The female superhero of the the 21st Century - move over Batman!

Above: Fallen superhero, Stephanie Brown's costume.


The first female Robin replacement to gain side-kick status was blonde 16 year old teenager, Stephanie Brown. Making her debut in May 2004, the female character appeared in Marvel Comic books for over a decade. She served as a role-model type figure to many avid female comic book readers, presenting a capable young woman worthy of super-hero ability and super-hero status. Unfortunately, Stephanie's time came to an abrupt and rather perverse end, which web movement 'Project Girl Wonder' describes,

'... she was tortured to death in a sequence spanning a number of issues. She was treated as a sexual object, and her murder degraded her and degraded superhero comics in general. She has never gotten the credit she deserves from DC Comics since, on page or off. Stephanie Brown is a symbol of the need for change. And we're going to see that the change begins.'

According to an article by Charlie Anders on MotherJones.com, this blow understandably 'hit fans hard, particularly the female readers who'd only just started enjoying the thrill of a Robin they could identify with.' The 'grassroots campaign is still aggressively lobbying DC Comics to give Stephanie her two-dimensional due.'

'Project Girl Wonder' is just one of many crusades by obsessive feminist fans who are speaking out against the depiction of female additions to the super hero cast and their purely sexual, objectifying roles within the story.



Above: Batgirl herself.

Fangirl since the 1970's, Simone Gail recalls similar, Stephanie Brown-esque ending for the character of Batgirl who was brutally '...shot in the spine by the Joker, who then took obscene photos of her.'As she grew older, Simone noticed that a daringly bold and sinister thematic/narrative trend was edging its way into the comics she loved to read. Simone later began 'Women in Refrigerators', a website created in the 1990's which closely followed the brutilisation and sexual abuse of heroines throughout titles.

Now a member of the DC Comics team, Simone controls the artistic direction of the Batgirl series whose role is now as a much more strong, fiesty and successful hero. Simone admits she isn't alone in her pursuit to alter the way females are presented in the comic book genre, encountering many who also want to change history. She gives the female audience the gratification they desire, 'allow[ing] girls to imagine rescuing themselves instead of waiting for a white knight to show up', she states fittingly.


Above: The original.


I am impressed by this re-rendered approach to the representation of female characters in super hero titles. Why not promote a 21st century, girls-can-do-anything attitude for kids to grow up with? It sends a more valuable, un-sexist and ethical message to young fans everywhere, without meddling in the fundamental aspects which give comics their appeal. These women are not re-writing the comic book formula but finally giving girls everywhere, a desirable and tasteful example worthy role-model status.


To read more on this fascinating phenonmenon, check out:
http://www.motherjones.com/arts/feature/2007/07/supergirls_gone_wild.html

Knocked Up: Pleasant delivery or bring on the epidural?

It's hard to find a quality romance film these days, let alone a romantic comedy that actually delivers the laughs. For me personally, nothing can compete with the classic tale of impetuous young love between Noah and Allie in 'The Notebook'. As for romantic comedies, the combination of a stellar cast and well-written script, 'Love Actually' never fails to make you feel.

The latest in romcom's is director Judd Apatow's 'Knocked Up'. I had high hopes for Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl's character, who plays stunning career woman Alison - the one who ironically get's knocked-up by an overweight, un-employed stoner with a keen interest in reviewing the nude shots in adult films. So much so that he and his pot-head flatmates turn this pastime into a business endeavour, seeking to create an online nude-scene database.

Lacking in any real narrative substance, nerdy no-hoper Ben's character's motivation to become romantically involved with Alison is simply due to an alcohol-fuelled act of unprotected sex. Although the laughs are there - albiet few - being that the romantic attraction between the lead characters is not a natural, blossoming affection, rather a result of pure circumstance, it fails to satisy or appeal. While there are some belly laughs to be had this film is cretainly no '50 First Dates', 'Notting Hill' 'Shallow Hal' or 'Bridget Jones's Diary', depending on your taste. That said, if you're in the mood for a light but fresh, quirky take on he romantic comedy storyline, 'Knocked Up' could be just the thing for you.

Redefinition of cultural identities in America

An article which appeared yesterday on OhMyNews International by Ramzy Baroud, who himself is a Palestinian-American, explored the current identity struggle and treatment of Arab and Muslim immigrants residing in the U.S. Baroud recounts witnessing first-hand the open discrimination of a Muslim man in front of him at a Washington airport, subjected to what Baroud terms '...selective screening and harassment...' which are very 'real' in today's America.


Shifts in the way Arabs and Muslims establish and understand themselves within the American culture since events such as the Sepetember 11 attacks, have seen conformity become the favoured response amongst these groups. As Baroud states, ' "assimilation" is now becoming a tool for survival' for these cultures. Furthermore, Baroud believes a unamimous '...sense of escapism and detachment, as opposed to community...' has emerged. It has caused many to '...redefine the way in which they exhibit their background...', also to what extent they choose to display their religion and culture.


It's sad that these groups have been pushed to compromise their cultures for a position or feeling of acceptance in wider society. In Australia I believe there is an undercurrent of anti-middle eastern feelings amongst some of our society, take the Cronulla race-riots in Sydney in 2005 for example. This kind of activity revealed a degree of racial unrest amongst Australian youth, predominantly young adult males.

However, John Howard disagrees,

"I do not accept that there is underlying racism in this country. I have always taken a more optimistic view of the character of the Australian people. I do not believe Australians are racist."

You may not accept this view of Australia Mr. Howard but your belief is clearly contradicted by past events.

Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, also adopted a blasé attitude to the racial motivations of the displays.

"Australian multiculturalism is alive and well. Just take a look a few weeks ago [with] the response to Australia's World Cup win."

Not only is Mr. Beazley shying away from the embarrassing reality of these events but he instead makes a unsupported, irrelevant case against racist claims.

This serious and disturbing event gathered world-wide media attention which Prime Minister John Howard failed to publicly comment upon immediately. When he did so, instead of bluntly reprimanding such obvious displays of racism or enforcing the need for multiculturalism, that is; celebrating unity in diversity, he distanced himself from the matter, describing it as a "law and order issue". Furthermore, the Prime Minister put it down to everyday Aussies simply '...having fun in the sun." Personally, i would describe the Banana Boat sunscreen advertisement as "fun in the sun", not drunken louts shouting racial obscenities at eachother.