VISION:
Feminists have extensively criticized the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope until it gradually got phased off our screens. It can be said that she’s been replaced by a different type of problematic female character, who is the main rather than supporting character, and who rather than being defined by her influence on a male character, is defined by a curated series of traumatic events that serve the purpose of adding to her allure. ‘It’ Girl in Distress is a zine to explore, discuss, and critique this portrayal of women in Netflix originals.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:
These are some of the questions we would like to explore through our zine:
- Why has this trope been so successful and reoccurring, despite being an overworked storyline with minor differences from one serial to the next?
- How has this trope impacted girls and women in real life, in terms of fashion, aesthetics, behaviors, mental health, coping mechanisms, etc.?
- Does this trope affect viewership and a show’s relationship to its audience? If so, how?
- What are the differences between the representation of the trope in the ’90s as opposed to the politically and socially “aware” audience of the 2020s?
- To what extent is this trope a product of the male gaze? How would it look if it was influenced by a female gaze lens?
We are accepting submissions, whether in written form (essay, poetry, etc.) or visual form (photography, podcast, digital art, etc.) in two waves. The first submissions to be received by the 29th of October and the second by the 5th of November for eligibility for inclusion. To submit, please send your completed work and a cover letter explaining how your contribution will add to our visions to itgirlindistress@gmail.com. Written work should be submitted in word.doc format and visual work in .PNG or .PDF format.
