indecisiveness on Alice's part only makes representation problematic for the bisexual community. Alice began the series as adamantly bisexual, later realized that "bisexuality is gross" and defined herself as a "lesbian." For more on this trajectory, see this article on AfterEllen.com. Now, during the podcast with Max, Max suggests that of all people, Alice should understand the importance of inclusion. Alice replies by implicitly reclaiming her bisexual identity, stating that "being bisexual is just more natural" than being transgender. Then Max responds with very wise and important commentary on the queer community, reproductive and family rights, and how the community needs to stop marginalizing their transgender sisters and brothers, and Alice agrees and apologizes for past comments. Great! The problem: the whole time this conversation is going on, Shane is toying with the camera through which we as viewers are witnessing the recording of this podcast. So we see shoddy camera work, as well as "humorous" moments when Shane zooms in on breasts and tattoos of nearby diners and coffee drinkers. So the conversation around transgender inclusion that we've been waiting to hear is completely overrun by Shane's distracting "jokes" with the camera. Will they ever just do it right?
Topped by a straight girl, gettin' educated, and here come the bicycles.
In wrapping up this review, I just want to say that I'm still mulling over the Shane and Molly sexcapade. But my initial reaction: Shane let Molly top her, wtf! That was just for starters of course, as Shane later took naive little Molly for an apparently great ride until the second go 'round was busted up by Phyllis. Then we got to overhear the high class snobbery around the concepts of "being educated." Shane got to overhear too, and I wonder if we didn't catch another of those rare snippets of emotion in Shane's eyes. Maybe in future episodes, she'll lambast Molly and Phyllis and prove more intelligent than I ever guessed her to be (recall "salubrious"). However, what I'm looking forward to most of all is the Lifecycle ride next episode. Lesbians on hot bikes . . . aah, I can't wait to critique their riding position!
Hooray for a condom! Maybe...
Finally after four and a half seasons, we see a condom actively being used during sex. Yes, Tom suavely rips open the wrapper with his teeth during the sex scene with Max. I was initially excited (no, not sexually excited, you sleaze!), feeling that my longstanding complaint about a lack of any safer sex practices on the show has finally been addressed. Then, the more I thought about it, I started to have my doubts about this condom in particular. Now, we know Tom is gay, and if we take Max to be the man that he is, then this is a man on man gay sex scene. In past seasons of the L Word, we have witnessed heterosexual sex scenes, which were noticeably lacking in condom use (see Tim and Jenny and Tina and Henry). Now why is it that the condom surfaces in the gay sex scene and not in the other sex scenes involving a penis? Could it be another myth/stereotype perpetuated again by a show that purports to be subversive? Gasp! I think it just might be a reinforcement of the "all gay men have HIV/AIDS and always need to use condoms" myth. Meanwhile, Shane continuous to have promiscuous lesbian sex without any protection, and while we haven't seen any het sex in a while, the only time a condom was ever mentioned before was regarding sperm and pregnancy, not STIs. I'm referring to the time Bette and Tina surreptitiously tried to steal sperm from the guy they met at the party by seducing him and attempting to trick him into fucking Tina without protection. So could this be suggesting that only gay men have to worry about STIs and everyone else is immune? Unfortunately, that's what it's looking like here.
When did Alice become such a pussy? And when did she become bi again?
Even though I've written about the problems of compulsory monogamy on the show, it doesn't mean I'm against monogamy. In fact, I've become a rather monogamous individual myself. Love can fuck you up sometimes. The point is that the show should make room for positive representations of polyamory and open relationships, but there is definitely still room for monogamy. That said, I'm glad that Alice and Tasha have repaired their relationship and so we have a happy interracial love thing going on. But what's this girly girl crap Alice busts out with from time to time, like saying to Tasha, "maybe I need you to protect me," while she bats her eyes and pouts like "look at me, the poor defenseless blonde upper-class white girl." Puke! Why can't this be a relationship between two strong women? Why does one of them have to move into a weaker more submissive position? (See also power dynamics of Dawn and Lover Cindy) And why does Alice take on this role? (See also my post about Tasha's blackness, and the attempts to push her as more butch).
As for the bi thing...I'm all about the fluidity of identity, but this more apparent indecisiveness on Alice's part only makes representation problematic for the bisexual community. Alice began the series as adamantly bisexual, later realized that "bisexuality is gross" and defined herself as a "lesbian." For more on this trajectory, see this article on AfterEllen.com. Now, during the podcast with Max, Max suggests that of all people, Alice should understand the importance of inclusion. Alice replies by implicitly reclaiming her bisexual identity, stating that "being bisexual is just more natural" than being transgender. Then Max responds with very wise and important commentary on the queer community, reproductive and family rights, and how the community needs to stop marginalizing their transgender sisters and brothers, and Alice agrees and apologizes for past comments. Great! The problem: the whole time this conversation is going on, Shane is toying with the camera through which we as viewers are witnessing the recording of this podcast. So we see shoddy camera work, as well as "humorous" moments when Shane zooms in on breasts and tattoos of nearby diners and coffee drinkers. So the conversation around transgender inclusion that we've been waiting to hear is completely overrun by Shane's distracting "jokes" with the camera. Will they ever just do it right?
