Watching True Blood for the first time
(which was in class), I kind of saw the hype and popularity of the show. It had
seemed to me it was a vivid analogy for many things that could be related to on
some levels in pop culture today. Even being gay in America which I feel at the
start of the show was a hot topic. Some of these vampires had “come out of the”
coffin (closet), they were trying to pass the vampire rights amendment, and
they couldn’t marry. I also soon realized that I’m not too fond of the
character Sookie. She seemed like she had strong character at times on the show,
but in the books she came off as one who was simple and cared for the
simplicity of life. When reading the book, I was definitely a bigger fan of
her. In the show he seems to feed on and love the attention of supernatural men
and easily satisfied/impressed with small gestures. She seems to love Bill who
isn’t very genuine (it seems like) and also loves Eric who seems pretty
disrespectful.
I feel that True Blood is more
entertaining however than the books, possibly due to the writers and edits. The
female character portrayal is still misogynistic. I feel there are also not as
many significant female roles in the show compared to the men’s. Looking
closely at it, it’s difficult to view it the same way when paying close attention
to what is illustrated on the show. Due to multiple reasons, the main for me
being, True Blood coming off as a men’s club; in the storyline they call the shots
and the women characters either find their personality through them or lack any
form of personality.
What I also find interesting is
usually putting a woman in the center of things (especially when it comes to
men and love triangle etc.) they usually get to call the shots. The guys should
fight over her and basically earn her respect/love or whatever it may be. In
theory it feels progressive. The whole masculine ideas of possessing seem to dominate
the scenario in True Blood. They usually don’t seem to take into consideration
or downright care at all what the woman thinks. On top of that, it seems as if
the woman is set up for failure because the only right choice she can make is
not to have one.
