Our letters page returns!
Subjects include: double standards, comics, and a bit more spoiler chat…
Phew.
Our letters page had to take January off, due to us covering lots and lots of things.
Its a rubbish excuse, but weve always tried to tell you the truth.
I see you are pulling the same double standards trick again with the Burt Reynolds article and accompanying picture.
Alexander initially wrote to us following my recent pieceon the reaction to theGhostbustersreboot casting.
He argued that Den Of Geek was guilty of double standards.
I should point out that his is the only complaint weve had about theWolf Hallreview.
I saw, and see no problem, with the content of those pieces.
Comments on that article again accused us of double standards.
So, to the question of double standards.
Firstly, the bodies of men and women are different.
Secondly, attitudes of sexualisation towards men and womens bodies are also wildly different.
One of the consequences of making a stand against something is that youre inevitably held to close scrutiny yourself.
I think thats right and proper.
I dont claim that were perfect, either.
We make mistakes on this site, and do our utmost to live up to the standards we set.
We post things that, in hindsight, maybe we shouldnt.
There is a middle ground between being perfect, and not making any effort at all.
So are we guilty of double standards?
In an entirely black and white way, we probably are.
I must admit, I didnt see anything sexual in the Burt Reynolds picture at all.
In the context of that particular article, I thought it was fine.
Someone made the point on the Burt Reynolds piece that sexualisation is sexualisation whether its male or female bodies.
Both build stereotypes and affect body image etc.
I agree with the second part, but not the first.
That said, this feels like an important debate to have, hence opening it up here.
If the consensus is that weve called this one incorrectly, then of course well listen to that.
Hence publishing Alexanders letter in the first place.
And with that, onto other matters, at least for the time being… Keith Edwards
Simon writes:Now theres a fine suggestion, which well add to our list.
I dont understand why you dont do this for every film however.
Is there a reason?
Not like an idiots guide, but to help put it all into context.
In fact all my peers were really into was the Letraset scratch with a pencil!
Any help would nice.
Terry
Simon writes:Consider that added to the list too!
And with that, our letters page is done for this time.
Well be back with it in a couple of weeks…
Send your letters todenofgeek@yahoo.com.
Or write to Den Of Geek, Dennis Publishing, 30 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JD.
