I saw Watchmen last Friday with a valiant nerd posse and I was entirely blown away. I'd read the comic book some time ago and recalled that it was an incredibly raw and realistic alternate United States where deconstructed super heroes emerged around the 1940s.
As Hilary Goldstein put it in 2005:
Update: I had an embedded YouTube viddy here, but Warner brother's removed it for copyright reasons yada yada. So the intro is located here, and it's entirely worth the watch: Watchmen Intro!
Potential spoiler alert! (which is also spoiled in that intro above, so... not much of a spoiler, actually)
I was also worried about what the movie would do to one of my favorite characters from the comic, Silhouette, also known as Ursula Vandt, who was ultimately kicked out of the Minutemen (for P.R. damage control) after the press revealed in 1946 that she was a lesbian. And, six weeks later, her and her partner were murdered.
I'd assumed that her storyline would be entirely evaded in the film but, nope, I was wrong. It was too bad ass for that.
Gah, moving on... definitely on an adrenaline rush from that.
In other news, my ability to hide under layers of hoodie and warm gear is fading quick. The temperature is getting hotter (In general, anyway. See, the weather in Utah is wonky. Yesterday I was wearing a t-shirt and basking in the sun shine. Today there's a snow storm).
As I noted in a previous blog entry, I'm nervous about what to do throughout the summer when it comes to 'passing' for safety's sake, especially in public restrooms. It's been occupying my thoughts a great deal.
Honestly, I don't care about 'passing' for anyone. I just want to be myself. I don't want to bind so tightly that it's uncomfortable and dangerous for my health, just enough that it's physiologically comforting and gets me by until surgery. Still, I don't feel comfortable with the idea of using a public mens restroom while potentially appearing to have breasts.
I've mentally flirted with the idea of shaving (depending on if there's a significant amount of hair growth or not) and reverting back to using womens restrooms in public throughout the summer, then back to mens throughout the winter until I have my chest reconstruction surgery. But, knowing myself, I don't want to be forced into using womens restrooms and enduring the increasing amount of discomfort and embarrassment that comes with those simply out of fear. I've never been a fan of allowing bigotry, violence, or discrimination to guide who I am and how I'm going to live my life.
Not to mention that I'm working hard for my whiskers!
It's difficult, though. I do feel afraid and nervous, but all will be well. Especially with my whiskers to protect me.
On a related note, an article popped up on the Trans Group Blog today:
In other news, clothing is becoming a bit... tricky, lately. Clothes that used to fit me are starting to, well, not fit quite right. Worse than that, I hate.hate.hate clothes shopping. I'd much rather have ONE outfit and just wear it every single day of my life, presuming it didn't decay or smell bad after the first few days.
Unfortunately, though, especially for summer, I'm going to... gah, .. go.. it's even difficult to type... s-s-... shopping, this weekend. I have no frickin' choice. Maybe I'll find some schnazzy button-ups.
Or perhaps I will come across a fine gentleman's outfit and look as dashing as one of these fine fellows (closer to the handsome ol' chap on the far left, since my whiskers haven't quite kicked in yet)!
p.s. I was maliciously fooled into going out Saturday night under the guise that it was a "beach-themed" party where there would be a swimmy tub in the kitchen, swim suits and, most importantly, bikinis. Low and behold, I show up in my swimmy trunks with a towel to discover that, not only are there no bikinis, but everyone is sitting around in pajamas playing video games and eating ice cream. Wtf!?
My "friend" who hosted the party excused this horrid deception by claiming, "If I didn't tell you it was bikini-themed you wouldn't have come!" Bah! Deceit! I'm shallow.
As Hilary Goldstein put it in 2005:
"No comic book has been the subject of more essays and serious literary discussion than Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen. It has been named one of the 100 greatest novels of the past century by Time Magazine. Released 20 years ago, the 12-issue maxi-series was a groundbreaking achievement for comics. Written "for adults," Watchmen opened the doors for thought-provoking and intelligent comics in the mainstream. Two decades after its arrival, there is still no greater comic book."Being a fan of the comic with the political undertones, heroes, anti-heroes, a giant blue pecker, street-fighting lesbians and pirates... I was anxious about how Hollywood would rape and sugarcoat it. Low and behold, they didn't. They actually didn't. It was gruesome, grimy, brutal, and just... stunning. Just look at the intro!
Update: I had an embedded YouTube viddy here, but Warner brother's removed it for copyright reasons yada yada. So the intro is located here, and it's entirely worth the watch: Watchmen Intro!
Potential spoiler alert! (which is also spoiled in that intro above, so... not much of a spoiler, actually)
I was also worried about what the movie would do to one of my favorite characters from the comic, Silhouette, also known as Ursula Vandt, who was ultimately kicked out of the Minutemen (for P.R. damage control) after the press revealed in 1946 that she was a lesbian. And, six weeks later, her and her partner were murdered.
I'd assumed that her storyline would be entirely evaded in the film but, nope, I was wrong. It was too bad ass for that.
Gah, moving on... definitely on an adrenaline rush from that.
In other news, my ability to hide under layers of hoodie and warm gear is fading quick. The temperature is getting hotter (In general, anyway. See, the weather in Utah is wonky. Yesterday I was wearing a t-shirt and basking in the sun shine. Today there's a snow storm).
