Friday Links Don’t Own Me
Our family has been Batman-obsessed since my honey received the entire Batman 1966-68 box set on DVD for Christmas. My five year old is deeply attached to Julie Newmar to the point that she howls with delight when a cliffhanger ends on ‘Tune in Same Cat Time, Same Cat Channel’ instead of Bat Channel.
My ten year old has had a crash course on what sexism used to look like, simply by observing the gender dynamics in the show. We’ve been learning more about 60′s celebrities than I ever thought possible. Oh, and we’ve been counting down the episodes until we get to Season 3, because Yvonne Craig as Batgirl! (Ms 5 sneakily found montages on YouTube and watched ahead, I’m oddly proud of this)
Just the other week, Catwoman acquired a teen sidekick to sweet-talk Robin (Catwoman’s utter disdain of Robin is one of my favourite things about the show – Robin and Batman only ever have age-appropriate love interests) and sing a few numbers. Turned out “Pussy Cat” was played by Lesley Gore, who died only recently: teen songwriter and pop star, co-writer of Fame the Musical, and original performer of “It’s My Party and I’ll Cry If I Want To” and feminist anthem “You Don’t Own Me.” Come to think of it, that’s how Jemima and I ended up on Youtube in the first place!
Lesley Gore: Nine Things You Didn’t Know.
Tumblr has become my go-to place for observations about our Batathon: Warden Crichton’s Innovative Methods of Criminal Rehab & Batsplaining.
If you’re not already excited that Noelle Stevenson’s amazing ‘villainous girl sidekick’ graphic novel Nimona is finally coming out in print form, here’s an article to tell you why you should be.
Kate Elliott on why writing is never a waste of time.
“I Challenge You to Stop Reading White, Straight, Cis Male Authors for One Year” by K. Tempest Bradford.
I’m so glad Hark! A Vagrant is regularly updating again! Here is her take on The Rage of Achilles (SO ACCURATE) and pilot Katherine Sui Fun Cheung (Cranky Ladies Alert!)
Erika Moen’s Oh Joy Sex Toy (an explicit and adorable webcomic that generally reviews sex toys and discusses sex positivity) is one of my favourite regular features on Bitch Magazine – and is now available as a graphic novel (I guess graphic non fiction?) on Comixology. Recently, Moen did a comic about 50 Shades of Grey, addressing some of the issues raised by critics of the book without condemning it or its readers – it’s one of the most even-handed takes on the topic I’ve seen in recent weeks.
Big Bird is on Twitter. It’s actually more awesome than you’re thinking. Because Mr Snuffleupagus is on Twitter too, and ONLY BIG BIRD CAN SEE HIM.
