Comments on: A Pesky Pixie Problem http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/ Et ignotas animum dimittit in artes Sat, 19 May 2012 17:08:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Bacon http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-5457 Bacon Thu, 07 Jul 2011 14:04:21 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-5457 that last one, where the mpdg isn't all she's cracked up to be, is exactly what john green explores in his paper towns book. hopefully paper towns will make it on the silver screen with the right cast and most importantly the right screenplay to project this interesting concept and make it a mind changing film where we wonder how many people we truly know. that last one, where the mpdg isn’t all she’s cracked up to be, is exactly what john green explores in his paper towns book. hopefully paper towns will make it on the silver screen with the right cast and most importantly the right screenplay to project this interesting concept and make it a mind changing film where we wonder how many people we truly know.

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]]> By: Bo Puhrman http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-2333 Bo Puhrman Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:07:52 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-2333 I thought this article, "A Pesky Pixie Problem | Uncreated Conscience," was about something else. Even so, great write up! I thought this article, “A Pesky Pixie Problem | Uncreated Conscience,” was about something else. Even so, great write up!

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]]> By: Maggie http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-1366 Maggie Thu, 13 May 2010 21:28:20 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-1366 Thank you so much for writing this post! Somebody had to! I think Penny Lane would have been much better as a character if there weren't so many other characters like her. I do like how she leaves at the end - it was like an acknowledgment of how horrible her MPDG-ness really was. (I still was ready to kill her over breaking poor William Miller's heart, though.) I don't know much about the other characters listed here other than Holly Golightly. I love Breakfast at Tiffany's, but Holly drove me nuts! I'd add Lila (in Holly Black's WHITE CAT) and to some extent Jenny from Forrest Gump. Jenny not quite so pixie, but she still had the Manic Dream Girl thing going on. (Again, love Forrest Gump, but come on!) Thank you so much for writing this post! Somebody had to!

I think Penny Lane would have been much better as a character if there weren’t so many other characters like her. I do like how she leaves at the end – it was like an acknowledgment of how horrible her MPDG-ness really was. (I still was ready to kill her over breaking poor William Miller’s heart, though.)

I don’t know much about the other characters listed here other than Holly Golightly. I love Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but Holly drove me nuts!

I’d add Lila (in Holly Black’s WHITE CAT) and to some extent Jenny from Forrest Gump. Jenny not quite so pixie, but she still had the Manic Dream Girl thing going on. (Again, love Forrest Gump, but come on!)

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]]> By: Characters in Love | Uncreated Conscience http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-1363 Characters in Love | Uncreated Conscience Thu, 13 May 2010 20:48:34 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-1363 [...] guy” or “fantasy girl”? Apparently they mean the Tortured Brooding Hero or the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. (Depending on the POV of the person falling in love.) I’m generalizing, of course, but [...] [...] guy” or “fantasy girl”? Apparently they mean the Tortured Brooding Hero or the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. (Depending on the POV of the person falling in love.) I’m generalizing, of course, but [...]

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]]> By: bambi http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-1207 bambi Sun, 11 Apr 2010 20:06:39 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-1207 I can't stand the MPDG either - and that is WHY I loved 500 Days of Summer! The whole movie is pulling apart that ideal. It plays with his - and our - expectations of who this girl will be. And despite my distaste for most of these constructed dream girls, I did think this one would be different. I guess it's because we are told of her detachment, that she has walls up and we visibly see her coldness. Most MPDGs are distant in this way that seems to never be noticed by the male protagonist, and seems to be an inherent part of her wisdom and greatness and her being on her own planet of supergreatness. I found 500 Days of Summer excellent because it said sometimes that person you project so much onto is not worth it. I really like Almost Famous, but I find the character of Penny Lane very difficult. A big part of it is how Kate Hudson plays her - just seems too comfortable being the girl who lauds her amazingness over her admirer. I always wonder how it would have turned out if Sarah Polley had taken the role. I think she would have given her more soul and depth. Some actresses seem to make the MPDG even worse than they need be - Hudson, Natalie Portman. I suspect sometimes the actress relishes too much being that girl on the pedestal, and these can make for the most annoying MPDGs. I liked Zooey's portrayal and I think it worked to hint at a real inner life with Summer. The mystery to her character is partly the rose-coloured glasses Tom sees her with (which is explored within the film) and partly the distance she keeps him at. I find that really different to the MPDG roles where the girl is dehumanised and is only constructed in terms of the guy's desires, and his need to be saved. I think it's great to have a movie that lets us see the MPDG may not be all she's cracked up to be. That's the point - a projection is fiction, and it's not till you get to know someone you know their true character. I'd also like to see other perspectives in film deconstructing this archetype. Maybe one where a female who plays into being the MPDG starts to question her own motives. And maybe one where a guy sees a girl as this type when she really isn't, and the film shows us what she is really like. I can’t stand the MPDG either – and that is WHY I loved 500 Days of Summer! The whole movie is pulling apart that ideal. It plays with his – and our – expectations of who this girl will be. And despite my distaste for most of these constructed dream girls, I did think this one would be different. I guess it’s because we are told of her detachment, that she has walls up and we visibly see her coldness. Most MPDGs are distant in this way that seems to never be noticed by the male protagonist, and seems to be an inherent part of her wisdom and greatness and her being on her own planet of supergreatness. I found 500 Days of Summer excellent because it said sometimes that person you project so much onto is not worth it.

