Sunday, June 1, 2008

Overheard in Chicago #3: Post-'Sex and the City'

On Saturday night, we eagerly went out to see the Sex and the City movie with a few of our friends. Over pizza and martinis (of course), we "couldn't help but wonder": did Sex and the City portray women positively or negatively?
*warning: slight spoilers below*

Matt: I found some of the portrayal of women in Sex and the City to be kind of offensive. The general impression I got from most of the characters (the redheaded lawyer one being the exception) was that women are vapid, self-absorbed, and capable of self-reflection only when pushed by others ...which isn't really self-reflection after all, is it? (Matt had a lot more brilliant things to say about this issue. Check out more of his thoughts here).

Antonia: I disagree. I don't think the movie was sexist. I thought Samantha's storyline especially was uplifting--that she chose to be independent in the end.

Emma: But what about all that overeating bullshit, the fact that they made such a big deal about Samantha gaining 15 pounds? That was lightweight offensive.

Antonia: Yeah...but it's realistic. Some women do turn to binge-eating to deal with stress.

Collier: I thought the movie was very materialistic, and stuck in the late nineties, 'First Wives Club'-status.

Antonia: I don't think the show is insinuating that ALL women are materialistic, and I don't think there is anything really wrong with materialism! (check out her full diatribe here)

For Nona's opinion, check out her review of the film for VenusZine.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I gotta agree with Antonia. Part of the charm of Sex and the City is that it was not afraid to display womens' weaknesses, even if it made us look bad. It never claimed to be a "girl power" sort of thing...at least not completely.

Although to be fair, have not seen the movie yet. :) Soon!

Anonymous said...

"Some women do turn to binge-eating to deal with stress."

How about a LOT turn to eating.

I was discussing this with a friend a couple weeks ago, and our argument agreed with Alix above. The things people criticize SATC for, tend to be things that (at least some) women really do.

Anonymous said...

makes us look bad ass!

Anonymous said...

Girls drive off cliff..

Anonymous said...

yes i agree, the thelma and louise scene is very powerfull.

Anonymous said...

SURGEN GENERALS WARNING: girls make crap art

Anonymous said...

that is downright wrong anonymous!
why are you afraid of using your real name??? what dou you mean about the surgeon's warning? are you using humor?

Anonymous said...

My names Tim and i got glasses and i like to dance, would you like to go dancing?