Geeking Out

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Tanya

We’re keeping it simple and streamlined, no pics, tons of links! Tell us what you’re Geeking Out about this week! (And have a wonderful weekend).

  • If you’ve been enjoying Anita Sarkeesian’s Feminist Frequency series on tropes in TV and movies, then you definitely should lend your support as she raises resources for a new project, Tropes vs. Women: Video Games, applying the same biting wit and insight to the gaming medium.
  • One of our favorite ladies, Mindy Kaling, is getting her own show! We love the trailer and are loking forward to seeing more.
  • ABC’s Mistresses may not be the sort of plot we normally spring for, but we’re undeniably excited about a show with interesting storylines and friendships, featuring Black and East Asian women in the main cast. The trailer‘s also bringing flashbacks from Charmed and Lost because of Alyssa Milano and Yun Jin Kim.
  • We cheered so hard (or cackled, in Lois’ case) at this smart, take-no-prisoners (or BS!) exchange as Tamron Hall not only schooled a SWM conservative, but dropped the mic and kicked him off the air.
  • Congratulations to Ellen DeGeneres, who is to be awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in October!
  • Just when we thought we’ve seen about every kind of song cover on Youtube, this cutie goes and does a blues cover of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It.” Swoon!
  • Did you think you were the only risque ones, guys, with dick jokes and all? Lady-writers are just as raunchy as their male counterparts.
  • Worlds collide! Karen Gillan talks Community and wanting to be on Inspector Spacetime.
  • These incredible cosplayers pay tribute to Diablo 3‘s improved character models, which take gender into account.
  • Battleship, aka Ocean Transformers, opens in theatres this weekend. It already has a rather low rating of 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, but we’ll probably still see it (after a few wine coolers).
  • This 93 year old woman is the world’s oldest yoga teacher, and her moves put some younger students to shame. So inspiring!
  • Neil deGrasse Tyson, for whom we obviously have an unwavering admiration, says it simply: “Every child is a scientist.”
  • A short and sweet Q&A with Community‘s Danny Pudi about getting through life’s awkward moments, over at Persephone Mag.
  • The “Memes” exhibit at Gallery1988 has some pretty great stuff on view (and for purchase), paying tribute to Internet culture and fandom.
  • Law & Order & Food – that’s all you really need to know.  (via Super Punch)
  • First look at Elementary! We’ll still have to wait to see the show, but so far Sherlock is looking perfectly eccentric and brilliant, while Watson shows intelligence and calm resolve, so they both seem true to character.
  • New China Mieville novel, Railsea, is out! This one will definitely be added to the bookshelf in our Goodreads discussion group.
  • Looking ahead, the Fall TV prime time line up from five major networks is showing quite a few new contenders. We’re eager to see how Revolution and the post-apocalyptic premise pan out; we’re also intrigued by 666 Park Avenue, about an Upper Eastside apartment building being haunted by demonic forces (Sex in the City meets Rosemary’s Baby?).
  • Want to shoot a bow and arrow like Katniss and Hawkeye, or learn the skills that will get you through the zombie apocalypse? Adventure website ZOZI.com has you covered, with courses to help you Train Like Batman, make it through a Zombie Survival Pistol Course, or train like a Game of Thrones-style knight.

What’s on your radar this week? Tell us in the comments!
Check out our previous Geeking Out posts.

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Moxie saw The Avengers and you should too (and look, no spoilers!)

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Tanya

This movie ain’t for everybody, only the sexy people, so all you fly mothers, get on out there and avenge!

No but seriously you guys, I saw The Avengers last week, and it was everything I ever dreamed it would be. This movie has it all: a buddy comedy with seven buddies, explosions, angst, butts. And so much more. This film perfectly exemplifies the genius of Joss The Boss Whedon; it toes the line between mainstream and fanboy just right. I saw it with one of my girlfriends who is not a comic book or Whedon geek in the least, and she followed it and loved it as much as the rest of the theater.

I love Whedon’s TV endeavors but the criticisms I’ve heard have all been valid. Some people don’t groove with his hyper stylized, sometimes overly meta dialogue, or the archetypal characterizations. The Avengers, though, was nothing if not balanced. The characters are still familiar to those who love the comics, but Whedon made them that much more rounded and lovable. His style really shines through in the dialogue; it’s all very natural, and using Tony Stark as a mouthpiece to spit some grade A pop culture snark was a prime choice.

