In Which I Am a Bad Feminist

[moon_custafer]

I *want* to like Take Back Hallowe’en. It’s a terrific list of interesting historical women. It’s just that the thought of spending Hallowe’en night explaining to every-freakin’-one I meet that I’m supposed to be, say, Hildegard Von Bingen, makes me break out in hives. It’s sort of like suggesting to a man that he go out in a nondescript early-20th-c suit and tell everyone he’s Alexander Flemming. Well, I guess Flemming could carry around a petri dish or something, but most people still aren’t going to get it.

Comments

[zagzagael.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I've seen a lot of stupid things but that has got to be one of the most misguided stupid things I've seen in a long time. Kill it with fire.

[donald hutton (from livejournal.com)]

Plus, you're supposed to be scary on Hallowe'en. Imelda Marcos maybe; Hildegard Von Bingen no. Does she even have a signature outfit?

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

Well, the habit of her order, I assume.

I'm also disappointed that something called "Take Back Hallowe'en" *isn't* a bunch of Pagans complaining Samhain has got too commercial.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

I'd agree more to "misguided," but I admit my hackles were also raised by the "for women who are too good for those slutty outfits all the others wear" tone that underlay some of the recs to the site.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

Mostly, though, it's just memories of having worn obscure costumes in the past, and regretting it.


This year, if I go anywhere, I'm going to be a flamingo, because I have a *lot* of flourescent pink gaffing tape on hand (job perk).

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

Most of the historical figures mentioned would be better served by biographical movies or tv series; especially ones like Sor Juana De la Cruz, whose career was a bit more varied than the brief bio suggests.

[zagzagael.livejournal.com]

Well, exactly. Why usurp All Hallow's Eve with this boring shite. Sorry, feminist I am not.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

I am, which is why I get annoyed when I think people R Duin it Rong.

[fragrantwoods.livejournal.com]

I confess that I would consider dressing up as Hatshepsut, but that would reflect a lifelong fascination with Egyptology rather than any feminism slant. And would be too much trouble...many of those famous types, folks would figure you were dressing up as a Downton Abbey character, anyway (NTTAWWT).

[leave-harmony.livejournal.com]

Frida Kahlo would be pretty recongnisable if you accessorized right...I dunno, I think their hearts are in the right place but if I was gonna go to the trouble of constructing an elaborate costume it'd be because I really liked the character / person I was portraying, not 'cos I wanted to take a stand against slutty nurses.

That, and I'm pretty sure a declaration like "My costume is Mercy Otis Warren, the unsung heroine of the American Revolution!" would be immediately followed by everyone else politely excusing themselves to go get punch.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

If I saw a lady in Egyptian costume and a ceremonial false beard, I’d guess Hatshepsut, but that’s sort of my main point – most historical figures, with a few obvious exceptions like Jeanne d’Arc or the Chevalier d’Eon, just wore the usual clothes of their time, so they’re not that identifiable unless you can carry a prop (Trillian in the movie version of HHttG goes to a party in a suit, top hat, fake beard, and carrying a toy beagle, but even then only Arthur guesses she’s supposed to be Darwin: “everyone else keeps calling me Santa.”)
There’s a reason people dress as Batman but not as Bob Kane, and I suspect Albert Einstein’s fame in popular culture has to do with (a) living in the era of photography, and (b) being easier to pick out of a lineup than Werner Heisenberg.

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

I think there was a bit once on Third Rock from the Sun where two of the aliens go to a party in Sonny and Cher drag. When asked who they’re supposed to be, one answers: “Julius and Ethel Rosenberg; but we think they may have given us the wrong costumes at the shop.”

It would be kind of fun to do a “most unguessable costume” party: “Hey, it’s the Defenestration of Prague! And look, isn’t that the Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name, over by the punch bowl?”

[leave-harmony.livejournal.com]

Oh, I dunno...a judge robe, a mock window frame, an expression of terror, you could do the defenestration ^_^

[moon-custafer.livejournal.com]

Apparently there's an obscure superhero called "The Defenestrator." He brings his own window, just in case.