Topped by a straight girl, gettin' educated, and here come the bicycles.
In wrapping up this review, I just want to say that I'm still mulling over the Shane and Molly sexcapade. But my initial reaction: Shane let Molly top her, wtf! That was just for starters of course, as Shane later took naive little Molly for an apparently great ride until the second go 'round was busted up by Phyllis. Then we got to overhear the high class snobbery around the concepts of "being educated." Shane got to overhear too, and I wonder if we didn't catch another of those rare snippets of emotion in Shane's eyes. Maybe in future episodes, she'll lambast Molly and Phyllis and prove more intelligent than I ever guessed her to be (recall "salubrious"). However, what I'm looking forward to most of all is the Lifecycle ride next episode. Lesbians on hot bikes . . . aah, I can't wait to critique their riding position!
February 19, 2008
"Lesbians Gone Wild." This title is no accident.
The much anticipated wrestling match.
Okay, so it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. That is, only a few of the characters were scantily clad, while the rest of the "wrestlers" managed to keep most of their clothing on. This shifted my thoughts around the lesbian as sex object for men. Although all the women were of your standard L Word fare (thin, femme, etc), there is of course the possibility of this scene casting the women as sex object for the onlooking lesbians and other women as well (Molly is straight, but still thrilled and somehow turned on, at least emotionally, by the spectacle). The eroticization really seems to occur during the wrestling match between Jenny and Niki where there isfighting mixed with kissing and groping. There is also a sense of fun and play even amongst the onlookers and their catcalls. Additionally, there was definitely some "real" fighting going on when Shane felt compelled to jump into the ring and help out Phyllis' daughter, Molly, and also to take it up once and for all with that Dawn Denbo and her "lover" Cindy. Shane even ended up with a fistful of Dawn's hair, but even amongst this violent fighting, there were smiles that lent to the semblance of play. So what does this scene accomplish? I'm not sure. Let me know what you think . . . take the poll or comment!
Out Loud and Proud
Alice is getting herself into some pretty hot water with her friends, but her behavior and the behavior she encounters from both Tasha and Tina regarding how "out" she can be raises some interesting issues. Is there a clear line that Alice is breaching when she outs celebrities in her own self-interest? Well, it could be argued that her outing of that basketball player was more of a political move and less out of self interest, but outing Niki just to secure a spot on a talk show where they want her to play to a fabricated image of a "happy gay" talk show host? Clearly this points to the manipulation of gay representation on television, especially on prime time family TV, some idea that there is a certain kind of gay that society wants to see. Why didn't Alice retaliate against the "happy gay" instead of playing into the role? Why does such a vocal and assertive character suddenly crack under pressure of a strategic career move? Why does Alice sell out? Follow this immediately with Tina's protection of Niki's sexuality, the banning of Alice from the set of Lez Girls because she crossed the line. Tina is quick to note the politics of Hollywood: "We want this movie (Lez Girls) to reach a large mainstream audience, alright? And if everyone thinks the lead of our movie is gay, then that makes it a small little niche film." I wonder if this doesn't parallel the L Word itself and the variety of openness the various actors have regarding their own sexuality. The important point to take away: strategic expressions of sexuality, our outness, still dominate our everyday lives, and move in relation to others' perceptions, reactions, and how we want to be perceived or treated. Alice is operating in a utopian future of open sexual expression with no repercussions or consequences; she's far too ahead of her times and leaves everyone else (even some fans!) disgruntled.
What's with Bette and Violent Sex?
So way back during the finale of Season 1, I was troubled by the final sex scene between Bette and Tina. Question of rape circulated, and even though Tina became complicit in the act at some point, I worried about the lack of follow-up confrontation with the incident, as in Tina's upset emotional state and no communication around that interaction.
Now, I do not know what to make of that fucked up sex scene with Bette and Jodi. It was so laced with violence. The force with which Bette removed Jodi's pants, the shoving away of Jodi's hands, the reluctance to return Jodi's kisses, the forceful movement of Bette's own hand down her own pants, and the uncertainty of the placement of Jodi's hands, and the look, oh, the look on Jodi's face as she lay beneath Bette. Disturbing, yes, indeed. Of course there is a slew of pop-psych analysis on the webboards regarding this scene, but my concern is not so much to make sense of it, but for follow-up. Where was Jodi at with this; confusion, was it violent for her? And Bette, near tears . . . communication is so so necessary.
A Final Reiteration
The characters are constantly thrust into these disturbing circumstances with no resolution, my constant gripe regarding the quality of writing. But also, to return to this compulsory monogamy that only breeds drama on the show: are we doomed to think that every relationship is doomed to failure? Doomed doomed doomed . . . and LLLOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVE!
