| |
|
Sexual Politics In Andy Pandy Land
As with many children's programmes generated in the 1950s, Andy Pandy and his chums occupy an interesting position in gender role politics. Andy, an androgenous lively little chap who simultaneously acts as inqusitive child (boy) and peacemaker, a traditionally female role. Teddy, clearly the embodiment of the more macho aspects of the male persona is a prankster troublemaker. So where does that leave Looby Loo?
At the level of physical presence she merely a whisker's width more than two dimensional, a floppy dolly who is denied animation in the presence of her male counterparts...I mean they would rather include a stuffed sheep in their game of "Rub-A-Dub-Dub, Three Men In A Tub", than play with Looby, who even amongst other marionettes is merely...a rag dolly, a puppet.
So what does Looby get to do when the boys are off doing fun boy things?
Umm..dusting. And, err...cooking and keeping her skirt clean, and of course she gets to sing songs about "Gay Gardens", nice.
Oh Looby, no wonder you never moan.
No such luck the 'liberated' Looby of today's remake, she does moan, and grimace, and gripe...incessantly.
What an original and ground breaking representation of the female gender role...a whining nag. No ace adventures for our Looby, the proud possessor of the only stove in PandyLand.
I mean Teddy can be a pain in the arse but come on, take a Valium Looby.
As with all good batchelors, Andy lives on cornflakes and brown sauce, unless teddy shows up and persuades him to go round to Looby's for lunch, or accompany him on one of his food stealing rampages which often of course end up with him in dire need of some tender, loving care and 'tummy medicine' courtesy of darling Looby Loo.
What a doll.
Teddy is still a bit Gungho, an aggressive attitude ("I must find ALL the Easter Eggs" - made by Andy of course, still clinging to what is 'cool' about having a feminine side) that often puts him in danger of the horrific "sucking a lemon face" that Looby seems fairly partial to.
There is a possibility that Teddy suffers from "Jar-Jar Binks Syndrome".
Andy has a special cupboard with tools (Easter Egg molds for eg.) and crayons and all sorts of potential for adventure and creativity.
The mind boggles.
Not half as violently as Looby's mood swings though.
http://www.bigdumb.com |
|
|
