veronica_rich (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
veronica_rich) wrote2007-04-07 03:33 pm
veronica_rich) wrote2007-04-07 03:33 pm
Is this for realz?
Now there's a thought in fandom that in AWE, Elizabeth is made the Pirate King by the pirate council.
No, really. There's supposedly even a "pirate king" action figure of Elizabeth out there. Because that's what European-mindset male pirates of the 18th century did - elected women to be in charge of them. All those women they killed and raped? Well, they're Not Elizabeth, who as we know, transcends all mortal and social concerns. (And people criticize Will for idealizing her? Isn't that what gods enjoy from their mortal attendants? Don't blame the character for reacting as one is expected to to his Savior - blame poor writing and this attempt to mishmash symbolism and bastardized mythology into a "plot." I call it Writing By Wikipedia.)
You know, this pirate king thing could be pulled off IF Elizabeth were oh, say, Wonder Woman or Xena. I LOVED when Xena was put in charge of troops, because she knew what she was doing AND she had experience with it more than just yelling "FIRE!" after someone else already had. But Xena is so far ahead of Elizabeth as a badass female character it's not even funny. For one, she has a better sense of humor than Miss Swann. She also has self-deprecation AND she's actually had to suffer for her brutal mistakes. She comes off as more - dare I say - human. Plus - and this is going to get me flamed, but I don't care - she's not a stick figure with hair. She's a real woman with a real woman's weight and presence. (And you know, appearance by itself doesn't impact me usually, but in this case it's just another log on the fire.)
Reasonable fans who seem to hate Elizabeth don't really hate her. They're just annoyed she doesn't have to suffer for her choices, and is still idolized as a "real" character. Will doesn't ask enough questions, he ends up getting whipped and nearly drowned. Jack assumes he's immortal, he gets eaten. Norrington doesn't have enough damn sense to get in out of the rain (well, a hurricane), he loses his ship, his crew, and his commission. (And Elizabeth's kidnap and near-rape in CotBP doesn't count, because Pintel and Ragetti were going to either kill her or drag her back to the ship. That's not a choice, it's simply answering the "Shall we shoot you now, or shoot you later?" question. And I had sympathy for her.)
So ... Will gets to be captain of and chained to the FD for eternity, and Elizabeth gets to be pirate royalty. And the target of yet a NEW man's lustful worship. (And let's not forget, a lovesick Jack still dragging on her coattails.) And this is supposed to make make all the fans content about the movie and want to go back to watch it a few more times?
Either the suits at Disney are stupid with what little money they have (even after firing hundreds of employees), or there are some overly-hopeful fans out there. (I think I know the answer.)
(And, it's my journal and I'll use what userpic I want to. I read a comment somewhere that I'm implying with this something about "gay rights." No, I'm simply pointing out that Disney is attempting to pander to the broadest demographic it has by removing ANY hint of Swishy Jack that Depp doesn't fight to keep on celluloid. I'm amazed there are actually fans who know of Depp's comments about Jack's ambiguity and still insist there's not a gay vibe in his performance - I mean, shit, I didn't need his comments to guess Jack is gayer than eight guys fucking nine guys, at least part of the time.)
No, really. There's supposedly even a "pirate king" action figure of Elizabeth out there. Because that's what European-mindset male pirates of the 18th century did - elected women to be in charge of them. All those women they killed and raped? Well, they're Not Elizabeth, who as we know, transcends all mortal and social concerns. (And people criticize Will for idealizing her? Isn't that what gods enjoy from their mortal attendants? Don't blame the character for reacting as one is expected to to his Savior - blame poor writing and this attempt to mishmash symbolism and bastardized mythology into a "plot." I call it Writing By Wikipedia.)
You know, this pirate king thing could be pulled off IF Elizabeth were oh, say, Wonder Woman or Xena. I LOVED when Xena was put in charge of troops, because she knew what she was doing AND she had experience with it more than just yelling "FIRE!" after someone else already had. But Xena is so far ahead of Elizabeth as a badass female character it's not even funny. For one, she has a better sense of humor than Miss Swann. She also has self-deprecation AND she's actually had to suffer for her brutal mistakes. She comes off as more - dare I say - human. Plus - and this is going to get me flamed, but I don't care - she's not a stick figure with hair. She's a real woman with a real woman's weight and presence. (And you know, appearance by itself doesn't impact me usually, but in this case it's just another log on the fire.)
Reasonable fans who seem to hate Elizabeth don't really hate her. They're just annoyed she doesn't have to suffer for her choices, and is still idolized as a "real" character. Will doesn't ask enough questions, he ends up getting whipped and nearly drowned. Jack assumes he's immortal, he gets eaten. Norrington doesn't have enough damn sense to get in out of the rain (well, a hurricane), he loses his ship, his crew, and his commission. (And Elizabeth's kidnap and near-rape in CotBP doesn't count, because Pintel and Ragetti were going to either kill her or drag her back to the ship. That's not a choice, it's simply answering the "Shall we shoot you now, or shoot you later?" question. And I had sympathy for her.)
So ... Will gets to be captain of and chained to the FD for eternity, and Elizabeth gets to be pirate royalty. And the target of yet a NEW man's lustful worship. (And let's not forget, a lovesick Jack still dragging on her coattails.) And this is supposed to make make all the fans content about the movie and want to go back to watch it a few more times?
Either the suits at Disney are stupid with what little money they have (even after firing hundreds of employees), or there are some overly-hopeful fans out there. (I think I know the answer.)
(And, it's my journal and I'll use what userpic I want to. I read a comment somewhere that I'm implying with this something about "gay rights." No, I'm simply pointing out that Disney is attempting to pander to the broadest demographic it has by removing ANY hint of Swishy Jack that Depp doesn't fight to keep on celluloid. I'm amazed there are actually fans who know of Depp's comments about Jack's ambiguity and still insist there's not a gay vibe in his performance - I mean, shit, I didn't need his comments to guess Jack is gayer than eight guys fucking nine guys, at least part of the time.)