Selling #Feminism (Part 1)

THE onslaught of marketing campaigns and ads, I know no one has been spared from the knowledge that Disney has mounted a live-action remake of the classic tale Beast. Now starring Emma Watson of in a children’s movie” was promptly

Beauty and the Harry Potter fame and a handful dashed by a single viewing. of Academy Award-winning actors Lo and behold, the height of whose thespian performances will #feminism in Beast: be shrouded in 30 layers of CGI Belle invents a washing machine. I kid

Beauty and the ( computer generated imagery) you not. In the supposed “feminist” for the better part of the film, the reboot, Belle – a woman – designs, of endeavor has been largely touted as all things, a washing machine. Not a a feminist reboot on the “tale as old contraption that can harness energy, as time” – romanticized Stockholm not a hadron collider – a washing Syndrome, and all. machine. Down with patriarchy?

However, after watching the film I In the new film, Belle has been felt largely misled and betrayed. My ascribed the qualities of an inventor initial reaction of “Oooooh, Disney’s – formerly the storyline of her father taking on more progressive issues Maurice in the animated original. But instead of building something that can get her out of the dull “provincial life” she sings about, her engineering ideas largely go back and conform to the domestic stereotypes the backward world imposes on and expects of women. Belle does all the household chores, while her father – now a bumbling watch repairman – flounders around in his work studio. That doesn’t seem very feminist, noh?

(If you want a true grit feminist tale about inventors, go watch Figures. Tackling civil rights and the

Hidden struggle of the African American community for equality, it follows three empowered trail-blazing Black women instrumental in the race to outer space and the moon.)

An angry mob will eventually destroy and t ake away t he contraption from her, and all Belle does is flail and cry. I would argue that the pitchfork- wielding horde did her a favor. They just released you, Belle, from your proverbial sedentary ball and chain, now go out into the world and be a true feminist. #WomenOfTheWorldUnite

com/ (rhickalbay@gmail. PN)