Thelonious Legend's Blog, page 3
July 22, 2014
Interview with Kimberlee Renee of @reelsistas on Women of Color in Film Part II
This is the second part of our interview with Kimberlee Renee
Voice Interview - Link
Her website - www.reelsistas.comHer podcast: Cinema in Noir - www.blogtalkradio.com/cinemainnoirHer Twitter - @reelsistasHer Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ReelSistasAn organization advocating for women of color in film - http://www.reelsisters.comTwitter account advocating for women of color in film and stage - https://twitter.com/BiatchPack Part IIThelonious: Can you name one or two women of color in the film industry that are listeners should be aware of?Kimberly: Kimberly:Sounds great
Voice Interview - Link
Her website - www.reelsistas.comHer podcast: Cinema in Noir - www.blogtalkradio.com/cinemainnoirHer Twitter - @reelsistasHer Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ReelSistasAn organization advocating for women of color in film - http://www.reelsisters.comTwitter account advocating for women of color in film and stage - https://twitter.com/BiatchPack Part IIThelonious: Can you name one or two women of color in the film industry that are listeners should be aware of?Kimberly: Kimberly:Sounds great
July 21, 2014
Interview with Deron Bennett of ANDWORLD Design
Curious about diversity in Comics? Deron Bennett provides insight in this as well as other topics in this informative interview
Voice Interview - Link
ANDWORLD Design Website - www.andworlddesign.com His Twitter - https://twitter.com/deronbennett
His Facebook - www.facebook.com/quixotecomic His Tumbler - deronbennett.tumblr.com
Purchase Deron's comics here - Link
Did Lettering for Legend of Mantamji - Link
Thelonious: Hey, everyone! Thanks for joining Thelonious Legend blogspot. Today we have a special guest. We have Deron Bennett of ANDWorld Design. Deron could you tell us a little bit about what you do for AndWorld Design? Deron: Basically it's a lettering studio that I run. I perform various letterings that we use for different comic book companies, including DC, Boom, Slash, Archie and a couple independents as well. Lettering, for those of you that don't know, is where printing of any of the script text, dialogue, sound effects and things of that nature that go into a comic book. Essentially without a letterer you would not be able to read comics. So that's my job and responsibility there. I also do design work as well, creating logos and advertisements for the company. Thelonious: I guess it would be safe to say you have a creative background?Deron: Yes. Originally I went to school at Savannah College of Art Design. Initially, I was trying to get into the business as a pencil-er. But I fell in love with lettering, early on in my career, got into font design and all the creative processes going into lettering. I also have taught graphic design, because they're so similar. The mediums are so similar. Essentially when you’re lettering its sort of thinking from a graphic design standpoint. All the sound effects and stuff have the same similarities that you’re trying to get across when you're doing graphic design. All the conventions you use in comics as well. It's a creative medium I've got my background in, but I also do graphic design as well and website design, clothing. Due to what I've done in comics.Thelonious: Why did you choose the medium of comics to display your talents?Deron: Growing up I've always loved drawing. That was my big thing. Everybody was like "Oh you're gonna be an artist, you're gonna be this, you're gonna be that." I wanted to do animation, initially and be the next Walt Disney. After a while, when I was in middle school. I got into writing a lot. I wanted to write. Seeing a medium that combined the two so well and so perfectly. Where I can tell a story through my illustrations. It just dawned on me that this is where I wanted to be. This is what I wanted to do. And I've been loving it ever since. Thelonious: You're a comic book fan?Deron: YesThelonious: Who was the first hero that you identified with that every week and every month you needed change to go to the store and buy that comic book?Deron: Milestone comics was my first passion for actual comic books. Before that I was really into Calvin and Hobbes. comic strips and things. I would read Heathcliff, and all those newspaper comics. I liked the funnies. That sort of transitioned when somebody brought to my attention Milestone comics. Picking up Static, picking up Hardware and all the rest of the titles. Icon. I had a whole run of each of the titles. Thelonious: I had the whole run too. And for those of you who know Milestone comics was the spinoff of the DC comic. Basically it was based out of North Dakota, which was a city. You just had this rich rich characters. From this universe. For whatever reason it never quite took off. And the most popular character was Static Shock. Milestone, unfortunately was discontinued. But if you don't know about Milestone, you should do some research on it. I think you'll be pleased. The characters were great! They were three dimensional, diverse. You had gay characters, you had black characters and Asian characters. A lot of the subject matter that you see today Milestone was way ahead of the time. Just thought I'd throw that in there. So now what current projects are you working on that we should be aware of? Deron: Right now I am working on a couple of different books that I'm lettering, I'm doing a Flash Broadcast with Boom and Archie. I am also doing