As I noted in a previous blog entry, I'm nervous about what to do throughout the summer when it comes to 'passing' for safety's sake, especially in public restrooms. It's been occupying my thoughts a great deal.
Honestly, I don't care about 'passing' for anyone. I just want to be myself. I don't want to bind so tightly that it's uncomfortable and dangerous for my health, just enough that it's physiologically comforting and gets me by until surgery. Still, I don't feel comfortable with the idea of using a public mens restroom while potentially appearing to have breasts.
I've mentally flirted with the idea of shaving (depending on if there's a significant amount of hair growth or not) and reverting back to using womens restrooms in public throughout the summer, then back to mens throughout the winter until I have my chest reconstruction surgery. But, knowing myself, I don't want to be forced into using womens restrooms and enduring the increasing amount of discomfort and embarrassment that comes with those simply out of fear. I've never been a fan of allowing bigotry, violence, or discrimination to guide who I am and how I'm going to live my life.
Not to mention that I'm working hard for my whiskers!
It's difficult, though. I do feel afraid and nervous, but all will be well. Especially with my whiskers to protect me.
On a related note, an article popped up on the Trans Group Blog today:
'Chennai moving toward "transgender" bathrooms'I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I can understand the arguments about it being segregating and "other". However, there's some measure of progress in the public recognition that gender isn't binary, which will likely lead to further dialogue in regards to the logic behind fiercely polarized binary gender in the first place. It's interesting in either case and grounds for discussion, definitely.
While I greatly appreciate the attention paid to trans issues, I can't help but question the framing. What is with the lens of a "third, transgender bathroom" as opposed to simply a unisex or gender neutral restroom? This measure seems to be othering the trans community, instead of serving as a larger testament to the subjective, silly, and typically draconian gender policing and segregation.
In other news, clothing is becoming a bit... tricky, lately. Clothes that used to fit me are starting to, well, not fit quite right. Worse than that, I hate.hate.hate clothes shopping. I'd much rather have ONE outfit and just wear it every single day of my life, presuming it didn't decay or smell bad after the first few days.
Unfortunately, though, especially for summer, I'm going to... gah, .. go.. it's even difficult to type... s-s-... shopping, this weekend. I have no frickin' choice. Maybe I'll find some schnazzy button-ups.
Or perhaps I will come across a fine gentleman's outfit and look as dashing as one of these fine fellows (closer to the handsome ol' chap on the far left, since my whiskers haven't quite kicked in yet)!
p.s. I was maliciously fooled into going out Saturday night under the guise that it was a "beach-themed" party where there would be a swimmy tub in the kitchen, swim suits and, most importantly, bikinis. Low and behold, I show up in my swimmy trunks with a towel to discover that, not only are there no bikinis, but everyone is sitting around in pajamas playing video games and eating ice cream. Wtf!?
My "friend" who hosted the party excused this horrid deception by claiming, "If I didn't tell you it was bikini-themed you wouldn't have come!" Bah! Deceit! I'm shallow.
Watchmen was great.
ReplyDeleteDidn't realize you liked first person shooters. Is it only zombie themed ones, or are there others you take an interest in?
I posted a few days ago, but didn't hear from you. I'm up for sewing up your binder in a more comfortable manner anytime. Maybe keeping itfrom rolling up will help with the fit of some things. Heck, I might even be able to do it with a sport wick-away I have on hand if you like it. It's yellow, too, and would look sneakily like a leotard.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there's plenty of places to grab some nice fitting clothing. Mike hates to wear button down style clothes and avoids them when possible. We get a lot of things at Costco. They don't actually have dressing rooms, but have one of the most liberal return policies ever. If you wanted to buy/try/return. I don't know how much style they really offer, though. Plenty of work and work/casual there.
Just pee in the alley, that will solve all your problems.
ReplyDeleteI know what would you do without my advice?
I second the pee in alley! I am amazed at how strong you are. And how funny, sh...hopping does suck.
ReplyDeleteKammorremae: Depends on the first person shooter. Halo, of course, is a much loved one. Bioshock. Zombies do have a tendency to spice things up, though. ;]
ReplyDeletedscokween: Aw! Thank you for the sewing offer! I'll send you a little message 'bout that.
ReplyDeleteAs for clothing, I'm the type to just wander over to the thrift store or, if I'm feeling fancy, to something like Pibs where it's 2nd-hand. Then things are cheaper AND all stretched out for me in advance!
Kegg n' Shane: Point... I wonder how the police would respond when they discovered that my dick was detachable.
ReplyDeleteAnd Shane, hello and thank you! Yes, s-s-shopping is brutal. so.very.b.o.r.i.n.g...
In regards to the wishing you had the same outfit to wear every single day, you could just find ONE pair of pants that fits you comfortably and looks good, and then buy 7 of them. It'd last you two weeks before you'd have to do laundry (or, knowing you, three months). Same with a few tshirts.
ReplyDeleteAnd, as far as your concern about looking as though you may have breasts in bathrooms... when I see men that have what appear to be lumps, depending on the rest of their body I think they either have slight man boobs, or they work out their pecs a ton. It's not terribly noticeable, especially if you're binding. I wouldn't worry too much.