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Words That Don't Go Together: Transformers And Feminism

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 12:14:55 PM EST
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Alyssa Rosenberg has a very good new blog at Think Progress on pop culture (before she guest posted on Matt Yglesias' blog.) This post on Shia LeBouef beefing with Megan Fox about Transformers hack director Michael Bay and feminism is a nice example of how Rosenberg can discuss inane subjects with great intelligence.

Imagine Transformers and feminism in the same sentence. Hard I know. But Rosenberg does it very well. Her site is an excellent addition to the Think Progress offerings.

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    Words That Don't Go Together: Transformers And Feminism | 74 comments (74 topical)

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    Words that don't go together (5.00 / 6) (#4)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:06:39 PM EST
    "Chris Matthews" and "Feminist"

    During a conversation about everyone's favorite topic the last couple of days (Anthony Weiner), Chris Matthews said this:

    FEEHERY: I think we all feel for his wife right now. You know, Democrats think back to Gerry Studds...

    MATTHEWS: He says his wife knew. He laid it out on her.

    FEEHERY: Which is terrible. Terrible mistake.

    MATTHEWS: But maybe she's party responsible if she knew about it?

    MACMAHON: She's not responsible.

    FEEHERY: She's not responsible. Come on, that's ridiculous.

    Maybe Matthews' wife Kathleen is partly responsible for him being an a$$?

    Weiner's wife (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:12:20 PM EST
    Weiner's wife is
    Huma Abedin (an aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton)
    .

    Knowing Chris Matthews, I'm surprised he didn't blame Ms. Clinton.

    Parent

    I'm sure we'll get there yet (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:23:36 PM EST
    More headlines about his wife:

    NY Daily News

    NY Post

    This story really bums me out as I have a teensy weensy connection - I've actually met his wife, Huma, for all of about 5 minutes, and she seemed really nice. But, even worse, she is a friend of several people I am very close to, so this hits a little close to home.  I can't imagine her humiliation right now.

    Parent

    Any chance they had an arrangement? (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:27:02 PM EST
    I'm pretty sure she has made no statement, and we know how political marriages go sometimes...maybe they had a DADT policy on cyber-freaking...she is out of the country every other week.

    Parent
    I have no idea (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:32:16 PM EST
    And wouldn't dream of speculating.

    But my uneducated guess is that if they had an "arrangement", she would have been standing next to him at the press conference to help try and save his political career.

    Parent

    I don't know... (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:40:58 PM EST
    a private arrangement could also be considered embarassing if made public.

    Especially with the unreal expectations people have for people in politics...we unrealistically demand saints and wail when they fall from a grace that never existed.

    Parent

    Unreal expectations do not apply (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by Towanda on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:52:15 PM EST
    in the case of Weiner.  It is entirely realistic to expect him to have common sense.  And to not be a stupid liar.

    Smart liars, we apparently do expect.  And we sure do get a lot of them.

    Parent

    Ya got a point there... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:57:41 PM EST
    we are used to better lies, and our elected professional liars sticking to those lies!

    But I don't think its a lack of commom sense as much as a lack of cyber skills...a keypunch error opened this can of worms.  If that last junk shot was sent as a private message we wouldn't be having all these discussions.

    Parent

    They just got married last year (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Madeline on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:50:31 PM EST
    Just to let you know, this is not probably not an isolated event.  Usually there is a pattern of this behavior which begins much sooner. I think more will come forward. Just sayin'

    Parent
    That's what I think too (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 05:02:05 PM EST
    Six women my eye!  The Democratic leadership is certainly acting like this is going to be a big nasty.  I just watched Reid choke on his own tongue trying to answer any question about Wiener what so ever.

    Parent
    Tingle Matthews (none / 0) (#66)
    by norris morris on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 02:25:12 PM EST
    He keeps Tingling up his leg.  He blames Huma, but not Shriver?  This guy is nuts aside from his obnoxious incompetence parading as a newscaster.

    Parent
    The best 25 and still emotionally (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:38:59 PM EST
    an adolescent goes to Shia LaBeouf.  

    Mike films women in a way that appeals to a 16-year-old sexuality.  Cuz they have all the fat bank accounts desperately seeking entertainment?

