Looks like the Rocky Horror Picture Show reboot is getting panned pretty universally, including at the Mary Sue, who are disappointed with how the remake excised almost all of the film’s queerness.
The Chronicle of Higher Education has a really interesting piece on the advent of climate fiction (books like Oryx and Crake and The Road) and how the subgenre is tackling real-world concerns.
Mini short film about the genius sensibility of Hayao Miyazaki.
Speaking of, you can now download OpenToonz, the free animation software used by Studio Ghibli. [Cartoon Brew]
Okay so instead of dealing with any of my real life responsibilities, I’ve been playing Mass Effect 2. It’s been gutting, so this video called “true stories of BioWare heartbreak” rings particularly true. #CallMeSamara
An interview with Steven Universe‘s Rebecca Sugar! She talks about music, kind humour, and her brother Steven. [The Mary Sue]
Palestinian Harry Potter fan Mia Oudeh wrote an open letter to JK Rowling about the author’s recent support of Israel, where she expresses her disappointment and compares Palestinian struggle to the battle of Hogwarts.
Every Halloween this needs to be said: Don’t wear racist ass costumes. Look, CollegeHumor even has a handy flowchart for you.
Hey Kotaku reviewed Sex Criminals! I’ll admit to not reading the whole thing (spoilers), but I’m on board with anyone talking about Sex Criminals.
Buzzfeed is withdrawing from the South by Southwest Interactive festival due to the decision to cancel to panels on harassment in gaming, giving the following statement:“We will feel compelled to withdraw … if the conference can’t find a way to do what those other targets of harassment do every day — to carry on important conversations in the face of harassment.” [New York Magazine]
First, let’s get the really good news out of the way: Star Wars Episode VII cast Lupita Nyongo and Gwendoline Christie, and OH MY GOD WHO WILL THEY PLAY WHAT WILL THEY DO THIS IS SO EXCITING. [Entertainment Weekly]
“The publishing industry looks a lot like these best-selling teenage dystopias: white and full of people destroying each other to survive.” So says author Daniel José Older, who tackles the risks associated with an all-white publishing industry. [Buzzfeed]
In a similar vein, novelist N.K. Jemisin was a recent a guest speaker at WisCon and has a transcript of her speech available on her blog. It’s a great piece of writing about the growing presence of people of colour in genre literature, and the setbacks and dangers they can face.
Jezebel looks at HBO, its history of being a pioneer, and where the network has gone wrong, particularly with Game of Thrones and its irresponsible use of female bodies for shock value.
Anyone who’s watched the Russel T. Davies and Steven Moffat runs of Doctor Who knows that the latter has a much worse track record when it comes to female characters (both in their number and in their prominence). This infographic, via the Daily Dot, shows very clearly exactly how much both show runners cared about having a variety of women, the amount of time those women spent speaking, and whether they talked to other women at all.
Acknowledging the difficulty of being a geek in therapy, and having to bring your therapist up to speed on the community’s issues before even starting to discuss them, the people behind Geek Feminism have put together a wiki-full of resources for therapists.
Remember that time Hayao Miyazaki created a music video for Chage and Aska? The Mary Sue does.
“Sex sells” is an idea propagated particularly furiously in games, but recent titles like Shadowrun Returns and Pathfinder are showing that inclusiveness and success are not mutually exclusive. (And it’s making me really excited for my future Pathfinder forays.) [Feministing]
Comic Book Resources also has an amazing twopart interview with Marvel and DC writer and artist Phil Jimenez, in which he discusses Wonder Woman’s sexuality, the creation of Trevor Barnes, Jimenez’s own role as a gay, Latino creator, and comic book depictions of the Harlem Renaissance.
The new Studio Ghibli Film The Wind Rises has a trailer with English subtitles out. It looks about as good as everything else they produce. So, you know, really, really good.
The Mary Sue just wrote a review of Orphan Black that is so on point I wish I’d written myself. They argue the merits of the show in terms of both the science, and the science fiction (if you haven’t seen the show yet, stop reading and go find it. Right now.)
Also from the Mary Sue, associate editor Jill Pantozzi questioned Xbox Support’s lack of response to a harassment complaint, and the results were disappointing. Good job Microsoft, you’re managing to outdo yourself.
I’m totally obsessed with this map of Westeros by Renaud Forestié. Tiny mammoths!