Dollhouse/Whedon feminism meta

[51stcenturyfox]

There is an interesting discussion taking place on viorica8957  's journal.  Non-flamey, both sides. There are spoilers for the pilot present.

"They're saying that the idea of the Dollhouse makes them uncomfortable because it represents the ideal of a woman being utterly passive and fulfilling any (presumably male) fantasy. The Stepford Wives deals with a similar concept. The reason that this is problematic is because it robs the women of all of their autonomy, and places them under the complete control of someone else- and as far as we've seen, the "someone else" has always been a man. The thing is, saying that one thing Joss has done makes them uncomfortable doesn't mean that they're dismissing all of Joss's work as misogynistic, and that's an important distinction to make."

Check out dollhouse_meta  too, if you're interested.

Comments

[eviinsanemonkey.livejournal.com]

Hmm...

I haven't watched Dollhouse yet, but isn't there a point to all that that they haven't gotten to yet? (at least, that would by my theory). I feel like it's too early to write the show off like that. How many episodes have aired? One? Two? (*is very behind on the times*), we've no idea where they plan on taking it yet...

[wiredblowfish.livejournal.com]

I was a little confused by the idea of the show Dollhouse when I first saw previews--thinking this is so blatantly sexist, is Whedon trying to make a point about sexism or is he just having a fantasy fest.

After having sort of half watched the first episode, it seemed lame and exploitive, and frankly kind of dumb--why did those people need a totally hot hostage negotiator. Like the fact that she was totally hot seemed unnecessary and also unacknowledged. If I ordered up a hostage negotiator and Eliza D. showed up, I or someone like me would go WOW! or at least raise eyebrows to someone around me.

On the other hand when she was showering, there seemed to be beefcake (guys) showering in there with her--as if there are also hot dudes one could order up. So, at least there would be equal exploitation or something.

[Nice to see people love Wash. He was hilarious in Firefly. Check out his audition reel on the extras. The guy is a freakin' comedic genius. I have seen that actor in some indie pics, and the guy is a total cut up. Totally hilarious! See Death at a Funeral if you haven't yet.]

[jackarono.livejournal.com]

But Stepford Wives, and Dollhouse, present this as a metaphor for the entrapment of women in cultural expectations-- NOT as what should be, goodness knows. I have little doubt that the Dollhouse residents are going to get their freedom in the end, probably breaking free.

It's hardly anti-feminist to metaphorize oppression. Are we just supposed to ignore it? I can't help but think that if it were, say, Doris Lessing writing Dollhouse, it would be seen as a great feminist story.

[rodlox.livejournal.com]

is this a bad time to mention all the male dolls inside the Dollhouse?

[andreth47.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! Reminds me of the folks who were upset with Joss for 'fridging' Penny in DHSAB.

I'm a day late and a dollar short here as usual, but at least that means that I've seen the second eppy of Dollhouse now. Creepier than the first, but not much more interesting.

Joss says we have to wait until the second half of the half-season before the show hits its stride.