btw

See slideshow by Alcinda Brubaker

I have learned that this issue of how women are portrayed in the media is by far not just the women’s problem…

It makes me mad that music videos show women that they need a man in order to survive, and at times when no man is around they are emotionally bankrupt…

This made me think that I do not want my future kids receiving this same message during their lifetimes….

This challenges me to question every time i sit down to watch a music video, watch television, go to the movies, listen to the radio, every time I do something in relation to the media!

The media is sending unarguably what is the WRONG message to women, women should feel free to be independent, they should not be submissive to men. Because of this men are left feeling superior and Christ-like, we are not.

While watching Dreamworld 3 my only thought was: What message would my little sister receive by this? I know many people in the class are OK Go fans but I’m sorry, their videos are different, yes, but Christian music artists have been making the same kind of videos for years and in my opinion until a OK Go wins a music video award videos similar to their style will not receive the respect or views that they should. Kindra is amazing… her leadership and ideas are purely inspirational, she made me question, question, question… and to tell the truth I am not sure if we’ll ever get the answers. For some reason the drum circle and the “new heroes” talk/sing-a-long did nothing for me. I thought about them and for some reason those techniques do not work for me.

For me Personally…

I hope what I take away from this is a new attitude towards women: emotionally, sexually, and intellectually. The “Boys Rule and Girls Drool” attitude must end. Sorry Walmart but you shouldn’t be paying women 33% less wages then men simply because they’re women. Women are just as smart as men are, we’re equals. Women are also, and I know this may be surprising to some, worth more than for just their bodies! I mean of course that’s a plus but that’s not all they have to offer. Women are also emotionally strong, well most are. Contrary to their portrayal in music videos, women do not completely fall apart whenever their man leaves the house or dumps them. In fact, women are strong and should stand up more for what they want. This has definitely been the topic that has made me the most interested, engaged, and pissed off. Thank You.

Being a woman makes me happy because I can enjoy magazines for women about life, relationships, fashion, and culture.

Being a woman makes me happy because I know that I will one day carry and give birth to a child that I will raise with love.

Being a woman makes the happy because I can giggle, gossip, and be emotional.

Being a woman means I get chocolate and flowers, back rubs, doors held open, and coats offered to me. 

Being a woman makes me happy because I can embrace my feminism in mans world.

A Real Man…

Is defined more by taking responsibility rather than being strong,

Means appreciating girls for more than their ass,

Must be strong and supportive when support is needed.

Should be described with a sense of maturity,

Characterized by a sense of leadership,

Serving as a role model for those who are younger.

Will make a sacrifice for his wife and children,

Humble enough to show times of weakness,

This is not how society would portray a man.

But then again, what does society know?

“The Social Network” poses a very appropriate question, where were the women at during this breakthrough what, in real life, is Facebook. In reality, the movie was centered around sexism and the role of both men and women and how the two interact. It strikes on the heart of our culture: the gender roles each sex must portray and feminism.

Women (which serve no real purpose in the movie excluding their sexual interest): Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, creates the website in response to his heartbreaking girlfriend, in fact it is his feelings towards Erica that influence him to expand the website to other colleges. Perhaps the most annoying character, to me, was Christy. Christy was the clingy girlfriend of Zuckerberg’s friend Eduardo and even sets his room on fire in one of the last scenes. She was probably only annoying to me because she reminded me of my ex-girlfriend. The only feminine role that served any purpose whatsoever was that of the lawyer who did provide some good advice and served as a good friend during Zuckerberg’s law struggles.

Men (the center of the technological advancements): Disregarding the spoiled Harvard brats that the Winklevoss twins are (which fit into my impression of most Harvard students) Sean Parker is by far the most disgusting figure within the movie. If I am not mistaken there is always a different girl he is with in every new scene. I do not feel bad for Zuckerberg, get over it. Men hold the power in this movie, but why does that surprise anyone? Isn’t it men that hold most of the power in our culture, in our world? Hollywood, in most cases, only creates movies that reflect upon our culture, and this movie is a complete match.

