Goldenbird 4 p. 17-18
The second page is a little exercise in feminist theory, that is, exploring the term “male gaze”. Where are the men looking or where they are trying to look?
I was quite young when I first understood that men are taught to look at the world (e.g.,women) in a different way. Luckily, I didn’t understand that I could be the target (I still haven’t entirely grasped the concept). I remember an episode at age 7 or 8 when a son of one of Mum’s friends was visiting. Mum had a feminist book on the shelf,the popular “Eevan tyttäret” (Daughters of Eve) by Kaari Utrio. (That book had some scary images of witch trials, corsets and other misogynist practices that were etched into my mind.) After a while we sisters were running after the poor boy with the pictures of naked women, and he was too scared to look (or pretended to be). Mum had to tell us off for being so loud. Usually we were very well-behaved.
One could analyze that incident at length and draw various conclusions of female agency, taking charge of the image and the gaze instead of falling victim to it, but still recognising its power etc etc. Managing my internalized male gaze is part of my feminist strategy. I enjoy drawing beautiful and funny pictures, which is not uncontroversial in our society. I constantly worry about objectifying people. But I also want to strip the images - and the gaze - something of their power.
What has this to do with Goldenbird? Everything in the world. It happens that people look at me and draw the funniest conclusions based on my footwear or hairstyle. Imagine Mayann’s situation. I want to make the reader look at her before she thinks, acts and speaks her mind. Remember the first chapter-it starts with Falco’s diary, his organised, rational thoughts,interrupted by Mayann’s shout and her legs - and her shadow. All we can look at is her shadow. When will we be able to see her true form?
August 31st, 2008 at 10:44 pm
It’s so great how the first panel on page 17 juxtaposes Mrs. Moore patting the trumpet player on the behind and Mayann patting Mochi (MOCHI MOCHI MOCHI) on the behind …
Mochi’s thoughts are total evilness.
Regarding the male gaze, what I often like to do is to just turn the tables and depict male characters as stereotypical, passive love interests / beauties / background noise / accessories, while the female characters have real, layered personalities and “do” things in the story …
Also, a strange hobby of mine is to read novels and in my head change the genders of all the characters.
September 1st, 2008 at 5:37 am
Ohh, thank you thank you! I’m so happy to see an update. I’m kind of frightened for Mayann, though… her determination not to have the Dux’s men “steal her show”… combined with their previously-demonstrated racism…. Well, I wish the girl luck.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Hurray for updates ;)I really enjoyed your commentary on this page which gave me some food for thought. @Zheyna I’m also a little afraid for Mayann too but I think since she was gusty enough to pull it off and they appear to really like her, I think she’ll be okay.
September 9th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Thanks for the comments! I must confess I’m a bit afraid too…