Written by a TCS 191 Student
Dr. Andy Jones- TCS 191
“ELEVEN Outlaw Heroines (from popular culture)”
by one angry feminist
Loosely based on Gregory Corso and Allen Ginsberg’s Ten Outlaw Heroes published in Esquire (1986) under the title, “Ten Angry Men”
Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larson (present): Champion computer hacker in Sweden and proud owner of a dragon tattoo. Known by the pseudonym “Wasp” on the internet and among fellow tech junkies like herself. Famously played with fire and kicked a hornet’s nest. Stole billions of Swedish kronor by outsmarting an exploitive media magnate. Would agree with the statement, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling (the 1990s): Book smart and sassy. Faced bullies, cat transformations, and noseless villians with courage and intelligence. Stoically went to bed before anyone could get her killed, or worse expelled. Used her wits to help save the wizard world from evil and married a ginger.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer from the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer written by Joss Whedon (based on the fashion alone, the 1990s): Was chosen among many to save the world from vampires and demons. Lived in a musical, collided with a robot doppelganger, and survived high school over a Hellmouth. Died twice. Her gravestone famously read, “Beloved sister. Devoted friend. She saved the World. A lot.” Lived through multiple apocalypses. Would’ve definitely killed Edward Cullen.
Aibileen from The Help by Kathryn Stockett (1960s, Jackson, Mississippi): A spunky African American maid that overcomes racial prejudices to take a stand for civil rights and societal betterment in the 1960s. Expressed kindness to everyone and memorably said every night to her young baby-sitting charge, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” Agreed to an interview for a controversial book despite possible dangerous repercussions. Kept her cool when dealing with close-minded and spiteful individuals. Remains consistently loyal and strong.
Mulan from the film Mulan directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook and the Chinese poem the “Ballad of Mulan” (Possibly Northern Wei Dynasty): Will make a man out of anyone. Got down to business to defeat Huns. Took her father’s place and kicked ass in an avalanche and overcame an antagonist on the top of an imperial palace. Friends with a snarky ancestral dragon and his cricket companion. Didn’t let adversity, fear, or a man’s world stop her from saving China. Loosely based on real-life legend of Hua Mulan who courageously took her father’s place in the Chinese army, fought bravely for 12 years, and gained great achievement.
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (early 19th century England): A winning combination of snarky and British. Plays piano only when forced. Fell in love with a tall, dark, and sarcastic man who appreciated her strong-willed personality and familial loyalty. Was raised without any governesses and got by fine. In other news, she apparently slays zombies in her free time.
Veronica mars from the tv series Veronica Mars by Rob Thomas (present): Snarky high school student and teenage detective. Outsmarts everyone she encounters. Lives in a film noir world of adultery, dishonesty, and crime. Famously said to a frat guy, “He dissed Pride and Prejudice, so I had to throw a beer on him.”
Éowyn from Lord of the Rings, book by J.R.R. Tolken and movie directed by Peter Jackson (an unknown time, Middle Earth): “Shieldmaiden” of Rohan. Taking a leaf from the feminist playbook, she disguises herself as a man and fights in the Battle of Pelennor Fields. While fighting against the Witch-king of Angmar he says “You fool. No can kill me.” Famously uttered the line, “I am no man!” as she stabbed and killed him. Bazinga.
Jo March Bhaer from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (mid to late 1800s, Concord, Massachusetts): Spunk tomboy with a quick wit and temper. Enamored with literature. Whips up short stories and plays in her free time. Eventually settles down with a German professor, but not without resisting the idea of marriage for a little while.
Amelie Poulain from the film Amélie directed by HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Pierre_Jeunet” Jean-Pierre Jeunet: Whimsical twentysomething trying to overcome loneliness in Paris. Performs good deeds for random strangers using her creativity and vivid imagination. Gives a gnome the chance to tour the world. Bonds with an eccentric man that collects discarded photo booth pictures. Appreciates the little things in life.
Eve from the movie WALL-E directed by Andrew Stanton (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator, the year 2805): Sleek and glossy she-robot armed with a plasma cannon. Brings vegetation from an abandoned Earth back the the spaceship Axiom, where obese humans blindly following orders from machines. Falls for a Waste Allocation Load Lifter- Earth Class. Proves the planet hospitable, helps save humanity, and gets a robot boyfriend all in a days work.
Bibliography
my memory
Wikipedia facts