Okay, so it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. That is, only a few of the characters were scantily clad, while the rest of the "wrestlers" managed to keep most of their clothing on. This shifted my thoughts around the lesbian as sex object for men. Although all the women were of your standard L Word fare (thin, femme, etc), there is of course the possibility of this scene casting the women as sex object for the onlooking lesbians and other women as well (Molly is straight, but still thrilled and somehow turned on, at least emotionally, by the spectacle). The eroticization really seems to occur during the wrestling match between Jenny and Niki where there isfighting mixed with kissing and groping. There is also a sense of fun and play even amongst the onlookers and their catcalls. Additionally, there was definitely some "real" fighting going on when Shane felt compelled to jump into the ring and help out Phyllis' daughter, Molly, and also to take it up once and for all with that Dawn Denbo and her "lover" Cindy. Shane even ended up with a fistful of Dawn's hair, but even amongst this violent fighting, there were smiles that lent to the semblance of play. So what does this scene accomplish? I'm not sure. Let me know what you think . . . take the poll or comment!
Out Loud and Proud
Alice is getting herself into some pretty hot water with her friends, but her behavior and the behavior she encounters from both Tasha and Tina regarding how "out" she can be raises some interesting issues. Is there a clear line that Alice is breaching when she outs celebrities in her own self-interest? Well, it could be argued that her outing of that basketball player was more of a political move and less out of self interest, but outing Niki just to secure a spot on a talk show where they want her to play to a fabricated image of a "happy gay" talk show host? Clearly this points to the manipulation of gay representation on television, especially on prime time family TV, some idea that there is a certain kind of gay that society wants to see. Why didn't Alice retaliate against the "happy gay" instead of playing into the role? Why does such a vocal and assertive character suddenly crack under pressure of a strategic career move? Why does Alice sell out? Follow this immediately with Tina's protection of Niki's sexuality, the banning of Alice from the set of Lez Girls because she crossed the line. Tina is quick to note the politics of Hollywood: "We want this movie (Lez Girls) to reach a large mainstream audience, alright? And if everyone thinks the lead of our movie is gay, then that makes it a small little niche film." I wonder if this doesn't parallel the L Word itself and the variety of openness the various actors have regarding their own sexuality. The important point to take away: strategic expressions of sexuality, our outness, still dominate our everyday lives, and move in relation to others' perceptions, reactions, and how we want to be perceived or treated. Alice is operating in a utopian future of open sexual expression with no repercussions or consequences; she's far too ahead of her times and leaves everyone else (even some fans!) disgruntled.
What's with Bette and Violent Sex?
So way back during the finale of Season 1, I was troubled by the final sex scene between Bette and Tina. Question of rape circulated, and even though Tina became complicit in the act at some point, I worried about the lack of follow-up confrontation with the incident, as in Tina's upset emotional state and no communication around that interaction.
Now, I do not know what to make of that fucked up sex scene with Bette and Jodi. It was so laced with violence. The force with which Bette removed Jodi's pants, the shoving away of Jodi's hands, the reluctance to return Jodi's kisses, the forceful movement of Bette's own hand down her own pants, and the uncertainty of the placement of Jodi's hands, and the look, oh, the look on Jodi's face as she lay beneath Bette. Disturbing, yes, indeed. Of course there is a slew of pop-psych analysis on the webboards regarding this scene, but my concern is not so much to make sense of it, but for follow-up. Where was Jodi at with this; confusion, was it violent for her? And Bette, near tears . . . communication is so so necessary.
A Final Reiteration
The characters are constantly thrust into these disturbing circumstances with no resolution, my constant gripe regarding the quality of writing. But also, to return to this compulsory monogamy that only breeds drama on the show: are we doomed to think that every relationship is doomed to failure? Doomed doomed doomed . . . and LLLOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVE!
February 15, 2008
"Lights! Camera! Boring!"
Those Cheatin' Hearts
Not a whole lot going on in this episode, as far as representational politics are concerned. However, I'm going to cave in and talk about Tina and Bette, but not in that gushy obsessed fan way. Just a brief commentary that connects back to open relationships.
So, Bette couldn't handle Jodi's hitherto lifestyle of open relationships and seeing other people, so she forced her into a compulsory heteronormative monogamous relationship. And now, she's cheating on her with Tina! I guess reinforcing monogamy sets the stage for cheating, which keeps the drama brewing, and everyone knows how much lesbians love drama. Pshaw, keep the stereotypes coming!
On a positive note, that was probably the most believable simultaneous orgasm scene I have ever seen. Laurel Holloman and Jennifer Beals know how to work!
Quick, Transform the Nerd!
