Lena Dunham

[incognito]

Karla and Paul Bernardo were especially cruel and depraved child killers. But even so they aren't that all that well known in popular culture. Why draw attention to them, positive or negative?

She doesn't do ~mainstream killers.

Anyway, I think that Lena is gross and disgusting. The comments about her body though are also gross and disgusting. There is so much else to hate her for, anyway, so why focus on that?

[magazinewhore]

I find the backlash against her really interesting. I get that she pushes people's buttons and does have artistic connections, but that doesn't take away from the fact that her show and movie are funny and authentic in terms of young single women's lives. But I understand they aren't everyone's cup of tea.

I love that she's so willing to get naked and show her real body. I honestly think that's an absolutely revelatory and feminist thing. Good for her! I'm kind of surprised that some people (my husband is one of them) who finds her so irritating because she's portraying herself and friends as self-absorbed narcissists. They are, but she also calls herself and others on it. I also love that she freely calls herself a feminist. I'm happy there are complicated portrayals of women and sexuality on TV. I feel the same way about Mindy Kaling and her show. But I do think the backlash against her (like the stupid reviewer on Gawker who only called her "Her mother's name"'s daughter is very telling. People don't like it when women don't act within the bounds of socially acceptable behavior. I think she's helping to redefine young womanhood in the media, and it's about time.

I don't know anything about the Halloween costumes though. Is she a brat? Maybe, but at least she has the goods to back it up. I loved Tiny Furniture.

[Deleted]

Eh. It was a flippant Twitter joke. I don't even like Lena Dunham, but calling her an offensive hipster whippersnapper over it is a bit much.

[incognito]

that doesn't take away from the fact that her show and movie are funny and authentic in terms of young single women's lives.

But I think that's the crux of it: A lot of the backlash is because many young single women (myself included) don't feel that her show is authentic in terms of their lives. Especially young single WOC. So I don't like hearing how Girls is a show for all women. It's not. And maybe Lena never meant it to be, maybe the problem is more with how the show's been marketed than anything else. But her comments re: the lack of diversity, although well-intentioned - I do appreciate how she didn't pull a Michael Patrick King and throw a temper tantrum when called out on it - made me roll my eyes. POC aren't aliens, Lena! (Plus, she kept that disgusting Lesley Arfin on the writing staff, although I'm not sure if she's still there.)

That said, damn, I wish I had her confidence about her body. I still get self-conscious changing in the locker room.

[tanyak]

Jan 11, 2013 15:04:50 GMT -4 incognito said:

that doesn't take away from the fact that her show and movie are funny and authentic in terms of young single women's lives.

But I think that's the crux of it: A lot of the backlash is because many young single women (myself included) don't feel that her show is authentic in terms of their lives. Especially young single WOC. So I don't like hearing how Girls is a show for all women. It's not. And maybe Lena never meant it to be, maybe the problem is more with how the show's been marketed than anything else.

This. I have nothing against her. I had not even heard of her before the show, which I just basically stumbled across one Sunday night while flipping channels. "Girls" is what it is and that's fine (I do watch it), but I do find the whole "voice of a generation of young women" thing irritatiing. And maybe that's not her fault. But I think it's impossible for one person to be the voice of anything.

[Deleted]

Jan 11, 2013 15:04:50 GMT -4 incognito said:

that doesn't take away from the fact that her show and movie are funny and authentic in terms of young single women's lives.

But I think that's the crux of it: A lot of the backlash is because many young single women (myself included) don't feel that her show is authentic in terms of their lives.

This. I'm single and only four years older than her, and Girls is not relatable to me AT ALL. I was never a spoiled brat living above my means, and I didn't expect everything I wanted to just fall in my lap with little to no effort on my part. I know that in real life there are plenty of people like the characters on that show. Guess what? I find them super-annoying too, so why on earth would I want to watch a show about them?

[canuckcutie]

I haven't any desire to watch Girls just as I never had any desire to watch Sex & the City. Neither show appeals or speaks to me as a woman. It seems as though if there is a show featuring an ensemble of women then automatically it must appeal to and speak to all women.

[Deleted]

I love that she's so willing to get naked and show her real body. I honestly think that's an absolutely revelatory and feminist thing.

I'm not so sure about that. I think women overall, especially women 30 and younger, have been a bit duped over the past 12-15 years into thinking that being naked, doing sex scenes, stripping, etc., are feminist statements when often times they just are what they are...the old business of showing skin to get attention and/or make money. I'm not saying this is the case all the time, and I only watched Girls long enough to know I don't like it so I haven't seen any of the scenes you're referring to, but regardless, I suspect someone like Lena Dunham is getting naked for attention and the buzz it brings rather than as a feminist statement despite her or her fans trying to frame it that way.

[Neurochick]

Jan 11, 2013 15:04:50 GMT -4 incognito said:

that doesn't take away from the fact that her show and movie are funny and authentic in terms of young single women's lives.

But I think that's the crux of it: A lot of the backlash is because many young single women (myself included) don't feel that her show is authentic in terms of their lives. Especially young single WOC. So I don't like hearing how Girls is a show for all women. It's not. And maybe Lena never meant it to be, maybe the problem is more with how the show's been marketed than anything else. But her comments re: the lack of diversity, although well-intentioned - I do appreciate how she didn't pull a Michael Patrick King and throw a temper tantrum when called out on it - made me roll my eyes. POC aren't aliens, Lena! (Plus, she kept that disgusting Lesley Arfin on the writing staff, although I'm not sure if she's still there.)

That said, damn, I wish I had her confidence about her body. I still get self-conscious changing in the locker room.

I agree with this. I think it's awful when someone says, "this is about young women in my generation" and there are NO WOC in the show. What about them Lena? Huh? And she's in Brooklyn no doubt.

But what I do like about her is that she's rather plain looking and gets naked. People today have this feeling that women especially, shouldn't get naked, especially on TV and in the movies, unless you're a 10. For that, I like her, but otherwise, I think she's one of those hipster jerks who live in my now gentrified neighborhood.

[magazinewhore]

'm not so sure about that. I think women overall, especially women 30 and younger, have been a bit duped over the past 12-15 years into thinking that being naked, doing sex scenes, stripping, etc., are feminist statements when often times they just are what they are...the old business of showing skin to get attention and/or make money.

I think if you saw how she shows her body in a very real and unflattering way, bulges, rolls and all, you'd see that this is not at all a case of someone getting naked to be a sex symbol. Yes, part of her getting naked is for attention, but I think a side effect of that is that her body is not the usual kind you see on TV or in the media and that disrupts the usual stereotype of the hot naked female. I still maintain it's a revelatory act. But that's just my opinion.

I never meant to say the show was for all women; she's speaking to/for a very specific young, urban woman demographic. Yes, it's lacking in diversity. But as an older Gen X feminist, I appreciate the fact that there's another representation of womanhood on in the media, particularly such a messy one as opposed to the hyper-materialistic one of SATC.

Regarding parents supporting kids: it's a reality for a lot of young people today. A lot of parents do, particularly since the Recession. I guess I don't think she's condoning these things so much as portraying them. But I never thought of her or her show as a voice of a generation (she has that one line in the pilot); that's a completely different argument. Yes, her portrayal of her world is sheltered and self-absorbed and clueless to her privilege, but isn't of any main character in a TV show? I don't get why she's such a target of that criticism more so than, say, Louie C.K. is (although that's a far better show, I will admit).

And, yes, some (or one) of her writers sounds a bit questionable.