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discussion on Seanan-McGuire's LJ from a while back about how there are too many princesses and not enough queens in popular fantasy, and girls aren’t being encouraged to aspire. Commenters do eventually point out that (a) – there generally *are* more princes and princesses than King and Queens in RL; and that (b) medieval Europe contained a number of principalities which were ruled by princes/occasionally princesses, so the job title can actually carry a lot of responsibility.
I haven’t read through all the comments yet, but so far I haven’t seen anyone denounce the enjoyment of fictional royals as an undemocratic pastime (worth thinking about, but it can easily turn into Missing the Point of Fantasy). I actually the prevalence of fantasy monarchies is less about a desire to return to feudalism, and more the fact that a lot of plots require the fate of the government to hinge on one person who the villain can menace (although I’d like to see one where the baddie throws the kingdom into chaos by kidnapping the Prime Minister’s secretary, or someone, who actually handles the day-to-day operations).
Another branch off the LJ discussion deals with the Bridezilla phenomenon – I have to admit I enjoyed planning my wedding, and later my anniversary party – I don’t get that many opportunities to throw a big shindig*, and it was a little like putting on a show. OTOH, I’m blessed with a pretty sane family who didn’t demand I invite everyone they know or do business with, so I was able to keep the guest list to forty-odd people all of whom I actually like.
*my theory of the recent supersizing of weddings is basically that there are fewer formal-dress affairs today, so the wedding may be a modern woman’s one chance to put on something fancy and get her friends and family to do so too – and some people go way over the top in seizing the day….
I haven’t read through all the comments yet, but so far I haven’t seen anyone denounce the enjoyment of fictional royals as an undemocratic pastime (worth thinking about, but it can easily turn into Missing the Point of Fantasy). I actually the prevalence of fantasy monarchies is less about a desire to return to feudalism, and more the fact that a lot of plots require the fate of the government to hinge on one person who the villain can menace (although I’d like to see one where the baddie throws the kingdom into chaos by kidnapping the Prime Minister’s secretary, or someone, who actually handles the day-to-day operations).
Another branch off the LJ discussion deals with the Bridezilla phenomenon – I have to admit I enjoyed planning my wedding, and later my anniversary party – I don’t get that many opportunities to throw a big shindig*, and it was a little like putting on a show. OTOH, I’m blessed with a pretty sane family who didn’t demand I invite everyone they know or do business with, so I was able to keep the guest list to forty-odd people all of whom I actually like.
*my theory of the recent supersizing of weddings is basically that there are fewer formal-dress affairs today, so the wedding may be a modern woman’s one chance to put on something fancy and get her friends and family to do so too – and some people go way over the top in seizing the day….