A while ago I read an article somewhere that argued that the male nerd seems to be in vogue in Hollywood right now, so that goofy, awkward, dorky, tech geek gets unattainable hot chick. Examples cited: Superbad, Knocked Up. Meanwhile, dorky and geeky women are still being made over on the Hollywood screen to conform to the unrealistic feminized object of male desire. Example cited: She's All That. If this argument holds, is the L Word contributing to this trend? Well, look at what they are doing to Adele. She enters the show as a quiet, geeky fan of Jenny and she gets made over into a creepy Jenny look-alike. Change her image, make her chic, make her look like Jenny. What's going on here? On the surface it looks like a Hollywood makeover, but I think there's something creepier going on. Enter pathologized obsession? Hmm...
Looking Ahead to Objectification
It seems as though the promised Turkish oil wrestling is coming up next episode. Hmmm....thin, scantily clad bodies coated in oil, long hair flailing about as women slip around and fall all over each other as eroticized objects for the onlookers' gaze. Is this a show about a group of lesbians living in LA or a porn scene (you know, the porn created for heterosexual men) from "Hot Oiled Lesbians?"
Not a whole lot going on in this episode, as far as representational politics are concerned. However, I'm going to cave in and talk about Tina and Bette, but not in that gushy obsessed fan way. Just a brief commentary that connects back to open relationships.
So, Bette couldn't handle Jodi's hitherto lifestyle of open relationships and seeing other people, so she forced her into a compulsory heteronormative monogamous relationship. And now, she's cheating on her with Tina! I guess reinforcing monogamy sets the stage for cheating, which keeps the drama brewing, and everyone knows how much lesbians love drama. Pshaw, keep the stereotypes coming!
On a positive note, that was probably the most believable simultaneous orgasm scene I have ever seen. Laurel Holloman and Jennifer Beals know how to work!
Quick, Transform the Nerd!
A while ago I read an article somewhere that argued that the male nerd seems to be in vogue in Hollywood right now, so that goofy, awkward, dorky, tech geek gets unattainable hot chick. Examples cited: Superbad, Knocked Up. Meanwhile, dorky and geeky women are still being made over on the Hollywood screen to conform to the unrealistic feminized object of male desire. Example cited: She's All That. If this argument holds, is the L Word contributing to this trend? Well, look at what they are doing to Adele. She enters the show as a quiet, geeky fan of Jenny and she gets made over into a creepy Jenny look-alike. Change her image, make her chic, make her look like Jenny. What's going on here? On the surface it looks like a Hollywood makeover, but I think there's something creepier going on. Enter pathologized obsession? Hmm...
Looking Ahead to Objectification
It seems as though the promised Turkish oil wrestling is coming up next episode. Hmmm....thin, scantily clad bodies coated in oil, long hair flailing about as women slip around and fall all over each other as eroticized objects for the onlookers' gaze. Is this a show about a group of lesbians living in LA or a porn scene (you know, the porn created for heterosexual men) from "Hot Oiled Lesbians?"
February 10, 2008
Here's "Lookin' at You, Kid"
Okay, okay. I'm getting horribly less committed to posting within a reasonable time frame. I'm working on it, promise!
Shane.
First, the writers failed miserably at disrupting their perpetual reinforcement of monogamy as normative. The whole Shane, Dawn, and "lover" Cindy triangle could have turned into a positive representation of an open relationship. Instead, Cindy "cheats" with Shane, Dawn freaks out, and enter back into heteronormative monogamous drama.
The whole "lover" Cindy bit is ridiculous as well. Hi, a show about women, for women that continues to subjugate women. Cindy has no voice when she is with Dawn; Dawn speaks for the two of them, "Hi I'm Dawn and this is my lover Cindy." Dawn goes off on Shane at the party and Cindy is shushed by Dawn. Refer back to my reference to Biddy Martin's discussion on racialized lesbian identity, stretch the analogy a little, and it's no surprise that Dawn is the dark-haired, darker featured while Cindy is the tall buxom blonde, the representation of the objectified woman to the max. Still not buying it? Look at Cindy's interaction with Shane. Cindy, the giggly flirtatious waitress and Shane, the leering, lascivious onlooker. What a way to throw sexual desire and attraction back into the subject/object dichotomy that contributes to the objectification of women. And I must give credit where credit is due, as this episode was written and directed entirely by Angela Robinson. Cheers Angela, you did a bang up job!!!
Props and Flops
I'll keep this post relatively short, as I'm already getting ready for the next post for the episode that aired tonight. Here's a list of the goods and bads from this last episode. Let's start with the big disappointment:
-Max says that he doesn't think Adele is exactly who she pretends to be. Alice says, "You're one to talk there, Max" with an I just burnt you look on her face, and Shane joins in the fun with a little "ooh" like she got you. Max just says "You know what, fuck off," Alice smiles, and then Max proceeds to help her with her Lesboland podcast. For the sake of trans people everywhere, somebody needed to say something about the insinuation that trans identity (yes, identity) is a pretending to be what one is not. Maybe all identities are an acting or pretending to an extent, but trans people are not pretending to be something they are not. How absurd that this line was able to sneak right on by with a haha attitude.
