No essay or article today just a wonderful example of how popular culture can add to the changing face of society. Not having grown up in that era I’m still amazed that these types of advertisements were even necessary for something so basic!

There was apparently an alternative version of the advertisement that had Robin saying ‘Holy Discontent’ and leaving us hanging as to whether or not Batgirl would stop the bomb. If you look closely you can see that it is not Adam West playing Batman.

Hope you all enjoy the video and remember the best way to show your support for this site is to leave comments!

Lee is a a huge popular culture freak, loves comic books, science fiction, soundtracks and writes for Quit Your Day Job.

That’s what she would like to know!

Ghost from Dark Horse Comics is a character whom I only had a passing knowledge of despite it’s popularity. I think the only time I had seen her was in a Dark Horse special in a five page short story.

So I was lucky enough to start reading Ghost from the first main appearance of the character and in a chronological order. To this point I’ve now read 15 issues starting with Comics Greatest World 3 in which Ghost is introduced.

Ghost’s first clear memory was finding herself nude and floating above the floor in the men’s room of a seedy nightclub with no recollection of who she was or how she had died. She soon discovered that her name was Elisa Cameron, and that in life she had been a crusading journalist who had been investigating the criminal underworld of Arcadia, a city with the largest concentration of mutants and paranormals in the U.S. She had come to close to some dark secret, and had been murdered as a result. Filled with burning rage and an inexplicable hatred of men, Elisa became the phantasmal figure known as Ghost and set out to discover the truth behind her murder, and who was responsible. In the course of her quest she became a protector and avenger of victimized women, and a nemesis to the criminal underworld, uncovering many old enemies somehow linked to her past, and making many new ones as well.

Like I mentioned I’ve only read the first 15 issues of Ghost and from some of the descriptions I’ve read online I understand that she does indeed uncover more about her special abilities and the reason for her situation.

Something that does set this book aside is the man hating attitude of Ghost. She is quite descriptive in some of her attitudes towards men in general and generally this kind of thing would be usually delegated to a tragic lessor character who has a possible refrigerator in her future.

It’s refreshing for a character to be as deeply disturbed as Ghost and I’m certain many of her thoughts would mirror that of a rape victim or to a lessor degree someone who has been stalked and had to change their lives due to fear.

I’m going to stay with the character and see if I’m able to get through the full run of issues that I’ve managed to get a hold of. (time permitting!)

Take a look at the character if you’d like to read a different perspective and see a female character take power and deal out a little old fashioned revenge.

I certainly encourage anyone who does have a more intimate knowledge of the character to please consider commenting or writing another post that explores this intriguing character at greater depth.

Lee is a a huge popular culture freak, loves comic books, science fiction, soundtracks and writes for Quit Your Day Job.

The premise behind Alias has jokingly been attributed by series creator J.J. Abrams as developing from a what-if surrounding his first series, Felicity. He stated that he thought it would be interesting if the title character decided to be a government agent for a summer before returning to school and then acting as if nothing had happened the following season.

After watching Alias, those roots are clear in its execution. Sydney Bristow, played by Jennifer Garner was recruited by what she believed was a black ops division of the CIA called SD-6, and over the next five years, she became one of their best field agents. All the while, she maintained her academic life and when we first meet her, she is attending graduate school for English, and as far as her friends knew, she was just an overworked part-time employee for Credit Dauphine, an international bank. Even her boyfriend Danny believes this.

Because of the nature of her work, and the implicit threat that if she reveals the true nature of her work, the consequences will be severe, Sydney is forced to live a double life. She is unable to disclose to those closest to her what she really does for a living. Yet she believes that what she is doing is helping her country, so that is a small price to pay to do good in the world.

But when her fiancée Danny proposes to her, she can’t bear to lie to him any longer and she finally confesses, a well-intentioned act which ultimately cost him his life at the hands of SD-6. It was after his murder that she finally learned the truth behind SD-6. Rather than being part of the CIA, SD-6 was one of the international cells of a larger criminal organization called the Alliance, and that SD-6’s L.A. director, Arvin Sloane was a cold and calculating villain.

