Friday, June 28, 2013

Yay for the overturn of DOMA! Nay for the sexualization of puppets.


While I'm thrilled about the overturn of the bigoted and unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, by 5/9ths of the Supreme Court this week, I am NOT down with The New Yorker's "Moment of Joy" cover featuring the characters Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street snuggling on the couch. I agree with Sesame Street's own stance that the characters should not be sexualized in any way whatsoever.

Bert and Ernie are best friends.  They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves.
Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets™ do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.

http://straightfromthea.com/2011/08/12/sesame-street-officially-addresses-age-old-ernie-bert-gay-question/

Yeah, yeah, yeah, parody, satire... but in reality, I find the insistence by many that they MUST be gay to be, ironically, slightly homophobic and stereotyping. 

"Oh, they're guys and they've lived together for years, they're snappy dressers, etc... they MUST be gay."

No.


Our patriarchal society's inability to accept a platonic friendship between two men speaks to a basic insecurity that's prevalent throughout. I remember a heart touching scene from the Fellowship of the Ring where Frodo and Sam express their love for one another; it was well-filmed, well-acted and was, of course, met with puerile titters from every audience I saw the movie with.

And while other Muppets have exhibited adult relationships and proclivities, Animal's Harpo-like pursuit of gals, Gonzo and his bevy of chickens and, famously, Kermit and Miss Piggy's long-time courtship, these are all Muppets who aren't characters on Sesame Street, with the exception, of course, of Kermit, who appears on Sesame Street as a journalist and does not discuss his personal life there for the most part.


I'm fine with there being gay characters on the show, but I personally think they should be HUMAN adults, or at least older teens. The Muppets on Sesame Street are generally stand-ins for the the POV of the pre-school aged children that the show targets, and should remain without sexual orientation, gay or straight.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Monday, June 24, 2013

Asian Heritage Month or "Fun with Hollywood White-Washing!"

WAIT, did you Hollywood F*cK3rs just cast a white guy as The Shredder, a Japanese ninja master, in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie?! What did I JUST say about that? PAY ATTENTION!!


http://io9.com/william-fichtner-is-our-new-shredder-in-teenage-mutant-540754368

Monday, June 17, 2013

Iron Man 3 (in 60 Seconds)

Before you see Man of Steel, catch up on your summer superhero movies with my handy video, "Iron Man 3 (in 60 seconds)!"

Also, don't see Man of Steel.




Note: For those of you who watched my Asian Heritage Month video, you will recognize a lot of this. Such is life ;)

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Toy Tuesday #10: Swimming Pool

It's Toy Tuesday again! Oh these Littlest Pet Shop critters.. always getting themselves into hot water!

Click through to YouTube to watch, comment and subscribe!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Asian Heritage Month or "Fun with Hollywood White-Washing!"

How was your Asian Heritage Month this year? Mine was KHAAAAAAAAN!!!!!

Thanks to Iron Man 3 and Star Trek: Into Darkness, the British occupation of India lives on!