Now for the goods:
-Full male frontal nudity during the skinny dipping scene, hoorah, way to break that taboo!
-Excellent, excellent acting at the party. "Gay brownies" were hilarious!
-The Tasha-Alice drama is well written, maybe pushing the polarities a little, but the celebrity outing was a nice little write in. Cheers, Angela!
Still holding out for that new theme song...
Shane.
First, the writers failed miserably at disrupting their perpetual reinforcement of monogamy as normative. The whole Shane, Dawn, and "lover" Cindy triangle could have turned into a positive representation of an open relationship. Instead, Cindy "cheats" with Shane, Dawn freaks out, and enter back into heteronormative monogamous drama.
The whole "lover" Cindy bit is ridiculous as well. Hi, a show about women, for women that continues to subjugate women. Cindy has no voice when she is with Dawn; Dawn speaks for the two of them, "Hi I'm Dawn and this is my lover Cindy." Dawn goes off on Shane at the party and Cindy is shushed by Dawn. Refer back to my reference to Biddy Martin's discussion on racialized lesbian identity, stretch the analogy a little, and it's no surprise that Dawn is the dark-haired, darker featured while Cindy is the tall buxom blonde, the representation of the objectified woman to the max. Still not buying it? Look at Cindy's interaction with Shane. Cindy, the giggly flirtatious waitress and Shane, the leering, lascivious onlooker. What a way to throw sexual desire and attraction back into the subject/object dichotomy that contributes to the objectification of women. And I must give credit where credit is due, as this episode was written and directed entirely by Angela Robinson. Cheers Angela, you did a bang up job!!!
Props and Flops
I'll keep this post relatively short, as I'm already getting ready for the next post for the episode that aired tonight. Here's a list of the goods and bads from this last episode. Let's start with the big disappointment:
-Max says that he doesn't think Adele is exactly who she pretends to be. Alice says, "You're one to talk there, Max" with an I just burnt you look on her face, and Shane joins in the fun with a little "ooh" like she got you. Max just says "You know what, fuck off," Alice smiles, and then Max proceeds to help her with her Lesboland podcast. For the sake of trans people everywhere, somebody needed to say something about the insinuation that trans identity (yes, identity) is a pretending to be what one is not. Maybe all identities are an acting or pretending to an extent, but trans people are not pretending to be something they are not. How absurd that this line was able to sneak right on by with a haha attitude.
Now for the goods:
-Full male frontal nudity during the skinny dipping scene, hoorah, way to break that taboo!
-Excellent, excellent acting at the party. "Gay brownies" were hilarious!
-The Tasha-Alice drama is well written, maybe pushing the polarities a little, but the celebrity outing was a nice little write in. Cheers, Angela!
Still holding out for that new theme song...
January 30, 2008
"Let's Get This Party Started"
By "this party," I assume the writers are referring to the femme-filled opening of "SheBar." Thank God the owners were there to regulate the door so none of those butch dykes could slip past into the party, not that we saw them lined up out front anyway. Props to the writers for Shane's line: "It's like South Beach threw up." That was the entertaining bit for the evening, now on to the politics!
Transgender Education: Max Blogs on OurChart
I am so glad to see that the writers are letting this issue surrounding trans acceptance in the lesbian community continually resurface. In this episode, Max posts a blog on OurChart, and gets a lot of negative feedback from other users on the message board. Following one comment declaring OurChart a lesbian space where Max doesn't belong, Max replies, "I guess that's why we posted, right, to, um, educate people like that, right." Cheers for acknowledging that education is the first crucial step, and for really elucidating the vulgarity and cruelty that actually occurs toward trans people within the queer community. Follow this up with a call from Alice, telling Max he invaded her space to promote his own agenda and from now on he can blog once a week, but in his own little box, separate from the "Guestbians," or guest bloggers on OurChart. Max then accuses Alice of segregating trans people from the lesbian community. Again this phone call is cut short because Alice has to attend to two military officers who show up at her door, but this is certainly progress regarding the discussion surrounding where the T fits in with the LGB. The only improvement I can hope for on this front is when something happens where Max is referred to as "she" or "girl" or "woman" that it not be laughed off, and that some character step up to correct this. Here, I'm referring to the conversation between Bette and Jodi at the club, where they spot Max dancing with Tom, Jodi's interpreter. Yes, he has a name, which I think I overlooked before. Jodi turns to Bette and says, "I'm happy for Tom. He really wants a boyfriend." Bette says with a wink, "Girlfriend." And Jodi just laughs, like "Oh Bette, you're so silly." Does this give visibility to the issue or simply perpetuate that kind of treatment of trans people? I vote that as long as it is presented as a joking matter, it continues to perpetuate the problem.
