Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a kind-hearted witch named Cassie. Unlike other witches, Cassie used her magical powers for good and was known for her acts of kindness all around the village. She would often help the villagers with their troubles and heal them with her magical herbal remedies. Cassie had a special bond with nature. She always made sure to take care of her garden and grew various herbs and plants that she used for her magical potions and spells. The villagers often sought her advice for their ailments, and Cassie would patiently listen to their problems and offer them solutions.
Music4ever Fantastic debut! It’s so rare to find an album you can play the whole way through, and this is definitely one of them. Dope beats set against ethereal vocals sends me into an abyss of bliss. Keeping this on replay.
I don t want to go to a movie and see some middle-aged, pear-shaped mom whose boobs need an anti-gravity booster to keep from sagging to her navel dressed in sensible shoes. know me now CASHFORGOLD x Ennja written by Jacqueline Torgerson and Artyom Ostrovskikh produced by Ennja vocal production by Sidewalks And Skeletons.
The villagers often sought her advice for their ailments, and Cassie would patiently listen to their problems and offer them solutions. One day, a young girl named Lily was troubled by nightmares and couldn't sleep well. Her parents approached Cassie, hoping that she could help their daughter.
Manic Monday: I Want to see Gamora’s Boob Window and Thor Shirtless. Who’s with Me?
Over on Tor.com’s blog, Alex Brown’s post “ Guardians of the Galaxy, We Need to Talk ,” pointed out various issues she had with the summer blockbuster film. I consider myself a feminist and frequently agree with articles that point out the (still) rampant sexism of Hollywood movies (as well as T.V. shows, advertising, and pretty much anything spat out at us from the L.A. screen industry). But as I pondered her post (and the copious comments to it), I found myself disagreeing with much of what she said. My post will focus on just one of the issues raised and that is of the outfits superheroes wear.
This is what Alex Brown said:“Listen up, superhero creators. There are 3 big no’s in creating costumes for female characters: no boob plates, no high heels, and no boob or belly windows. There’s no reason for Gamora or Nebula to wear something as impractical as 3 inch wedge heels. And no, Drax and Star-Lord being shirtless doesn’t count as a male objectification. They’re propped up as an admirable, desireable male physique, whereas Nebula and Gamora’s skin-tight, revealing outfits sexualize them. If Star-Lord doesn’t need heels or a costume that defies gravity, then neither do Gamora or Nebula.” (Alex Brown on Tor.com’s blog, 8/13/14)
In case you have not seen Guardians and/or wish to see Zoe Saldana in a “boob window” outfit, here it is:
Alex’s has some points. Breast plates and “boob windows” are ubiquitous in comics and movies featuring female superheros. I’ve seen numerous articles written by women bashing male movie makers for putting female superheros in high heels and skimpy outfits. Women argue that female heroes should wear cloths that are comfortable. Clothes that make sense for all the action and fighting that the character does in the movie.
A good point. But this point seems to assume that male superheroes are wearing outfits that are “comfortable” and sensible and that do not accentuate their sexuality. Let’s review male superhero gear. Do they, in fact, wear sensible clothes appropriate for all their running, punching, jumping and superhero work? And do they wear clothes that “sexualize” them?
Let’s start with Superman. Check out Christopher Reeves rocking’ the 80’s version of The Man of Steel.
Does this outfit say ‘I’m ready for fist-fights and flying’? First of all, as we all know, the cape is impractical.
We all know how dangerous they can be. So why do flying super heroes wear them? Because they look friction’ cool, that’s why.
And then there are Superman’s tight knickers and knee-length plastic bootie things. He doesn’t exactly look like he’s ready to thrown down with the bad guys. But the outfit does do one thing: Show off Reeve’s junk (which I’m kind of thinking is the point).
And because the old Reeves costume wasn’t testosterone pumped enough, they had to create an even more manly edition for the new millennium.
Does this outfit not accentuate his manly features just as much as Gamora’s outfit highlights her womanly features? Not a lot left to the imagination here.