Voice Interview - Link
ANDWORLD Design Website - www.andworlddesign.com His Twitter - https://twitter.com/deronbennett
His Facebook - www.facebook.com/quixotecomic His Tumbler - deronbennett.tumblr.com
Purchase Deron's comics here - Link
Did Lettering for Legend of Mantamji - Link
Thelonious: Hey, everyone! Thanks for joining Thelonious Legend blogspot. Today we have a special guest. We have Deron Bennett of ANDWorld Design. Deron could you tell us a little bit about what you do for AndWorld Design? Deron: Basically it's a lettering studio that I run. I perform various letterings that we use for different comic book companies, including DC, Boom, Slash, Archie and a couple independents as well. Lettering, for those of you that don't know, is where printing of any of the script text, dialogue, sound effects and things of that nature that go into a comic book. Essentially without a letterer you would not be able to read comics. So that's my job and responsibility there. I also do design work as well, creating logos and advertisements for the company. Thelonious: I guess it would be safe to say you have a creative background?Deron: Yes. Originally I went to school at Savannah College of Art Design. Initially, I was trying to get into the business as a pencil-er. But I fell in love with lettering, early on in my career, got into font design and all the creative processes going into lettering. I also have taught graphic design, because they're so similar. The mediums are so similar. Essentially when you’re lettering its sort of thinking from a graphic design standpoint. All the sound effects and stuff have the same similarities that you’re trying to get across when you're doing graphic design. All the conventions you use in comics as well. It's a creative medium I've got my background in, but I also do graphic design as well and website design, clothing. Due to what I've done in comics.Thelonious: Why did you choose the medium of comics to display your talents?Deron: Growing up I've always loved drawing. That was my big thing. Everybody was like "Oh you're gonna be an artist, you're gonna be this, you're gonna be that." I wanted to do animation, initially and be the next Walt Disney. After a while, when I was in middle school. I got into writing a lot. I wanted to write. Seeing a medium that combined the two so well and so perfectly. Where I can tell a story through my illustrations. It just dawned on me that this is where I wanted to be. This is what I wanted to do. And I've been loving it ever since. Thelonious: You're a comic book fan?Deron: YesThelonious: Who was the first hero that you identified with that every week and every month you needed change to go to the store and buy that comic book?Deron: Milestone comics was my first passion for actual comic books. Before that I was really into Calvin and Hobbes. comic strips and things. I would read Heathcliff, and all those newspaper comics. I liked the funnies. That sort of transitioned when somebody brought to my attention Milestone comics. Picking up Static, picking up Hardware and all the rest of the titles. Icon. I had a whole run of each of the titles. Thelonious: I had the whole run too. And for those of you who know Milestone comics was the spinoff of the DC comic. Basically it was based out of North Dakota, which was a city. You just had this rich rich characters. From this universe. For whatever reason it never quite took off. And the most popular character was Static Shock. Milestone, unfortunately was discontinued. But if you don't know about Milestone, you should do some research on it. I think you'll be pleased. The characters were great! They were three dimensional, diverse. You had gay characters, you had black characters and Asian characters. A lot of the subject matter that you see today Milestone was way ahead of the time. Just thought I'd throw that in there. So now what current projects are you working on that we should be aware of? Deron: Right now I am working on a couple of different books that I'm lettering, I'm doing a Flash Broadcast with Boom and Archie. I am also doing
July 18, 2014
Interview with Kimberlee Renee of @reelsistas on Women of Color in Film
What is the state of women of Color in film? Listen to this informative interview with Kimberly Renee as we discuss this and other topics: Link
You can also find all about Kimberly and her organizations via the below links.
Voice Interview - Link
Her website - www.reelsistas.comHer podcast: Cinema in Noir - www.blogtalkradio.com/cinemainnoirHer Twitter - @reelsistasHer Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ReelSistasAn organization advocating for women of color in film - http://www.reelsisters.comTwitter account advocating for women of color in film and stage - https://twitter.com/BiatchPackPart IThelonious: Thank you for joining Thelonious Legend blogspot. Today we hosting Kimberly Renee of Reelsistas and Co-host of @CinemaInNoir. Mrs. Renee for our listeners who are not familiar with reelsistas or @CinemaInNoir can you provide some background?