So Much for Celibacy: Shane's Menage-a-trois
Wow, so what Shane did at the club would be like me breaking my Master Cleanse with a large pizza. Did I call it or what? But, the point to question here is this: Will Shane learn something about sex and relationships from this encounter with the two club owners or will she just go back to her lust-filled player lifestyle? Before the club owners rope her into a threesome, they explain to her that they have no drama in their relationship because, in their words, "we're completely honest, we don't cheat and we don't believe in jealousy, and we put it all on the line and whatever we do, we do together." Not that a couple has to do everything together, but Shane should at least take away the concepts of honesty, and not cheating which necessarily implies communication. The reason I bring this up is because it is one of the first times we're getting into the territory of open relationships on this show, rather than either seeing characters engaged in frequent casual sex or locked into a monogamous relationship. It's good to represent these types of relationships and open up the ways in which we think about partnerships and sex. I'm curious to see where Shane's character goes from here.
Flashbacks of Queer as Folk
In closing, I must confess that I was a huge huge fan of Queer as Folk, and I cannot help but feel nostalgic about it when I see the girls hitting the gym or the club, as those were the two main locales of action in QasF. I hate to compare the L Word and QasF because so many people do, so I won't, but I will say that the series of yore did much more in terms of social responsibility than the L Word has to date. I still have hope for our Hollywood lesbians, though. I do, I really do.
Transgender Education: Max Blogs on OurChart
I am so glad to see that the writers are letting this issue surrounding trans acceptance in the lesbian community continually resurface. In this episode, Max posts a blog on OurChart, and gets a lot of negative feedback from other users on the message board. Following one comment declaring OurChart a lesbian space where Max doesn't belong, Max replies, "I guess that's why we posted, right, to, um, educate people like that, right." Cheers for acknowledging that education is the first crucial step, and for really elucidating the vulgarity and cruelty that actually occurs toward trans people within the queer community. Follow this up with a call from Alice, telling Max he invaded her space to promote his own agenda and from now on he can blog once a week, but in his own little box, separate from the "Guestbians," or guest bloggers on OurChart. Max then accuses Alice of segregating trans people from the lesbian community. Again this phone call is cut short because Alice has to attend to two military officers who show up at her door, but this is certainly progress regarding the discussion surrounding where the T fits in with the LGB. The only improvement I can hope for on this front is when something happens where Max is referred to as "she" or "girl" or "woman" that it not be laughed off, and that some character step up to correct this. Here, I'm referring to the conversation between Bette and Jodi at the club, where they spot Max dancing with Tom, Jodi's interpreter. Yes, he has a name, which I think I overlooked before. Jodi turns to Bette and says, "I'm happy for Tom. He really wants a boyfriend." Bette says with a wink, "Girlfriend." And Jodi just laughs, like "Oh Bette, you're so silly." Does this give visibility to the issue or simply perpetuate that kind of treatment of trans people? I vote that as long as it is presented as a joking matter, it continues to perpetuate the problem.
So Much for Celibacy: Shane's Menage-a-trois
Wow, so what Shane did at the club would be like me breaking my Master Cleanse with a large pizza. Did I call it or what? But, the point to question here is this: Will Shane learn something about sex and relationships from this encounter with the two club owners or will she just go back to her lust-filled player lifestyle? Before the club owners rope her into a threesome, they explain to her that they have no drama in their relationship because, in their words, "we're completely honest, we don't cheat and we don't believe in jealousy, and we put it all on the line and whatever we do, we do together." Not that a couple has to do everything together, but Shane should at least take away the concepts of honesty, and not cheating which necessarily implies communication. The reason I bring this up is because it is one of the first times we're getting into the territory of open relationships on this show, rather than either seeing characters engaged in frequent casual sex or locked into a monogamous relationship. It's good to represent these types of relationships and open up the ways in which we think about partnerships and sex. I'm curious to see where Shane's character goes from here.
Flashbacks of Queer as Folk
In closing, I must confess that I was a huge huge fan of Queer as Folk, and I cannot help but feel nostalgic about it when I see the girls hitting the gym or the club, as those were the two main locales of action in QasF. I hate to compare the L Word and QasF because so many people do, so I won't, but I will say that the series of yore did much more in terms of social responsibility than the L Word has to date. I still have hope for our Hollywood lesbians, though. I do, I really do.
January 27, 2008
"Lady of the Lake" Review of Episode 3
Please forgive my being so derelict in my blogging duties! Generally, I found episode 3 to be rather boring, and was feeling unmotivated to write, but here goes, just before episode 4 airs tonight.
Let's talk about Shane . . . and Sex!
