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For me, I think it's this one. I watched the entire seasons to date all summer, and finished when Season 4 came out on DVD early September. I can't remember the last time a girl has been in her panties when she has died.

I also feel like, if a girl is being a total dumbass (that girl in the Bloody Mary episode was warned about it, ignored it, her friend, did not and lived), I focus in on that above the symbolic way they are done in. Because I really hate when female characters in particular act stupid (OMFG HEROES WHY).

In Season 4 we see a dead female angel (we don't see how she died), who is wearing a full length nightgown and slippers, is the last woman I remember dying who wasn't fully clothed at that time.

We have seen Dean take Castiel into a brothel, though. But not to kill anyone, if it matters. ._.

It isn't that women die, it is how they die (and for me; why). And I think I'm completely fine in saying "(the first season of) Supternatural has a high amount of oversexualized female deaths with few female characters of any worth" - and it is a easy target because the first season does indeed kill women in the tropes of filmatic horror. Just because it is a "easy target" doesn't nullify what I'm trying to say. Which is, to clarify; "I think Supernatural is a TV show that expresses gender inequality primarily through repeated articulate aesthetics." I'm no different than any other modern media consumer; I watch women be presented badly all the time in a varitey of comics, tv shows, music, and film and go about my normal business either grumbling to myself, but more often accepting it just like everyone else.

Supernatural just had the luck of irking me profoundly from the first episode, but I watched all of the first season. The more I watched the more irked I got. Once finished, I found the "Women's Work" video and thought "THANK GOD" and shared it. Because, to use Selina's choice of words, I believe it is a worthwhile discussion.


The two women who created the video did so between season 3 to 4; so primarily season 1 and 2 (some 3) footage was used. And the two women who created the video are hardcore Supernatural fans. They are moderators on one of the most popular Supernatural message boards, they are popular fanfic writers, and most of their other videos cast Supernatural in a positive light, focusing on the brothers journey. They are not random people picking a fight, they are fans concerned with how their favorite show often times depicts women. In Luminosity's own words:

"Women's Work is a critique of the eroticization of the violence done to women in all media, not just Supernatural. Women are sexually assaulted, murdered, and then laid out in artistic tableaux, chopped into pretty, bloody pieces. They usually further the plot, but they’re hardly ever a part of the plot. We wanted to point out that in order for us to love a TV show—and we do—we have to set this horrible part of it aside. A lot. Often. Sisabet [the co-vidder of the project] and I believe that we could have made this vid using almost any show, from Heroes to CSI, but we are fans of Supernatural. We care so much about a show that we want share it, make an argument, highlight a character or situation, lampoon something, evoke a mood. I’ve also made four other Supernatural vids that celebrate the show, the arc, the relationship between the brothers and the genre itself."

Knowing the creator's intent with their video, you don't really have to know Supernatural in and out to make a statement - as the video is primarily making a statement on women in media/horror in general (which the linked article did express). I am the one who focused it on Supernatural exclusively as it correlated with my own personal dislike of the season I just finished watching.


THIS is essentially the second reason the video exists: Two fans who love the show, who study it week to week, who love the characters for plot (and visual) reasons wanted to step back and have a second look with their fan/media accepting goggles off.

Fan reaction to the video has been mixed. The first reaction is that of defense; "There is so much more to the show! This argument has no bases, everything is taken out of context! Here is a list of good female characters!" (Which is just what Bart did, and was expected - it was the first thing a lot of fans did! Interesting yeah?) After a while though, about a month after the video 'primer" (and best believe active fans saw it due to the creators high profile and influence within the Supernatural online community) more in depth discussions began. Which, really, is a good thing. Supernatural's fanbase is made up primarily of women; and female viewers defending the generic gender issues of the horror genre because they like Sam's face? Once the bizarreness of that dawns on you as a fan, you tend to go back and look at the video again. And that is exactly what the creators wanted to do for the Supernatural fandom in particular above CSI or Heroes.

I know you were, that's why I mentioned the fact the blogger is the one who states that the video's ultimate purpose is to draw attention to women in media in general, not just Supernatural (hence they as a blogger don't need to know every detail about Supernatural to get the message of the video). I gave info on the creators just to clarify that they themselves are fans and their intent.


The mythology of the show is what I was trying the series out for, but got severely distracted (OBVIOUSLY xd ). And sure, I'd watch more but only for free. Although I'd be lying if I said I could be super impartial now when viewing.

It occurred to me that I do owe you an apology for this. I was one of the louder voices encouraging you to keep watching the show. You had done you're due diligence in trying something new by watching a couple of episodes and made it clear that you didn't like it. At that point I should have told you "thanks" for giving the show a shot and moved on, but I didn't. I usually don't do that, but I let my fandom get the better of me, and for that I apologize. I doubt you'd have been as irked with the show if you hadn't been encouraged to watch as much of it.

That being said putting Supernatural in the middle of a discussion about gender roles is like putting the Three Stooges in the middle of a discussion about violence in the media. Dean got his a** handed to him by Paris Hilton this week. This is not a show to be taken seriously.

I thought it was ok, but...I kinda missed Castiel. He's been kinda stealing the show this season. My favorite part was: Dean being so figgity and scared under that car. After all he's lived through, it was awesome to see him that way. Also, I liked this scene, too: "I didn't even see House of Wax!" *pan to Sam*

So ... Boondock Saints 2...

Not sure how good it's gonna be, judging from the trailer.

Zombieland was freaking great.

A X-Files Season 1 viewing will be taking place in my tiny Guild if anyone is interested in joining in. I promise you 90s cell phones and sweet pants suits.