Teenaged (Early twenties) Princess in a male-dominated society.
Yes that seems plausible that she has her fate in her own hands.
…I’m not sure what tone you’re taking with this (if it’s sarcasm or what), so I apologize if I’m completely misunderstanding you, but I doubt I am.
My point is so many stories about women are about their not having control over their lives…
AND HOW THAT IS REALLY DEPRESSING TO WATCH 10000+ times again and again.
I want stories that assume that women can do what they want from the beginning. Not perpetuating the meme that women have to strive to break free (which we do in real life anyway—I ALREADY KNOW THIS DEEP IN MY BONES—I WANT SOME POWER FANTASIES/ENCOURAGEMENT GEEZE).
So, yeah, your mansplaining of “yes women are oppressed that’s why this story” is really not helpful at all.
How is it that saying that in the context of this particular film the idea of a female having her fate in her own hands is ridiculous is “mansplaining”? Really, I’d like to know.
The thing is, in the setting upon which the movie was based (Ancient Celtic Society), women (especially noble women) had many aspects of their lives decided for them (particularly when it came to marriage). While they, unlike many women of the period, did practice more rights than others (being able to conduct business, use weaponry, and fight in armies), they still lacked (especially noble women, of which Merida is) many choices in their lives.
Also, have you read any of the plot synopsis on the film? Wherein it says Merida uses a wish in order to try and help others, and when it backfires, she takes matters into her own hands? You know, not letting magic settle it for her and instead solving her own problems.
The thing about the tagline is it’s too vague for you to assume what it means. It could mean Merida is powerless to choose her fate. It could mean she doesn’t let her bad idea of a wish ruin anything. It could mean that she uses her wish to change the future. The movie hasn’t been released yet, and you’re already assuming aspects of the plot based on the tagline.
Just letting you know, you’ve continued to mansplain. This, what you’re doing up above, is mansplaining.
You don’t have to explain to me the historical situation of women at that time. Or how this story is situated in that time period. You’re explaining to me something that I already know (and know more about experientially and theoretically, than you), the history of the oppression of women and how people like to make movies about it. (but not so many “empowering” stories at all about women who aren’t trapped in situations like that or modern day equivalents or in stereotypes)
I GET IT. I get that the writers are doing this for certain reasons, and that Merida is doing stuff to fix stuff or other stuff (that hasn’t been revealed). Yes. I’ve read synopses and heard speculation. I’m on Tumblr, dude. I’m in a circle of animators/animation appreciators.
My deal is the following:
WHY IS PIXAR FINALLY MAKING A MOVIE WITH A FEMALE PROTAG
WITH THE CLICHE OF “WOMEN HAVING TO FIGHT FOR CONTROL OVER THEIR LIVES”
BECAUSE THAT’S THE ONLY STORY THAT WOMEN GET TO HAVE ABOUT THEMSELVES IF THEY ARE SQUARE PEGS THAT DON’T FIT IN THE ROUND HOLEWhy can’t they make movies about female protagonists in settings in which this cliche is meaningless?
I’m assuming things about the tagline because I’ve seen this type of plotline too many times for me to be naiive about what it will be like. Especially, ESPECIALLY, with the new trailer they just released.
Think about it. Have you ever seen a movie about a male protagonist with this tagline of “taking your fate into your hands”? Of finally being able to make your own future/decisions after a lifetime of not being able to?
And then have you ever NOT seen a movie about a female protagonist that didn’t assume that she needed help/she’s losing control/she’s fighting to assert her personhood?
I promise you that the former is rare and the latter is A TIRED, DAMAGING CLICHE.
(Hint: when a woman tells you you’re mansplaining, believe her.)
That and given the ancient Celts (if their mythology is to be believe as having even the slightest basis in truth) were one of the few cultures to actually have women who could be warriors without fighting Teh Oppreshun for your viewing pleasure…yeah. I’m disappointed, Brave. Very very disappointed.
^Not only that, but apparently the Celts were vicious. Engagement gifts would consist of severed heads. They fought completely naked of everything but warpaint because they could.
Honestly, I’m also pretty disappointed in what I’ve seen in Brave, for a lot of the reasons most other people have been talking about. And sadly, I’ll still go see the movie, because it’s not like I’m interested in other movies. I just hope that all the critique they’re getting doesn’t fall to deaf ears.
Considering the ancient Celts gave us Boudicca, who burned Londinium to the ground, and kicked the butts of two and a half Legions of the Roman empire, and that the Irish Celts in particular had The Morrigan, a female personification of war as one of their gods and her other aspects Nemhain, Macha, and Badb all of which either killed men, provoked them to battle fury, ate their dead flesh in the form of crows, and looted their bodies after a battle, NO. Women had much more control over their own lives in at least the Celtic British Isles, which is what most people think of as Celtic rather than Gaul (France and Switzerland) than in Rome, or most “civilized” places in Europe at the time.
What fucking history books are these people reading? Probs those about Gaul and filled with Roman propaganda or Romanticized crap like the Arthurian legends and authors from the Middle Ages. Pro Tip, please see the Irish myths and legends since they’re the least tampered with and sit the fuck down.