    And the one thing Mike lacks is tact. There's no time for `I would like you to just arch your back 70 degrees.  Gee, what would have been the tactless version of this request?

    Phrasal adjectives (I looked it up) in the Beouf; Victoria's Secret background (huh?), Spice Girl strength (wha?)  Someone please tell Shia that the Spice Girls are getting just as much as all the other girls and they are getting it the way they like it instead of the way Shia would want them to get it I guess :)

    But most priceless is discovering that Shia , star of the Transformers, is a method actor.

    The mind boggles (none / 0) (#18)
    by huzzlewhat on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:52:38 PM EST
    And the one thing Mike lacks is tact. There's no time for `I would like you to just arch your back 70 degrees.  Gee, what would have been the tactless version of this request?

    This is what jumped out at me the first time I read about it. Can you imagine what Bay actually said? Fox is getting slammed in a lot of quarters by people who are seeing Bay's treatment of her as only to be expected because she has done highly sexual roles before and since. But there's a huge difference between an actor doing those kinds of roles in a supportive, sympathetic atmosphere with a director who appreciates that what she's doing is difficult and exposing, and being degraded in crude, pornographic terms while she's doing it.

    Parent

    I think of such a role (none / 0) (#20)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 02:00:09 PM EST
    as being a part of the roles that we all have within our personalities, just sectioned out and amplified for story value.  That is the reason why we recognize the roles as we watch the stories unfold, they are part of who we are.  So if a man or a woman has a sexual identity in the eyes of others, how does that destroy all the other components of their identity or equate to some sort of differential treatment?  Obviously though, some partitions of Shia's self identity have become overly large and squashed the others to death :)

    Parent
    Josh got all A's again (5.00 / 9) (#25)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 02:28:40 PM EST
    So I paid the full tab for the new Red Faction.  He has been playing now for several hours.

    On the beta version (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:59:31 PM EST
    Josh said there was a Unicorn gun that farted rainbows.  I wonder where they got that idea from?  But Josh said he hasn't found it yet on the serious version.

    Parent
    Remarkable....Donald Trump calls (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 05:15:25 PM EST
    Wiener a psycho.  The guy who owns the Miss America Pageant and added the new category of lingerie photos calls a sexter a psycho?  Spare me!

    meh (none / 0) (#53)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 05:16:02 PM EST


    Parent
    Trumpet (none / 0) (#67)
    by norris morris on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 02:36:14 PM EST
    Trumpet has trumped imself continually of late and he must have become an alien. There is no other explanation for his utterly weird and destructive self immolation.  He sounds unstable, petty, childish, and a publicity freak in need of airtime.

    This doesn't even describe his bloated appearance,vulgar speech patterns, and utterly laughable hair. Something is really amiss. Trump is living in another reality.

    Are his new apartments selling? Is he in finacial trouble? Or is he just loopy?  Maybe all 3.

    Parent

    I am really, really angry at the way (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 10:06:00 PM EST
    the Weiner story is being covered.

    I tend to watch the late local news before I go to bed, but Marcia Kramer's lascivious gossip report ("look at him escaping into his house without answering my important questions about his penis!")  is simply too much for me to bear.

    Marcia Kramer (none / 0) (#68)
    by norris morris on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 02:40:27 PM EST
    Is on her third or so horrible face lift that matches bimbo reporting.

    She does nasty so called "investigative" reporting that does not reflect well on her network.

    Kramer is in the tradion of Confidential, and as we all know this is scandal that can become news.

    But bimbo reporting does not belong on a major network.

    Parent

    I'll pass on the physical appearance attack (none / 0) (#72)
    by andgarden on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 04:14:29 PM EST
    I just find her to have a very superficial understanding of politics.

    Do people who follow sports put up with such incompetent analysts?

    Parent

    Indeed we do... (none / 0) (#73)
    by ks on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 04:22:31 PM EST
    "Bimbo" stuff aside, he's right about Kramer.  Insofar as sports, the number of vain, incompetent hacks and blowhards passing themselves off analysts is almost innumerable.

    Parent
    Not too bad (none / 0) (#74)
    by Nemi on Thu Jun 09, 2011 at 05:52:11 AM EST
    if the "vain, incompetent hacks and blowhards" were only to be found among sports commentators, sigh.

