Feminism has come a long way. Women are now privileged to vote,
have rights, and have opportunities. The third wave of feminism is now focusing
on a variety of standpoints. I love comedies especially shows like Parks and
Rec that have a lot of feminist undertones that celebrate women and their
ideas. This particular clip highlights a conversation among women and talk
about some of the awful things some women endured in the 1960s and 1970s.
The TV show has also displayed a new form to celebrate women. There was a notable episode that launched a brand-new holiday. February 13 is now officially called “Galantine's Day” Thanks to this episode women now have the day before Valentine’s Day to celebrate love and friendship. This episode is very thoughtful because not only does it address love and friendship, but it also makes women feel included in a sometimes-depressing holiday for some.
There’s also an episode of the show where Leslie Knope, the
main character, unintentionally challenges gender norms and conventions. The
humor in this episode comes from Leslie’s overwhelming confidence in herself she’s
fully aware of her intelligence and abilities. However, her self-assuredness
becomes so over the top that it ends up turning heads, making her unaware of
just how much she’s defying expectations. I honestly think this was intentional
by the writers of the show, but it certainly makes good comedy.
First off I love Park and Rec!! I love that you utilizes Leslie Knope as women who is paving the way for others. I think your examples, they showcase how women can achieve anything when they put there mind to it. I also like how Parks and Rec focuses on the good and the bad of women in the past and present who fought and are fighting for their rights. The comedy is a great example of showing that women are just as capable as Men. I really enjoyed reading your blog post.
ReplyDeleteI love Leslie! She is unabashedly her own self. This scene in the barber shop reveals a lack of calculation in her conversation, making her disarming and relatable to others. Leslie mirrors the audacity that has pushed the patriarchal system into existence, and why not? Feminism has come a long way and needs no introduction, permission or apologies!
ReplyDeleteHello Andrea! I really appreciate the fact that you used Parks and Rec at an intersection where we are learning about Women in Pop Culture and nearing Valentine’s Day. I remember when the show started getting so much attention in the early 2010’s. It was around the time when there was a shift to mass feminism on social media. It allowed these characters and ultimately actresses to become memeified nationally. Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, and Aubrey Plaza, share the talent and awareness for human impact because they have the professionalism and capacity to impact audiences and allow them to see themselves in not only the characters they play, but the talented individuals they are. This nice because it builds culture from inside the sets, through the cameras, and into society. As echo chambers, parts of the sets, objects, expressions, phrases, types of lighting or natural elements all become conversational pieces to individuals who are positively impressed by these types of shows that not only entertain but bring awareness to real issues that are being phased in those moments. The lightheartedness of these types of shows with the awareness of even creating a whole new holiday to celebrate life for (Galentines Day) become embedded into society. It would be nice to know whether societies or segments of societies started shifting from a misogynistic one to one of harmony. Or if the impressions people started having of women started to shift as dialogue in media shifted from that of a few corporate elite to that of a society as a whole who started having direct input to the media through social media.
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