Geeking Out About Diversity & Representation in Pop Culture: Aladdin, MIB, Shazam!, & More!
Explicit content warning
12/13/19 • 45 min
There's a subtle (sometimes) and encouraging movement happening in Hollywood and we are so here for it. From classics getting remade with strong and kick-ass women in the lead to biopics of famous gay men to disability and gender representation... hooo yeah! These changes are making the gentle waves that will lead to some damn diversity for a change!
Despite that fact that all the freaking incredible female directors were totally and rudely overlooked at the Golden Globes, we are getting a bit closer to some actual, honest to goodness, recognition and representation on the big screen.
Believe it or not, this episode started out as a Geek Girl in the News.... but we were having so much fun chatting about what was new in our lives - and for Amanda who flew 10 hours across the ocean - it was all sorts of movies!
HAVE YOU SEEN ALADDIN!??! Okay, so Amanda is like, a year late to this party, but she finally got to enjoy it and holy shit, what a game changer. We geek out about it and what it means for the future of not only Disney films, but strong female characters ligting up the big screen.
Then we talk about Men In Black: International and how Tessa Thompson SLAYED in it, alongside Chris Hemsworth, and the nods to taking down the patriarchy were REAL. And, after a lot of himming and hawing because WHAT was the last movie Amanda watched on that 10-hour? SHAZAM! was phenomenal. Representing disabilities, foster care, different sizes and races in such a POSITIVE LIGHT. Also what about those toxic masculinity vibes!?
We also talk about Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman helping normalise gay men in our households. Even though Freddie Mercury and Elton John have been household names for literal decades, it was always with that caveat - but he's gay.
We're LOVING all these films out right now are making positive waves for diversity and representation. As always, what happens in Hollywood will trickle into our households and start helping society make the changes we so desperately are ON BOARD FOR.
Tell us what movies are giving you LIFE in the comments of wherever you see this episode!
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please check out some of our others!
- Geek Herring Reviews Feminists: What Were They Thinking?
- Geeking Out About Disney+: Star Wars, Marvel, The Simpsons, & 90s Feminist Cartoons
- Geek Discussion: Rising Representation and Diversity in Video Games
Love Geek Herring, please hop over to Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!
Join us on Discord!
Geek out with Geek Herring Online / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Patreon!
Geekily yours,
Amanda & Monika
There's a subtle (sometimes) and encouraging movement happening in Hollywood and we are so here for it. From classics getting remade with strong and kick-ass women in the lead to biopics of famous gay men to disability and gender representation... hooo yeah! These changes are making the gentle waves that will lead to some damn diversity for a change!
Despite that fact that all the freaking incredible female directors were totally and rudely overlooked at the Golden Globes, we are getting a bit closer to some actual, honest to goodness, recognition and representation on the big screen.
Believe it or not, this episode started out as a Geek Girl in the News.... but we were having so much fun chatting about what was new in our lives - and for Amanda who flew 10 hours across the ocean - it was all sorts of movies!
HAVE YOU SEEN ALADDIN!??! Okay, so Amanda is like, a year late to this party, but she finally got to enjoy it and holy shit, what a game changer. We geek out about it and what it means for the future of not only Disney films, but strong female characters ligting up the big screen.
Then we talk about Men In Black: International and how Tessa Thompson SLAYED in it, alongside Chris Hemsworth, and the nods to taking down the patriarchy were REAL. And, after a lot of himming and hawing because WHAT was the last movie Amanda watched on that 10-hour? SHAZAM! was phenomenal. Representing disabilities, foster care, different sizes and races in such a POSITIVE LIGHT. Also what about those toxic masculinity vibes!?
We also talk about Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman helping normalise gay men in our households. Even though Freddie Mercury and Elton John have been household names for literal decades, it was always with that caveat - but he's gay.
We're LOVING all these films out right now are making positive waves for diversity and representation. As always, what happens in Hollywood will trickle into our households and start helping society make the changes we so desperately are ON BOARD FOR.
Tell us what movies are giving you LIFE in the comments of wherever you see this episode!
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please check out some of our others!
- Geek Herring Reviews Feminists: What Were They Thinking?
- Geeking Out About Disney+: Star Wars, Marvel, The Simpsons, & 90s Feminist Cartoons
- Geek Discussion: Rising Representation and Diversity in Video Games
Love Geek Herring, please hop over to Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!
Join us on Discord!
Geek out with Geek Herring Online / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Patreon!