Everyone is almost surprisingly grounded: Cap isn’t too preachy, Thor never too much of a bonehead, and if you were worried about Black Widow being little more than eye-candy, the movie will more than quell your nerves. (I mean, if nothing else, Whedon has you covered on strong female leads.) Also, her weave is much improved, as is Thor’s. You thought Hawkeye was going to be a throwaway character? Think again. This movie is…  like the best Avengers fanfic you’ve ever read in your life: fanfic so good, it almost makes you want to denounce the source material in favor of it. It’s all just different enough to get you really excited to see what happens next, because it could be anything, and whatever it is, you know it will be good (ahem, Monica Rambeau, ahem). Folks in the fandom will appreciate the many little details being given attention. Whedon is also good at making your heart go pitter-patter, and the chemistry between the cast just adds to it. There’s just nobody you don’t care about and nobody that doesn’t care about someone else. That’s a hard chord to strike in an ensemble film, and this really was a complete ensemble film.

But the biggest surprise came from none other than the jolly green giant himself, Bruce Banner, who was flawlessly executed by that certified national treasure and known heart slayer, Mark of House Ruffalo, first of his name. Ruffalo takes Banner to places no one in the theater expected. Subtlety was never a word I associated with Hulk, and that has all changed, thanks to this film.

For all the witty banter and prime time booty shots, this is still a Whedon project, which means your heart will be ripped from your chest and shoved down your throat. All I’ll say is, pack a bowl of chicken soup to cry into, because this movie is SICK.

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Game of Thrones Recap S2E7: Actually, a Lot of Men Without Honor

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Elyse

This week on Game of Thrones, Jon Snow knows Nothing!

My girl Ygritte.

There are so many versions of this gif online, y'all.

Continue reading →

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Monthly book club – Ash by Malinda Lo

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Tanya

You might remember, we’ve started a book group on GoodReads. Since several of us on staff here read Malinda Lo‘s Ash recently, we thought it would make a good way to get the ball rolling on a monthly book group. So please, join us in picking up this lovely YA fantasy novel and jump into the discussion.

We will be reading/re-reading/discussing the book from now until June 11, and we’ll post a summary of our thoughts, as well as those of our other readers, at the end of the month. So come on by the book forum, to talk about Ash, or just to recommend your favorites and express your love for geeky reading!

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Geeking Out

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Tanya

It’s been yet another busy and somewhat stressful week for some of us here at GQ. This week’s Geeking Out list is a bit lighter than usual and less image heavy. It’s heartbreaking to start our list yet again by mentioning the passing of a great talented soul… RIP Maurice Sendak. The clip below is a lovely tribute from when the author met with Stephen Colbert for a conversation:

  • In other heartbreaking news: WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS, NBC?
  • Looks like somebody put all their XP into Smithing!
  • It seems that floppy disks’ only remaining purpose is nerdy art, and we’re ok with that.
  • We have never been prouder of Tumblr. This meme has exploded, turning stereotypes and special snowflake syndrome on their heads and embracing women’s differences in a funny, cheeky way.
  • Also from Mary Sue, this conversation with Rachel Weil, curator of FEMICOM (“the feminine computer museum”), is really a worthwhile lunchtime read.
  • Rapture fans may be disappointed to learn that the Bioshock Infinite release has been pushed back to February 2013.
  • Want ideas for a cute and quirky superhero wedding? Geeksugar has some tips in this awesome photo gallery.
  • After Ashton Kutcher’s hilariously (NOT) offensive Pop Chips commercial, as well as news of Liam Helmsworth being cast as Ali Baba, this is too relevant to pass over. Solidarity fist bumps in the outrage over how Indians and Asians seem to be the “clownable minorities.”
  • Now better than ever, the dating profiles of 18 Famous Fictional Characters. We see you, Jean-Luc bb!
  • We’ve long since sighed and quietly let go of our fondness for Tim Burton’s movies – some of us (ahem, Tanya) haven’t had their hearts set aflutter by his films since ’96 – and this list is particularly right on the money.
  • Just announced is that another title from Archaia’s catalog will be translated to the screen. Feeding Ground (Lang, Lapinski, and Mangun), a novel and grizzly take on werewolf lore, will be directed by Alfonzo Gomez-Rejon (American Horror Story) and adapted for the screen by writer Carlos Coto (24, NCIS). This may prove to be very interesting indeed.
  • Do you love Animaniacs? Do you think you know everything there is to know about the show? Well, maybe this Mental Floss article will help you beef up your trivia.
  • Thor + corgis = Geekquality wanting to get matching t-shirts and wear these, always.