Overall Conclusion: I really was not impressed by the movie, but that may be because the director clearly wanted those who watched to sympathize with Mark, something that I failed to do. It is hard to make me sympathize for anyone in a movie, with exception to Michael Myers in the most recent “Halloween” film directed by Zombie. This movie was no different than most, portraying women in sexual ways, but then again Hollywood follows culture. And by the way, sex in a toilet stall? Really?

by Alcinda Brubaker

“We lived in farms, we lived in cities and now we’re gonna live on the internet!” -Sean Parker

Sluts and assholes these days…in movies.

Women and men these days…in movies:

Erica, Girl at Phoenix Club, Stanford chick, Christy, Erica’s Roommate, Alice, Victoria’s Secret Model, Beautiful Woman, Harvard President’s Assistant, Dancer, Club 66 girl,  Sorority girl, Drunk girls, Facebook intern, Court reporter, Stoned girl, Marylin Delpy…

Interesting how the majority of the women in the movie are either slutty party girls, ex girlfriends, or hookup girls. In American culture today women are portrayed badly. Women usually are not shown as leaders, but at the least some of the people working on Mark’s case were women. In the movie most of the “high up” women were secretaries or law people. Those jobs aren’t bad so their roles were positive but there were so many scenes with girls shown in bad light such as at parties in their under garments or hooking up with the main characters. 

The men on the other hand are shown as the smart, talented characters that found Facebook and go to the Olympics. They are business men and outstanding athletes. There were the lawyers Sean Parker, Napster’s co-founder. Plain and simple, the men looked better.

Interesting how society still puts the man on top even though things have changed. Mark, the main character, was an asshole as his ex-girlfriend said though. I listed some movie quotes below that showed gender roles in the film and even some sexism. 

During the scene where Erica dumped Mark I said “aw” because I felt bad. As the scene went on I took it back because Mark was very rude to her. He was condescending to an innocent young women. Then there was the who Hot or Not webpage which was supposed to be comparing women to animals, but ending up comparing two female students from Harvard. The website was degrading and embarrassing for the girls who were picked as “not”. Women already have issues with their image and self esteem.

I love Facebook because you can connect with the people all around, even ones that you have lost touch with. I was very intrigued by the story The Social Network told.  I think the filmmaker does have a certain view of women and men. With the breakup scene between Edwardo and his girlfriend, he made her seem psycho. Women are emotional, but men are too.

On the a business and networking side, Facebook was a brilliant idea and it’s crazy that young people have become accidental billionaires. It’d be an interesting job to intern or work for. I looked for Mark on Facebook, but it must be hard for him to have his own personal account.

You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you’re going to go through life thinking that girls don’t like you because you’re a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won’t be true. It’ll be because you’re an asshole.

-Erica Albright

As if every thought that tumbles through your head was so clever it would be a crime for it not to be shared

-Erica Albright, Mark’s Ex

Amy: I just slept with Sean Parker? 
Sean Parker: You just slept on Sean Parker. And you’re name is Amy. 

Marylin Delpy: What are you doing? 
Mark Zuckerberg: Checking in to see how it’s going in Bosnia. 
Marylin Delpy: Bosnia. They don’t have roads, but they have Facebook.

A Stanford MBA named Roy Raymond wants to buy his wife some lingerie but he’s too embarrassed to shop for it at a department store. He comes up with an idea for a high end place that doesn’t make you feel like a pervert. He gets a $40,000 bank loan, borrows another $40,000 from his in-laws, opens a store, and calls it Victoria’s Secret. Makes a half million dollars his first year. He starts a catalog, opens three more stores and after five years he sells the company to Leslie Wexner and the Limited for four million dollars. Happy ending, right? Except two years later, the company’s worth 500 million dollars and Roy Raymond jumps off the Golden Gate Bridge. Poor guy just wanted to buy his wife a pair of thigh highs.

-Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/us/27iht-letter.html