TOW #14-The Last Amazon by Jill Lepore (Written)

The Last Amazon by Jill Lepore is an article on The New Yorker's website. It is a critique on D.C.'s usage of the character Wonder Woman, and how she could be so much more than the studio is letting her be. It highlights the feminist issues of women that are as amazing and can kick as much butt and men getting sidelined to let the men (read: Superman and Batman) have their “epic duels”. Lepore uses a lot of rhetoric in her article, one of the most effective is her look back into history, at where Wonder Woman originated. She even goes to the max as to find the son of two feminists who evolved Wonder Woman to see what he thought. She also quotes experts on Wonder Woman, and how the figure has evolved.

Another thing Lepore does is use comparisons really well to highlight her point. For example, she points out Captain America vs Wonder Woman, and who would be easier to age up to modern times (Wonder Woman, of course). She also uses the movie in which Wonder Woman played by Gage Gadot will be in, Superman vs. Batman, as a jumping point for the injustice done to Wonder Woman. For example, she uses another critic's example of an alternate title for the movie, “Batman vs. Superman with also some Wonder Woman in there so sit down ladies we're treating you fine: The Movie”. This also showcases a slightly underrated part of Lepore's article, the humor and sarcasm aspect. Lepore also quotes many wall known feminists, like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Max Eastman, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Lepore ends with the call to attention of how much has still to change. “She'd have to take stock, and what could she say about what women have got? Brest bumps and fetal rights instead of paid maternity leave and equal rights? Longer hours instead of equal pay?”

TOW #13- Bossypants by Tina Fey (IRB)

          One of the funniest things about Tina Fey's book Bossypants is the not so subtle pointing out of her literary techniques. These are presented as commentary on what she has already written placed in between of parentheses. For example, this hilarious insert where she is talking about her resemblance to Sarah Palin, and Fey says, "Lorne and I discussed the overwhelming public opinion (hyperbole) that I should play Governor Palin," (Fey 202). No, that was not me putting in the word hyperbole to show where it was, that was Fey clarifying that no, there wasn't hoards of people clamoring for her to play Sarah Palin. Fey also does this by adding an aster ix, so she can add a note at the bottom of the page. She does this when she says, "...after inspecting the cleanliness of Oprah's airplane, set, and dressing room the next morning*.." and then at the bottom of the page, "This is not something I would normally do, but I wanted everything to be perfect for Miss Oprah. Jon Hamm, if you come back, I will not preinspect your toilet. I may inspect it afterward to make sure you didn't steal anything." This adds so much humor in her own voice, and makes it seem less edited than the rest of the book even though you know that the whole book is edited a lot.

         The thing that I bring away from the book is how Tina Fey is trying so hard to seem like a normal person when it is obvious she is a hilarious goddess sent to Earth as a reincarnation of the comedy muse of the old religions. She speaks about her insecurities regularly, really making it seem like she is a real woman, which she is. I think the best part of this is seeing how she views her own life. She eve says once that her kid's 6^th birthday party theme was just important as the Oprah guest starring on 30 Rock, and that really puts into perspective how crazy celebrity's lives can be.