Homework Help

[soc_puppet]

Yeah, so, will get to other comments and stuff later, but right now I want volunteers!

I am seeking opinions on the No Action Figures of Strong Female Characters situation that I can quote in a paper for Comp II. Contributors will remain anonymous for safety reasons. If you can offer an opinion on these, or portrayal of female characters in cartoons in general - especially cartoons aimed at the 10-14 age range - I'd love to hear it and use it if possible.

Please? ♥?

Comments

[ytak.livejournal.com]

I'd use the example of the Star Trek figures they had out (haven't seen any for a long time) where they literally made figures for any significant (and some not so significant) characters. They made they women and some that only appeared on occasion (or died later!). But Star Trek has its own fan base and, despite the fact that the figures were in the "toy" section, I suspect more adults bought them (I wasn't an adult then). The collectors would want to be able to collect all of them and the neglect of the women would have created backlash.

I collected most of the women because there weren't as many of them and they still were cool. It was nice to have some female role models. Yes, I played with them and I didn't like my brother playing with them because he wasn't careful with them!

Also, I'm not sure they qualify as action figures. But I think that's the best discription for them.

I can take a picture of them if you would like me to!

[soc_puppet]

That's a very interesting contrast. With Avatar on the other hand, I'm just not sure Nickelodeon knows how many of their viewers are not ten-year-old boys.

Mmm, probably.

That would actually be awesome and wonderful ♥

[ytak.livejournal.com]

I sure wouldn't mind having a Katara figure. She kicks booty! They're so narrow-minded.

I have to admit that Star Trek is mostly not animated (there was an animated series in the '70s). Would that work for your paper or would it be an example of how a nonanimated series can be treated? Star Wars also had women figures. Not as many as the men but there weren't as many women either. An example of the inequality between the treatment of live action and animation merchandise. XD I have to be careful. I could probably write your paper!

Give me a few days. If I haven't done it by Sunday, poke me. I'm too tired to do it tonight and I have to dig them out from under my all purpose storage space, the space under my bed!

[soc_puppet]

She dooooeees. They could so make money off of it. Or at least break even and then make up for it with Zuko figures or something. Which is why I wrote them a letter telling them they could be making more money, but I haven't even gotten a form letter back, so.

That's a good point. Still, I'm sure there's plenty of people in the same age demographic that would be interested in both, especially when you throw Star Wars in the mix.
XD Not that I'd mind, except for the whole "plagiarism" thing.

That's perfectly reasonable. I know I procrastinate like hell on everything ^^a

Oh, and mind if I friend? ♥?

[ytak.livejournal.com]

It is refreshing to see a strong female lead. I still have trouble with people shipping her with Aang or Zuko, though. For some reason, it gives me the willies. I think it comes from how young they all are.

You could touch on the contrast of treatment. When things are good, they'll reach beyond their target demographic.
Plagerism is bad. But what if I want to give input? I haven't written a paper in a couple of years now and your paper sounds like fun.

But I don't want to procrastinate. If I pull it out tonight, I won't be in bed for -hours-.

Only if you don't mind me friending you in return. ^_^

[soc_puppet]

Oh God yes. Although, and don't quote me on this, I have heard that the creators did get criticism for actually making Katara as capable as she is.
I get weird where the shipping is concerned, and could go into way too much detail ^^a Long story short, I find Katara/Aang cute in a romantic sense, but don't even want to think about it in a sexual sense.

Good point. Hopefully things'll get good soon.
XD That sounds fine. Or you could write your own on the same subject when I'm done? Either way, really.

O rite ^^a

Yay :D ♥

[ytak.livejournal.com]

Sexist jerks. Is there something -wrong- with a strong, capable female lead? Why does she have to be a damsel in distress? Why does there have to -be- a damsel in distress?

[soc_puppet]

Apparently there is >/ And I don't know, people are stupid like that sometimes. [Angry feminist rant goes here.]

[ytak.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I should write a letter explaining that I appriciate a character like Katara and wish there had been one like her when I was little.
Feminist rant nothing, I'm for equality, pure and simple.

[soc_puppet]

Well, I've got Nickelodeon's address and phone number up at least, if not yet Mattel's. I wonder if Kirkwood's library has that info...

I thought that's more or less what feminism was about...? Er. *glances towards her foot-in-mouth icon*

[ytak.livejournal.com]

I'll consider writing them but I don't think they'll listen. Such a shame.

Um, you're right. I was thinking of more extreme forms. I'm a feminist.

[soc_puppet]

To be honest, I wrote them over a month ago and haven't even gotten a form letter back. My assumption is that I'm/we're really playing a numbers game and so far I'm/we're losing on the numbers :/ Maybe I should start sending in a letter once a month or something...

No worries, I know the word can get bent out of shape depending on context ;)