Reading Recommendations for Storm Nemo

It’s Friday, and Mother Nature is apparently going to barf snow all over New England and the Northeast. Here are some reading recommendations to last you about ten minutes into the storm.

“5 People Who Should Host the Oscars At Some Point,” by yours truly, at Bitch Flicks. Excerpt:

“I would love for the Academy to break its pattern of picking straight white guys, believe me, but I’ll make an exception for Tom Hanks, because Tom Hanks needs to host the Oscars.Tom Hanks is a national treasure. He’s a very good actor, personable, hilarious, and willing to take the piss out of everyone and everything, especially himself. I still remember Steve Martin’s joke from his first hosting gig: “There’s been an update in the plot to kidnap Russell Crowe, and all I have to say is – Tom Hanks, I’m very ashamed of you.” Martin’s joke was funny enough on its own, but then the camera cut to Hanks in the audience looking shame-faced and mouthing, “I’m sorry,” which made it hilarious and memorable.

Also, he did slam poetry about Full House on Jimmy Fallon’s show.”

“Hell Hath No Fury Like a Blogger Impassioned: Why Do ‘Angry Women’ Scare People So Much?” by Carey Purcell, at Careypurcell.com. Excerpt:

“If the recent New York Post cover is any indication, a woman feeling anger is a spectacle, a newsworthy event that belongs on the front cover of a major daily newspaper. Publishing a full-page photograph of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with her mouth open, mid-sentence, the Post ran the headline, “NO WONDER BILL’S AFRAID” and describes Clinton as exploding “with rage” at a recent hearing.

To give this grossly exaggerated headline some context, Clinton’s image was captured mid-sentence after Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), aggressively questioned her during a recent hearing on Benghazi about the actions her department took following the attack. Clinton’s response was, “With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans.” And the New York Post took that and ran into the land of angry womanhood.

The fact that a respected politician who expressed emotion over the death of four Americans is a newsworthy event begs the question: would Clinton have made headlines, let alone the front page, if she were a man? I recall President George W. Bush being praised for crying on television after the September 11, 2001 attacks. People were moved that a man – the most powerful man in America – was comfortable with expressing his emotions publicly.”

“I’m Sad 30 Rock Ended (And Why You Should Be Too)” by Anisha Ahuja on Feminspire. Excerpt:

“I’m sad. It’s been a rough week. The first part was filled with reminiscing, but most of all, dread. And the second part was just filled with pure melancholy. And that’s because after seven years of 30 Rock, this week was goodbye. The sitcom loved by nerds and critics said its goodbyes in an extended episode filled with laughs, but mostly cries. Did I mention I’m really sad? And I’m not just sad because Tina Fey (and her rapport with Alec Baldwin) is leaving my screen for I don’t even know how long, but I’m sad because of the underlying issues with its cancellation. Yes, there it is – there has to be a greater point to everything!

The worst part about 30 Rock ending is that as it leaves and other shows of a similar caliber fight to stay on the air, the shows that stick to the status quo have no problem being renewed again and again. And this status quo is a very specific type – it’s one that uses the dirth of television to reinforce misconceptions, stereotypes, and objectifications of women (say it with me everyone: sexism). 30 Rock was a show spearheaded by Tina Fey (who played the now widely commercialized concept of “Liz Lemon”) – a comedy goddess who consistently proves that working women are not only normal but also incredibly necessary.”

“Jon Kelly at BBC News: Janeites: The Curious American Cult of Jane Austen” by Sarah Rees Brennan at her tumblr. Excerpt:

“I’m a lady creator, though not as fancy as the ones I’ve been discussing. I’ve had my appearance criticised, and the company I keep, and how I conduct myself, and that all sucks. Quite recently I remember a blogger described my behaviour at a public event as ‘attention-seeking’ (no! good gravy! who do I think I am, up on a stage talking?)… I’ve seen that word used for a lot of women, but I’ve never seen it used for a man. It’s almost as if… people see a dude up on stage talking and think ‘Yes, things are as they should be.’ And they see a lady and think ‘SHUT UP, WOMAN’S NAME, SHUT UP.’

I’ve said snarky things and been roundly criticised for my rudeness. (Like, this weekend.) So have many ladies! While snarky dudes are celebrated, quoted, applauded: while we all know that dudes can get away with a million more things than we can.”

“#NOTBUYINGIT: The Problem is Far Bigger than Audi’s #BraveryWins” by Garland Grey at Tiger Beatdown. Excerpt:

“The message of this commercial is: if you are driving a nice car, you are entitled to having your sexual/romantic desires met, in public. Because women, like nice cars and other luxury goods, are property you might incur negative repercussions, but you shouldn’t doubt for a second that you absolutely have a right to them. If the comments over at Jalopnik and the tweets to those the linked article highlighted are any indication, this interpretation is not universal. Some viewers felt that not enthusiastically endorsing their interpretation of the kiss as harmless was silly because it was just a commercial, because the girl “liked it,” because the only reason someone would have a problem with it is if they were jealous, because shut up, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, shut up.

Charming shit. I especially enjoy the logic of asserting that it doesn’t matter because the story is fictional, but despite that fact they are able to read the non-verbal consent of a complete stranger in the span of a few seconds. I am likewise overjoyed that people are still putting on productions of “It Wasn’t Sexual Assault Because She Liked It” — I was humming “Calling Everything Sexual Assault is an Insult to People Who Have Been Sexually Assaulted” all morning. But I have a few critical thinking questions for you.”