Seattle: May 9 Think & Drink Explores Images of Women in Media, Pop Culture
SEATTLE – Our next Think & Drink event – Harlots and Heroines: Images of Women in Media and Pop Culture – is just a few hours away. We hope you’ll join us tonight at Naked City Brewery & Taphouse for an excellent, enlightening conversation with scholars Jennifer K. Stuller and Amy Peloff, moderated by KUOW’s Marcie Sillman.
YOU CAN GO
What: Harlots and Heroines: Images of Women in Media and Pop Culture, a Think & Drink discussion featuring scholars Jennifer K. Stuller and Amy Peloff and moderator Marcie Sillman of KUOW
Where: Naked City Brewery & Taphouse, 8564 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle [directions]
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday (May 9)
Cost: FreeNote: Please arrive early to secure a set in the main discussion area.
Stuller and Peloff recently sat down with Spark for a 5 Questions interview previewing tonight’s topic.
It’s likely to be a packed house tonight, so please arrive early to secure a seat! We are planning to broadcast the conversation on closed-circuit television, so there should be some overflow seating available in the dining area.
You’ll also be able to follow highlights of the conversation on Twitter, as @HumanitiesWA live tweets the event (hashtag: #TandD).
Tonight’s Think & Drink officially starts at 7 p.m., but we’ll get things rolling with this pair of pre-event questions:
What female image in media or pop culture was most influential on you when you when you were young? Why?
For better or worse, what female image in media or pop culture do you think is most influential today?
Check back latter tonight to view attendees’ answers, or, better yet, add your answers via a comment below.
*** UPDATED LIVE AT THE MAY 9 EVENT: Answers compiled from conversation-starter cards handed out prior to the event.
What female image in media or pop culture was most influential on you when you when you were young? Why?
Marci Sillman: Nancy Drew
Nancy T: Between Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and The Addams Family, I grew up thinking women had to be magical to be powerful. Also Agent 99 on Get Smart — Not exactly magical but almost.
Courtney: I was most influenced by the Spice Girls. They were popular, bold independent women.
Annette and the other female Mouseketeers. Why? Adolescent lust!
Nancy M: Eliz Taylor – Multiple marriages/divorces, Catholic upbringing
Summer: I most identified with go-getter, semi-neurotic characters such as Jessie Spano (Saved by the Bell), Monica (Friends), Felicity (from Felicity :)), and Joey (from Dawson’s Creek)… I’m not sure how much I would say they influenced me, though.
Ned: Diana Rigg playing Emma Peel on the Brit TV series The Avengers in the late ’60s. She was smart, witty, and capable, unlike most females on TV then.
Morgan: Angela Chase from My So Called Life. We were the same age and going through high school at the same time. It was refreshing to see a realistic portrayal of teenage relationships between parents, friends, and boys. She also brought my friends and I closer together. I think it’s part of the reason we are still close today.
Kathleen: Jem. She had a good job and her own house.
Lisa: Agent 99 on Get Smart
Brian: Madonna, she was on MTV constantly and oozed sexuality. Not saying it’s right, just saying it’s true.
Murphy Brown … or Cybill Shepard really … Rainbow Brite, Gwen Stefani
Veronica: The Virgin Mary, Madonna, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Cinderella.
Kaz: Madonna, Princess Leia, Disney Princesses, Wakefield Twins (Sweet Valley High), Barbie, Wonder Woman.
Laurie: Mary Tyler Moore – She lived alone, had her own job (in media!), dated, had opinions. Also, Betty and Veronica from Archie comics, because they played in a band and each had distinctly different personalities.
Addie from Paper Moon because she was brave, independent and resourceful – and ten years old like me. So I started smoking, like her. And I discovered that I had power. And choices.
Jody: Punky Brewster — she was an outspoken, tough and crazy dresser. Young woman who was also allowed to be vulnerable.
Christine: Kristy from The Babysitter’s Club series. Her spunk and follow-through inspired me — she was a female leader who didn’t let typical boxes around her age and gender keep her caged.
Marcy: Billie Jean King. Organized sports were not available to young women when I grew up. She kicked ass. She influenced money for women, has won presidential medal honors, won a million Wimbledons, continues to be active for women. Plus she rocks!
April O’Neil because she is assertive, goes after what she wants. Lisa Simpson – the EPITOME of what we should strive for. Smart and youthful. Kathy Goertzen, KOMO 4 News every day. She was intelligent, professional and funny. Christina Aguilera – Powerful.
*** UPDATED LIVE AT THE MAY 9 EVENT: Answers compiled from conversation-starter cards handed out prior to the event.
For better or worse, what female image in media or pop culture do you think is most influential today?
Samm: Bond Girl (James Bond) — Leggy, hyper-sexualized, tough yet still “stand by your man”
Fraser: Tyra Banks — Decade-long model with two TV shows. Influences models around the world. She is open about certain aspects of the industry and tries to help those that she can.
Unfortunately, Kim Kardashian, Snooki and Bella Swan (Twilight) are influencing the youth of America. No female strength, intelligence or self-esteem/empowerment. Hillary Clinton — I don’t have to wear make-up. Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Jackie Kennedy-Onassis — vintage but also still relevant in style and classic beauty.
Tamara: Michelle Obama
Evan: Lady Gaga
Devin: Ellen DeGeneres
Laura: Angelina Jolie
Sunny: Carrie Bradshaw/Sara Jessica Parker, Rachel Maddow, Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin :(, Lady Gaga, Hope Solo
Ryan: The Vixen/Siren
The Kardashians, Zooey Deschanel, Beyonce, Bella (Twilight)
Oprah
M: Michelle Obama
Marcy W: For worse: Kim Kardashian acting like she is some businesswoman who knows what she is doing. Being one of the richest women in the world — uses her power to promote unrealistc female images, expectations, values that only degrade young girls in general.
Nicole: Ellen DeGeneres: For the better!
Jackie: Breast cancer ribbon or related products
Adrienne: Michelle Obama
What about you? Continue the conversation by adding your answers as a comment below.
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- Tags: King County, Media, Pop culture, Seattle, Think & Drink