Her source for this life changing information? Sydney’s estranged father, Jack, who also reveals that he too works for SD-6, the first of many painful revelations that shape her as a character and add complexity to her background. With this new information and the motivation of her fiancé’s death, Sydney has a single goal: the destruction of SD-6, but to do that, she needs help, so she turns to the real CIA and becomes a double agent along with her father against Sloane and SD-6.

And in trying to bring down the criminal organization, she not only has to maintain the façade that she merely works at Credit Dauphine to her friends on the outside, but now she is also forced to lie to her coworkers as well, many of whom she knows to be good people, people who don’t know the truth and also believe that the work they do is benefiting the world. It is this aspect of her experience that makes the title of the series all the more telling. Whenever they advertised the show, there was always an emphasis on Jennifer Garner donning various disguises and forms of sexy garb for her missions, but the meat of the show is Sydney trying to deal with the various personas she has to adopt to live a seemingly normal life and fulfill her larger mission, so in a sense, her whole life was an alias, one which had few moments of relief from that bondage.

Because of this, she is very isolated. There are only a few people she could confide in, people who could understand her plight, like her father, a man who by her own admission she doesn’t know and who had lied to her almost her entire life not only about who he was but about virtually everything that made her into the super agent she is today. She could probably also turn to her CIA handler, Michael Vaughn, but because of the nature of their professional relationship, there are barriers that they could not cross while SD-6 still existed.

Now, imagine carrying that kind of emotional weight on your shoulders with no way to let it out, or trying to bring those that murdered someone you loved to justice while being told by your friends that you should quit your job because the long hours and frequent trips aren’t worth it? Her friends are also potential tools of coercion for Sydney in the hands of someone unscrupulous, and in her professional life, she comes into contact with quite a few of them, especially Arvin Sloane, who had already demonstrated a willingness to murder someone she loved.

But there is more. As events unfold, it becomes clear that on almost every level, Sydney Bristow was destined to be an exceptional agent. Heredity, childhood conditioning and even prophecy determined that she was going to be one of the elite in her field, and that is knowledge she is forced to live with as well. And every time she begins to become accustomed to her personal world being a certain way, she is confronted with information or an event which completely alters the situation. It is a world where truth is subjective, and where stability is a rare commodity.

All these factors expand the character of Sydney Bristow beyond the world of disguises and far-fetched plots to give her a lot of emotional depth, and that is the true beauty of the series.

Matthew Caverhill critiques pop culture, the media and celebrity at Culture Kills... wait, I mean Cutlery , and hands out the Homer Simpson Transmundanity Award weekly.

In the Firefly episode “Out of Gas” we are given an insight into how each of the crew members found themselves about the spaceship Serenity.  Through flashbacks we are shown the interviewing processes that Captain Malcolm Reynolds used to decide on the right people for the right jobs.

Mal has but one thing on his mind when is comes to selecting members of his crew. Does he hire them because they are friends? Because of their gender? Because he is attracted to them? No to all three! For Mal the only thing that matters is that they are good at what they do and they’ll keep his ship running.

No better example can be found in the ships engineer/mechanic Kaywinnit Lee “Kaylee” Frye. The story of how she became the ships mechanic is encouraging in that it is her suitability to the job that gets her the job in the first place and not her looks or connections.

Ironically though it is sleeping with the previous mechanic Bester that does indeed help her get the job! Not in the way many non-browncoats* would assume though. Kaylee is obviously a sexually liberated individual illustrated by some rather frank statements in the later film Serenity. And it is this activity that she is engaged in with Bester in the engine room when Mal enters and demands to know why his ship isn’t ready to fly. Bester who clearly is in over his head tells Mal that the ship can’t be fixed right now but is proved wrong by Kaylee who tells Mal how to fix the ship.

Mal awards the position of mechanic to Kaylee on the spot after being impressed with her understanding of the engine.

It is Kaylee’s skill set that has earnt her the traditionally male orientated job of mechanic. All because she can do the job and not simply because she is cute or fulfilling a demographic!

