Vidshow Discussion Post: An Essential Part of a Fable

[cosmic_llin]

Welcome to the discussion post for the An Essential Part of a Fable vidshow, curated by walkthegale!

A vidshow about monsters. “They call us monsters because it makes it easier to hurt us. But monsters are people, too.” ― Marjorie M. Liu, Monstress #6

Whether or not you attended or supported the 2019 con, join us in the comments to chat about this show.

If you haven't watched it yet, or you'd like to refresh your memory, most of this show is available to stream on our site - scroll down this page and click on the show title to see the vids alongside their descriptions.

Comments

[soupytwist]

This was SUCH a great concept for a vidshow, and the perfect person to curate it!

[cosmic_llin]

I love the way this vidshow not only showcases a broad variety of types of monsters but also asks and answers questions about what a monster is, and who gets to decide. Starting with the vid of the old black and white monster movies that have so influenced our current cultural ideas about monsters, coupled with the show's title and description, sets out really clearly that the vidshow will be exploring the stories we tell about monsters.

I love the way the show starts out with a more general exploration of this topic and then focuses in hard on the way women have been framed as monstrous - the way that powerful women are scary, and the way that women made monstrous by society can turn that around and claim it as power. (Particularly love Maleficent and Regina/the Evil Queen being right next to each other, as enduring and significant female fairytale villains.)

Ending on that terrific Monstress vid really brings the threads together, describing a woman "meaner than [her] demons" and asking "Who is in control?" This show had such a punch watching it in the room.