A Double Shot at Love

As if A Shot At Love with Tila Tequlia wasn't bad enough, there is now yet ANOTHER show premeiring on MTV with the same type of storyline called A Double Shot at Love. Except now it's with bisexual twins rather than just one bisexual. Now let me begin by saying that any type of show where you're competing for someone's heart is stupid in my opinion. I don't not like this show because it's bisexual. I just think that shows like this are what continue on the objectification of women and superficiality in relationships. Because, really, if you're trying to find "true love" on television, do you really think that it's going to last? It's just another excuse to have half naked men & women on MTV doing outrageous things for entertainment.

And I do admit, it is entertaining. I would be lying if I said I never watched an episode of the Tila Tequila show, or any other show like that for that matter like Rock of Love or Flavor of Love. They grab our attention because of the drama and insanity that the shows feed off of. I couldn't figure out to post the photo that I found because I wasn't abe to save it, but if you click on the link you will see a whole bunch of photos that are definitely sexualized. So check it out & let me know your input!

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But I do think it's interesting that the women that are searching for love this time are not only identical twins, but also white females, blond hair with what I would call barbie-like bodies. All the women are scantily dressed in these shows which also presents a problem for when the younger girls watch it and attempt to imitate those girls they see on television. Whether it be through clothing, personality, anything -- you name it.

Monica Brown's Silver Star

So I am going to be honest, I have never really be one to watch the news or 60 minutes or anything like that. But the other night, I was sitting at the computer in the TV room while my mom was watching 60 minutes, and a particular story caught my eye...

Monica Brown, a 19 year old female from Lake Jackson, Texas, is a medic in the military and was recently rewarded the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in combat. Since World War II, Monica is the second woman to receive this prestigous reward due to her bravery during a tragic occurrence while in Paktika, Afghanistan in April 2007.

Monica Brown saved the lives of five men traveling in one of the Humvees after being struck with explosives (an IED). With the help of Staff Srgnt. Jose Santos, Monica risked her life to save these men from burning to death. Two of the men survived with life-threatening injuries -- Spc Stanson Smith & Spc Larry Spray.

As I watched the 60 minutes episode, I listened to Srgnt Green and two other of Monica Brown's superior officers speak of her bravery and their awe to such a great job she had done. According to Military procedure, women are not to be in frontline combat, but may temporarily be assigned to a specific unit for a specific period of time that may involve frontline combat.

Since women are technically not allowed in frontline combat in the Military, there was incinuation on the 60 minutes program that there has been some controversy on the fact that she received the Silver Star. Some of the men may believe that she did not do an out of the ordinary deed, and that she was just doing what she was trained to do. That the fact that she is a woman takes a toll on her receiving this honorable award. The interviewer even showed photos of the two men I spoke of earlier, Spray & Smith, and said that they chose not to say any words. Smith even went as far as to say, "women have no business being on the frontline."

I am amazed and impressed at Monica Brown's modesty and determination when telling the interviewer about her experience. And I applaud her for being so humble about the whole thing. I think it's pretty crappy that she saved that man's life and he still has the nerve to say that about women being on the frontline. I mean, that's fine if that's his opinion and everything, but is it really necessary to say to someone who will most likely put it on 60 minutes? I persoanlly don't think so. What do you all think? Watch the video & let me know!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqmZP0pj9Co

Empowering Female Character With Usual Patriarchal Ending

I know that I've talked about role models before in my blogs, like in the Dove commercial. So I got to thinking on who I thought was a good role model for young girls in particular and why. I realized that I don't know much about celebrities or famous people like that in order to choose from that category, and the only people I could think of were characters from books. In my opinion, a character from a story is almost just as good as a real person to look up to and admire. As long as they have good qualities and characteristics, does it really matter?

Of course, I thought of many different characters that I admire. But one that stood out to me was Miss Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice, both a famous novel written by Jane Austen and a movie. She is a strong female character, especially within her time period. She is what you may call a "rebel" in society's standards during that time. She was always reading, walking to places (rather than taking a carraige), and was not afraid of speaking her mind. Since the movie came out pretty recently, I'll refer more to the movie than the novel -- even though they're both about the same. Also because I haven't read the book in a while, so the movie is more fresh in my mind.

Keira Knightley plays the role of Elizabeth Bennett in the movie. She is the second oldest of four girls, with an easy-going father and a gossiping mother. She is closest with the oldest sister, Jane, who is also seen as the beauty of the family. Elizabeth is described (especially in the book) as being plain and not-so-beautiful. She meets Mr. Darcy (her later love interest) at a town ball, and runs into him several times after. They don't get along at first, but eventually get to know each other. Elizabeth is offered a proposal by Mr. Collins, a cousin of the family who is to inherit the Bennett's estate. In those days, when the father died, the estate and inheritance would go to the next of kin that was male -- even if there was no son. Therefore, the women of that family would basically be out on the streets to fend for themselves. So, obviously, this was a big deal when Elizabeth was proposed to by Mr. Collins because it meant that she would be well-off and taken care of. However, Elizabeth being the rebel that she is, denied the proposal because she believed that she should marry for love.

All of this is important because Elizabeth rejected the standards and pressures of society, her mother and family in order to be happy. I admire this because I am sure that many women during that time did not do the same. Not only was she her own person in little ways such as reading and learning and taking walks in fields (doing "un-ladylike" things), but she also was her own person in the biggest way possible in denying that proposal. This shows her as an empowering female character and great role model for women to look up to. The character inspires women to be themselves, speak their minds, and not to give into the pressures of society. She is strong and independent and those are just some of the qualities that I love about her.

While all of that is true, and there is much more to her character that is positive, there is something that I hadn't realized until Professor Rellihan pointed it out to me. Even though it seems like Elizabeth Bennett is an empowering role model for women (which she still is in some ways), the movie still ends with her as Mrs. Darcy -- a patriarchal ending. The last scene in the movie consists of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy sitting together, and he continues to call her "Mrs. Darcy" after every little kiss and she swoons over it. Some would argue that this would teach girls to find their own happiness in a man, or that they will not be happy unless they are married or in love with a man. Honestly, I never viewed it in that way until someone pointed that out. So I think it has a lot to do with the viewer rather than the storyline. How the viewer interprets the storyline and the characters is the biggest issue.

I am a pretty big "hopeless romantic," so I am a sucker for these kind of movies even if it does have a patriarchal ending. I just think that it's interesting, now that I do have this type of view in mind, to think about other movies that I had never noticed ended this way. In my opinion, even though the movie ended with that type of scene (which the book did not), it still does not negate the positive qualities that I see in Elizabeth Bennett's character. I still view her as empowering and going after what she wants.

Let me know what you all think. =)

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