What’s on your radar this week? Tell us in the comments!
Check out our previous Geeking Out posts.

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The Virgin’s Revenge and Moral Dichotomy in Arang

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Lois


Arang (2006)
Directed by Ahn Sang-hoon
TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of rape and traumatic pregnancy.

Arang was the first horror movie where I rooted for the ghost. Certainly, it was the first ghost flick that really showed me what a good horror movie should do, especially for normally marginalized characters. Prior to my first watch, I had never actually questioned why a ghost would haunt the ever-loving shit out of somebody, other than to be a complete dick.

Veteran cop So-young (Yun-Ah Song) comes off suspension after an incident where she kicked the crap out of a rapist (a scene during which I silently cheered). She’s paired up with a rookie from forensics (played by the adorable Dong-Wook Lee) to solve a string of murders within a group of friends. The investigation devolves into a series of spooky occurrences, with a whole lot of blood, strangling, and black hair. Continue reading →

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Latino Audiences, Hollywood, and Pixar’s Día de los Muertos Movie

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Guest Writer

This guest post is written by Jazmine, a Houston, Texas native and a New Orleans transplant. She works in non-profit communications when she isn’t obsessively checking Twitter and Tumblr for all things social justice, geeky, and pop culture.

As problematic as the MPAA has been in the past, it was encouraging to hear MPAA Chief Chris Dodd insist that Hollywood become more inclusive by creating more movies aimed at Latino audiences, who make up a quarter of the movie-going audience and see more movies per year than any other group. Dodd, while recommending there be more films that would resonate with Latino movie goers, also cautioned against tokenism.

Dodd’s speech comes right on the heels of Pixar’s announcement that Toy Story 3 director Lee Unkrich is working on a movie “set in the world of Día de los Muertos.” A Día de los Muertos movie has enormous potential to achieve a happy medium between attracting more Latino audiences while also sharing a part of Latino culture with a wider demographic.

Catrinas (via Wikipedia)

Unkrich did an amazing job pulling our heartstrings with Toy Story 3and I’m optimistic that his new movie will live up to his previous work, as long as the creators do extensive cultural research, or hire consultants who celebrate the holiday themselves. Pixar has said that it will be an original story,  not based on any other material. My hope is that, since the holiday originated in Mexico with the Aztecs, the story will prominently feature Mexican characters. To date, Pixar has not produced any films with a protagonist of color and this would be the perfect opportunity to add a little more diversity to the mix.

Other bloggers have written about the issues of cultural appropriation surrounding Día de los Muertos, so I’m hesitant about putting my full support behind this film without any details about the characters, setting, or storyline. It would be all too easy for Hollywood to pick and choose the elements that Americans are familiar with and create a story loosely based on the skeletons and iconography that are commonly associated with the holiday. However, Pixar has dealt with issues such as death and growing up in very nuanced and sensitive ways in the past, so there is hope the studio will make a moving and respectful tribute to the holiday that honors and celebrates the dead.  Still, while I appreciate Dodd’s warning that Hollywood should be weary of tokenism, he also pointed to Tyler Perry as a model for attracting African American audiences to theaters. This might not be the best standard to live up to, given how contentious Tyler Perry movies can beamong African-American bloggers and movie-goers.

It’s true that Hollywood can’t expect to attract Latino audiences by just making movies in Spanish or “presuming that a single cultural approach would find broad appeal.” Latinos are definitely a broad group, with origins in any number of countries and of any skin color. Many Latinos in the United States are also second, third, or fourth generation immigrants, some of whom don’t even speak Spanish. It would also be wonderful to see more movies featuring the diverse experiences of Latinos from all walks of life. Themes that explore cultural identity or generational conflicts would likely resonate with many Latinos, such as myself, who grew up in the United States.

