Why Flashdance Works

A Nation of Godfathers and Jokers

Films like The Godfather and Joker have become iconic, but what do they say about masculinity? What does healthy masculinity look like? Who are our heroes? What can we re-envision for a cleaner world. This post explores how we see, what we choose to see, and what we can create with clear sight.

Why Flashdance Works

The 1983 film Flashdance uses an interplay of masculine and feminine energy to create a story of not only romance, but someone able to seek out and accomplish her goals and her dreams. Why does this work, and what can this film teach us about the interplay of masculine and feminine? Listen to the article and some questions we can consider on this episode of the Ms. Wonderful Film Club podcast.

What is Manhood? Bruiser Asks Questions

The film Bruiser, starring Trevante Rhodes and Jalyn Hall, came out in 2022 and explores what fatherhood is, and how challenging it can be for a teenage boy to learn about healthy masculinity. Are fathers domineering, hard-working, focused, or free-spirited and easily forgiven? How do we teach young men healthy lessons about adulthood--and do we sometimes make adulthood come too soon? Learn more about this podcast on the blog mswonderful.substack.com [https://mswonderful.substack.com]and read through the archives. You can also follow @mswonderfulfilm on Instagram. More about the creator of this feminine-lensed enterprise of film exploration on janamarierose.com [https://janamarierose.com]

Brilliant Barbie...and the Story Continues

Barbie (2023, directed by Greta Gerwig) was one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and it is full of pink femininity. What is it about this character that appeals to our sensibilities--regardless of age? I suspect it is our desire to get lost in other worlds, and our desire for play. Listen to this posting from 2023 about the power of play and femininity to help us overcome the struggles of a slowly shifting paradigm.

Golden Light and Storytelling in Before Sunset

From the archives, this post is about the power of acting and the way that director Richard Linklater uses sun and lighting to create a story for his main character Jesse (played by Ethan Hawke) in Before Sunset. This is the second film in Richard Linklater's Before trilogy. The trilogy grapples with a man trying to understand his place as an artist, a father, a husband, and the changing perceptions that occur with the passage of time. Read more blog posts on the Substack newsletter: mswonderful.substack.com [https://mswonderful.substack.com] Learn about the intersection of art and healing: www.janamarierose.com [https://www.janamarierose.com]