Cheat To Win

My plan this weekend is to spend the majority of at least one day watching movies from my perfect bed.

Look at her. Gaze upon the one person who is even more aware of the irony and hypocrisy of the world than Daria Morgendorffer. This is the one person who has even more right and insight to call everyone out on their sh-t. Meet Jodie Landon–popular girl, homecoming queen, model student, and young woman of color.

I love this article post but I can’t help but think it should have been three times the length and considerably deeper.  What about Jodie’s decision to attend Turner over Crestmore - to the chagrin of her father?  How come we didn’t delve into Jodie’s behavior during the small business project at Lawndale?  Let’s not be anti-feminist, but her relationship with Mack is incredibly important, as well.  He regularly plays off of her token status as a man in similar circumstances, freely commenting on his disdain for the Lawndale community.

I read this piece and I love what’s been put out there, but I feel like it’s less of a definitive reading of Jodie Landon and more like a start to a conversation about the intersectionality of identity and privilege within the realm of Daria at large.

Source: Racialicious

She’s blasé and she knows it…

Currently emulating.

Quinn Morgendorffer is my hero.

So I’ve been working on/tweaking this playlist for a month or two now, but it comes from an odd amalgamation of interests.  I have been jonesing for the South recently, and after seeing The Help (yes, I’ll admit it), that need grew in strength.  In addition, I read three separate feminist texts recently:

• Reality Bites Back: How Guilty Pleasure TV is Making Us Sexist, Shallow, and Socially Irresponsible by Jennifer Pozner
• Enlightened Sexism: The Seductive Message that Feminism’s Work Is Done by Susan Douglas
• Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference by Cordelia Fine

All three of these texts really had me thinking about usurping traditional gender roles and the expression of the female in popular culture.  Finally, I had some pressure from a few good friends to turn them on to some new music.  These three seemingly disparate inspirations merged into one concept and theme in my head.  As a result, the playlist “If the Devil was a Girl” was born.  

Some of these songs are reminiscent of Southern culture to me, some involve female voices covering and transforming “masculine” songs, and a lot seem to occupy a space that evokes female power and aggression.  That said, some are just fun new songs for you to enjoy.  The music isn’t necessarily meant to imply a feeling of Halloween, but I could certainly see how it can blend into autumnal sounds, so I created an album cover for it.  Besides, it gives me an excuse to use that amazing picture of Daria and Jane slash tie the title to a season (I love bringing things full circle).

I have provided a link to the music here and the track list in its intended order below:

• “Criminal” - Fiona Apple
• “The Cave” - Alex Winston
• “Cold As It Gets” - Patty Griffin
• “Devil Town” - Bright Eyes
• “Billie Holiday (Radio Edit)” - Warpaint
• “Wonderwall” - Cat Power
• “Raphaël” - Carla Bruni
• “Devil Knows You’re Dead” - Delta Spirit
• “Un-Named” - Leona Naess
• “Devil’s in the Jukebox” - Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
• “Legend of a Cowgirl” - Imani Coppola
• “Lollipop (Squeak E. Clean & Desert Eagles Remix)” - The Chordettes
• “22” - Lily Allen
• “Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh” - Say Hi
• “Boys Who Rape (Should All Be Destroyed)” - The Raveonettes
• “Fader” - Temper Trap
• “Abducted” - Cults
• “Terrible Angels” - Charlotte Gainsbourg
• “Bedroom Eyes” - Dum Dum Girls
• “Paris (Ooh La La)” - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
• “Shuffle” - Bombay Bicycle Club
• “Fembot” - Robyn
• “Hello (Original Mix)” - Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette

“Life sucks no matter where you are so don’t be fooled by location changes.” - Daria Morgendorffer

I’ve thought about three different TV show-related tattoos:

• 4 8 15 16 23 42
• “Clear eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose.”
• The photo shown above.

Sometimes I identify with Quinn more than I probably should…

I should be making a dent on my laundry and studying for the GRE.  Instead, I think I’ll read more about Tyra Banks and her institutionalized racism and sexism.