women in horror, the legend continues

[intertribal]

This is a 2007 video that sockkpuppett (Luminosity) and sisabet made for Vividcon - the theme is the depiction of women in Supernatural, and the song they used is "Violet" by Hole (which should tell you in what direction the video's going).  It's extremely graphic - but of course this was all on the CW - and potentially triggery.  It's called "Women's Work."

As I don't watch Supernatural, I defer to cofax7 for some extra words: "I've been aware for the entire time I've watched the show that there were problems with the presentation of women, but this vid really provides the ammunition for that argument. Because even if the male deaths total the same number (which I don't know), the fact is that they are filmed entirely differently: they are clothed, the camera doesn't linger on them, they're not swimming, in bed, in bedclothes, bathing. Women in peril are sexy, and in a different way than the Winchesters in peril. Dean on his knees is sexy not because he is in peril, but because we know he's going to get up and kick ass in just a moment, because the show has identified him as the Hero. Whereas none of the women have that protection in the text."  More commentary on sisabet's LJ here.

Comments

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

I do love this video and absolutely admire how it's getting across what it's trying to get across (which is certainly part of why I love the end credits of Jennifer's Body so much), but I'm still not sure about the contextual dismissal of the entire show assumed to be implicit in this and similar criticisms. Part of my whole "you can't throw away the entire source-material just because you dislike a part of it" thing, I suppose, even if the part in question happens to be less an unsightly cyst which could be removed without damaging the whole than a thread that runs through everything and can't be pulled out without making the entire story unravel.

Sexualization of female fear and death is part of "mainstream" horror iconography--we all know this. Questioning it is worthwhile. Widening the scope is worthwhile (why not do the same to dudes?), as is narrowing it (why sexualize any fear and death, when in RL both fear and death are very unsexy things?). And yet...

And yet: I still like Supernatural, so I guess I'm complicit, and I should just accept it. Yeah. That's probably the best way to go (aside from worth on those sequels to "Crossing the River").

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

"Working on", obviously. Jesus.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

It's a striking video, isn't it? I don't see it so much as a dismissal of Supernatural (although some people do; the creators are "fans who question") as much as a very direct example of how all this stuff can add up. I would certainly be interested in seeing a vid of all the male deaths/demons as a point of contrast.

One of the things that the creators said, actually, was that you could use many TV shows as the source and achieve something similar. And I think what's problematic is the jump to "depiction of women dying is bad!" I don't think that jump is necessary. But it did get me thinking about things I've written or plan to write, and whether distribution of depiction of suffering is fair across the genders, all things considered. 1) And there are a lot of things to consider. 2) And the creator's self-awareness, I think, is huge.

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Somebody did an amazing Criminal Minds vid which was about not so much women as victims but women as survivors, horrifically scarred but unbroken. That was pretty neat, since CM can certainly be accused of falling into the same loaded gender paradigm. Can't recall who, 'cause my mind is cheese, but there can't be that many.

As for male deaths on Supernatural, you'd probably almost immediately run into the parallel problem of POC getting killed...though I guess that's a whole 'nother issue.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

you'd probably almost immediately run into the parallel problem of POC getting killed

Oh dear.

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Yeah...again, I got nothin', because it's not really debatable. Just another annoying undercurrent to a show I happen to like, though I understand why it would really alienate other people.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

It happens. I'm like that with Heart of Darkness.

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Me too!

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

lol matching icons

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

LOL it's true! Hands over eyes, women!!

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

with the addition of your icon we just need someone with their hands over their ears!

like this maybe?

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Re: like this maybe?

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

haha yeah, perfect.