Misogyny in the comic world

[MipMipMip]

Am interesting article with some cool examples. And her new project is brilliant.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45149478

That is a good piece and that young woman is very talented and thought-provoking.

I like the Women in Refrigerators group.

a group of feminists and comic book fans that lists examples of the comic book trope whereby female characters are injured, killed, or depowered (an event colloquially known as fridging) as a plot device, and seeks to analyze why these plot devices are allegedly used disproportionately on female characters.

In response to fans who argued that male characters are also often killed, content editor John Bartol wrote "Dead Men Defrosting", an article arguing that when male heroes are killed or altered, they are more typically returned to their status quo. According to Bartol, after most female characters are altered they are "never allowed, as male heroes usually are, the chance to return to their original heroic states. And that's where we begin to see the difference."

Yes, this subject is fascinating. I have such a fondness for pop culture. I know Anita Sarkeesian is a somewhat controversial figure online, but I do find some of her analysis in this area interesting.
Thanks for sharing! I loved seeing Shreya Arora's work.

That's really interesting arranfan.

I have to admit I'm an outsider to this as I don't read comics except the beano but I find they can give a good insight yo the thoughts of a significant section of society. As section that, with the increases in technology, is becoming increasingly influential.

if you want to read some comics that are more chick lit, I can recommend Nikoline Werdelin's works www.nikolinewerdelin.dk/english/

Some of her comics are kind of dark as she illuminates all parts of modern living. www.nikolinewerdelin.dk/english/bio/

I read lots and lots of comics and graphic novels and this is definitely a huge issue. I read a lot of French ones where there is noticeably less fridging (Barbara Gordon’s fate gives me rage), but the “all tits and ass” illustrations are a little eye watering.

I love these new covers, She-Hulk in particular has a ludicrously high cut leotard on most of her covers, but something I’d love to see is the female heroes shown just like the male ones are: strong, heroic, brooding, appropriately dressed... etc. Sadly I have no artistic talent 😔

I prefer novels with descriptions to pictures is all. The subject matter is fine. Thanks though.

Author Jim C Hines and a group of other authors took a crack at this about five years ago, although coming at it from the angle of "women on sci-fi and fantasy book covers are ridiculously posed in anatomically impossible sexualised positions". They had a go at replicating some:

www.jimchines.com/cover-posing/
www.flickr.com/photos/41225422@N00/sets/72157632676570479/

Around roughly the same time, one of the authors, John Scalzi, posted this little gem describing the life of the straight white male being similar to playing video games on the easiest possible setting. I have no idea where these authors currently stand on the trans debate, but it really struck me on re-reading John's piece that it chimes with what we've been observing here lately: straight white males trying to access a more oppressed position by attempting to become female lesbians (imagine if Dolezal had got a better reception, they could be black too!).

I know it's a bit off-topic for this thread (though it could be said the audience for comics, SFF and gaming overlaps significantly). I just remembered the piece when I saw Scalzi in a cover pose

whatever.scalzi.com/2012/05/15/straight-white-male-the-lowest-difficulty-setting-there-is/

What a fabulous artist Shreya Arora is... I love the "maybe she's born with it, maybe it's patriarchy" spoof. Thanks for this, Mip.

(I've seen Jim Hines' work before, and John Scalzi's excellent piece - both of them great.)