Buffista Movies 6: lies and videotape
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Thoughts without having seen it --
Is it possible that *Tony Stark* is sexist and possibly misogynistic?
By which I mean, people frequently react to a character without stopping to think that maybe the character is not meant to represent the work as a whole, or the actual opinions of the author.
Lolita
being a good example -- Yes, Humbert Humbert is a pederast, but he is not admirable or meant to be an example of good behavior, nor is he meant to represent the author's approval of snatching up underage girls and trying to make them your lover.
So yeah, it strikes me as terribly likely (again, without having seen it yet) that Tony Stark
is
meant to be misogynistic, but that does not meant the film is misogynistic.
Just my initial thoughts.
What say you all?
I say huh. I mean, sure
impossible-to-run-in-shoes and UST that the plot really didn't need,
but if there was anything more -ist than your average superhero movie, I really didn't see it.
I've been reading a lot of blogs that find Iron Man to be sexist (at best) or downright misogynist (at worst).
What say you all?
Did they want it to be called
Iron Woman
instead? I feel like blogs will call
anything
sexist (at best) or downright misogynist (at worst). Little things get magnified. I'm not sure what's particularly sexist about
Iron Man
(besides, well, the fact that Tony Stark is a womanizer...and that's not portrayed as a good thing, so...). Especially since Pepper is actually, like, useful and stuff. And doesn't swoon and fall into Tony's arms at a moment's notice.
there was anything more -ist than your average superhero movie, I really didn't see it.
Yeah, I'm with amych.
Edit: Which is to say that there were the requisite moments that made me roll my eyes, but nothing beyond any other movie out there.
So yeah, it strikes me as terribly likely (again, without having seen it yet) that Tony Stark is meant to be misogynistic, but that does not meant the film is misogynistic.
I've read many arguments that, *because* the main character is a sexist pig (at least, at the beginning), the movie is sexist. I don't agree.
Especially since Pepper is actually, like, useful and stuff. And doesn't swoon and fall into Tony's arms at a moment's notice.
But she's just an assistant! The movie could have made her an engineer*, or a hacker** instead of just a secretary! And when she had her Big Climactic Moment, she got all irrational and told Tony she couldn't do it because it might kill him!***
(Those are more arguments from the blogverse as to why it's a sexist movie.)
*No, they couldn't have.
**No, they couldn't have.
***If you think Rhody wouldn't have said the same thing, perhaps coded in a manly way, you're really kidding yourself. The Delay of Destroying the Flabotnum is a time-honored trope in action movies, regardless of who's doing the delaying.
The arguments seem to say "How dare you make a comic-book movie that reflects the content of the comic book!"
I mean, how many people object to Alfred's presence in Batman?
Right?
(besides, well, the fact that Tony Stark is a womanizer...and that's not portrayed as a good thing, so...).
Yeah, exactly. It's a pretty basic part of the character concept that Tony is Billionaire Playboy As Asshole, as opposed to Billionaire Playboy As Charming Man of Mystery. (Next up? Billionaire Playboy As
Roaring Drunk
. What will the blogs say?)
I thought women were fairly absent in the movie, but they certainly weren't in refrigerators.
I mean, how many people object to Alfred's presence in Batman?
To be fair, if Alfred were a nubile young female servant, I might have some issues.
I've read many arguments that, *because* the main character is a sexist pig (at least, at the beginning), the movie is sexist. I don't agree.
That's like saying a movie about Hitler promotes Naziism.
And, fuck, I just Godwinned already. Dammit.
And when she had her Big Climactic Moment, she got all irrational and told Tony she couldn't do it because it might kill him!
How DARE she care about someone else's welfare!
The arguments seem to say "How dare you make a comic-book movie that reflects the content of the comic book!"
Well, comic books can certainly be sexist (at best) and downright misogynistic (at worst). But I don't think
Iron Man
(the movie) was bad in that respect. I don't how the comic fares.
I don't how the comic fares.
Kinda dull, mostly. The movie is much better than any of the comics I've ever picked up, although I'd be happy to be proven wrong, since the character kind of kicks ass.