Sugar and spice and all things nice,
that’s what little girls are made of. They’re also made of frogs and snails and
puppy dog tails. Yes, ladies are a lot more complex than just sugar and spice.
Beautiful and sometimes ugly, strong
and sometimes weak, soft and sometimes hard, nice and sometimes nasty, Bruce
and sometimes Caitlyn. Mothers, daughters, sisters, heroes, villains. We love
ladies for all they are and what they
represent and today we celebrate the strong female characters in film.
A couple of weeks ago I approached a
few Jillybeans and asked them to create an artwork that represents their
favourite female character from the movies.
Check out their art below. We would
like to share this art with you. All you have to do is leave a comment telling
us your favourite female character from the movies and include your twitter
handle. We’ll randomly select a few people and send you the original artworks.
I hope you like the art and celebrate
your favourite female characters with us.
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
Artist: K.Kemp
Mulan (Disney's Mulan)
Artist: Denver Petersen
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Artist: Danny W
Mary Poppins (Disney's Mary Poppins)
Artist: Majda
Velma (Scooby Doo)
Artist: Hylton Arendse
Jean Grey (X-men)
Artist: Bramwell Alexander
Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill)
Artist: Ramz
Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)
Artist: Zuby
Queen Ravenna (Snow White and the huntsman)
Artist: Zuby
Lisbeth Salander (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo)
Artist: Ramz
That is all.
Fantastic art work & great blog post. If I knew you were accepting art submissions I would've sent in mine. JK. I can't draw, my stick men look fat. But as you can see I can make lame jokes.
ReplyDeleteI do love all of these art work but if I had to choose, I'd go with Velma from Scooby-Doo. She's smart, spunky & short, yet still strong enough to carry the entire scooby gang while running away from a bad guy.
- @singfromthehair
Yep, I loved that Hylton chose Velma. Everyone forgets about Velma!
DeleteCurse my impulsiveness! I thought you had to choose out of the art work submitted, but you slid up in the DMs & explained & I now see you meant your personal favourite female character. Well, then I'd have to go with Hermione Granger.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the Harry Potter series, she stays true to herself. She never ever apologizes for her love of books. She never ever dumbs herself down for anyone, nor does she laud her smarts over anyone. As much as she fiercely loves Hogwarts academic life, she protects and loves her friends & family just as fiercely. With all the trials & tribulations that the HP life entails she never once loses her femininity in order to save the day. By this I mean, in order to save her friends, she doesn't take on more masculine characteristics in order to do so. She just stays, wonderful Hermione. That is why I adore her so. As the actress who plays her said, "Hermione taught young girls that you don't have to be the princess, you can be the warrior."
Fin.
-@singfromthehair
Definitely a strong role model.
DeleteThis is amazing. My favourite character is Buffy. She had amazing physical and personal strength. She changed the world, she saved the world. She had unwavering courage, even when she knew the outcome would not be great. She gave it her all. She shared her strength with all the potential slayers. She died for her sister. Through all this, she still couldn't believe that Spike could love her as he did.
ReplyDeleteOh Azizah... I CRY. So beautifully said.
DeleteAnd Buffy led the Scooby gang even when she was scared, even when she was weak. She was always ready to admit that she wouldn't be as strong if she didn't have that group of brave friends by her side.
DeleteFirstly, this is the best. Secondly, I have a bajillion favourite female characters and the others will kill me in my sleep of I only mention one. So I'll give you a few and you can pick.
ReplyDelete- Dr Ellie Sattler (Jurassic Park)
- Deb (Napoleon Dynamite)
- Violet Parr (The Incredibles)
- Ouiser Boudreaux (Steel Magnolias)
- Pocahontas (Pocahontas 2 never happened)
Twitter Handle: @nerissanaidoo
Again: Best. Thing. Ever.
WAIT I HAVE TO EXPLAIN? Ok I'm just going to do Ellie and Violet. Personally, Ellie was all I ever wanted to be growing up - she studied dinosaurs and rocked mom shorts. But more than that, she was the only female character in one of my favourite films and was still the complete opposite of a damsel in distress. I mean, the woman ran across a jungle filled with velociraptors with no weapon, and also shut down some rich, old white guy's sexism with similar badassery. She was the intellectual equal of some apparent superstar paleontologist, and was practical rather than manufactured for the male gaze (100 points to Spielberg). She sprained her ankle, screamed and her hair was a mess but she dgaf because she was being chased by a bloody T-Rex. When shit hit the fan, she didn't take a backseat or cower in a corner, because she simply had to get things done. For much of the film her gender was inconsequential, which ironically, mattered a lot to me.
