Juno and Juneau

When Diablo Cody's breakthrough film, Juno became a pop phenomenon, some of my feminist sistahs expressed some unease about its hipsterization of the "culture of life." Despite the movie's sleeper success, folks were torn about Juno's clever retorts and neologisms, bringing new meaning to Gertrude Stein's remarks about when art is both "irritating and stimulating." Despite the hetero, puppy-love story and good ol' fashioned reproductive narrative, Ellen Page has become a lesbian icon (aka Dyke-on), something she acknowledged and sent the whole Sapphic universe tittering about when she played an Etheridge-loving tomboy on Saturday Night Live.

Even though we've come to expect denouements about boys and girls falling in love and making babies (for themselves or others) in an America that has shifted increasingly to the right since Maude's heydey, I still get rankled every time those of us on the left make concessions to normative narratives like the "culture of life."

Call me quaint, but I actually still get rage-y everytime--and trust me, it's often--that a Democratic presidential candidate affirms in no uncertain terms that marriage is "a sacred union...between a man and a woman." Yes, Barack, I'm talking about you and that awkward visit to the O.C. megachurch. (And pretty much every major Democratic presidential candidate who's ever run for office.) I know, good, political queers aren't supposed to care about gay marriage. Personally, I'm not that invested in the issue, but as they say, it's the thought that counts. Of course I'm going to do everything I can to help Obama win the presidency, if mostly to see the fierce and resplendent Michelle Obama in the White House.

But back to where all the action is these days, to the source of this summer's sleeper teen pregnancy hit, Juneau. After a listless Republican primary, and a scintillating DNC of rockstar proportions--packed stadium, marble columns and all--who woulda thunk the Republicans had it in them to scrounge up an Us-worthy celeb to go toe-to-toe with the Obamas and their repeat cameos eating ice cream and shopping at Target in the "Stars are Just Like Us" section?!?














The Republicans, as is their wont, don't seem to mind the exposure of their own hypocrisy as every twist and turn of this story unfolds, from their castigation of the Obamas for their celeb status despite Palin's own covergirl notoriety, to the disposable and losing "experience" argument (although toss the word "executive" in there and it's back on the table), to the anti-sex-ed policies and culture war politics they keep trying to brand as "Maverick" instead of antiquated. Lipstick on a pitbull indeed. (Apologies. I think I may have just insulted both pitbulls and lipstick.)

Anyway, to end with where we began, I'm left to wonder how much Juno really is to blame for Juneau, and by extension, how much we are all to blame for allowing the Right to continue exerting their so-called cultural "values" on our work, wit and desires. It's time to bite back. - (KT)

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ETC.

Stating the Obvious, Part 1
Just to be clear, I'm not blaming Diablo Cody for Bristol Palin . We all know where the responsibility lies with that. And I'm not talking about her infamous, hockey-grunt/babydaddy who was trotting around onstage at the RNC either. (Plus I heart DC's columns in Entertainment Weekly).

Stating the Obvious, Part 2
Like everyone else out there, especially the Kangagi who has declared this passionately on her Facebook status update, I can't WAIT to see what Tina Fey and Megan Mullally do with their resemblance to Sarah Palin. I smell an MM guest spot on 30 Rock.


Stating the Obvious, Part 3
Palin sure knows how to work the Northern Exposure/Maggie O'Connell ur-text.








And of course we all know she's a "Mother, Moosehunter, Maverick." Listen closely for echoes of the Dallas theme in this video.


Stating the Obvious, Part 4
We can't wait to watch the Rachel Maddow show, debuting today on MSNBC.