I found this article incredibly offensive, and I don't even read comic books.
Are the women in Sin City portrayed as sexual objects? Yes, they are. However, there is a reason for this.
Look at the title of the movie. What is it? Sin City? Are you expecting bunnies and rainbows? The movie portrays a number of seedy characters fighting for what they feel is right and/or just. These seedy characters include a gang of prostitutes, a dumb and medicated murderer, a stripper (who is never actually nude on-screen), an old cop, a lesbian parole officer (I think), and another criminal whose original crime I can not remember. They fight various villains, including a priest, a politician and his pedophile son, a corrupt cop, and a creepy cannibal played by Elijah Wood.
This movie features men and women at the bottom of society fighting against the actions of corrupt men in power in order to survive. I did not leave Sin City feeling contempt against those at the bottom. I actually sympathized with them and felt that most of their actions were justified. I did, however, feel contempt for those in power that forced those men and women to fight for survival.
I can not find misogynistic elements in this film, and I fail to understand how one can take characters from a movie that revolves around "lowlifes" and argue that all "comic book geeks" have a "fundamental" hatred of women.
Posted by Randy at June 2, 2005 02:32 PM | TrackBackActually, I'm a comic geek, and I often don't like how comics portray women. Sure, they make women into heros, often giving them powers and such on par with the men. All the while, they are given skimpy, skintight costumes that often reveal as much as possible while still holding the "kid's book" idea. I wish they would tone it down. It's pointless. In fact, it gives the wrong idea to both men and women. It enforces a stereotype. And from what I've heard of Sin City there's a lot of dubious material and actions. But hey, that's just what I've heard. But I do know something of the style of the original writer of the graphic novels (Frank Miller), and I don't think I would ever want to read the books or see the movie. What little good in them would be outweighed to me. But once again, that's just me.
Posted by: Knight's Disciple at June 2, 2005 08:52 PM