DeleteAs for Vi, she was a breath of fresh air among all these perfect teenage girls whose only issue was the popular guy didn't like them that I was fed in film. She had low self esteem and was short tempered, but her feelings were sincere rather than melodramatic (because hello, she had legit problems like exploding rockets to deal with). Her loyalty, curiousity and eagerness to learn were offset by her fear of failure and disappointing those she loves, which made her way more relatable to me. She's fiercely protective of her family even though they drive her crazy, and she has a rad sense of humour as well. Violet actually meaningfully progresses throughout the film, finding confidence in the thing that once made her insecure. Basically, Vi is a Queen among Disney princesses.
DeleteYou just proved that strong female characters don't have to be physically strong, they just have to be real women.
DeleteNice work Ramz. I'm going to go with the Queen of Sci-Fi, the legendary Ellen Ripley. She broke the mould and kicked ass at a time where male protagonists ruled supreme. The world doesn't want no damsel in distress, it wants a hero.
ReplyDeleteTwitter Handle: @ThatNomadShad
"The world doesn't want no damsel in distress, it wants a hero" - I love this!!!
DeleteYou should make a meme with that.
Wow! Great work, Ramz and all the Jillybeans. So beautifully done.
ReplyDeleteLisbeth Salander, hands down. She's definitely one of my fictional heroes. Strong, devilishly smart, brave, righteous and unbelievably self-contained, yet she can still be vulnerable when she wants to. She's just badass in all the best ways!
Twitter handle: @sandygrammar
Thanks Sandy Grammar :)
DeleteThe Jillybeans had so much fun doing this. I respect Lisbeth so much. Well, obviously lol
My handle is @azizahmasoet
ReplyDeleteIt's such a tough choice choosing a favourite because Normally I'd go for the sassy witty heroine, princess Leia from Star Wars, but then you look at beatrix from Kill Bill, who didn't use words but rather her fists for her comeback.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd go with GI Jane
And O'ren
And Sigourney Weaver in Alien
And Milla Jokowitz in Fifth Element AND Resident Evil
The list can go on really
Twitter: @Ya_a_seen_him
It's such a tough choice choosing a favourite because Normally I'd go for the sassy witty heroine, princess Leia from Star Wars, but then you look at beatrix from Kill Bill, who didn't use words but rather her fists for her comeback.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd go with GI Jane
And O'ren
And Sigourney Weaver in Alien
And Milla Jokowitz in Fifth Element AND Resident Evil
The list can go on really
Twitter: @Ya_a_seen_him
It's such a tough choice choosing a favourite because Normally I'd go for the sassy witty heroine, princess Leia from Star Wars, but then you look at beatrix from Kill Bill, who didn't use words but rather her fists for her comeback.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd go with GI Jane
And O'ren
And Sigourney Weaver in Alien
And Milla Jokowitz in Fifth Element AND Resident Evil
The list can go on really
Twitter: @Ya_a_seen_him
Yes! Those characters make men want to be better men haha
DeleteGreat post. Woman are indeed complex and we should never be boxed in and made to fit a particular mould.
ReplyDeleteI love the Mary Poppins artwork, brings on such nostalgia.
My fave female character is definitely Lois Lane. She's strong, feisty, smart, tough, funny, warm, ambitious and opinionated yet sensitive too. Lois is fiercely independent, definitely not a damsel in distress and she's never afraid to get her hands dirty. She's not afraid to admit that she has flaws but does not feel sorry about having those flaws either. Lois is a very capable, sophisticated woman. And sassy too!
- @miss_pryceless
Thanks Kirsten. Majda will be happy to know that you liked her painting so much.
DeleteI agree with you, Lois was way more super than Superman. In fact, she's so amazing that a man with super strength and who can fly and shoot fire from his eyes, still looks up to her.
Leeloominaï Lekatariba Lamina-Tchaï Ekbat De Sebat AKA Leeloo AKA Supreme Being. I watched The Fifth Element as a 10-year-old and thought she was the epitome of cool. And let's be honest, anyone who can kick ass wearing a bandage and still look hot deserves to top all the lists.
ReplyDeleteAND
Tank Girl. The anarchy and absurdism of her character drew me to her. She kicks serious ass and drives a tank and has a kangaroo boyfriend called Booga. Her first words were "cauliflower penis". Amazing on all levels.
Twitter: @ayesha_aime
Aaw man, I had the biggest crush on Leeloo back in the day lol. Mooltipass.
DeleteDon't you think Leeloo's best moment was when she got to the "W" section of the internet and saw the wars and cried for humanity?
Omg! I just did the worst thing ever and googled "Cauliflower penis". I can never unsee that.
I had a few, please deal with me.
ReplyDeleteObviously Hermione Granger. She was in a boys' clu and still outdid them all. She loved books and kept her interests even though she was unpopular. She's strong, brave and punched Draco in the face.
Lorelai Gilmore (not Rory): She dedid exactly what she wanted. What she felt she had to. Although she was a teenage pregnancy case, she helped her daughter achieve so much more than she could. Starting out as a maid in the hotel she worked her way up to eventually owning her own hotel. Plus, she's hilarious!