So Shane declares a moratorium on sex, drama, and jealousy. I imagine that this choice of the word "moratorium" is supposed to be reflective of one of Shane's new hobbies in her sexless lifestyle: flipping through the dictionary and memorizing ten new words a day. On top of this, Shane has managed to accomplish other things she has been putting off and even set goals for herself! Wow. She talks about "this celibacy thing" being like a "master cleanse to my body." Now Tina is quick to note that going without sex for long periods doesn't have quite the "salubrious" effect on her (and Shane gets to learn yet another new word, "salubrious," which she slowly sounds out like a kindergartener, "saaa leeww breeee uuusss.") What are we seeing here, besides Shane's lack of intelligence? Well, of course, anytime someone forgoes something that occupied much of their time, they will find themselves freer to do other things. For example, I am doing the Master Cleanse right now, and I find myself getting much more done (except blogging, apparently) during the time I used to spend cooking, eating, and pursuing food (as in shopping and foraging, not hunting!). However, while every now and then, I might get a craving for some food, I drink some lemonade and revel in the benefits of my fast; I have a focus, in fact, I even happen to have a spiritual focus, which is not necessary for one to have but segues nicely into the concept of celibacy and Shane's meditation scene. So, we are led to believe in the beginning that Shane's moratorium on sex is motivated by her desire to avoid all the drama she's been experiencing in her relationships. Mostly, I think the problem is not sex in and of itself, but it's the way in which Shane deals with her lovers. Maybe she needs to work on communication and managing relationships instead of just giving up sex. Instead of reading the dictionary, maybe she could read some self-helps books, or just spend some time reflecting on these drama inducing relationships. Anyway, to get back to the matter at hand, Shane is constantly distracted by sex, as seen when she ogles the woman at the gym, and when she simply cannot control herself and tries to make out with Helena. The point is that she has no real focus, so she's denying herself something and she's constantly struggling against it. And then she has the nerve to call it celibacy and even attempts to meditate, as if giving up sex will make her more "spiritual." However, she mumbles while sitting cross legged in a room full of candles, "I don't know how people do this." Then she tries to do some sort of walking, deep breathing meditation, stops and says, "Fuck it, I can't do this." Next thing you know, she's jumping up and down, breathing heavily, so full of energy and no way to expend it! What does this all mean? First I thought, maybe it's just a mock up of that Seinfield episode when the characters make that bet and give up masturbating and have all sorts of energy, but are constantly tempted and one by one, give into self-gratification. So it has its humorous effects, but I think this does a little more...this moves into the territory of celibacy. Now, I respect the different reasons for which people commit themselves to celibacy, and there are many reasons, but since the writers had to make the spiritual connection with the meditation scene, there are greater implications for Shane's "vow" to celibacy. She expects it to make her able to meditate and therefore focus herself spiritually. The way it is treated in this episode belittles a commitment to celibacy, as it is portrayed as comical with ill motivation and faltering dedication. What Shane needs to do before she dives into meditation is reflect and realize there is more to life than sex, and all her new free time can be spent exploring those parts of her that are already there, where her interests already lie, instead of forcing something like meditation into her life just because it is typically linked to celibacy. But really, not everyone who is celibate meditates and not everyone who meditates is celibate, so please, let Shane find herself, and stop trying to reinforce the conceptions of the status quo. Basically, the approach is imbalanced, but I think that this story line with Shane is a good idea and has the potential to do many things, if only the writers were smart enough to shift her consciousness around. Most likely, Shane will simply give into her physical passions in some out of control way (like her tongue-filled attack on Helena). But, I will say, it is good to see the characters at the gym, at least we know they work out on top of starving themselves. But in closing, can I just say, wasn't there someone on set who could teach Shane to do a proper pushup?
The "Big Butch Prison Daddy Dyke"
Yes, the "big butch prison daddy dyke." These are the very words which Eleanor, Helena's mother, uses to describe Dusty. Reiterating last week's post, this is exactly it. To Eleanor, a woman in prison couldn't be anything but that, and by the representation of the women in prison that we saw, they weren't represented as anything but that. Now, as I thought more about it, I realized that what the casting crew accomplished through this representation was effectively casting the women in prison as other. They are all other than Helena who represents the normative, as she is reflective of the cast we see moving through LA on a day to day basis. It's just another way to reinforce oppression, marking the other this way. And honestly, Dusty is hardly a "big butch daddy." Thankfully Helena was able to see into Dusty, assuring us that "it turns out she is one of the most enlightened, beautiful women" Helena has ever known, and Helena is going to retrieve the money she stole from Catherine, get Dusty out, and run away with her. Oooh, this is exciting. And, it's good to know that even these tougher look women can be beautiful and enlightened! As a compliment, I will say that this scene was beautifully done. The awkward silences and the silent disapproval of Eleanor's commentary by the other characters was very well acted. Congrats! (I told you my posts wouldn't all be negative.)
Tune in tonight!
Be sure to tune in for episode 4 tonight: looks like we're getting into some Bette/Tina action, and we're launching into an emotional military investigation. I'll try to be more apt with my posting this week too!
Let's talk about Shane . . . and Sex!