Gina Torres as Zoe Washburne (Firefly)

Furthermore, it would be refreshing to see Latino actors given more opportunities other than the usual stereotypical depictions of over-sexualized bombshells or gang members. Those few Latino actors and actresses who do make it in Hollywood usually fall into background roles or stereotypes. Others, who can “pass”, tend to get whitewashed into roles, or type cast into African-American roles. Gina Torres of Firefly fame has spoken before about how she is frequently cast into “African-American” roles even though she is Cuban. However, Torres has obviously achieved some success in landing smart and diverse roles.

Maybe the first step in appealing to Latino audiences is simply casting more Latino actors and actresses in roles that would normally go to white actors, instead of typecasting by appearance, or assuming that there is a magic formula for attracting Latino audiences. The Cuban film Juan of the Dead (Juan de los Muertos) is a perfect example of how pop culture trends have cross-over appeal between different cultures. Aubrey Plaza from Parks and Recreation is another Latina actress who has been lucky to play unique and complex characters. Plaza is of Puerto Rican heritage, and so is her character April in Parks and Rec. I, for one, am really looking forward to her new movie, Safety Not Guaranteed.

Hopefully, more actresses like Plaza and Torres can break out and start earning more high quality roles, and films like Pixar’s Día de los Muertos can break away from the stereotypical depictions of Mexicans and Mexican culture. Latinos obviously love movies as much as the next person, and I’m willing to bet that making more high quality movies and opening up more opportunities to Latino writers, actors, and directors will attract even more Latino audiences to theaters.

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Game of Thrones Recap S2E6: The Old Dogs and the New

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Elyse

This week on Game of Thrones, the theme is separation. Friends from foes, children from moms, and of course, heads and/or limbs from bodies.

Ygritte

And, with any luck, Jon Snow from his pants.

Continue reading →

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Geeking Out

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Tanya

It goes without saying… May the Fourth Be With You!

  • We were saddened to hear that Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys passed away today. In honor of his (and the band’s) prolific output, check out this fantastic glossary of 170 Beastie Boys lyrics references that was put together by the Onion AV Club.
  • AVENGERS!!!!!!!! A few of our staffers braved the midnight crowds and went to see it last night. We promise to do our best and avoid spoilers if we end up talking about the move on the site in the next few days.
  • This Saturday is Free Comic Book Day. Drop by your participating neighborhood comic book store, pick up a freebie, and buy a book or two if you can swing it. Don’t know where to start? Check out our own Alice Marie weekly comic book feature for inspiration, or just get to know the staffers – they’re sure to have tons of recommendations!
  • Do you take your tea with milk or science? This ceramic tea set, combining function with Russian folk style, is pretty awesome. Too bad it’s only a prototype, or we’d be hosting tea parties with this set for sure!
  • We honestly can’t wait for Pixar’s Brave to hit theaters – it feels like we’ve been waiting forever. So any and all new stills are welcome!
  • With the Total Recall movie remake coming down the pipeline, some might be looking forward, but others are looking back – mainly, at concept art that shows what the film would have been like if it had been directed by David Cronenberg instead of Paul Verhoeven.
  • Check out this Kickstarter to help fund the publication of an anthology of feminist speculative fiction! This book should be required reading in classrooms.
  • English speakers already adopt foreign words to describe particular situations/feelings (schadenfreude, anyone?), so this is a great list of ten untranslatable wordsto add to our vocab. Each term is paired with a work of sci-fi or fantasy that could be best described using that particular word.