Okay, what about Iron Man? Surely a suit made to enable to man to fly, fire weapons and generally kick booty would be robust and machine-like, right? Something like this maybe:
| Prototype Iron Man Suit Commissioned by U.S. Military |
Even when forged in metal, male heroes are molded into the shape of an Adonis. Their chests are large, their abs smooth and taut, and their manly bits … Well even Iron Man’s junk is accentuated.
Last but certainly not least, let’s take a look at Thor. Okay, you can stop looking at him now.How did Thor strutting with his shirt off, displaying his rock-hard abs and teasing us with his low-slung jeans revealing his muscular groin further the plot? Could it be that it was there just to give female movie-goers a bit of eye candy?
Yes, of course it was. And while I saw this movie in the theatre I was wishing for a remote control so I could rewind that bit and play it over and over. (Thanks to the above gif, now I can watch it over and over 😉
| Both Chris Hemsworth and Anthony Hopkins are clad in demigod worth costumes in Thor, The Dark World |
And we want our superheroes to be sexy, whether male or female. I want to see Zoe’s beautiful body and Thor’s manly one. That’s part of the attraction. Their virility and sexiness separate them from us and we like it that way. I don’t want to go to a movie and see some middle-aged, pear-shaped mom whose boobs need an anti-gravity booster to keep from sagging to her navel dressed in sensible shoes. If I want to see that I’ll look in the mirror!
It’d be like going to see an super hero action flick and watching Amy Farrah Fowler trotting across the screen in her cardigan doing judo kicks.
Black Magic is born from a rigid barrel selection and is not made every year - only when we feel a special presence. 2021 is one of these years.
Cassie brewed a special dream-inducing potion using her magical herbs and gave it to Lily. The potion worked wonders, and Lily had the most peaceful sleep of her life that night. Word of Cassie's kindheartedness and magical abilities spread throughout the village, and more and more people sought her help. Whether it was using her magic to heal the sick or helping old couples reunite after a fight, Cassie always found a way to make the villagers' lives better. One winter, a severe cold swept through the village, leaving many without proper warm clothing. Cassie, being the caring person she was, used her magical powers to create warm blankets and clothes for everyone in need. She spent hours knitting and enchanting these items to ensure they provided comfort and warmth to the villagers. Cassie's acts of kindness didn't go unnoticed. The villagers were grateful for her presence and generosity. They often brought her gifts of fresh produce and homemade treats as tokens of their appreciation. Cassie, in return, would always greet them with a warm smile and offer them advice or assistance whenever they needed it. Despite being a witch, Cassie had won the love and respect of everyone in the village. Her kindness and compassion had transformed the way people viewed witches, dispelling the negative stereotypes that had surrounded them for so long. As time passed, Cassie's reputation as the kind witch grew far beyond the boundaries of the village, and people from far and wide sought her help. With each act of kindness, Cassie continued to touch the lives of those around her, proving that magic could be used for good in the world. Cassie's story teaches us that true magic lies in kindness and compassion towards others. It is a reminder that we all have the power to make a positive impact on the lives of those around us, no matter how big or small..
Reviews for "The Kind Witch Chronicles: Adventures with Cassie"
1. Emma - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Kind Witch Cassie". The storyline was predictable and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. I also found the writing style to be overly simplistic and lacking depth. Overall, it was a forgettable read that I wouldn't recommend to others.
2. Mark - 1/5 - "Kind Witch Cassie" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was completely absurd and the characters had no substance. I couldn't connect with any of them and found myself not caring about what happened to them. The writing was also subpar, with grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout. I would strongly advise against reading this book.
3. Sarah - 1/5 - I found "Kind Witch Cassie" to be incredibly boring and uneventful. Nothing of significance happened throughout the entire book and the pacing was incredibly slow. The author failed to create a captivating storyline and there was no sense of excitement or anticipation. The prose was dull and lacked any spark or creativity. I was highly disappointed with this book and would discourage others from reading it.
4. Alex - 2/5 - "Kind Witch Cassie" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The concept was interesting, but the execution was lacking. The writing style was choppy and there were inconsistencies in the plot. Additionally, the main character Cassie was too perfect and lacked depth, making it difficult to relate to her. I found myself losing interest as I read through the book and was ultimately unsatisfied with the ending.