Kimberly: Yes and thank your for having me. reelsistas is a website that I started that is a celebration of women of color in film and television both in front and behind the camera. From there I met my co-host of @CinemaNoir which is a podcast on blogtalk radio and we talk about film from a black female perspective.
Thelonious: That's great. What lead you down this path? Were you just always just a lover of movies? Or was there moment of inspiration... a catalyst that lead you down this path?
Kimberly: I've always been a huge fan of film and television. And I love to read, and other art forms like the written word. And once I was in Barns and Nobles looking through biographies and I noticed how many there were of Marilyn Monroe and I didn't see any of the legendary black actresses that I like such as Dororthy Dandgrige, Lena Horne. I felt like there was a void there for people who wanted to celebrate these wonderful actresses of color that we have so I started the blog and I've done it online for about six or seven years now.
Thelonious: So your primary mission to bring more visibility to women of color in front and behind the camera?
Kimberly: yes that' all I want to do
Thelonious: Currently in the literature world there was or is a hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks that went Viral because there was a lack of diversity for children of color or rather there were no books with main characters of colors. Is there anything like that on the film side? And if not how would you institute or start it?
Kimberly: A while back there was a hashtag #hirethesewomen that was trying to bring awareness to women who write and direct but weren't being heard or seen on the big screen. Other than that I blog about it, write it, and about tweet about it. I think it's very important to have representation of women color and all women in general. Women buy a lot of movies tickets and I don't think we are fairly represented in the films we are seeing.
Thelonious: Is there a scenario where we can vote with our dollars to support women of color in front and behind the camera?
Kimberly: There are a lot of organizations that try to do that. Hire these women hashtag bitchpack which is an organization that tries to champion women of color in film women in film, and they champion women in film reelsisters.org they've always been a champion of black women in film.
Thelonious: What are the challenges you notice unique to women of color as they attempt to break in Film TV industry.
Kimberly: There are a lot women of color who are independent film makers and have to go through the process of making it on their own and are doing great work out there. But as far studio producing films by women of color or featuring women of color there t0o few and they are far in between. The biggest problem we have is representation meaning getting studios to recognize that there is power in women of color being on the big screen or behind the cameraThelonious: And somone who has leveraged that power quite well has been Tyler Perry. Do you find that Tyler Perry's success in film has helped or hindered other independent film makers are trying to do?Kimberly: His success has been great for him and he has made a lot of money and he has put a lot of black actresses on the screen, but I feel he has very specific vision of how he sees black women but not there is an array that needs to shown but I feel there needs to be more diversity women of color so that there is not monolithic image of black women that sometimes you get with his work.Thelonious: Can you name one or two women of color in the film industry that are listeners should be aware?Kimberly: End of Part I
You can also find all about Kimberly and her organizations via the below links.
Voice Interview - Link
Her website - www.reelsistas.comHer podcast: Cinema in Noir - www.blogtalkradio.com/cinemainnoirHer Twitter - @reelsistasHer Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ReelSistasAn organization advocating for women of color in film - http://www.reelsisters.comTwitter account advocating for women of color in film and stage - https://twitter.com/BiatchPackPart IThelonious: Thank you for joining Thelonious Legend blogspot. Today we hosting Kimberly Renee of Reelsistas and Co-host of @CinemaInNoir. Mrs. Renee for our listeners who are not familiar with reelsistas or @CinemaInNoir can you provide some background?
Kimberly: Yes and thank your for having me. reelsistas is a website that I started that is a celebration of women of color in film and television both in front and behind the camera. From there I met my co-host of @CinemaNoir which is a podcast on blogtalk radio and we talk about film from a black female perspective.
Thelonious: That's great. What lead you down this path? Were you just always just a lover of movies? Or was there moment of inspiration... a catalyst that lead you down this path?
Kimberly: I've always been a huge fan of film and television. And I love to read, and other art forms like the written word. And once I was in Barns and Nobles looking through biographies and I noticed how many there were of Marilyn Monroe and I didn't see any of the legendary black actresses that I like such as Dororthy Dandgrige, Lena Horne. I felt like there was a void there for people who wanted to celebrate these wonderful actresses of color that we have so I started the blog and I've done it online for about six or seven years now.