    Parent
    Hmm (none / 0) (#1)
    by lilburro on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 12:26:48 PM EST
    I didn't necessarily interpret those comments as LeBouef hating on Megan Fox.  I thought he did a good job exposing Michael Bay.  

    The Spice Girl reference was so left field that I didn't know how to take it.  Is he being insulting, is he playing dumb, or is he just dumb?

    Coulda been a dig in there... (none / 0) (#2)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 12:38:28 PM EST
    I read it as he's basically saying "Ya don't think ya got the role for your acting ability, do ya?"

    And I'd ask the same question of Shia.  We're talking about a Bay movie...do they even use scripts or is it "cut to explosion" , "cut to CGI", "cut to T&A" , "cut to pretty-boy teen hearthrob"?

    Parent

    it was both (none / 0) (#3)
    by CST on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 12:46:22 PM EST
    honestly, i don't think lebouf even sees it as "exposing Michael Bay".  He did do that, but I'm not sure he sees Bay's behavior as "wrong"

    Pretty sure he's trying to belittle Fox.

    Parent

    He seems to be (none / 0) (#11)
    by lilburro on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:37:44 PM EST
    belittling pretty much everybody in his remarks.  Including his new co-star (especially, I thought).

    Parent
    Fox had several interviews (none / 0) (#48)
    by Madeline on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:54:30 PM EST
    complaining about Michael Bay's behavior.  However, the press was mostly making fun of her as a 'woman who could not get along'.

    Parent
    The Spice Girls are Shia's feminists (none / 0) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:41:03 PM EST
    in all of his fantasies :)  I just hope he keeps his damned tweet photos away from me :)

    Parent
    Do I need to know this stuff? Will it be (5.00 / 3) (#56)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 10:08:42 PM EST
    on the test?

    Parent
    I hope not. I know nothing (none / 0) (#58)
    by ruffian on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 07:35:42 AM EST


    Parent
    You missed the Spice Girls! (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by lilburro on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 08:49:47 AM EST
    They are kind of fun.  In a campy way I guess.  I don't think knowing anything about them is really going to make what LeBouef was saying any clearer though...his comment is kind of insulting to the Spice Girls too actually.

    Parent
    Shia didn't miss the Spice Girls (none / 0) (#61)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 09:08:41 AM EST
    But he seems to have missed history like women's suffrage and then Steinem, Millet, Brownmiller, Friedan.  Shia missed Women's Studies......all of Women's Studies, he was home sick that week :) I have "Women's Studies" scorched into my brain forever now :)

    Parent
    I think women's studies (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by lilburro on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 11:30:41 AM EST
    should be mandatory.  Before high school everyone should complete a cultural course incorporating women's studies, GLBT/queer studies, African American and American studies, Latino & Asian studies, etc.  That doesn't seem too much to ask.

    Parent
    Shia (none / 0) (#69)
    by norris morris on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 02:42:17 PM EST
    He's just dumb.

    Parent
    Words That Don't Go Together: (none / 0) (#5)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:09:04 PM EST

    Anthony Weiner and Feminism

    Actually (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by lilburro on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:43:54 PM EST
    Anthony Weiner is strongly pro-choice and co-sponsored the reintroduction of the Equal Rights Amendment.  He is also a strong supporter and defender of the GLBT community as well as the African-American community.  I haven't seen anything yet that would make me think less of him on those grounds.  Although if he intentionally sent the first junk shot to that woman in Seattle, and it was unsolicited, that would change my mind.

    Parent
    Good cover (none / 0) (#21)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 02:20:58 PM EST
    .

    Anthony Weiner is strongly pro-choice and co-sponsored the reintroduction of the Equal Rights Amendment.

    That's good cover for a man that sees women as objects to be used.  

    Judge a man by his actions, not his choice of bait.

    .

    Parent

    Hold your horses... (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by kdog on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 02:27:42 PM EST
    He had what appears to be a little internet hanky-panky with willing women...and judging by a transcript of one of the chats, at least one particular lady was enjoying herself too.  That's objectifying women?  Is there any kind of sex between man and woman that doesn't objectify in your eyes?

