Jennifer Betit Yen
Actor, "Recovering" Attorney and Author
  • Home
  • Press
  • TV/Film
    • TV
    • Film
    • Commercials
    • Hosting
    • Interviews
    • Readings/Theatrical/Stage
    • Voiceover
  • Photos
  • Media Links
  • Bio
  • Publications
  • Ethical Is Beautiful. Be Beautiful. A Blog.
  • Companies
  • Contact

Guest Blog:  FEMINIST THOR by Aiha Nguyen

7/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Feminist Thor
 
Female (and male) moviegoers cued up in lines across the country when Wonder Woman made it to theaters. The 1980’s classic was beloved by many but while Batman, Superman, Spiderman, the Hulk, and a host of other Marvel and DC heroes got the silver screen treatment, sheroes for the most part, remained supporting cast. It was monumental then, when Marvel brought Wonder Woman to the big screen. 
 
The movie was indeed wonderful. Diana Prince was confident, principled, beautiful, compassionate, and strong. On top of that, any romantic interludes were a part of the story, not the story. On the surface, she was the shero the #metoo movement had been waiting for. But while I enjoyed the movie, I didn’t resonate with my own experience. Diana’s story, her origins as the daughter of a god, nurtured in a strong matriarchical society, was too far from our current cultural and political reality. It was based on a Marvel universe that didn’t mirror my reality. Instead, I found a story that rang truer in, of all places, Thor: Ragnorak.
 
I will admit that I had never seen a Thor movie before, watched it on the plane, and was drawn in by the hunky lead actor (and Cate Blanchett). You’re right to be skeptical that a movie about a beefy Norse god, would be feminist. The very mythology of Thor is paternalistic, from the unilateral way Odin rules Asgard, to his relationship with his sons, to the lack of strong female characters. I watched the previous two movies to learn that the main female character in those movies was a waif-y but brilliant and brave human. Even Thor’s mother (hello, Renee Russo!), while courageous, is bested in one short scene.
 
However, Thor: Ragnorak has a strong female character in Cate Blanchett’s, Hela. But she’s the villain you exclaim! She plays the anti-hero! Her character is reductive and falls into the camp of heartless, child-less, dragon lady. While this is true, Blanchett gives her so much more depth, and the telling of her history lifts up the plight of women. It doesn’t pay homage to women by casting a woman in a powerful role, it pays homage to women by telling a truer story of women in history. 
 
Moreover, Hela’s story is told by Hela (all the better that it’s in Blanchett’s voice), uninterrupted. I think it’s important that Hela tells her own story, almost entirely alone, and it’s not an explanation before a big fight scene. This is even more remarkable given that Hela is villain. As Hela walks into the throne room with her recently anointed henchman, Skurge, she pieces the Michaelango-esque ceiling with spears (which magically appear in her hands) and pulls down the murals of Odin and Thor’s triumphs in battle. The ceiling gives way and reveals a hidden history of Hela riding alongside Odin, wielding the famous hammer. She was the one who conquered the nine realms and built Asgard but Odin has hidden this past. This point is made clearer when Hela addresses the citizens of Asgard and asks them to kneel before her. Granted that’s not the best way to get people to respect you, that wasn’t why the Asgardians refused. As she proclaimed, “Does no one know who I am? Does no one know our history?”
 
They don’t because Odin has erased her from Asgard’s history and taken credit for all of it, presenting himself as the sole hero. Upon entering Odin’s chamber of treasures, Hela knocks over a golden vase, flatly stating, “fake”. She challenges and exposes Odin’s manufactured grandeur, from the treasures to peace treaties.
 
Even Hela’s depiction as drawing her power from Asgard could be a nod to women-centered wiccan and pagan religions. And maybe the final scene where Hela battles the demon-monster as he destroys Asgard, is reflects the destruction of women-centered societies and power, because destroying Asgard is the only way to destroy Hela.
 
