The Fanstastic Ms. Fox

I saw a video of myself being interviewed.

I come across as articulate, informed, and boyish.

Being articulate is useful and being informed is desirable. But the two together explain some hostile reactions in conversation. People hear an educated voice and know that I could, if I wanted to, walk all over their opinions, privately or publicly, with the force of learnedness. And sometimes I do that. I've like to think that I limit this only to when others are saying ignorant hurtful things, and then I've tried to be considerate, but it's hard to say "actually, you're wrong, you're making bad things happen, and here's why."

Articulate and informed yield power and privilege. A lot of class privilege. And the privilege, just or not, of having a reputation for heuristic epistemological authourity - of being someone who really does know what the fuck she's talking about, with testable, verifiable, opinions. But the two are entangled.

I could use this privilege justly, or I could use it at whim. willy-nilly, even on topics where I am wholly ignorant. And it would take a keen mind to tell the difference. When I speak, I hold this over people.

No wonder some people feel defensive.

My cousin has the complete fourth season of Ellen. I don't really care for sitcoms, especially American ones, and while Ellen is of above-average quality, I don't think it's especially good. Still, I am delighted to watch it.

Curiously delighted. This is strange.

For my birthday, my cousin also gave me a copy of Disney's Robin Hood, which, during my childhood, was hands-down my favorite movie. I still think it's a blast but watching it, and reflecting on other variations on Robin hood myths, be they in cinema or text, I feel a mix of enthusiasm and disconnect.

Why?

Context: it's true that I really needed to watch a comedy, and that I also am surprised at just how much has changed since my childhood.

But I think that most of it has to do with the fact that the most striking loss of privilege I've experienced is the lack of role models, especially fictitious ones.

So I tried switching the genders around in some songs. This produced odd results.