That day at the end of the week

[crankyoldman]

Alright, first_seventhe, I've started reading Shards of Honor.

You're right, Cordelia's pretty cool! Vorkosigan too. I'll admit, with my upbringing I tend to snort at pacifists, particularly when they're put in survival type situations, but she's not dumb about it, nor entirely high and mighty. And so far Vorkosigan's balancing out the idealism and vice versa. I'm sold, basically.

Also, is it wrong that I'm entirely relieved Vorkosigan's kind of craggly? Nothing against prettyboys (I'm fond of certain crazyhead ones of them, I'll admit) but it's nice seeing a main guy in a story where the main protagonist is female and he's not like omgsopretty. And I'm glad that Cordelia's not a straight fiery redhead stereotype, something that BOTH fantasy and sci-fi will lean on when they want a proactive female character. Maybe some day I will go on about the really fucked up Christian sci-fi trilogy my ex-husband's mom got for me sometime.

Ha ha, I'm reading too into this, already. But it's passed the litmus test where I'll throw a book across the room (so done that) so yay! Also, geez, I've clearly been reading a lot of dense literature lately, because I'm just WHIPPING through this book so far. Which is actually good for me right now, as I was just hanging out on lunch break and just happened to put said book in my bag.

tl;dr: very nice.

While I've never played the games, but want to because they look pretty, but recent casting selections for the Prince of Persia Movie are looking a little pale. As in, wtf, white people are not Persian or desert-dwelling in any way. Except in Arizona, but last I checked this was not set in Arizona. But christ, whose brilliant idea was that? Pointed out by kylenne first, as I haven't been following this movie except when my friend Atul mentioned it to me like, some time ago.

Just figured I'd pass along the wtf. And I have to go to class now.

Comments

[anima-mecanique.livejournal.com]

It seems like it's White Guy Casting all over the place. Dragonball Z, Avatar: the Last Airbender, Akira...

One of the lead actors in Avatar responded to concerns that the character he's playing isn't white by saying "yeah, I'll get a tan!".

Dude, wrong thing to say.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

And as a Russian descendant, it's kind of cringe-worthy some of the dudes they drag up to be Russian Bad Guys (or lord, when Russians play South Americans like I've seen). I realize it's a big country, but Italians? Scots? Come on.

There's a level where you can have a reasonable suspension of belief, but there's an amount that makes me queasy.

[astralavator.livejournal.com]

The red haired thing has always bewildered me though there are some stern brunetts who do make up for them.

The population of Dalmasca from FF12 is a pretty fair skinned people, the Al Bhed are fair all the way and aren't they desert folk, the spoony bard's kingdom appeared to be along a desert oasis and if I'm remembering correctly wasn't Figaro in a desert as well, so I'm not sure what the fuss would be over unless the characters don't look like their game counter parts like the avatar movie.

[lassarina]

Yes, well, Square has a demonstrated lack of understanding regarding actual reasonable skin colour/hair colour for desert dwellers - but if I recall, the POP games feature a dark-haired, reasonably dark-skinned character.

[astralavator.livejournal.com]

The cover art for the Sands of Time if it is included in this series has the lead is pretty white looking and from the rest of the screenshots I skimmed from gamefaqs, I don't see why having a white actor would be that odd for him and stay true to the game.

I just thought it was odd to care give what the usual is.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Square does really pale Asians, recall. I mean, change Rikku's hair and eye color. Or Cloud. FF8 was supposed to be the closest to having European characters, but there's still some wobbliness there. I've noticed (particularly Edea) there's kind of more Eastern Russian facial features (which is why I can sort of pull that cosplay off XD).

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

That's the case, they're distinctly NOT white in the game. Not a matter of how in some fantasy series everyone is white (or white-Asian as in some RPGs), just that the movie version white-washed the heck out of everything.

And while the Prince is a little pale, he's distinctly not European. So it's kind of ridiculous him being played by Jake Gyllenhaal, really.

I mean, I was just as annoyed that Sean Connery (fantastic actor he may be) was playing a Russian submarine commander in Hunt for Red October.