Our collective human history has somehow managed to erase the contributions of women. Matriarchical societies were more common than we have been taught. Women held high status as healers, priestesses, keepers of knowledge, and political leaders but most modern history books fail to include those stories. Not surprisingly, Hollywood has marched in step. Only recently have more movies been focused on women’s contributions. Hidden Figures and Big Eyes come to mind. Thus, in telling Hela’s story, her demonization and erasure, in my opinion, is a truer depiction of the struggle of women and, ultimately a feminist act.
 
I searched the web for answers as to why this version of Thor was so markedly different from the previous two. In the third installment of the franchise (excluding cross-overs) Thor seems to have matured from a one-dimensional strong, silent type to a neurotic, sensitive, and hilarious superhero who’s still able to kick butt. The hair cut was also a welcome change. The selection of Taika Waititi may have been a big factor although I found several interviews with lead actor, Chris Hemsworth voicing a desire to break out of his too-tight armor and have some fun. First, well done gentleman. The combination of Waititi’s history of directing independent works that feature under-represented people (Two Cars, One Night) and varied subject matter and genre exploration combined with Hemsworth’s comedic bent meant for a very enjoyable movie. 
 
But I didn’t find anything to suggest that either men were looking to uplift women or tell a different history. Maybe it was the influence of Academy Award winning actress Cate Blanchett. While Blanchett gives interviews in which she riffs about being Marvel’s first female villain, she doesn’t expound on this point. I hadn’t even realized that Hela was the first female villain, another notch for womankind.
 
But it wasn’t just the uplifting of women, the story also dismantles some paternalistic elements of the past two movies. In the first two movies, Odin is portrayed as the powerful but benevolent king who brought peace to the universe and forgiving father to Loki (who tried to dethrone him yet he wasn’t imprisoned!). In Ragnarok, we see a dark side to Odin. Viewers will probably forgive him for abandoning and imprisoning his first-born (she is the goddess of death, after all), but that is very poor parenting at the least and abusive at the worst. As Hela explained, “I was his weapon in the conquest of the nine realms.” He fed her appetite for destruction but when he couldn’t control her anymore, he dispensed with her. Or maybe he felt challenged by her power? He also doesn’t show remorse for imprisoning her or accept any blame for creating the situation. The story finally gets complicated.
 
In the end, the movie’s depiction of the history of women is more realistic and relevant to today’s climate than the depiction of the history of women in Wonder Woman. I’m not sure any of this was intentional. The optimist in me wants to believe that it wasn’t because that means Hollywood has realized how our histories and narratives are sometimes manufactured for the benefit of the male hero and is unintentionally unwinding and exposing that revisionist history.
 


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Jen Yen

    Actor, Author, Attorney
    www.jen-yen.com

    Book cover image

    The Ethical is B ...

    Jen Yen

    $12.95

    Buy Now button

    Archives

    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    April 2022
    October 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    Acting, Writing & Producing
    Activist Thor Guest Blog
    Amplifying Underrepresented Voices in Film
    Arts & Activism: Why Representation Matters
    Audition Disasters
    Achoo Moment

    Cre8ing in Isolation
    Hint of an "Asian American Accent"
    Immigrants:  We Are Them.  They Are Us

    In Defense of Eddie Huang
    Just Noise
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Movies to Watch

    Multi-Sum Game
    Production Journal: Stone Soup
    Production Journal: Prison Sandwiches

    Thank You
    The Opposite of a Fairy Tale
    Welcome to the New Normal

    What's in a Name?
    What's Your Story?  Paul Leach
    What's Your Story? Alex Chu
    What's Your Story?  Kiyun Sung
    What's Your Story?  Sean Lea
    What's Your Story?  Myra Sito Velasquez
    Wha's Your Story?  Allan Tsao
    What's Your Story? Christina Jun
    What's Your Story?  Kevin Chew
    What's Your Story?  Katherina Filaseta
    Words Matter:  Remarks to Filmmakers
    ​  

