Comments for The Speculist

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by Sasha Wian

Sasha Wian — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 08:21:00 +0000

I notice how most of these characters are either:
1) not human
2) are henpecked husbands to far better female counterparts who are more intelligent and composed
3) are bumblers/idiots/arrogant jerks
4) are from cartoons about 20-30 years old, or
5) are multiple examples of the above choices.

And you definitely almost NEVER see females who are #3, with the notable exception of Dory in Finding Nemo – again, a movie from 20 years ago.

The only movie I’ve seen RECENTLY which bucked this trend was Ron’s Gone Wrong, which stands out because the main character is a boy who is not made to be an idiot, even if he has basic flaws that kids have, does the right thing, is not made better by making a female character look stupid (unlike how female characters are usually made to look better by making the male characters stupid or hugely flawed), and is a genuinely decent person.

The more annoying thing, however, is that in most movies with the female character being the lead, she is usually not flawed at ALL – they’re always ultra-good at everything, PLUS the boys just suck in comparison. If they’re lucky, the boys are just average. It’s like Disney is so scared to write a decently written character for a girl who has flaws that they overcompensate by making them perfect from start to end. There’s no heroic journey – it’s a heroic straight line.

Comment on The Sentient Enterprise by Mia Black

Mia Black — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 12:35:00 +0000

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Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by John Eberhardt

John Eberhardt — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 02:01:00 +0000

I find this to be true. Only older characters seem to hold up like Tarzan and Aladdin. One of the worst examples (not Disney this time) is the new Lost in Space. Try to find a good male role model in that mess. John Robinson was supposed to be an intelligent marine leader that went on many secret missions but all I see in the new series is a cowering boot-licker that has to ask his wife about everything. He does not seem to know how to clothe himself or wipe his bottom without asking his wife. Don is a lazy deserter (a direct quote from his female coworker in the second season) and Will seems to be the direct cause of all their misfortune in one way or another. But all the women are all brilliant leaders. What am I supposed to tell my sons? Just watch the classics?

Comment on A Tale of Two Tails… by PhilBowermaster

PhilBowermaster — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:55:00 +0000

An advantage to homeschooling that nobody ever mentions — homeschool kids don’t get shot. Whenever they have drills at my kids’ school for active shooter situations, I miss the home school days.

Comment on The Sentient Enterprise by Dan Campbell

Dan Campbell — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 19:08:00 +0000

Ok, thank you sir.

Comment on The Sentient Enterprise by PhilBowermaster

PhilBowermaster — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 15:51:00 +0000

I have added Disqus commenting to that site, so commenting should now be possible for you over there.

Comment on The Sentient Enterprise by Dan Campbell

Dan Campbell — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:35:00 +0000

Phil/Stephen,

From time to time, I’d like to comment on some of the World Transformed podcasts. I’m not using Facebook or Twitter.

Is there another venue, for putting in our two cents?

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by september calendar 2017

september calendar 2017 — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 19:04:00 +0000

Thank you for this reply!

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by Jen

Jen — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:54:00 +0000

Most of those male leads are non-human (either superheroes or toys or animals). I want a movie with a regular boy. There’s plenty in books and movies for older boys (harry potter, original Star Wars etc) but none for ages 4-5. These boys are too old for Elmo and Jake and the neverland pirates but too young for Harry Potter.

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by Nick Restrepo

Nick Restrepo — Thu, 09 Mar 2017 00:48:00 +0000

When it comes to a man to woman relationship, none of the Disney or Pixar movies that I can remember as a kid were helpful to me in terms of presenting a strong role model or relationship vision to look forward to creating. Girls have the concept of a prince coming to save them or enter their lives. I personally have no concept of a women or how to be as a man relating to women from any of these movies. I think THAT is what these articles are really about, not about equality or whatever. That’s all totally aside from the core point. And when I say male character I’m not talking about toys, lions, toasters, trains, ants, cars, dogs, or ANYTHING other than a human boys would actually connect with and want to emulate. Regardless – at the end of the day it’s the impression that counts, not necessarily how it’s delivered. For options the role models I can remember were Eminem and his wife Kim, Stifler or Jim from American Pie..etc you get the point.

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 16:23:00 +0000

If they set their ambitions low: do a shot-for-shot remake, something that’s arguably a completely unnecessary cash grab – it might still serve to introduce a new audience to a good story. That said, it could easily suck if they tamper with the story or characters too much. Allowing too much PC in for example. Belle was just the right amount of PC in the animated version.

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by PhilBowermaster

PhilBowermaster — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 15:15:00 +0000

Another innovator right out of the Princess movies — Belle’s dad in Beauty and a Beast. By the way, I think I need to do a separate post on how unnecessary the new live action version of that movie is, and how pre-disposed I am to believe that it’s going to suck big time.

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by PhilBowermaster

PhilBowermaster — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 15:13:00 +0000

Yeah I think the author had to skip Pixar altogether to make her point. And she was focused pretty much on the princess movies where, you know, having the girls take the lead isn’t such a surprising thing.

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 12:02:00 +0000

Two more male innovator-heroes that my kids have loved: the protagonists in Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, and Meet The Robinsons.

Comment on No Good Disney Role Models for Boys? by Stephen Gordon

Stephen Gordon — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 21:29:00 +0000

Pixar also has a history of strong male characters:

Buzz Lightyear
Sheriff Woody
Mr. Incredible
Frozone
Nemo
Marlin
Crush the Sea Turtle
Flik
Sully
Mike Wazowski
Lightning McQueen
Doc Hudson
Carl Fredricksen
Wall-E
Remy the Rat

to name just a few. I notice a thread connecting several of these characters. Flik, Mike Wazowski, Remy the Rat – they are innovators. This is an nontraditional thing to celebrate about heroes. My boys have grown up with these characters – and I think (hope) that they have made an impact.