The Effects of Religion

Yes, I know this blog predominantly revolves around media. 

However, I do state in my profile that it is also 'Just My Opinion'. 

Which leads to the reasoning behind this blogpost. 

Let me state first of all I am very anti-religion. People sometimes ask me why 'anti'? To which I respond that growing up in school, I, along with the rest of the class, were sometimes made to watch Christian films. 

The school was supposed to be non-religious. And yet, they brainwashed me into thinking if I pray and believe some fictional god is watching over me, this will prevent me from doing wrong. 

I can understand why some people would follow this lifestyle for that reason. Good morals, values etc. But it's what they think are good, according to their religion. 

This then has huge repercussions. One of which I have fallen victim to. 

In particular, the way some religions treat women in comparison to men. I have a massive issue with this. 

In some religions, women are not allowed to drive, receive education or work. 

Leading to the men of that religion feeling inferior when around independent and superior women that do not share the same beliefs. 

Thus resulting in them being highly disrespectful to women, purely because of something they believe is right for them. 

Recently this has happened to a dear friend of mine and so I'm hoping by sharing this blog, some woman out there, even just one, will be inspired. 

Religion is not law. Religion is not definitive of your life. 

Religion: 

the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. 

Oxford Dictionary. (2013). Definition of Religion in English. Available: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/religion?q=Religion. Last accessed 20th Aug 2013.

Lovelace: Empowering or Degrading?

Lovelace 

Excited and intrigued.

I'd say those words both describe how I feel about the release of this film. 

The film is a drama based on, possibly the most well known pornographic film star ever known to man, Linda Lovelace (real name Linda Boreman). 

And yes, I just used the word pornographic instead of 'adult film'. Because, well, lets not beat around the bush eh? (Is there a pun in there somewhere?)

Lovelace is portrayed by Amanda Seyfried. Will it work? We all recognise Seyfried by her long, blonde locks and her big puppy eyes. The image of innocence. Surprisingly, after watching the trailer, it's clear that's used to her advantage in this. 

Many of you that read this blog may well know that I have my feminist moments. What you may not know is through the subjects Sociology and Media, I have studied the role of the woman in media texts; including pornography. 

It has been said (with plenty of research) that the Pornography industry is the only industry worldwide in which the female sex is paid a higher fee than the male. 

There in lies that I am both excited and intrigued to see how they depict such a famous female lead role. 

Will it be empowering or degrading? I guess we'll see... 

Watch the trailer here. 

Release date UK: 23rd August 2013

Doctor Who? Male or Female? Male Again...

So, Peter Capaldi is the new Doctor Who. 

I'll be honest, I'm no Doctor Who geek, so this news isn't massively interesting for me. 

What is interesting is that they were considering a woman to fill the famous Doctors' shoes. 

Anything to do with a gender debate has me listening. 

Some argued that it was traditional to have a male lead as the the Doctor. Others argued the opposite. Including Helen Mirren;

"I do think it’s well over-time to have a female Doctor Who. I think a gay, black female Doctor Who would be the best of all."

You're probably expecting me to go balls to the wall now and start some feminist debate. But I actually do understand the meaning of tradition. 

I do understand why some fans would want their idolised character to be somewhat similar to the original. 

However. I am a feminist and I wouldn't want a certain gender to prevent something so trivial. I mean, it is 2013. We have female monarch. We should be embracing female empowerment not putting it on the back burner for another century. 

And, I don't actually think most of the fans want a male actor to take the role because of the importance of the sex of Doctor Who. I think it's because of their narrow minds and dated views. 

Quite frankly, it may be traditional, but it's bloody old fashioned!