    Beauty/Health
    Barrier Creams to Protect Skin
    Beat Inflammation

    Beauty
    Beauty Bars To Go

    Brightening Toner
    Chocolate Cake w protein and NO flour
    Clean Beauty Sans Plastic

    Coconut Oil Skin Therapy
    Ditch the Plastic

    DIY Accupressure
    DIY Beauty
    DIY Eyelash Strengethener

    DIY Natural Household Cleaners
    DIY Scrubs
    DIY Skin Brightener
    Eating Organic
    Energy 
    Energy Bars to Go
    Fashion

    Facial Masks in Your Kitchen
    Forward 
    Garden/Green Space
    Herbivore in Hawaii
    Holistic Health

    Just Noise
    Lead
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Medicinal Plants of Costa Rica
    Meditation & Stress Relief
    Nickel Allergy Food, Skin Care & Cosmetics 
    Oh My Skin!
    Oils for Your Skin
    Organic Eating

    Outstanding Oils
    Plant Based Eating
    Plastic-Free Beauty
    Recycling
    Serendipity in a Cup
    Save The World
    A Shorter Save the World
    Traveling and One's Face
    Vegan in Vail
    Water, Keeping it Potable


    Food
    Adzuki Beans
    Beauty Bars To Go
    Calamari, Vegan
    Carrot Cake
    Cauliflower Pizza Crust
    Ceviche, Vegan
    CHEESE, for the Love of
    Charcoal Drink
    Chinese (Vegan Dim Sum) Food
    Chinese (Veggie style) Food
    Chickpea  and Quinoa Combo
    Chocolate Cake (flourless w protein)
    Chocolate, Hot
    Crab Recipes, Vegan
    Crackers 
    COFFEE!!

    Comfort Food
    Cookbook Author Charity Bratz
    Crispy "Rice" with sweet "sashimi"
    Detox Bars To Go
    Detox Drink
    Dim Sum in NYC

    Easy Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake
    Eating Organic
    Energy Bars To Go

    Foods to Fight  Inflammation
    Herbivore In Hawaii
    Holistic Health

    Hosting a Vegan Wine'n Cheese
    Hot Chocolate
    Best Baked Potato Ever

    Bok Choy Mushroom Stir Fry
    Let's Eat
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Meat Lover Guide to Delicious Noshing
    Medicinal Plants of Costa Rica
    Mofongo 
    Nickel Allergy
    Nickel Allergy Cookbook
    Octopus and Calamari, Vegan
    Organic
    Pasta Alfredo
    Pizza 

    Plant Based Eating
    Plated:  An Environmental Nightmare
    Protein-Packing for Dinner
    Protein Crispy Rice "Sashimi"
    Rice, Crispy
    Sashimi
    Scallops, Vegan
    Seafood, Vegan

    A Shorter Save the World
    Shrimp, Vegan

    Souvlaki
    Squid, Vegan

    Strawberry, Thyme & Lemongrass Tart
    Summer Sips and Snacks
    Sushi
    Thanksgiving

    The Best Nom Noms
    Vegan Brunch
    Vegan Dining in NYC
    Vegan in Vail

    Vegan Mexican
    Vegetarian Thanksgiving
    Water

    Yummy Deliciousness

    Gender
    Activist Thor: Guest Blog
    Arts & Activism: Why Representation Matters
    Beauty
    Bitch
    Cre8ing in Isolation
    #FemicidioEsGenocidio
    Just Noise
    Me Too ... Part I
    Me Too...Part II
    MeToo...Part III:  If You See Something, Say Something
    Micro-Expressions of Sexism at the Gym
    Normalizing Gender Based Violence
    Playing with the Boys
    Real History
    Sorry Not Sorry
    The "Myth"(?) of Women Backstabbers

    Interviews
    40 by 40 with Jennifer Gabriel
    Alex Dabagh, Upcycled Luxury Totes
    Cookbook Author Charity Bratz

