Legally Blonde and the History of the “Dumb Blonde”
A key mission of Legally Blonde's Elle Woods is fighting the bias against blondes -- in particular, the "dumb blonde" stereotype. But where does this stereotype come from? Let's all dig into the roots of the assumptions about blondes and find out what's really behind them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17 Dec 202117min
Forrest Gump: The Myth of America
The story of Forrest Gump is a myth of 20th-century America. Like any good myth, it filters historical facts through allegory, creating a symbolic journey that helps us make sense of a complicated era. So, what does Forrest Gump has to say about us -- and our national identity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Dec 202124min
The Good Girl Trope - Why Women Can't Win
The good girl of film and tv plays by the rules. She's nice, polite, and probably a straight A student. Yet this perfect-seeming facade can mask her darker struggles, even from herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 Dec 202119min
Pete Davidson, Heartthrob - Why the “Hotness Gap” is BS
Media coverage of Pete Davidson suggests a society that’s still as obsessed as ever with conventional female beauty and a “hotness gap” between the men and women in celebrity couples. But Pete's attractiveness is actually pretty obvious, and the coverage of his relationships needs to calm down and catch up with the times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 Dec 202114min
The "Mean Girl" Trio - Three Types of Bad Female Rulers
Variations on the terrible trio, like The Plastics and the Unholy Trinity, have long dominated cinema’s and TV’s fictional high school hallways. So what is it about this rule of three and these particular recurring character types that add up to the perfect recipe for high-school popularity and oppression? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10 Dec 202116min
The Dragon Lady Trope - Reclaiming Her Power
East Asian women onscreen have long been haunted by the figure of the Dragon Lady: a violent seductress who will do anything to achieve her goals. At the same time, the dragon lady is unapologetically driven, ultra-assertive, and has agency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
9 Dec 202121min
The Weird Girl Trope, Explained
She's a Weird Girl, the black sheep of all female character tropes. Why do people misunderstand her, or are even scared of her? What secret powers does the weird girl have? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
8 Dec 202120min
The Office's Andy - Privilege Can't Buy Happiness
Privileged and miserably insecure Andy Bernard is The Office's cautionary tale about the limits of what wealth can (or rather can't) do for you. Many Office fans found Andy’s arc disappointing, but his choices eventually proved how many who grow up in toxic, status-obsessed environments often don’t transcend their learned behaviors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7 Dec 202118min
