No longer a boy's tale...

[elisi]

She was a force: A ‘Star Wars’ fan remembers Leia, and the complicated woman who played her

Women are the Champions of the Rebellion Now

Comments

[sea_thoughts]

I think the second article doesn't quite do justice to Leia's role in the films but I appreciate the point the writer's trying to make. Having Rey and Jyn as the focal point of the new films has definitely made a difference.

[elisi]

Leia was brilliant. But it was not a good run for women generally... (apologies for telling you something you presumably already know.)

[sea_thoughts]

Yeah and we can't really praise Star Wars for having one great female character as if that's enough because it really isn't.

[elisi]

It's a weird 50/50 thing. It was great for the time, but...

[sea_thoughts]

It was but we're no longer living in 1979 and representation should be so much better now than it is.

[elisi]

Aye. Read an article earlier on about what they call the 'Smurfette effect' (possibly not 'effect', maybe syndrome), i.e. stories that are about a group of people with only one girl...

[sea_thoughts]

Ah yes, the Smurfette principle. That's irritated me more and more as I've grown up.

[elisi]

Principle! That's it. Apparently the new Smurf movie actually tackles this. Also, all hail MLP!

[sea_thoughts]

... I love Friendship is Magic >>

[elisi]

Who wouldn't!