Why is this still complicated?

[eye_of_a_cat]

Via a bunch of people on Twitter: 'Ask Pixar to Make a Movie About a Girl? Why, That's Just 'P.C. B.S'!' , which in turn links to Linda Holmes's Dear Pixar, From All The Girls With Band-Aids On Their Knees, and a response piece to that, 'Dear Pixar, How About a Chick Flick?', the comments to which may cause serious damage to foreheads, desks and keyboards alike.

Here's what's still considered a perfectly sensible response to someone's suggestion that, hey, maybe Pixar could make a story with a girl as the main character one day, and maybe that girl could be something other than a princess:

Come on! I’m sure when an interesting story with a female protagonist develops organically at Pixar, they will make that movie. Until that time, stop trying to ruin the fun for the rest of us. Don’t tell me that a woman can’t appreciate a good story for it’s own sake.

Ever seem to notice this complaint pops up somewhere every time Pixar releases a film.

Like all good writers these directors write about what they know. Their films, thus, are greatly influenced by their personal experiences and the themes of their stories are inextricably connected to their personal lives. Pixar’s films reflect closely the individual personalities of each director, so it is only natural that they see their protagonist as a male. Here’s one example, Finding Nemo...

For crying out loud, its not good enough that they create incredible films with amazing stories and perfectly crafted characters of both genders… We need a sanitized balance of the lead characters. When that is done, these clueless people will find something else to cry about.

I find this entire issue pointless and almost rather insulting, and the last thing I want is Pixar focusing on having a strong female lead instead of first focusing on a plot.

[G]uys are usually into more adventure and action, and girls like to bake cookies and be princesses. Of course there are plenty of exceptions and variations but in general I think its just human nature.

I have nothing more to say about all this idiocy, except that someone in that comment thread seriously used a clownfish protagonist as an example of Pixar's directors only writing about what they know.

Comments

[crisiks.livejournal.com]

Ooh, awesome burn. ;-) Seriously, though, it still annoys me that Belle is considered a 'Disney princess'.

[elettaria.livejournal.com]

Gah. On the other hand, how offended can you get by people stupid enough to write,

I think it's great that that still the heroin that my little girls get excited about seeing.

?

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Well said!