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My articles in 4W and Feminist Current yesterday

2/16/2022

When I awoke yesterday I could not have predicted that I would have articles published in two great feminist publications, but it was a pleasant surprise. In the morning 4W published the piece I had written the day before on filmmaker Ivan Reitman, and in the afternoon Feminist Current published my piece about actress Pamela Anderson, written earlier this month.

My article about director/producer Ivan Reitman focuses on his treatment and portrayal of the female characters in his films. You can read it here.

My second article is a defence of Canadian actress Pamela Anderson's right not to be revictimized, namely through a new miniseries called Pam & Tommy. You can read it here.

According to its website, Feminist Current, which was founded in 2012 by Meghan Murphy, "provides a unique perspective on gender, women’s rights, violence against women, pop culture, politics, current events, sexuality, and many other issues that are often underrepresented or misrepresented by mainstream, progressive, and feminist media sources." It is Canada's leading feminist publication. Check it out here.

(Below: screenshots of Twitter posts by 4W and Feminist Current.)

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier

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Valentine’s Day movie picks for women

2/14/2022

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This Valentine’s Day women should treat themselves to a romance or romantic comedy that has much to offer female viewers. Instead of settling for regressive narratives packaged as great love stories they should indulge in a truly enjoyable movie, preferably with a huge bowl of popcorn and a box of chocolates. The Disney channel currently has several laughable suggestions for female viewers. For instance, Pretty Woman (1990), a story about a poor, uneducated, unworldly American prostitute hired by a cultured millionaire businessman to be her escort for a week, over the course of which they fall in love (written and directed by men). Or Beauty and the Beast (2017), a story about a young woman who falls in love with the beast who sequesters her after her father steals one of his roses (screenplay written and directed by men). Come on! What century is this? Sexual exploitation and Stockholm Syndrome should not be our best options in 2022.

The romance/romantic comedy and drama genres have better offerings. Some movies include a few (and sometimes all) of the following: a female gaze, several significant female characters, affection and congeniality between females (not just antagonism), exchanges between women about things besides men—not to mention an absence of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and hypersexualization of the female characters. The following movie picks do not all contain every one of these inclusions (and exclusions) but they are all enjoyable and have much to offer female viewers. Click on the underlined text to watch enjoyable clips from these movies.

Little Women (2019): If you can handle a Christmas movie in February you will be rewarded with a feast for female viewers from director Greta Gerwig. The female protagonist is strong and assertive, it boasts several significant female characters, as well as congeniality, affection and supportiveness between women and women speak throughout. It also offers a female gaze, close relationships between sisters, a critical look at sexism, etc.
Last Christmas (2019): Another Christmas movie, true, but it has a female gaze and so much more. It includes affection, congeniality and many exchanges between women, lesbianism for women’s viewing pleasure—as opposed to men’s, an unconventional ending, etc. Emma Thompson co-wrote it (this is practically a guarantee of excellent screenwriting).
Austenland (2013): Over and above the affection, congeniality and exchanges between the female characters we get disapproval of women’s so-called ‘expiry date’. Rudeness and men’s blameworthy behaviour towards women are portrayed disapprovingly. Written and directed by Jerusha Hess (co-writer: Shannon Hale).
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011): Despite the lack of female involvement in the writing/directing we get narration by a woman, several elderly female protagonists (still too rare in mainstream movies), assertive women, many exchanges between women, etc.
Bewitched (2005): Despite Will Ferrell playing the lead male it is enjoyable. It includes a female gaze, a disapproving look at men silencing women in show business, etc. Men’s blameworthy behaviour towards women is portrayed disapprovingly and women spend time together. Written and directed by Nora Ephron (co-writer: her sister, Delia Ephron).
Pride & Prejudice (2005): Deborah Moggach wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of Jane Austen’s beloved story. We get a female perspective, 10 significant female characters, as well as loving relationships, congeniality, solidarity and numerous exchanges between women, etc.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002): It includes many strong and assertive women, congeniality and affection between women, a good mother/daughter relationship, etc. Also, characters challenge sexist stereotypes. Written by Nia Vardalos.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999): A story about teenagers but still enjoyable. Among the high points: a female gaze; a smart, articulate, assertive lead female; a female freethinker is portrayed approvingly (so rare); and focus on a girl’s post-secondary education (rarer still). Written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith.
Sense and Sensibility (1995): High points include a female perspective; eight significant female characters; solidarity, numerous exchanges and loving, affectionate relationships between females; and congenial mother/daughter relationships and relationships between sisters. Screenplay by Emma Thompson.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993): High points include a loving friendship between two women, women spend time together, focus on what women look for in men, a popular misconception about women is challenged, etc. Nora Ephron directed and co-wrote.
Dirty Dancing (1987): High points include a female perspective, solidarity and exchanges between women and narration by a woman. Written by Eleanor Bergstein.