Sakura from Naruto: She started out weak and cried pretty much all of the time, but eventually she realised she needed to be stronger. So without losing empathy she became extremely tough and needed.
Awesome art btw!
Twitter: @shamz04
Thanks :) the Jillybeans will definitely appreciate you saying that about their art.
DeleteThat was a great choice. Lorelai.
The females I've been fan-girling since i stuffed my first training bra in no particular order would be:
ReplyDeleteO Ren Ishii - Kill Bill
Arya Stark - Game Of Thrones
Wonder Woman - DC Universe
Chihiro Ogino - Spirited Away
Milla Jovovich in Resident Evil
No explanations needed.
Twitter @Cyborg_NinjaCat
Another O Ren fan and another Milla Jovovich character. I wonder if they know the impact they've made on females.
DeleteBuff the vampire slayer, hermoine Granger to name a few. @leelabee
ReplyDeleteBuffy & Hermione :)
DeleteI feel like we should be having Hermione Granger appreciation day.
Excellent work! I think i might just have a Chick scene marathon with the lady this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI hope to participate in the near future.
@Pinkmachine
jinxtwo.tumblr.com
Can't wait to collaborate with you.
DeleteThe cutest little paragraph about women I ever read in a long while. Thank you for making me like being a girl again - because it sometimes sucks ass! @Martinet1991
ReplyDeleteBaie dankie :)
DeleteThose kind words mean a lot.
I'm a QT fan so I'm going with
ReplyDelete1) Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill)
2) Shoshanna Dreyfus (Inglorious Basterds)
3) Mia Wallace (Pulp Fiction)
4) Jackie Brown (Obvs)
But definitely honourable mentions for Clarice Starling (Silence Of The Lambs) and Clementine Kruczynski (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind)
Twitter: @deeno15
Thanks Deeno :)
DeleteThanks for pointing out the Tarantino characters. So many people forget how he also loves writing strong female characters.
LISBETH SALANDER!! That painting looks deep.. love it!!
ReplyDeleteTwitteer: @SharfaaP
Thanks Sharfaa :)
DeleteGlad you like my painting. Appreciate it.
Cruella DeVille. I know she's a villain but the bitch has style.
ReplyDeleteHahaha I honestly expected you to go for Miranda Priestly but I suppose Cruella DeVille is just an animated version of her.
DeleteI honestly hate that I have to choose one kick-ass female character, since I grew up with so many to admire such as Buffy Summers, Faith (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Veronica Mars, Zoe Washburne (Firefly), Rukia (Bleach), Ellen Ripley (Alien), Sarah Connor (Terminator), Xena, Lara Croft, Mulan, Nala, The Bride(Kill Bill), Fiona(Burn Notice) and the list goes on.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I've narrowed it down to the most modern and realistically empowering and those are: Kat Stratford(10 Things I hate About You), Imperator Furiosa (Mad Max) and Amy Dunne(Gone Girl). These three lovely woman are intelligent, brilliant, perceptive, able, and most importantly know who they truly are!
They each display opposite qualities that can resonate with many females. They have masked vulnerability but are the pillar of strength, they're ferocious yet kind and lastly they're compassionate yet composed. Personally, these ladies capture the REAL essence of a woman.
My favourite and winner by far is the true anti-hero Amy Dunne. I cannot stop raving about how truly AMAZING and AUTHENTIC she is. She's dangerously focused and meticulous as she ruthlessly plans and cunningly manipulates the framing of her cheating husband, who stopped playing the 'pretend' game. Far too long have they portrayed females as 'just another victim'. A victim of abuse, a victim of a cheating husband etc. What's BRILLIANT about Amy is that she uses the 'victim' card and her genders strong qualities to her advantage, which is empowering. It truly shows what the dark side of the force is capable of :P "Yes, she is a sociopath. Yes, she is twisted." But aren't these some of the reasons we adore anti-heroes and what makes them cultural icons?!
"She’s brilliant, like Walter White.
She’s playfully sadistic, like the Joker.
She’s angry, like Jax Teller."
Also, I read an article that took the words right out of my mouth and just wanted to add a bit:
ReplyDelete"Never mind the messaging and what it’s all supposed to mean and whether or not the film did its job. Never mind that for a minute, we’ll get to the overall film review when we get to it. My point is that for all the times you’ve walked out of a theater jacked up on Michael Corleone, high fiving your buddies over the lifestyle of that pig Jordan Belfort, or turned off the TV thrilled by Walt White’s brutal, unflinching meanness, this time it’s a woman. This time a woman made it “cool” to be awful."
*Drops the mic and walks off the stage*
thanks! Nice to hear a female perspective on the Amy Dunne character.
Delete