[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’ NO FILTER | Selling #Feminism (part 1)’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RHICK LARS VLADIMER ALBAY
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=”]
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
WITH THE onslaught of marketing campaigns and ads, I know no one has been spared from the knowledge that Disney has mounted a live-action remake of the classic tale Beauty and the Beast.
Now starring Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame and a handful of Academy Award-winning actors whose thespian performances will be shrouded in 30 layers of CGI (computer generated imagery) for the better part of the film, the endeavor has been largely touted as a feminist reboot on the “tale as old as time” – romanticized Stockholm Syndrome, and all.
However, after watching the film I felt largely misled and betrayed. My initial reaction of “Oooooh, Disney’s taking on more progressive issues in a children’s movie” was promptly dashed by a single viewing.
Lo and behold, the height of #feminism in Beauty and the Beast: Belle invents a washing machine. I kid you not. In the supposed “feminist” reboot, Belle – a woman – designs, of all things, a washing machine. Not a contraption that can harness energy, not a hadron collider – a washing machine. Down with patriarchy?
In the new film, Belle has been ascribed the qualities of an inventor – formerly the storyline of her father Maurice in the animated original. But instead of building something that can get her out of the dull “provincial life” she sings about, her engineering ideas largely go back and conform to the domestic stereotypes the backward world imposes on and expects of women. Belle does all the household chores, while her father – now a bumbling watch repairman – flounders around in his work studio. That doesn’t seem very feminist, noh?
(If you want a true grit feminist tale about inventors, go watch Hidden Figures. Tackling civil rights and the struggle of the African American community for equality, it follows three empowered trail-blazing Black women instrumental in the race to outer space and the moon.)
An angry mob will eventually destroy and take away the contraption from her, and all Belle does is flail and cry. I would argue that the pitchfork-wielding horde did her a favor. They just released you, Belle, from your proverbial sedentary ball and chain, now go out into the world and be a true feminist. #WomenOfTheWorldUnite (rhickalbay@gmail.com/PN)
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