    Parent
    believe it or not (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by CST on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:00:52 PM EST
    this stuff is actually important to people.  You know, female people.

    Maybe he does see women as people he needs for votes.  I'd much rather have him there than someone who sees women as baby factories.

    Give me the politician who panders to me over the politician who actively tries to work against me any day.

    Parent

    To be honest.. (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by huzzlewhat on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:27:44 PM EST
    I'm at the point where I pretty much suspect that all male politicians  treat women like crap on a personal level -- my expectations are that low these days. And since it's a given, let's at least have the ones that will treat women with respect politically.

    Parent
    Objects to be used? (none / 0) (#24)
    by lilburro on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 02:28:10 PM EST
    These were consensual online encounters.  

    Parent
    Consensual (none / 0) (#70)
    by norris morris on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 02:45:23 PM EST
    Bullshit. His behavior, lying, and displaced idea of sexuality and self esteem are serious. He's been a hypocrite, and were he a GOP loser we'd be all over him.

    He's toast.

    Parent

    "Bait"? (none / 0) (#43)
    by Yman on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:24:54 PM EST
    How are his twitter postings, emails, etc. evidence that he "sees women as objects to be used"?  Because they're sexual in nature?

    It was incredibly stupid (and likely a betrayal when it comes to his wife) but jumping to the conclusion that "sexting", etc. means he "sees women as objects to be used" is ridiculous.

    Parent

    Of course, (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by NYShooter on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:47:21 PM EST
    what makes this thing so tragic, not just stupid, is that in his policies he's a champion.

    And, I think that's what separates him from his hypocritical republican counterparts.

    Parent

    He has the rhetoric of a champion... (none / 0) (#59)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 07:48:56 AM EST
    but has he really accomplished much?

    To be fair, it ain't easy in our crooked clusterf*cked way of practicing democracy to get anything accomplished to help the little people...but lets not make him out to be Thomas Jefferson here.

    Parent

    Well, since I didn't (none / 0) (#63)
    by NYShooter on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 12:10:11 PM EST
    fall off a potato wagon lately, I have no illusions regarding politician's rhetoric. But, saying good things is better than saying stupid, bad things.

    But, what I meant about Republican hypocrisy is when they get on their high horse, like condemning gays while they themselves are gay, that separates them from guys like Weiner.


    Parent

    Indeed... (none / 0) (#65)
    by kdog on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 01:16:37 PM EST
    nothing hyprocritical here...Weiner has never been a legislative puritan, and before he got hitched I think he enjoyed his "swinging bachelor" label.

    Unlike "Vice laws for thee but not for me" Spitzer.

    Parent

    Respect (none / 0) (#71)
    by norris morris on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 02:52:04 PM EST
    Respect for himself, women, his wife, and his principles [he touts] do not consider this kind of behavior.

    He has poor impulse control and no respect on a deep psychological level for what and who he says he is and stands for.  As a feminist he doesn't pass the smell test.

    Risky,self involved behavior that contradicts his so called principles that reveal his contacts with women to be anything but considering women as sexual objects. He's screwed up.

    Parent

    Weiner and wiener: words that DO (none / 0) (#13)
    by observed on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:40:07 PM EST
    go together.

    Parent
    Spirit Airlines (none / 0) (#50)
    by Madeline on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 05:00:23 PM EST
    having a sale in his name.

    http://tiny.cc/4t7ts

    Parent

    Flawed (none / 0) (#9)
    by ScottW714 on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 01:31:18 PM EST
    I read that quote from Shia LeBeouf last week, it caught my eye because it was so GD stooopid.

    The Rosenberg analysis was too busy slamming LeBeouf (which I agree with Rosenburg) to acknowledge the huge flaw, Fox's audition was sleazy.  She goes out of her way to defend it, when it had nothing to do with what he said.

    A Republican House seat pickup in 2012 (none / 0) (#22)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 02:23:47 PM EST
    Probably

    Rep. Dan Boren, the lone Democrat in Oklahoma's congressional delegation and the scion of one of the state's most powerful men, will not seek re-election to a fourth term next year, three Democrats close to the congressman said Tuesday.