*Fans of the show Firefly and film Serenity 

Lee is a a huge popular culture freak, loves comic books, science fiction, soundtracks and writes for Quit Your Day Job.

You may not recognise Danielle Burgio’s name straight away but it’s a good bet that you’ve seen her work. As one of Hollywood’s top stunt women Danielle has worked on such projects as The Matrix 2 & 3, Daredevil, CSI NY and Blade to name but a few. She has guest starred on the hit show ‘24′ and has written The Stuntwoman’s Workout which includes a foreward by Director John Carpenter. We were fortunate enough to steal a little time away from her busy schedule!

We’ll get the obvious question out of the way first of all - how and why did you become a stuntwoman?

Pardon the pun, but I just fell into it. I had been working as an actress and dancer when some stuntpeople I met sparked some interest in my head. From there, everything just fell in place. I guess I was willing to let my life take a sharp turn and I was never the same again.

It was a very atypical experience. Most people work for years to get into this elite circle. For me it was just, right time, right place with the right body and the right skills and bam, new career!

When you are performing as a stuntwoman do you adapt your performance to the actor’s style or do you do your own thing?

When I’m doubling an actress I watch her like a hawk. The more I can emulate her walk, her gestures, the easier it is going to be for the director and editor.

Of everything you have done from dancing to stunts to acting and to writing your book which have you found most challenging and which have been most personally rewarding?

They have all been challenging and rewarding for different reasons. This entire business is a challenge of the ego and when you get a great gig, the highs can be so high that it takes weeks to come down. (ie. when I booked the matrix sequels). The actual stuntwork has been an incredible journey of challenge. There have been countless times when I’ve been waiting for the director to call “action”, and I’m standing there with my heart pounding, wondering if I’ll be able to pull it off without killing or maming myself. Then, when they call “cut” and I’ve made it to the other side - wow, the rush of adrenelin! There’s nothing like it.

When I wrote the book, it was a different sense of accomplishment, but certainly one of my great moments. I had never even dreamed of writing. but an opportunity came along, I took the challenge, and on the other side, was a published author. I learned so much. And found a tremendous amount of reward from inspiring people and helping them realize what an adventure life can be for everyone.

Is there a stunt that you are particularly proud of?

There have been so many cool or weird things I’ve done that it’s hard to pick the favorite. And what I’m the most proud of is just being a part of this incredible community of people who amaze and inspire me everyday.

Ever have a stunt go bad?

Certainly, more than one. The first one that pops into mind is an incident with a motorized paraglider.
picture this, the motor is strapped to your back and you run pulling the canopy until you can get it up above your head, then take-off. We were shooting in mohab where the air is thin from altitude and where the wind creates turbulence from the rock formations. 2 of the 3 gliders broke down before I could get them off the ground. We were all frustrated, I was exhausted and time was running out. I just about had the 3rd machine off the ground and was heading toward an enormous drop when a gust of wind sent one of my lines into the propeller….exploding it.

Who is your favourite pop culture heroine?

Trinity is certainly close to my heart for many reasons. The first Matrix had a huge impact on me. And for the sequels, getting to slip into that vinyl was a dream come true.

Is there a stunt that you’ve seen on tv or film that you’ve thought to yourself ‘man I wish I did that!’?

I was unavailable to work on Mr. and Mrs. Smith and when I was sitting in the theater watching those stunts I was so jealous.

What advice would you give a young girl thinking of becoming a stuntwoman?

Realize there is more to it than the fun stuff. There are many times when you’ll be required to hurl your body into a brick wall as hard as you can, over and over and over.

You’ve worked with some very big names anyone stand out that you’ve really enjoyed working with or admired?

So many great people. I really love the cast of Crossing Jordan, Will and Grace, 24, Reno 911! and everyone on the Matrix. And there are so many more…. Gary Sinise, Willliam H Macy, Colin Farrell, Jane Fonda, John Carpenter, Adam Sandler, James Woods, Harrison Ford, Cher…the list goes on and on.