    Barbara Gordon (Birds of Prey) by Yasmin Liang

  • The Mary Sue knocks it out of the park (as always) with this awesome article on illustrating realistic, functional wheelchairs. It’s always good to see folks of varying ability in media, and it’s even better when it’s done right!
  • We spy with our little eye… Alias on this list! Ten showrunners of some beloved series talk about some of their biggest regrets while working on their shows. (Like frakkin’ Battlestar Galactica!)
  • Combining our love for Game of Thrones and Lego, check out this stop motion video recreating the show’s intro!
  • This video mash-up featuring clips from 182 superhero films (coming in just under five minutes) makes you wonder if it’s a sign that the genre is a bit tired, or if it’s just tried and true.
  • Tumblr patron saint and very British author Neil Gaiman is re-teaming with Coraline, James and The Giant Peach and Nightmare Before Christmas director, stop-motion genius Henry Selick, for an adaptation of Gaiman’s most recent novel, The Gravyard Book. One step closer to having a film version of everything Gaiman has ever written!
  • Bethesda Softworks (publishers of Skyrim and Fallout) have just shown the first trailer for their next big franchise, Dishonored. The developer, Arkane Studios, last worked as level and asset designers for Bioshock 2. Yeah, it’s a Neo-Victorian steampunk setting, and yeah, it’s been done, but the pedigree, political intrigue in the story, and the potential for emergent gameplay all make it very exciting.
  • The John Carter stories have inspired a gender-swapped version called Jane Carver of Waar, by Nathan Long. Based on this excerpt, it sounds like a fun, campy ride!
  • DC’s just released their newest Super Best Friends Forever short. Part of their “DC Nation” series of interstitials on Cartoon Network, it features Supergirl trying to get out of being grounded, ’cause, you know, “vanquishing wickedness takes precedence over trivial penance!” (Thanks Wondergirl!)
  • Really looking forward to the final chapter of Mira Grant’s post-Zombie-Apocalypse-blogger-political-thriller trilogy, Newsflesh.  The third book, Blackout, is available on May 22nd, and after the crazy twists and turns that Grant has thrown at sister and brother blog-team George and Shaun Mason, we’ve got no idea what to expect.  All we know is that it’s going to be shocking, it’s going to be bloody, and absolutely no-one is safe.
  • Half of tween girls are gamers who love Beyonce. We’re so proud! Here’s looking at you, kids.
  • Loving these old cabinet cards altered into geek art by Alex Gross!
  • Also amazing: Foto Marvellini’s super-hero family portraits. So cool!
  • Joseph Gordon-Levitt might be in a revamp of Little Shop of Horrors as Seymour, the florist who raises a giant singing carnivorous plant. That might be kind of amazing.
  • Star Trek: TNG cast recently reunited in Calgary – tears were shed, laughs were shared, and if you weren’t there, you can check out these video clips.

What’s on your radar this week? Tell us in the comments!
Check out our previous Geeking Out posts.

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We Got A Badass Over Here: Doctor Neil deGrasse Tyson, Science and Social Responsibility

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Rick

Astrophysicist Doctor Neil deGrasse Tyson

In the latter half of 1958, two events occurred that would have a profound effect on the science of astrophysics: one was the signing of the National Aeronautics and Space Act by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which authorized the creation of NASA as a civilian space agency; the other, much more humble of the two, was the birth in the West Bronx of Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Neil (age 12) assembling his first telescope with his father, Cyril

Born to Cyril deGrasse Tyson and Sunchita Feliciano Tyson, Neil grew up in the Skyview Apartments, a prophetically-named complex located in the relatively well-to-do neighborhood of Riverdale. His father, himself a son of immigrants from the Caribbean, was a sociologist and activist; his mother was a housewife who would later earn a Master’s degree in gerontology. That the Tyson family lived in a middle-class enclave was fairly remarkable for the late 1950′s, especially since there had been protests from residents at the time to keep Black families from moving in. Though the family was fairly off for the time, Neil was acutely aware of how fortunate he was, and how difficult things were for many other people of color in America. During Neil’s childhood, his father’s career centered on collaborating with city officials to create employment opportunities in the inner city for urban youth.

“Year after year, the forces operating against this effort were huge: poor schools, bad teachers, meager resources, abject racism, and assassinated leaders… I was watching America do all it could to marginalize who I was and what I wanted to become in life.” (1)

In a piece written for NASA’s 50th Anniversary, he describes his fascination and excitement about the space program in the 1960’s, an excitement tempered by the knowledge that he could never be an astronaut:

“[T]he vicarious thrill of the journey, so prevalent in the hearts and minds of others, was absent from my emotions. I was obviously too young to be an astronaut. But I also knew that my skin color was much too dark for you to picture me as part of this epic adventure.”

NASA personnel at Mission Control during the Apollo 11 launch

As a matter of fact, NASA was only integrated by a direct Presidential order from Lyndon Johnson to Wernher von Braun, rocketry pioneer and first director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. And, while President Johnson’s mandate instructed NASA to work with Alabama A&M and Tuskeegee University to locate qualified candidates to work with the space program, the idea of a Black astrophysicist was essentially unheard of.

Young Neil deGrasse Tyson

It’s a good thing that no one bothered to tell young Neil, who wouldn’t be stopped from exploring the Universe even if all the astronauts were White. Continue reading →

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