pop culture

Female pop-culture icons, women in the media and the depiction of women in the entertainment and pop culture sphere.

Objectification or Admiration? - The Problem With Sexuality In The Media
This may garner me with an abnormal amount of disdain, but this weekend I saw a post on the Creators Facebook Page that got me thinking in general about sexuality in the media. The meme was shared to the page with no ill intent, yet there were several creators, myself included who took offense at it: not because of the image, but because of the text that accompanied it - stating "Ronda Rousey looks better lying down anyway." - At the time meant it was meant to reference Rousey being knocked down in a fight that was supposed to be a win for her, but the sexually-infused meme, was not simply poking fun.
By Matthew Bailey8 years ago in Viva
8 Over-Sexualized Characters In Comics And Video Games. Top Story - November 2017.
You may have noticed, but Suicide Squad was released recently and with its release came a lot of discord. Ultimately Suicide Squad has been laced with controversy since it was announced as a film — between the casting choices, David Ayer's six weeks to write a script merged with a grueling filming and production schedule, Jared Leto's strange tactics and of course the sexualization of Harley Quinn.
By Matthew Bailey8 years ago in Viva
'Doctor Who': Fans Claim the Thirteenth Doctor's Outfit Is "Not Flattering Enough"
The outfit that Jodi Whittaker will wear when she takes over the Tardis as the Thirteenth Doctor has been revealed, and just like the reveal of the new Doctor as a woman, has divided fans. While the outfit is just as quirky as you'd expect from The Doctor, including plenty of throwbacks to the costumes of Doctor's past, some Whovians have complained that it is not "flattering" enough for the character's new female form. To this, another group of fans argues, "Why does it have to be?"
By Kristy Anderson8 years ago in Viva
The Strange Career of Jill Crow — Part 3
The entertainment industry is run on insecurity. Even at the highest echelons, moguls live by their latest box office receipts and the satisfaction of shareholders and board members.
By Tanya Young8 years ago in Viva
Millennial Pink is the Undeserved Heroine of 2017
Pink is, as we learned in third grade, a mixture of white and red. Two colors, beautiful in their own right, combined into something arguably even prettier. Millennial pink as a concept follows that rule of mixture: archaic gender roles, but given a forward-thinking twist.
By Brandon Phenix8 years ago in Viva
Top Five Friday
It's tough being a woman. No matter how hard you try, someone will always criticize what you do. Not feminine: you're mannish, unattractive, and too aggressive. Feminine: you're silly, frivolous, and kowtowing to the patriarchy. Sexual: you're slutty and dangerous. Not sexual: you're an uptight prude. Outspoken: you're a bitch who needs to shut up. Demure and retiring: you're a doormat who needs to stick up for herself. Being too much of one thing is liable to make you disliked. The same applies to women in fiction.
By Rachel Lesch9 years ago in Viva
Today’s TMI Media Culture: Baiting Clicks At Women’s Expense
In 1994, at the age of nine, I received my first “serious” diary as a gift from my grandmother. Though I haven’t seen it in ages, I remember the look and feel of it quite well. It had a thick, puffy pink cover, canoodling teddy bears on the front, and an actual lock and key to keep my secrets safe and to myself. Admittedly, the contents were not compelling for anyone beyond grade school, as I primarily divulged current crushes, playground drama, and lunch line gossip.
By Swaay9 years ago in Viva
Dove Wants Women To Love Their Bodies
Women’s body confidence. It’s a tough issue. There is no simple answer nor resolution to the fact that roughly every second woman in the world has self esteem issues. To counteract this stifling statistic, the U.N, working in conjunction with the Dove Self Esteem Project are hoping to reverse the effects of unrealistic body portrayals by the media, and the scrutiny women are under constantly to maintain a ‘shapely’ figure.
By Swaay9 years ago in Viva
Dope Moments in History: Ellen Degeneres
There's this shirt that I see a lot, it says "Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History." Hell yeah. (I actually believe that well-behaved people don't often make history, but I'm not touching that issue. Not here at least.)
By Triple Decker Sandwich9 years ago in Viva
Moments Where Pop Culture Actually Got Consent Right. Top Story - August 2017.
Pop culture has long since been known to cause a lot of misconceptions about dating, consent, and all other social constructs. Pop culture birthed terrible ideas like "the Friendzone," and the plot that the guy always gets the girl.
By Patricia Sarkar9 years ago in Viva