So Shane declares a moratorium on sex, drama, and jealousy. I imagine that this choice of the word "moratorium" is supposed to be reflective of one of Shane's new hobbies in her sexless lifestyle: flipping through the dictionary and memorizing ten new words a day. On top of this, Shane has managed to accomplish other things she has been putting off and even set goals for herself! Wow. She talks about "this celibacy thing" being like a "master cleanse to my body." Now Tina is quick to note that going without sex for long periods doesn't have quite the "salubrious" effect on her (and Shane gets to learn yet another new word, "salubrious," which she slowly sounds out like a kindergartener, "saaa leeww breeee uuusss.") What are we seeing here, besides Shane's lack of intelligence? Well, of course, anytime someone forgoes something that occupied much of their time, they will find themselves freer to do other things. For example, I am doing the Master Cleanse right now, and I find myself getting much more done (except blogging, apparently) during the time I used to spend cooking, eating, and pursuing food (as in shopping and foraging, not hunting!). However, while every now and then, I might get a craving for some food, I drink some lemonade and revel in the benefits of my fast; I have a focus, in fact, I even happen to have a spiritual focus, which is not necessary for one to have but segues nicely into the concept of celibacy and Shane's meditation scene. So, we are led to believe in the beginning that Shane's moratorium on sex is motivated by her desire to avoid all the drama she's been experiencing in her relationships. Mostly, I think the problem is not sex in and of itself, but it's the way in which Shane deals with her lovers. Maybe she needs to work on communication and managing relationships instead of just giving up sex. Instead of reading the dictionary, maybe she could read some self-helps books, or just spend some time reflecting on these drama inducing relationships. Anyway, to get back to the matter at hand, Shane is constantly distracted by sex, as seen when she ogles the woman at the gym, and when she simply cannot control herself and tries to make out with Helena. The point is that she has no real focus, so she's denying herself something and she's constantly struggling against it. And then she has the nerve to call it celibacy and even attempts to meditate, as if giving up sex will make her more "spiritual." However, she mumbles while sitting cross legged in a room full of candles, "I don't know how people do this." Then she tries to do some sort of walking, deep breathing meditation, stops and says, "Fuck it, I can't do this." Next thing you know, she's jumping up and down, breathing heavily, so full of energy and no way to expend it! What does this all mean? First I thought, maybe it's just a mock up of that Seinfield episode when the characters make that bet and give up masturbating and have all sorts of energy, but are constantly tempted and one by one, give into self-gratification. So it has its humorous effects, but I think this does a little more...this moves into the territory of celibacy. Now, I respect the different reasons for which people commit themselves to celibacy, and there are many reasons, but since the writers had to make the spiritual connection with the meditation scene, there are greater implications for Shane's "vow" to celibacy. She expects it to make her able to meditate and therefore focus herself spiritually. The way it is treated in this episode belittles a commitment to celibacy, as it is portrayed as comical with ill motivation and faltering dedication. What Shane needs to do before she dives into meditation is reflect and realize there is more to life than sex, and all her new free time can be spent exploring those parts of her that are already there, where her interests already lie, instead of forcing something like meditation into her life just because it is typically linked to celibacy. But really, not everyone who is celibate meditates and not everyone who meditates is celibate, so please, let Shane find herself, and stop trying to reinforce the conceptions of the status quo. Basically, the approach is imbalanced, but I think that this story line with Shane is a good idea and has the potential to do many things, if only the writers were smart enough to shift her consciousness around. Most likely, Shane will simply give into her physical passions in some out of control way (like her tongue-filled attack on Helena). But, I will say, it is good to see the characters at the gym, at least we know they work out on top of starving themselves. But in closing, can I just say, wasn't there someone on set who could teach Shane to do a proper pushup?
The "Big Butch Prison Daddy Dyke"
Yes, the "big butch prison daddy dyke." These are the very words which Eleanor, Helena's mother, uses to describe Dusty. Reiterating last week's post, this is exactly it. To Eleanor, a woman in prison couldn't be anything but that, and by the representation of the women in prison that we saw, they weren't represented as anything but that. Now, as I thought more about it, I realized that what the casting crew accomplished through this representation was effectively casting the women in prison as other. They are all other than Helena who represents the normative, as she is reflective of the cast we see moving through LA on a day to day basis. It's just another way to reinforce oppression, marking the other this way. And honestly, Dusty is hardly a "big butch daddy." Thankfully Helena was able to see into Dusty, assuring us that "it turns out she is one of the most enlightened, beautiful women" Helena has ever known, and Helena is going to retrieve the money she stole from Catherine, get Dusty out, and run away with her. Oooh, this is exciting. And, it's good to know that even these tougher look women can be beautiful and enlightened! As a compliment, I will say that this scene was beautifully done. The awkward silences and the silent disapproval of Eleanor's commentary by the other characters was very well acted. Congrats! (I told you my posts wouldn't all be negative.)
Tune in tonight!
Be sure to tune in for episode 4 tonight: looks like we're getting into some Bette/Tina action, and we're launching into an emotional military investigation. I'll try to be more apt with my posting this week too!
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