    Boren, a conservative Democrat who comfortably won re-election last year despite big gains by Republicans nationwide, scheduled a news conference for later Tuesday in Muskogee to discuss his future plans. The Democrats who told The Associated Press of his plans did so on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss them before the news conference.
    Maybe not (none / 0) (#26)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 02:55:55 PM EST
    Brad Carson's set to run (it's his old seat) and he is, in every respect, a better Democrat.

    In any case, Boren's no loss.

    Parent

    Votes for Speaker (none / 0) (#28)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:01:22 PM EST
    That  has value.

    Carson would definitely be an improvement.

    Parent

    He was in considerable company, (none / 0) (#34)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:35:55 PM EST
    but he didn't vote for Pelosi last January.

    In any case, the chance that he might vote for a Democratic Speaker was very nearly outweighed by his impression of Zell Miller.

    Parent

    Ah (none / 0) (#38)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:46:53 PM EST
    Well not even that then.

    I suppose he did in 2009 though.

    Parent

    Except for (none / 0) (#29)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:05:12 PM EST
    tht whole gay marriage thingie

    Parent
    Brad Carson on the issues (none / 0) (#30)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:12:26 PM EST
    2004 Senate race

    Parent
    Boren is pro gay marriage? (none / 0) (#31)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:19:58 PM EST
    News to me.

    Parent
    Didn't say that (none / 0) (#32)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:21:41 PM EST
    The comment was that Carson was a better Democrat than Boren.  Seems like it would be more of the same - if he could win.  The district went something like 66% for McCain.

    Parent
    He is better (none / 0) (#37)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:46:09 PM EST
    Boren is absolutely terrible.

    So saying Carson is better is not saying much.

    Like Andy, I'll leave you to your research.

    Myself, I know Carson is better than Boren.

    Parent

    It's Oklahoma (none / 0) (#33)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:33:08 PM EST
    Obama didn't win a single county in that state. Not one.

    Parent
    And voters (none / 0) (#35)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:36:49 PM EST
    will be in the "throw the bums out" mood again.

    Doesn't tell me why Carson is a better Democrat.

    Parent

    I don't care enough to put together the info (none / 0) (#36)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 03:40:16 PM EST
    for you. You can do the research yourself if you like.

    Parent
    It's YOUR opinion (none / 0) (#39)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:08:58 PM EST
    Don't know how I could "research" that.

    Parent
    BTD agrees with me (none / 0) (#41)
    by andgarden on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:15:34 PM EST
    I think most Democrats who are marginally familiar with the two would also.

    Parent
    Ouch! (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by oculus on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 10:18:29 PM EST


    Parent
    If Carson runs, he wins. (none / 0) (#42)
    by Tony on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:17:57 PM EST
    No doubt about it.  The only Republican from that district who could beat him is Tom Coburn, who won't be the nominee, obviously.  Eastern Oklahoma is a really, really weird place politically.  They will never, ever vote for a Democrat for president, but are pretty reliable in all other elections.

    And good riddance to Dan Boren.  Being a Democrat in this state is tough enough, but when someone so odious is the only Democratic member of your delegation in Washington, it's tough to take.

    Parent

    Wonder where Dan Boren will go next? (none / 0) (#54)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 07:36:57 PM EST
    Hope it is someplace where he will do no more damage.  I keep fearing that he will wind up in the Obama administration, but probably will be at BP.

    Parent
    Actually (none / 0) (#40)
    by jbindc on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:10:58 PM EST
    That's not in the Bible.

    Love the quote from the rabbi ... (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Yman on Tue Jun 07, 2011 at 04:34:11 PM EST
    ... at Middle Tennessee State who had trouble convincing his student that "This dog won't hunt" was not in the Book of Proverbs.

    Parent
    You noticed, eh? (none / 0) (#64)
    by NYShooter on Wed Jun 08, 2011 at 12:16:56 PM EST
    but its all the channels actually.

    This story is the perfect metaphor for what passes for "journalism' today. That look on their faces, wide eyed, adolescently lascivious, comically shocked, grin from ear to ear,..............projectile producing nausea.  

    Words That Don't Go Together: Transformers And Feminism | 74 comments (74 topical)

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