Article includes spoilers for The Hunger Games film, and all three novels.

I’m writing this as someone who has read The Hunger Games trilogy (written by Suzanne Collins) and who has seen the film adaptation of the first novel. I’m also writing as someone who loves both versions. The novels themselves are an incredibly interesting and disturbing look at a corrupt totalitarian society run by a singular psychopath. The film was entertaining, at times touching and enjoyable (mostly when the camera stayed still for a moment). I saw the film first, and enjoyed it enough to read the novel. I then spent the next three days reading that novel, its sequel Catching Fire and then Mockingjay. Three books in four days which is a new record for me.

As I watched the film, it was enjoyable, but I couldn’t help but feel that a ton was left on the cutting room floor. Particularly that material had been cut to ensure the film’s PG-13 rating. This suspicion was confirmed when I read the novels. The key difference being that the film is violent, but not disturbing. The film presents the Capitol as cruel, but not heartless and vindictive. And in doing so, I feel like the film-makers neglected a golden opportunity to tell a truly memorable story, instead of simply a good one.

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Tags: The Hunger Games

[PDF Version Here]

This paper will focus on the movie Transamerica, and will include a mixed-analysis on how transsexuality is portrayed (specifically trans women) with the film’s portrayal of the lower class. Beginning with a summation of stereotypes associated with transsexual women within popular culture, before explaining how Bree’s (Felicity Huffman) portrayal is a strong example. Stereotypes involving the lower classes will then be discussed, with an analysis of Toby (Kevin Zegers) and the “Peyote Shaman” (Grant Monohon); arguing they embody many stereotypes themselves. Wealthy doctors and therapists of the professional class meanwhile are sympathetically portrayed and hold power over the film’s lower and working class protagonists. The mixed-analysis will stem from additional discussion of Bree whom is both a transsexual woman and working class, and how this intersection of positions hinder her. This paper will conclude by discussing how Transamerica privileges cissexual over trans identities and re-enforces the ideology of cissexual privilege through never challenging the transphobic remarks various characters make, including those who are transsexuals themselves. The film Transamerica is rife with stereotypes of transsexual women and the lower class, the film shies away from challenging these stereotypes and re-enforces an ideology of cissexual privilege.

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Tags: Transsexuality

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Abstract

This paper draws on four published articles which discuss aspects of social psychology relating to authority, power, roles and attitudes; along with two books written by experts in the field of BDSM, to explore how BDSM practice parallels what social psychologists have come to know about society as a whole. In this article, BDSM is defined as ‘Bondage, Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism’. It is the practice of one party holding power over another, possibly torturing them, consensually and as part of sexual kink, a relationship, play or all of the above. Additionally, the term “dominant” refers to the party within BDSM which commands and controls the other, and often the party which inflicts pain. The term “submissive” refers to the party within BDSM which obeys an is under the command of the dominant, often receiving pain. This paper aims to provide the reader with an understanding of how BDSM practice involves and reflects many of the concepts which social psychologists study and discuss, along with being a reflection of the power dynamics which exist within our society.

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Tags: BDSM, Social Psychology

As strange as this might be to hear, I can’t stand Catwoman. In most incarnations of her, I find her either out of place, or pure fan service. Making awful puns and wearing a tight leather outfit which somehow doesn’t seem to cover up anything. I’ll admit that. The only time I found her passable was in The Animated Series, which is fucking awesome and you should drop what you’re doing now and watch it. So when I say that I absolutely loved Catwoman’s depiction in The Long Halloween, know where I’m coming from. I just had to get that one out of the way, because they did Catwoman right. With class, wit and a truly neutral alignment with and against Batman. Also her physic is incredible, and I know she’s a comic book character, but damn.

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This is a dystopian novel published in the 1920′s and it was interesting to read just to see the influences it had on later dystopian works. I’m not sure if I have much to say on it, other than it seems to follow (or set the trend) most dystopian liturature takes. And what I mean by that is the plot goes like this: A) There’s a man who’s a peace with his dystopian state. B) Man meets woman, becomes obsessed by her. C) Woman turns out to be a dissenter, brings man into her world. D) They have sex and indulge in forbidden fruit in an old apartment. E) They’re captured. F) Man comes to love the state again, woman sentenced to worse things.

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I read it early on in high school, but didn’t really appreciate it then. This time, I’m completely enjoying it. I’m half way through, should be done by the end of the weekend. Basically, I love the setting, I love the characters and I feel like it’s very strongly written. Also, the Reverend Mother, awesome character. The whole first scene about Jessica being her serving wench, the box of pain, the needle which had a name sounding like something furry with teeth which lived in a swamp… Totally awesome. And interesting, in making the point that to be human is to be able to overcome our bodies. As the pain on Paul’s hand demonstrated, recognizing the pain and keeping his hand in there while an animal would have gnawed it off to escape, he was able to over come it and I just loved that whole set-up. I’m seeing that theme come up everywhere in the novel.

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I liked it, but didn’t love it. I felt the premise was very interesting, which is good because to a large extent the premise is the novel. I’ve noticed that in a lot of science-fiction, often times the characters themselves are less characters and more vessels for an author to explore an idea. In Issac Asimov’s Little Lost Robot, it was clear that this wasn’t a story about scientists trying to find a wayward robot, this was a thought experiment. And whether or not I’m particularly interested in this experiment/ exploration of the grand theme is critical to my enjoyment of the novel. With Little Lost Robot, I was bored stiff. With The Dispossessed, I was fairly interested. The idea of two utopias existing, in stark contrast to one another (one is rich, plentiful and libertarian; the other is poor, communal and in anarchy) and how one man travels between them in an attempt to unify the planets was an interesting read.

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Just quickly, I noticed this linked in Reddit’s r/transgender section. An article on another blog, condemning Donwum for her portrayal of Savedra in The Bone Palace. It’s very late, so I’m afraid I can’t come up with a longer response. However, if you’re curious to a point counter-point, the blog post is here.

My more detailed review of The Bone Palace is here.

My Response:

Bone Palace Spoilers:

Funnily enough, Savedra is one of my favourite characters and I felt Downum’s portrayal of her was very respectful.

It’s late (so I hope I make sense and of the article), but just from what I’ve seen, I say that the reminder of Savedra’s phallus isn’t reducing trans women to one. Instead it shows the reader that Savedra is a woman through and through, her womanhood is never questioned however the fact that she was born with a penis is what separates her. That’s it. I saw this as a positive message, showing that trans women are women, we just happened to be born with a phallus.

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I mentioned that I’d like to give my thoughts on this novel, so I shall. This isn’t really a review, just my thoughts on the novel without adhering to much format. As such, there’s going to be massive spoilers. If you haven’t read it, and plan to do so and enjoy  being surprised, just know that it’s a tightly told story with many characters whom I loved. It’s very entertaining and well worth your time. You may now stop reading. Although I can’t really stop you from continuing.

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The chosen photo is a strong example of Postmodernist theory. Postmodernism is concerned with the discourse (language) in which we construct our reality and power dynamics. It is a critique of Modernism, which states that power structures are objective and unflinching. Postmodernism argues that there is no one truth, and that all aspects of power and language are inherently subjective. A large part of Postmodernism’s analysis is discourse, which emphasizes how the language and perspective we approach something influences its meaning. For example people suffering from schizophrenia used to be labeled as ‘crazy’ and ‘deviant’ whereas now they are acknowledged to be ‘suffering’ from a ‘mental condition’. Discourse can determine if someone is stigmatized and regarded as crazy for their condition, or viewed as someone who needs help and medical attention. The subjective lens in examining society’s many facets is at the heart of Postmodernism.

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