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Galentine’s Day movie picks

2/13/2022

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Happy Galentine’s Day! Looking for movies that celebrate female friendships this Galentine’s Day? These movie picks include a few (and sometimes all) of the following: a female gaze, several significant female characters, affection and congeniality between females, exchanges between women about things besides men and little to no violence against women and girls (VAWG) or hypersexualization of the female characters. They may not all contain every one of these inclusions (and exclusions) but they are all enjoyable mainstream feature films, have much to offer female viewers and celebrate female friendships.

Click on the underlined text to watch enjoyable clips from these movies (leave me a comment after the video—this is my YouTube channel). In no particular order:

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991): Jessica Tandy tells her new friend, Kathy Bates, the story of the friendship between Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson) and Ruth (Marie-Louise Parker). The screenplay by Carol Sobieski is based on a novel by Fannie Flagg.
Thelma & Louise (1991): A feminist classic about two best friends (Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis) on a road trip. Screenplay by Callie Khouri.
9 to 5 (1980): Three office workers (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton) vastly improve their working conditions while they have their boss (Dabney Coleman) sequestered in his home. Patricia Resnick co-wrote the screenplay with a man.
The Help (2011): An aspiring white writer (Emma Stone) who teams up with two black maids (Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer) in 1963 to write a book about the lives of black maids in Jackson, Mississippi. Based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett.
The First Wives Club (1996): Three New Yorkers (Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton) band together to make their ex-husbands pay for treating them poorly. Based on the novel by Olivia Goldsmith.
Hidden Figures (2016): The story of the three mathematicians who worked for NASA and played an important role in the American space program in the 1960s (Taraji P. Henson as Katherine G. Johnson, Octavia Spencer as Dorothy Vaughan and Janelle Monae as Mary Jackson). The screenplay by Allison Schroeder (and one male writer) is based on a novel by Margot Lee Shetterly.
Beaches (1998): The lifelong friendship between two women (Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey) that began when they were eleven. The screenplay by Mary Agnes Donoghue is based on a novel by Iris Rainer.
Ocean’s Eight (2018): Eight women plan a jewellery heist at a museum’s gala in New York City. Olivia Milch co-wrote the screenplay with a man.
Ghostbusters (2016): Four women team up to catch ghosts in New York City (Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones). Katie Dippold co-wrote the screenplay with two men.

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My article in 4W about the Scream franchise

2/9/2022

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This morning 4W published an article I wrote about the Scream franchise, namely about the inclusions of male violence against women and girls (MVAWG) in its movies. The fifth installment was released last month, and it has recently been announced that a sixth movie is in the works.

4W is a publication founded by M. K. Fain in 2019. According to its website, "4W exists to give a platform to today’s feminists who are boldly stepping outside of the mainstream narrative to unapologetically bring you stories about the issues affecting women today." 4W actually pays its female writers, which is uncommon. It also allows women who have otherwise been cancelled and deplatformed to have a voice. In a world sorely lacking in regard for women and girls 4W is a breath of fresh air.

Dana Vitalosova created the brilliant artwork that accompanied my article, which you can read here. Dana is a writer/editor based in Slovakia. You can read her articles in 4W here.

Copyright © 2022 Alline Cormier

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My articles in 4W and Feminist Current yesterday

Valentine’s Day movie picks for women

Galentine’s Day movie picks

My article in 4W about the Scream franchise

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