Thelonious: So your primary mission to bring more visibility to women of color in front and behind the camera?
Kimberly: yes that' all I want to do
Thelonious: Currently in the literature world there was or is a hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks that went Viral because there was a lack of diversity for children of color or rather there were no books with main characters of colors. Is there anything like that on the film side? And if not how would you institute or start it?
Kimberly: A while back there was a hashtag #hirethesewomen that was trying to bring awareness to women who write and direct but weren't being heard or seen on the big screen. Other than that I blog about it, write it, and about tweet about it. I think it's very important to have representation of women color and all women in general. Women buy a lot of movies tickets and I don't think we are fairly represented in the films we are seeing.
Thelonious: Is there a scenario where we can vote with our dollars to support women of color in front and behind the camera?
Kimberly: There are a lot of organizations that try to do that. Hire these women hashtag bitchpack which is an organization that tries to champion women of color in film women in film, and they champion women in film reelsisters.org they've always been a champion of black women in film.
Thelonious: What are the challenges you notice unique to women of color as they attempt to break in Film TV industry.
Kimberly: There are a lot women of color who are independent film makers and have to go through the process of making it on their own and are doing great work out there. But as far studio producing films by women of color or featuring women of color there t0o few and they are far in between. The biggest problem we have is representation meaning getting studios to recognize that there is power in women of color being on the big screen or behind the cameraThelonious: And somone who has leveraged that power quite well has been Tyler Perry. Do you find that Tyler Perry's success in film has helped or hindered other independent film makers are trying to do?Kimberly: His success has been great for him and he has made a lot of money and he has put a lot of black actresses on the screen, but I feel he has very specific vision of how he sees black women but not there is an array that needs to shown but I feel there needs to be more diversity women of color so that there is not monolithic image of black women that sometimes you get with his work.Thelonious: Can you name one or two women of color in the film industry that are listeners should be aware?Kimberly: End of Part I
July 16, 2014
The Difference betweeen Science-Fiction and Fantasy
For the uninitiated there actually is a difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction genres. And depending on who you ask that difference can be insignificant or a wide chasm. But since this is my blog the only opinion that really matters on the subject is mine, so here we go... Harry Potter and Star Wars can both be classified as Fantasy while Spider-Man and Star Trek fall into the Science-Fiction category. See what I did there? No? OK let me break it down so that it can forever and consistently be broke. I consider Magic and Fantasy synonymous and all you need to believe in Magic is faith. You don't need to explain to a Potter-head how a person can fly on an object as aerodynamically challenged as a broom which has no visible method of propulsion. And what is this "Force" you speak of? I know in the latest movies they attempted to mansplain it with midi-chlorians but why? All you is faith to know Jedi-Nights are the baddest cats in the Universe. Spider-Man is another story. Spider-Man uses real Science and bends it, twists it, and stretches it to get the desired result. Star Trek also uses real Science although it's safe to say it stretches it a little more than Spider-Man does. Don't believe me? Khan was basically a failed science experiment by a mad scientist. Believe me now? Still shaking your head? OK peep this... the two paragraphs below feature the same character with the same power but one exists in a Fantasy realm and the other Science Fiction realm. If you can tell the difference then I have no more to teach you, young grasshopper. Good luck and may the Force be with you. And don't hate... I did this over my lunch.
########
"You going to finish that?" Slim Jim ask me for the third time. I hate when that guy goes off his meds. And for the record there is nothing slim about him unless you consider 6'2", 350 pounds slim. I wrinkle my nose and slide my tray away away from his grimy, dark-skinned hand. But I guess I don't smell too well either. Not having showered in weeks will do that to you. I pullback my hoodie and reach for my locks before remembering I cut them. I rub the stubble on my head instead while glancing around. I always sit by the emergency exit in the Soup Kitchen so I can break north in case they find me again. Slim Jim always sits with me. I made the mistake of breaking him off a piece of my stale bread once and now I can't shake the guy. I've been homeless since my powers manifested a year ago and now he is the closest thing to a friend I have. You see, I'm able to teleport. Or rather I slip into a parallel dimension where space and time collapse and come out at a place of my choosing a hearbeat later. Cool, right? Not really. Clothes can't go with me so I always come out naked. And every-time I do it energy from the other dimension seeps out from where I left and where I end up. That energy gives off a unique signature that the Feds can track. That's how they found me the first time. Without this damn power I would be graduating next month and defending my championship in the Golden Gloves. No matter. I'm hip to the game. I've been stashing clothes and guns around the city. Places I've never teleported to before. So the next time they find me I'll be waiting. "Here ya go Slim.", I can't help but smile as I break Jim off a piece of my stale bread.
