No because the label “Hot Surfer Chick” is patriarchal and modern. However, biographically and in the movie, “Becoming Jane” Austen is portrayed as an adventurous woman of her time who tested the boundaries of social acceptability. Playing cricket, peeking at naked men bathing, watching “fight club” style contests and wanting to marry a man she couldn't have, does not reflect the usual behaviour of the characters in her books. Moreover Austen created boundaries in her prose by excluding street talk, trade terms, body parts and swearing. It was the language of elegance, decorum and proving ones worth to one's society for romantic partnership.
Yet Austen is most deserving of accolades because of her achievements in authorship especially as Samuel Johnson had only written the first English dictionary of language and grammar, fifty years previously. One might argue that Austen, for the first time, was writing for women, about women, and on a subject, which is most dear to their hearts; romantic social intrigue. Perhaps being a “Hot Surfer Chick” is more about doing things a man does, only better, and being part of a post ,hippy, sub-culture, whereas Austen in a pre-cursor to feminist writing entertains the reader while (unintentionally?) critical of her society and unrequited love.
No less poignant, than one of Austen’s studies, John Constable was born a year after Austen in 1776 and his artistic legacy is most important through his landscape painting - and as a contemporary of Turner - when history and portraiture were the artistic fashion. Also his family demanded he continue their milling business rather than the pursuit of his sweet-heart. In a biography of the same name by Anthony Bailey; “A Kingdom of His Own,” Constable, like Austen, created a place that is gone forever with the evolution of modernity. Yet ironically, both were, modern for their times but today the popularity of Austen romance might be argued as a subtle rebellion against present feminine modernity.
Maybe women enjoy reading Austen as a form of empowerment, (or just a nice read too) because feminism and gender relations theory have still not delivered total freedom for the individual or gender. Wage disparity, maternity related career limitations, health care and corporate leadership remain challenges for women. It is so unfair that feminism appears to have benefited men, more than women, through new ways of thinking and the enrichment of male participation in society. But most importantly perhaps the new frontier of gender relations is the challenge of elegance and decorum in proving a partners romantic and social worth. Therefore the recreation of Austen characters today, in publication and motion picture adaption become fictional characters in the kingdom’s of our own. Jane Austen is a “Hot Surfer Chick” because she allows us to ride the waves of romantic tradegy and fulfilment.
Yet Austen is most deserving of accolades because of her achievements in authorship especially as Samuel Johnson had only written the first English dictionary of language and grammar, fifty years previously. One might argue that Austen, for the first time, was writing for women, about women, and on a subject, which is most dear to their hearts; romantic social intrigue. Perhaps being a “Hot Surfer Chick” is more about doing things a man does, only better, and being part of a post ,hippy, sub-culture, whereas Austen in a pre-cursor to feminist writing entertains the reader while (unintentionally?) critical of her society and unrequited love.
No less poignant, than one of Austen’s studies, John Constable was born a year after Austen in 1776 and his artistic legacy is most important through his landscape painting - and as a contemporary of Turner - when history and portraiture were the artistic fashion. Also his family demanded he continue their milling business rather than the pursuit of his sweet-heart. In a biography of the same name by Anthony Bailey; “A Kingdom of His Own,” Constable, like Austen, created a place that is gone forever with the evolution of modernity. Yet ironically, both were, modern for their times but today the popularity of Austen romance might be argued as a subtle rebellion against present feminine modernity.
Maybe women enjoy reading Austen as a form of empowerment, (or just a nice read too) because feminism and gender relations theory have still not delivered total freedom for the individual or gender. Wage disparity, maternity related career limitations, health care and corporate leadership remain challenges for women. It is so unfair that feminism appears to have benefited men, more than women, through new ways of thinking and the enrichment of male participation in society. But most importantly perhaps the new frontier of gender relations is the challenge of elegance and decorum in proving a partners romantic and social worth. Therefore the recreation of Austen characters today, in publication and motion picture adaption become fictional characters in the kingdom’s of our own. Jane Austen is a “Hot Surfer Chick” because she allows us to ride the waves of romantic tradegy and fulfilment.
1 comments:
Interesting point of view...for her time, Jane Austen really was a Hot Surfer Chick!
The Feminist movement has feminized MEN, which has created a barrel full woes. Men staying home and being supported by women is not a pretty sight at all !
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