I really like Almost Famous, but I find the character of Penny Lane very difficult. A big part of it is how Kate Hudson plays her – just seems too comfortable being the girl who lauds her amazingness over her admirer. I always wonder how it would have turned out if Sarah Polley had taken the role. I think she would have given her more soul and depth. Some actresses seem to make the MPDG even worse than they need be – Hudson, Natalie Portman. I suspect sometimes the actress relishes too much being that girl on the pedestal, and these can make for the most annoying MPDGs.

I liked Zooey’s portrayal and I think it worked to hint at a real inner life with Summer. The mystery to her character is partly the rose-coloured glasses Tom sees her with (which is explored within the film) and partly the distance she keeps him at. I find that really different to the MPDG roles where the girl is dehumanised and is only constructed in terms of the guy’s desires, and his need to be saved.

I think it’s great to have a movie that lets us see the MPDG may not be all she’s cracked up to be. That’s the point – a projection is fiction, and it’s not till you get to know someone you know their true character. I’d also like to see other perspectives in film deconstructing this archetype. Maybe one where a female who plays into being the MPDG starts to question her own motives. And maybe one where a guy sees a girl as this type when she really isn’t, and the film shows us what she is really like.

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]]> By: danielle http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-1008 danielle Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:06:34 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-1008 Penelope from The Brothers Bloom is another example. I mean, she collected *hobbies* for gods sake! And Rachel Weiz really is a funny person, which made the tragedy of Penelope's annoying-ness all the more heartwrenching. Penelope from The Brothers Bloom is another example. I mean, she collected *hobbies* for gods sake! And Rachel Weiz really is a funny person, which made the tragedy of Penelope’s annoying-ness all the more heartwrenching.

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]]> By: Lenore http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-994 Lenore Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:02:23 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-994 I love Clementine. One of my favorite characters ever! I love Clementine. One of my favorite characters ever!

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]]> By: Nicolas http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-993 Nicolas Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:04:55 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-993 Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day! <a href="http://www.japellow.com/" rel="nofollow">Nicolas</a> Thank you! I would now go on this blog every day!
Nicolas

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]]> By: Kristan http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-988 Kristan Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:46:23 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-988 Yes, Clementine is an excellent example!! Can't believe I forgot her. I feel like I owe Kate Winslet an apology... Yes, Clementine is an excellent example!! Can’t believe I forgot her. I feel like I owe Kate Winslet an apology…

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]]> By: Najela http://sjaejones.com/blog/2010/a-pesky-pixie-problem/comment-page-1/#comment-986 Najela Wed, 10 Feb 2010 08:02:08 +0000 http://sjaejones.com/?p=3709#comment-986 HAHAHA. It's so funny that you'd post this because I was just taking some story notes and wrote "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" next to the female protagonist. Would Stargirl count? She's pretty quirky and crazy. She technically doesn't get a happily ever after either (not even in the sequel) HAHAHA. It’s so funny that you’d post this because I was just taking some story notes and wrote “Manic Pixie Dream Girl” next to the female protagonist.

Would Stargirl count? She’s pretty quirky and crazy. She technically doesn’t get a happily ever after either (not even in the sequel)

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