Post by Queen E on Apr 15, 2009 7:15:21 GMT -5
Good points in your review, Erin. I think all of us were thinking we could see the hand of Fox execs here, wanting to make sure they had a lot of skin on display for, as you point out, the "18 to 34-year-old" male audience. Placed in a story that is, also as you point out, not that deep.
The amazing depth of story we'll hit in just a few eps really brings home to me how Joss must have been constrained at first. Not that he isn't here in the overall themes, but the execution in these first eps seems so simplistic. You put it perfectly when you ask "where is the subtext". I've come to expect that with Joss' more mature work.
And I always have such conflicting and complicated reactions to discussions about stories where the women are dressed scantily. Because, yes, exploitation to some extent. But also . . . I'm not immune to the ogling. How do I acknowledge my own hypocrisy? I will glady whoop and enjoy each new display of Tahmoh's chest, (or, to be totally honest, Eliza's legs in a skanky but tasty mini in a later ep) myself. If it's OK for me, then what do I get to say about anyone else? And it is out and out enjoyment of the sexiness of someone, of enjoying looking at them, let's not fool ourselves.
So mostly, I guess, I'm glad that the stories are now more classically Joss-complex-deep. Because that way I can feel better about my own objectification. ;D
You make a very good point here, and you know, I don't have an easy answer. I guess it depends on whether you look at the individual in question as a person who just happens to be aesthetically delightful, or if you believe their sole purpose is to be an object of lust for you. I don't think that there is anything wrong with either appreciating or wanting to be appreciated. When you believe (or are told) that your only function, though, is to be an object of sexiness without complexity or humanity, that's where the problem develops...
I guess that's what the episode was about. And despite its lack of depth, I suppose it was a necessary step to the awesome that follows. It's the outer crust of meaning in Planet Dollhouse...