######
"Yo, whaddup money, you ready?" My boy, Zeke, says as he holds up the mitts. I keep it simple throwing tight combinations and slip his counters. There is a special sound the pads make when you hit them just right. I love that sound. "Two minutes Champ!" D-Nice announces as he pops his head in the locker room. Cool. I got a good sweat and I'm ready. I'm going to knock this clown out tonight, graduate next month, win National Golden Gloves again, go pro, and the South Side could kiss my black ass goodbye. Truth be told, I could be gone already. You see, I got this special ability. I can think of a place, concentrate and BAM! I'm there. Scared the hell out of me the first time I did it. I ended up alone atop the roof of the projects we first lived. Had to woof it back home. The second time was I ready and not as scared. No one knows about it and I had to cool it because some freaky looking dudes in long, black cloaks started showing up in my neighborhood. I think my power signaled em. They keep their faces covered but I can tell they different. I can tell they watching me. And that's some scary shit. Not even the thugs mess with 'em. In this neighborhood that's saying something. Don't matter though. I'm about to bounce up out of this joint and I smile as I make the mitts sing. My grandmother always told me I was special. That I was the one. That I was the son of Adam, first man and I would always be safe with her. I always thought she was crazy. Now I know. The locker door opens and D'Nice's eyes are wide as saucers. He has a sword sticking out his chest and three cloaks crowded behind him. One rushes in and slashes Zeke down. I close my eyes, think of my grandmother's house down South in the Bayou, and I'm gone in a heartbeat.
########
"You going to finish that?" Slim Jim ask me for the third time. I hate when that guy goes off his meds. And for the record there is nothing slim about him unless you consider 6'2", 350 pounds slim. I wrinkle my nose and slide my tray away away from his grimy, dark-skinned hand. But I guess I don't smell too well either. Not having showered in weeks will do that to you. I pullback my hoodie and reach for my locks before remembering I cut them. I rub the stubble on my head instead while glancing around. I always sit by the emergency exit in the Soup Kitchen so I can break north in case they find me again. Slim Jim always sits with me. I made the mistake of breaking him off a piece of my stale bread once and now I can't shake the guy. I've been homeless since my powers manifested a year ago and now he is the closest thing to a friend I have. You see, I'm able to teleport. Or rather I slip into a parallel dimension where space and time collapse and come out at a place of my choosing a hearbeat later. Cool, right? Not really. Clothes can't go with me so I always come out naked. And every-time I do it energy from the other dimension seeps out from where I left and where I end up. That energy gives off a unique signature that the Feds can track. That's how they found me the first time. Without this damn power I would be graduating next month and defending my championship in the Golden Gloves. No matter. I'm hip to the game. I've been stashing clothes and guns around the city. Places I've never teleported to before. So the next time they find me I'll be waiting. "Here ya go Slim.", I can't help but smile as I break Jim off a piece of my stale bread.
######
"Yo, whaddup money, you ready?" My boy, Zeke, says as he holds up the mitts. I keep it simple throwing tight combinations and slip his counters. There is a special sound the pads make when you hit them just right. I love that sound. "Two minutes Champ!" D-Nice announces as he pops his head in the locker room. Cool. I got a good sweat and I'm ready. I'm going to knock this clown out tonight, graduate next month, win National Golden Gloves again, go pro, and the South Side could kiss my black ass goodbye. Truth be told, I could be gone already. You see, I got this special ability. I can think of a place, concentrate and BAM! I'm there. Scared the hell out of me the first time I did it. I ended up alone atop the roof of the projects we first lived. Had to woof it back home. The second time was I ready and not as scared. No one knows about it and I had to cool it because some freaky looking dudes in long, black cloaks started showing up in my neighborhood. I think my power signaled em. They keep their faces covered but I can tell they different. I can tell they watching me. And that's some scary shit. Not even the thugs mess with 'em. In this neighborhood that's saying something. Don't matter though. I'm about to bounce up out of this joint and I smile as I make the mitts sing. My grandmother always told me I was special. That I was the one. That I was the son of Adam, first man and I would always be safe with her. I always thought she was crazy. Now I know. The locker door opens and D'Nice's eyes are wide as saucers. He has a sword sticking out his chest and three cloaks crowded behind him. One rushes in and slashes Zeke down. I close my eyes, think of my grandmother's house down South in the Bayou, and I'm gone in a heartbeat.