    Cre8ing in Isolation
    DIY Beauty Tips from Jackeline Velasco
    Holistic Health w Dr. Anna Folckomer
    Immigrants:  We Are Them.  They Are Us
    Marci Phillips on how to Enjoy the Ride
    Meditation Tips from Lisa Barcelo

    What's Your Story?  Paul Leach
    What's Your Story? Alex Chu
    What's Your Story?  Kiyun Sung
    What's Your Story?  Sean Lea
    What's Your Story?  Myra Sito Velasquez
    Wha's Your Story?  Allan Tsao
    What's Your Story? Christina Jun
    What's Your Story?  Kevin Chew
    What's Your Story?  Katherina Filaseta
    ​

    Race
    Are You Angry?
    Arts & Activism: Why Representation Matters
    Amplifying Underrepresented Voices in Film

    Colorblind
    Cre8ing in Isolation
    Did He Deserve It?
    Does Race Matter?

    Hint of an "Asian American Accent"
    Immigrants:  We Are Them.  They Are Us
    Immigrants:  Homeland by April Xiao
    Immigrants: Not Quite by Ada Cheng
    Immigrants: Home of the Brave by Avantika Rao
    Immigrants:  George by Riti Sachdeva
    Lhasa Apso by Roman Sotelo
    Immigrants:  A Story by Rosa Soy
    Immigrants:  A Story by Valery Valtrain
    Immigrants:  Us me vs. Them ME by Widelyne Laporte
    Immigrants:  No, I'm OK

    In Defense of Eddie Huang
    Normalizing Gender Based Violence
    Real History
    Remedial Race Education
    The Math Professor who Gave Me a Back Massage
    What's in a Name?
    Who is Chloe Wang and Does it Matter?
    #YellowFace
    Welcome to the New Normal
    White Supremacy, The Irony of
    Words Matter: Mirror
    Words Matter:  Language


    Reviews
    Airbnb
    Health Care: Forward
    Mirror
    Movies to Watch
    Renovation
    Restaurants


    Travel & Adventure
    Airbnb
    Allergic to Delta
    (aka Allergies and Air Travel)
    Costa Rica
    Eco-Friendly Commuting
    Herbivore in Hawaii

    Kilimanjaro
    Santorini in 4 Parts:
    Santorini I:  When and What to Bring
    Santorini II: The Food
    Santorini III: Adventure
    Santorini IV: Relax and Spa
    SeaWorld:  An Open Letter

    The Maldives
    Traveling and One's Face
    40 before 40
    Vegan in Vail


    Misc Mayhem
    A Despot for the Holidays
    A Lobster Tale
    A Love Letter
    Animal Experimentation

    A Shorter Save the World
    Atonement
    Catching Kindness

    Chemical Catastrophe
    Chemical-Free DIY Household Cleaners
    Christmas Lesson
    Closing the Loop: Plastic and Luxury Bags
    Consumer, Thoughtful
    Ditch the Plastic
    Don't Hurt the Baby - Animal 
    Experimentation
    Don't Let Cruelty Kill Kindness

    Energy 
    Eco-Friendly Commuting
    Friends
    G19:  When Subtracting Adds to the Whole
    Garden/Green Space
    Je Suis Charlie
    Just Noise
    The Knockout Renovation TKO
    Larry Lee on Father's Day
    Movies to Watch

    My Mortifying Victoria's Secret Swimsuit Moment
    No, I'm OK
    Ode to Nice People
    Oils for Your Skin
    Raymond Betit, The Family Man
    Recycling
    Save The World
    SeaWorld:  An Open Letter
    The C Word
    The Safety Pin and the Nazi
    The Soldier Poet
    Upcycled Luxury Totes
    Welcome to the New Normal
    What's in the 
    Water?

    Other Categories

    All
    Acting
    Writing & Producing

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.