Geekily yours,
Amanda & Monika
Previous Episode
Geek Girl in the News: Game of Thrones AXED, Sacha Baron Cohen is woke, & Trans Lead Characters
Geek Girl in the News looks at the awesome or not so awesome news that will make you go either: "YAY" or "OMG I can't believe that."
The latest and greatest geek girl news from November 2019 covers the cancelled prequel to Game of Thrones, the next Star Wars trilogy (yes, trilogy!), Sacha Baron Cohen being an incredible human being, the 14-year-old girl who solved the blind spot problem plaguing drivers, the first leading trans character in a video game, and the game developers focussing on mental health problems in their releases.
Are we a little bit gutted that HBO have cancelled Naomi Watts' Game of Thrones prequel that was 3 years in the making? Uh - yeah! They've axed this progressive, super interesting sounding prequel in favour of one about the Targaryens. Sounds like just what the last 8 seasons were about. Snooze fest!
Speaking of Game of Thrones - you remember how the showrunners royally f#cked up the last season so they could go work on the next Star Wars trilogy? Well, they've bailed out of that one, too! So who's making the next trilogy? And why are they making another trilogy so soon after the last one? We dunno!?
Whether you've been a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen in the past or not has suddenly become irrelevant. His controversial characters have always had political and racial undertones meant to make society examine their belief system - and now, Sacha is gunning for justice for all walks of life. Take some time to listen to his absolutely scathing speech. Trust us when we say you won't regret it!
Submitted by Marty over at Sleepless in Copenhagen, we take a look at the 14-year-old girl who used simple technology that's already available to create a way to see through (yes through) the blind spot created by the passenger seat pillar. How inspirational is she!?
We finally have a game developer creating a lead character who is trans! In Tell Me Why, we're introduced to twins who have grown up with very different lives. French developer Dontnod has had input and support from GLAAD and trans beta testers to make sure the game remains sensitive and realistic to the issues facing transgender people in today's society. We dunno about you, but we cannot WAIT to play this one.
And finally, game makers Ninja Theory, who brought us the psychosomatic lead in Hellblade, are tackling mental health issues in their latest release, The Insight Project. Working with clinical neuroscientists and psychologists, The Insight Project will not only help people understand mental health problems, it will work as a tool for those going through a tough time. We love where the gaming industry is taking video games and are so excited for the future.
What’s your take on these news articles?
In this episode of Geek Girl in the News, we covered these news stories:
- HBO confirms Game of Thrones prequel with Naomi Watts is canceled
- A New Star Wars Movie Is Coming in 2022, but We Don’t Know Who’s Making It
- Sacha Baron Cohen Tears Into Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg In Scathing 24-Minute Speech
- 14-Year-Old Genius Solves Blind Spots
- 'This raises the bar': Microsoft introduces first lead trans character in a major video game
Support Geek Herring on Patreon!
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please check out some of our others!
- Geek Interviews: Mental Health and Real Life Rep Grinding with Thyst
- Geek Discussion: Rising Representation and Diversity in Video Games
- Geeking Out About Game Of Thrones
If you want to start your own podcast, check out
Next Episode
Geek Holidays: Monika's Grinch is Melting!
The holiday season is upon us again! And while we don't have a hilarious Hallmark bot script to make you ROFLMAO, we hope you bring you enough laughs to get you through our 4 week break!
In this episode, we reminisce about our favourite holiday movies - HELLO RUDOLPH AND FROSTY!, help transform Monika into less of a Grinch (she's actually bought a Christmas tree this year!), and get excited about all the geeky things we hope we'll find under our trees.
Really, you'll have to listen to our annual holiday episode to find out what we're up to this season and what goals we're setting for the New Year!
BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU??!
Tell us what you've got going on for the holidays.
Do you have some leet goals for 2020?
Drop us your deets in the comments of wherever you see this episode.
Remember, we're going on a 4 week break after this episode, but we are coming back with one hell of a bang!!!
Happy Holidays and Merry New Year from Geek Herring! Love you all!
If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please check out some of our others!
- Geek Christmas: Controversy, Hallmark, and the Perfect Geeky Girl Gifts
- Geeking Out About Halloween: Costumes, Movies, and Cultural Appropriation
- Geek Milestone: Geek Herring Turns One!! What’s Next!?
Love Geek Herring, please hop over to Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!
Join us on Discord!
Geek out with Geek Herring Online / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Patreon!
Geekily yours,
Amanda & Monika
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