Debbie Schlussel has her knickers in a twist about Disney’s revamping — or unvamping — of the cartoon character, Tinker Bell.
Could you read the piece and tell me why she’s angry? And what is that about modest Muslims in her opening paragraph? And the mention of the new hat turning into a hijab? What am I missing?
Jeff Fecke seems to have a handle on it, but I’m honestly adrift on this one. Schlussel prefers to see Tink in something scantier? Does Schlussel really believe the Tinker Bell shown at left is dressed butch? I invite Schlussel to get out more. It would do her good. I say that with love.
Dating Jesus 
You’re right; she’s nuts. There’s nothing unsexy about being dressed in leaves. I think she didn’t have a column idea … and she’s a little defensive and insecure about her own femininity and attractiveness. The new Tinkerbell looks like a real modern girl’s heroine.
Not that I didn’t identify with the traditional Tink, who WAS a sexy, possessive, jealous little bitch in love with Peter. Barrie describes her as “embonpointem” which I think in French means well-fed or zaftig, and I think there’s a reference to her decolletage … Tink definitely had boobs and a butt. And ovaries.
embonpointe. no m.
Oh, like any of us here speak French. But thank you for that. Considering Barrie’s original intent, Tink seems to have strayed far afield. So would ol’ Deb worry about what clothes she’s wearing? Have you ever read the original? I have not, but I felt mighty uncomfortable as a girl watching Tink being so stinkin’ possessive of Peter Pan. I didn’t find her endearing at all.
Tinkerbelle a butch? Are you kidding me? No self-respecting butch would wear a skirt or stockings, and most wouldn’t wear their hair in a bun, either. Tinkerbelle is the ultimate femme. For all you straight people out there, that means she’s girly. Girly-girls can get pissed off about stuff too.
Sister Kick, I’m wondering if we need to enter Sister Deb into our 24-hour prayer circle.
It’s hard to combine anti-Muslim stealth jihad paranoia with homophobia, misogyny, anti-women’s sports, insulting a member of Obama’s cabinet, and mocking modesty in such a short, vapid column–but she did it!
And you know what, Bro. John? For that amount of hate in such a short time frame, part of me wants to applaud. Or hack up a hairball.
She looks underage in the picture. Jail bait.
Jail bait, Jay? I don’t think that she’s particularly datable on any level, she’s a sprite!
However I think that the redesign is just fine. I completely miss the hajib reference, sounds like Islamophobia to me. The whole piece seems to reflect Schussel’s own parade of phobias. I also am glad that Tink is no longer wearing eye-makeup and looking vampy.
That’s it. Bro. Deb goes into her 24-hour prayer cycle. She’s in need.
The new Tink is so much better. The old one looks cold in so little clothing. Peter and the boys were more bundled up so why should she not wear something with more coverage. I think Tinkerbell looks plenty hot and will surely continue to get Peter’s attention. She doesn’t look even close to Tomboy to me.
Broadening this to real life…I cannot stand to see pictures or TV shows with a woman barely clothed in a scant, short dress and bare shoulders, arms and legs, standing along side a guy in a full suit with only his hands and face exposed. That sort of thing bothers me.
My drivers’ ed teacher, who was also one of our football coaches, told us in class once that cheerleaders could wear short skirts in the winter because women have less nerve endings in their legs. I believe the overall reaction from the female side of the room was a hearty ‘Bullshit!’
Do you think HE really believed that? I remember, while in H.S., being told that the cheerleaders keep warm in cold weather because they wear pantyhose with their short skirts. I had the same reaction that you had at the time, but it seems to me the boys bought into the explanation.
Interesting, yes? And yes, I do think the coach bought into it. He sounded so sincere…
I don’t get it, everybody else is going nuts over the super-femming of Dora, Strawberry Shortcake et al and this lady’s pissed that Tinkerbell’s *not* sexy enough??
I guess that’s where I’m having trouble with this essay. She prefers Tarted-Up Tink?
I favor the more modest approach when playing to children.
But Deb’s problem, besides being just vicious, is that Disney turned Tinker Bell from someone who looked like Deb into someone who looked like Ellen.
But Tink still has the little puffballs on her shoes. Which is something you would never see on Ellen. Perez maybe.
But I think the Barbie Doll stereotype works better for the Republicans than it does for Disney these days. Wouldn’t it be fun if Disney did an outtake reel of Tink ranting like Deb.
Hey now. Ellen is the shit. Also, she’s quite hot.
As kick previously mentioned, Ellen would never wear a skirt, pantyhose or tights, or that pretty little cape. I think the new Tink is very feminine looking.
Love Ellen whenever I’ve seen her.
Maybe someone should suggest that. I’ve not read much of ol’ Deb’s writings and I think I’ll just continue that pattern, but I do read Jeff Fecke’s stuff, and his take on this particular piece of journalism made me look.