The Differcen betweeen Science-Fiction and Fantasy
For the uninitiated there actually is a difference between Fantasy and Science Fiction genres. And depending on who you ask that difference can be insignificant or a wide chasm. But since this is my blog the only opinion that really matters on the subject is mine, so here we go... Harry Potter and Star Wars can both be classified as Fantasy while Spider-Man and Star Trek fall into the Science-Fiction category. See what I did there? No? OK let me break it down so that it can forever and consis...
July 8, 2014
Not a Fan of FanFiction
Self-publishing has given a voice to writers and stories that were previously kept silent by traditional publishing. Leading the vanguard are writers such as Amanda Hocking and Hugh Howey who both have achieved tremendous success. They toiled away at their craft and after being rejected by multiple publishers (In Amanda's case) charted their own course. They did their own world building. They created their own characters. They did their own marketing. Don't get it twisted this hustle is real...
June 30, 2014
Supreme Court and Women in Refrigerators
Wow! 5-4 for Hobby Lobby. Infuriating. I'm not a lawyer so I'm not going to dissect this from a legal perspective. Instead, I will view it as a father and husband who has the audacity to think that my wife and daughters are stars in their own movies and not plot devices used by men to further their own agendas. However, my faith in that was shaken today...but just for a second. The world is changing and the old guard is desperately holding on to power. As Dick Cheney would say they are dead enders in their last death throes. They don't have enough refrigerators to move their agenda forward and very few Magic Negroes (this is not The Legend of Bagger Vance or The Green Mile) to assist with this plot twist and avoid their fate. This ruling is a testament to that reality as is the influx of new voter laws to fight the fraud that never happens. You see, it's a numbers game and as a great man once said, "The arc of the Moral Universe is long but it bends towards Justice." So as I read the logic of the vaginaless judges bravely taking on the good fight at the behest of corporate america against the scourge of working women, I think of another quote from one of our founding fathers, “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” And best believe this revolution will be televised. I have chosen my side. Which side are you on?
June 18, 2014
Throwing Shade at YA
Ruth Graham in her article Against YA chides adults who read YA for their lack of sophistication and intellectual rigor. After I read her article the first thing that popped into my head was Ruth Graham shaking her fist at me while yelling "Get off my lawn!" And being a YA author I was offended by her blunt and disparaging remarks of a genre I had chosen to write me first novel in. However I'm a mature adult, father, and author so I attempted to craft a few labyrinthine responses that articulated my feelings. Unfortunately the only thing I could write that had any panache was 'Your momma!' Frustrated I re-read the article and realized that my initial synopsis was wrong. Ruth wasn't besmirching all adults for reading YA but rather for not evolving their taste to more substantive literature. She was basically saying that YA should be a gateway drug that opens up doors to the hard core stuff like John Steinbeck and I actually feel her on this. Anyone who enjoys to read must experience the beautiful prose of Toni Morrison or the passion of Richard Wright. Which immediately made me feel better because I rationalized Ruth wasn't referring to me. She was referring to the intellectual fortitude of all you other day dreamers. I like Ruth after having gorged on YA in my youth require something more substantive to appease my literary appetite. You see me and my new hommie Ruth are made of sterner stuff. Feeling enlightened and armed with the knowledge that I kinda sort of agreed with a person taken seriously in literary circles, aim to share my new found wisdom to the ignorant masses as soon as I finish writing my 2nd YA novel. But I still can't get the image of Ruth shaking her fist at me out of my head.
June 10, 2014
My Top 10 Women in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Part II
5) Arya/Daenerys GoT: I know this is cheating but I love the show and books and neither are finished so while waiting to see where George takes these characters I'm grouping them together for now. Sue me. But if you are fans of the shows or books my reasons are self-evident but let spell them out anyway. There are no two characters in the GoT universe who have undergone more changes and challenges and emerged stronger for it. And Daenery's has managed to be both strong and feminine in the process something Hollywood really struggles with. Arya basically has been a ward of the State doing whatever it takes to survive and in the process has evolved into quite the efficient killer. Nuff said!
