Is Fargo (the film and show) feminist?

[Mr Trick]

Like we haven't discussed that topic enough this week😉 But I think there's a decent argument for it.

1. In the film and throughout the show there is a female lead (or co-lead in some cases) who is like a old fashioned gumshoe/Columbo figure. At first the character looks naive, not too bright or ineffective. But over the course of the story they get to to heart of the case and bring the criminals to justice (in some form or another). In ther words a female is taking a role normally assumed by a man, and is clearly the smartest person in the story.

2. One of the big themes of the show is of old school masculinity blocking the female characters success or freedom. The females are presented as underdogs challenged by the unfair system and much over come those challenges to solve the case/gain respect etc...

3. A number of different kinds of feminilties are covered over the course of the show. Nikki is a very tough, mascline character, but also gets to be smart, sensitive and funny, and attractive.

Thoughts?

 

[WillowFromBuffy]

The movie is awesome. I am reluctant to refer to anything as feminist, unless it deals directly with gender issues. I don't remember McDormand being naive in the beginning. She was consistently awesome throughout. Her casual attitude when they found that body in the beginning 😛

 

[Ethan Reigns]

I think Fargo is the spiritual descendant of shows like "Agatha Christie" and "Murder, She Wrote" and a number of mystery novel series that feature women as protagonists. The difference is that the protagonist isn't arguing with police, she is the police. There may also be elements of "Law and Order" or even CSI here. It has about the same level of feminism as its forebears.

 

[vellavu]

Peggy in Fargo S2 is a "let's have a mid-aged mainstream woman who gets brainwashed by any commercials or cults so the audience could have someone to hate" stereotype, and a bad one. This is one of the reason my rating for that season went downwards through episodes.

 

[Mr Trick]

The movie is awesome. I am reluctant to refer to anything as feminist, unless it deals directly with gender issues. I don't remember McDormand being naive in the beginning. She was consistently awesome throughout. Her casual attitude when they found that body in the beginning 😛

It might be more the show then. Pretty much each season so far has started with the lead female being underminded by a group of washed up/behind the times men and then proceeding to crawl her way to the top and to crack the case.

I think Fargo is the spiritual descendant of shows like "Agatha Christie" and "Murder, She Wrote" and a number of mystery novel series that feature women as protagonists. The difference is that the protagonist isn't arguing with police, she is the police. There may also be elements of "Law and Order" or even CSI here. It has about the same level of feminism as its forebears.

That's a good link. I can see that🙂

Peggy in Fargo S2 is a "let's have a mid-aged mainstream woman who gets brainwashed by any commercials or cults so the audience could have someone to hate" stereotype, and a bad one. This is one of the reason my rating for that season went downwards through episodes.

Is Peggy the Dunst character? I still need to watch S2 which I hear is the best🙂