[astralavator.livejournal.com]

But...but he's more European than I am, high cheekbones along with those angular features and those cobalt eyes. He's the stuff those fiery haired and hearted girls fantasize over over.

The best fantasy heroines aren't influential their clever and sarcastic. Though I'm a bit partical to the typecasting with hair color since it works as a nice red flag for what's to come.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Also, re: redheads.

I tend towards making everyone a brunette, but that's me. I just find a lot of brunettes attractive. XD I'd rather typecast by role than by something as silly as hair color anyway. Also a good sign was it was casually mentioned in the intro of the character, not some huge hinging plot point.

Dying my hair red was fun though. But it was very obviously fake as I'm not crazy into the idea of dying my eyebrows. XD Didn't feel very fantasy heroine, but then I'm not exactly the most influential person ever.

[tijuana-pirate.livejournal.com]

Really, that makes about as much sense as casting Tom Cruise to play a german soldier when he cannot affect a German accent to save his life. Am I the only person who happens to like accents and race being preserved in films? *eyebrow raise*

-T. pirate

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I still want to see that movie, but yeah. XD Hell, VERY British Captain Picard is supposed to be French, but I still like him. But that's not QUITE the same level of fail.

[tijuana-pirate.livejournal.com]

I remember the first time in the show that Picard mentioned that he was supposed to be French. My childhood self went .... really? Oh, wait, Picard!

(So stereotypically French that his parents own a vinyard, ftw... though, I would really love for Patrick Stewart to bust out some French. I think that I would swoon. <3)

-T. pirate

[drakonlily.livejournal.com]

The game is wonderful!! I played a demo. By wonderful, I mean pretty. The second one is the best.

[angelari.livejournal.com]

That is one of my favorite books (and series) in the WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD. I'm very very glad you like it.

Cordelia kicks so much ass that it's dizzying. And Aral. I could listen to Aral talk about politics forever.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

It's like the author reached into my head and pulled out some of my favorite things and put them into two MAIN CHARACTERS. There's a reason that most of my favorites are minor characters in things. I like that when my friends send me books they look for the older dudes for me. XD Nothing wrong with youth, but does every main character have to be a preteen?

The cover art strikes me as very off, though, considering the descriptions. Kind of HILARIOUSLY off. I giggle at it every time I close the book.

I also love that Aral is short! But I come from a long line of men with height complexes. XD Which I somehow inherited. No idea how much of an ego boost it is dating someone shorter than me (I for some reason tend to attract tall lanky guys). Which makes me a loser.

[angelari.livejournal.com]

Lois Bujold has LONG complained about the lack of cover-art accuracy. I suppose it's a testament to how well-known/liked she is that the later Miles books are better in that regard.

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

JUST WAIT until you get through the book! Cordelia is like A++++ female character in my book. And! Miles! AUGH I love this series.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I've gotten farther! I'm pretty damn sure I'm halfway through the first book. And it's hit more things I like:

- Let me guess, crazy Marquis de Sade wannabe was totally Aral's ex-bf. Either way, he's hitting my bi-dar. And if he is OMG BISEXUALS EXIST? RAWK. I approve!

- Cordelia is sensible! And not completely cold! Yay! I like being in her head.

- OMG THAT CRAZYFUCK BATTLE

That's all. XD

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

UMMMMM bisexuals are ALL OVER the Vorkosigan books! And not just in the "sexy bi girls" way. Aral: TOTALLY BI. Yes old cranky short man, get your bisexual on.

Cordelia is just made of awesome. She doesn't have to be cold or snippy or snarky or anything -- she's just awesome and she acknowledges all sides of her personality. It's one of the things I like best about LMB's writing: the battle to be "un-female" isn't there. There's never any conflict about Cordelia having to be "more manly" or "less like a woman" or anything about a "woman's place" -- it's all just so transparent. Cordelia is competent and awesome because she is CORDELIA, not because she's female (or isn't female).

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

...which is even more significant once you get to the actual part on Barrayar, which is a feudal/militaristic planet which still has a backwards view on women.

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