4) Starbuck Battlestar Galatica: Talk about re-imaging a character and franchise. I can't think of too many female characters who really make you think they can kick-your ass... until now. Katie Sachhoff owned this role. She was frackin awesome! All you need to about her portrayal of Starbuck is this... I am now a fan of Longmire.
3) Catwoman Dark Knight: I don't want to hear it! I do not want to hear it! If you cannot acknowledge that Anne Hathaway might have been the best Catwoman ever then, then, then... I'll think of something but as for now Anne was funny, sexy, tough, vulnerable. In short baby girl did the damn thing and the movie was awesome to boot!
2) Sara Connor Terminator: Has any character changed more over the course of one movie? Sara went from not being able to balancing her checkbook at the beginning to kicking Terminator butt at the end. And there also is that minor detail of being the mother of the future leader of the resistance. You know minor stuff...
1) Ripley Alien and Aliens: Are you kidding me? The first movie combined two genres and pretty much changed the game. Remember in space no one can hear your scream. But they can in the movie theater and I'm man enough to admit I might have done it once or twice. Maybe. And Aliens? Bill Paxton? fricken best space marine ever. He almost stole the movie. And Ripley outwitted, and outlasted Aliens and Marines alike. Oh and saved the girl at the end. Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Hero ever! Drops mike, walks off stage!
My Top 10 Women in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Part I
Currently on BlackGirlNerds there is a post about Korra and whether she is the best Avatar ever. The post goes on to make it's case that Korra is the best Avatar ever (My vote is for Aang) and that she is also a good role model for girls of color because she is not skinny although I would argue our options are limited in the capacity of minority female heroes. Which got me to thinking (no I'm serious this time), in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre (and yes I'm grouping them for the sake of expediency) who are my favs? Which was as a good as any reason to make a list. Yeah! So below are my first five. Enjoy!
10) Korra The Avatar: She kicks butt has a compassionate side and is not afraid to chart her own course. But also I would like to see where her character goes so for now #10 is as high as I can place her until book 3
9) Lana from Archer: Maybe it's the fanboy in me but I love me some Lana! She is sexy, funny, smart, tough, and I did I mention sexy? Stop laughing I'm serious. I think Lana is a fully developed (no pun intended) three dimensional character. And she is a woman of color who dare I say is sexy?
8) Scully X-Files: Scully to me is what happens when you allow women to be real characters and not a plot device for the male protagnoist ala the women in the refrigerator trope. Scully was compentant, tough, and had a strong moral compass(remember those?) Plus X-Files was some of the best Sci-Fi on TV for almost a decade.
7) Hermione Harry Potter: Hermione to me was a treasure. She absolutely knew who she was, was smart or better yet super competent. But she was not a tom-boy. She was a strong female character who happened to be feminine which is great because Hollywood is under the illusion the only way for women to be tough is to be like men
6) Katniss Hunger Games: I know placing Katniss at number 6 migheand made me like her from the get go. But I was not a fan of the love triangle or the naive beautiful girl that doesn't think she is beautiful or can't believe men would stoop to like her. I know absolutely no know women like that but maybe I should get out more.
To Be Continued in part II
10) Korra The Avatar: She kicks butt has a compassionate side and is not afraid to chart her own course. But also I would like to see where her character goes so for now #10 is as high as I can place her until book 3
9) Lana from Archer: Maybe it's the fanboy in me but I love me some Lana! She is sexy, funny, smart, tough, and I did I mention sexy? Stop laughing I'm serious. I think Lana is a fully developed (no pun intended) three dimensional character. And she is a woman of color who dare I say is sexy?
8) Scully X-Files: Scully to me is what happens when you allow women to be real characters and not a plot device for the male protagnoist ala the women in the refrigerator trope. Scully was compentant, tough, and had a strong moral compass(remember those?) Plus X-Files was some of the best Sci-Fi on TV for almost a decade.
7) Hermione Harry Potter: Hermione to me was a treasure. She absolutely knew who she was, was smart or better yet super competent. But she was not a tom-boy. She was a strong female character who happened to be feminine which is great because Hollywood is under the illusion the only way for women to be tough is to be like men
6) Katniss Hunger Games: I know placing Katniss at number 6 migheand made me like her from the get go. But I was not a fan of the love triangle or the naive beautiful girl that doesn't think she is beautiful or can't believe men would stoop to like her. I know absolutely no know women like that but maybe I should get out more.
To Be Continued in part II