You had a part on 24 and didn’t even get to blow anything up! Is acting in a role that doesn’t include action an enjoyable experience for you?

I’ve been doing a lot of roles lately that have nothing to do with action and I’m having a blast. I started as an actress and feel like I’ve come full circle.

What’s next up for Danielle Burgio?

I have episodes of Crossing Jordan, According to Jim and Reno 911! that will be airing soon. There are also a few commercials that you may catch a glimpse of me in. The one I’m most excited about is a great spot for propel fitness water. It’s pretty hot!

You can read more about Danielle at her website or her IMDb entry. You can also order her book through Amazon!

Lee is a a huge popular culture freak, loves comic books, science fiction, soundtracks and writes for Quit Your Day Job.

Last May, a collective wail of despair could be heard round the world. Brett Ratner’s X-Men: The Last Stand hit theaters and promptly destroyed not only a good storyline but also several good characters and Marvel mythology itself. Though many complaints were voiced (I’m still not over Rogue’s simpering end), one seemed to ring louder and more often then all the rest: ‘DARK PHOENIX WHAT?!’

The Dark Phoenix Saga is considered by many to be one of the most important story arcs in Marvel history. The story is viewed as epic and to have changed X-Men mythology. But why? Why is Jean Grey’s tale of power, sacrifice and humanity so captivating?

Jean Grey is central to the original X-Men: the first female member, an accomplishment all by itself. Marvel Girl, like she’s the only girl in the whole comic! Her power was at first insignificant, lifting a few books, reading a few minds, all rather passive. But when the Phoenix is unleashed (Uncanny X-Men #101), watch out. Suddenly Jean is the most powerful mutant alive. Those close to her are apprehensive of her powers, but say nothing. The Phoenix is said to be a creator, a source of life. As Jean, she risks her life to save all of existence. But through subtle telepathy, Jean’s darker side, all fantasy and lust, her ‘id’ if you will is set loose and the Phoenix becomes a great destructive force, killing billions. And yet while this goes on, Jean does not distinguish herself from the Phoenix. In fact when asked (in Greg Pak’s Phoenix: Endsong) whether she is Jean or the Phoenix she replies ‘I’m always Jean and always the Phoenix.’

The Dark Phoenix manifests itself in Jean only when she is under insane emotional stress: when she believes her husband, Cyclops, has been hurt or killed. This seems to indicate that she has a physical manifestation of her dark side, the part of herself (and everybody else) that she represses: the want to kill, to take revenge, to alienate others for want of power. All of these are very base human emotions. What is even more interesting is that a woman displays this ‘id’ factor. Jean goes about doing whatever she likes with no thought for consequences; she has power, why would she limit herself? Perhaps that is the reason the Dark Phoenix holds such a mass appeal. Everybody has a dark side that nobody actually wants to use, no matter how tempting it may be, because of the limits we place on ourselves. We see the Dark Phoenix as something deep within us, always whispering in our ear to key that car, say some mean thing, or even to beat the crap out of somebody.

This story arc also imposes a mythological connection: The Judgment of the Phoenix, the idea that life is not possible without death. This is a hard hitting truth, that things need to be stripped away for new things to grow. In Phoenix: Endsong, this is a central theme. Jean can see herself as the Phoenix destroying worlds over and over again, simply because they are evolutionary dead-ends. The Phoenix deals with it calmly but Jean cannot bear the emotional weight of it exclaiming ‘This is hell.’ Endsong is also when Jean Grey tells the Phoenix ‘Don’t you remember? I am you,’ indicating a deep connection with the Phoenix rather then just being it’s puppet.

The Dark Phoenix Saga concludes with Jean Grey’s suicide as does X3. Jean sees herself as a human being and the Phoenix Force (or her split-personality) as something that robs her of her humanity, because it makes her a god: limitless and heartless. The Observer states that it is more important for her to die human. And that is what essentially makes Jean Grey a hero, her ability to overcome her darker impulses and lust for power to save others. With X3 it is hard to remember that.

Julia is an avid over-thinker of pop culture and the b-movie. You can find her online journal here