True Blood sans politics is like Tru Blood Lite; the show de-fanged

In her July 22, 2011 piece, “Comic-Con2011: ‘True Blood’ creator Alan Ball lets secrets slip”, Los Angeles Times correspondent Gina McIntyre wrote:

Ball did hint, though, that the vampires might continue to fight over Sookie, but they will unite to fight for their survival as the season reaches its dramatic conclusion. The year’s big baddie, Marnie, played by Fiona Shaw, isn’t exactly the threat Ball mentioned, though: “They’re going to stick together because they are fighting against a common enemy,” he said. “And that enemy is Michele Bachmann.”

At least one reader took umbrage; someone identifying himself only as Edward commented:

It would be nice if Ball would keep his politics to himself rather than taint the show with his liberal leftist views. I was actually enjoying the comic-con panel until he decided to inject politics. I thought that was very inappropriate. Not impressed by Mr. Ball.

Now, I know that the way you see something is determined largely by the lens you use to view it through; but seriously, what is True Blood without its politics?

It's wildly entertaining to be sure. Sexy. Fun. We know lots of fans see it that way - and judging from the Comicon coverage thick with references to the panel attendee who stood up and announced to Mr. Ball and the cast that the show has "improved his marital relations" and was met with raucous cries of agreement - this view isn't fading anytime soon. And it's justified. And I love it for those reasons. But it's more than that, too; it's more than the sum of its parts.

I, for one, appreciate a healthy dose of sociocultural and political content with my excellently acted, smartly written, so-called-escapist entertainment, thank you very much.

In my opinion, the show is neither didactic nor preachy. Yes, it has its fair share of "partisan" lefty rhetoric, i.e. when Jessica glamoured out of the guy she ran into at Merlottes who remembered her from her time spent at Bible camp as a human that he had been out, "picketing the baby killer factory in Birmingham" (S3E4 9 Crimes). But I think that True Blood actually posits far more questions than answers, and that's what makes for good civic discourse via pop culture.

The show reflects and comments on real issues in our real world; for me, therein lies its ultimate value. If the show had no greater relevance than do bodice-ripping romance novels or the usual throwaway popcorn TV fare the networks usually try to ram down our throats each summer (and year round for that matter), I'd have tuned out a loooong time ago.

Any thoughts? Please share below.

~ Rachel

Yes, Waiting Sucks...But It Sucks A Little Less Here At The Pierced Pomegranate Tavern!

It's only been a month since True Blood's Season 3 finale "Evil Is Going On" aired on September 12th, 2010, but if you're like us that's enough time to start feeling the effects of withdrawal.

Tell me, has the show's absence left you feeling such a sense of loss that you're going a little crazy...

...to the point that you feel like screaming at the top of your lungs?

Has staring into the eight month abyss between now and Season 4's premiere left you feeling depressed and forlorn?

Do you find yourself looking for new friends to help you pass your empty Sunday nights?

Have the long hours spent up watching reruns given you a serious case of the bleeds?

Has the prospect of living without True Blood until June driven you so mad that you're thinking about taking your wrath out on others...

...Or left you so despondent that you're considering more drastic action?

If so - fear not, dear Truebies! You don't have to suffer alone - so drop that stake, step away from the sunlight, and for goodness sake get off that cult's bus!!! 

Here at the Pierced Pomegranate Tavern we've got the perfect antidote for what ails you...and no, we're not suggesting that you hit the hooch to drown your sorrows...

...Not literally, at least. Pull up a virtual barstool and we'll slake your thirst for True Blood with thought-provoking discussion and analysis on Seasons 1-3 of the show that slate.com describes as:

Just pretentious enough to avoid playing like grindhouse fare, letting its ideas (about race, gender, sexual orientation, what have you) simmer on the artsy-fartsy backburner while blood and lust boil away in the low-culture pot up front.

And salon.com calls:

...that odd mix of kitschy, campy, over-the-top ridiculousness and weighty, message-laden social commentary.

Alan Ball himself calls True Blood "popcorn TV for smart people", and we all know that salty foods can make one pretty darn thirsty. Why not spent the long months until Season 4 drinking up pieces like:

• "Ain't I a Woman?": Protection, Privilege & Preferential Treatment
• The Heroine's Journey: A Non-Linear Path
• The Great Goddess in Bon Temps
• True Blood Reenacts Persephone's Ordeal...or Initiation?
• Annihilating HER Again: The Suppressed History of Goddess Culture's Violent Overthrow Resurrected
• MINE
• The Shifter's Tale: A Passing Narrative?
• Good Girls, Bitches, Fang Bangers, & Powerful Women
• An (Unlikely) Ecofeminist Philosopher
• Real Girl Power: Sisters in Solidarity
• A Series on Tomorrow's Man Today

Part I: The Liminal Man
Part II: A Wounded Warrior
Part III: Chivalry is Undead
Part IV: The Ladies Man...And It's Not Who You Think
Part V: The Ladies Man...And It Is Who You Think

These are just a few of the ideas we're distilling. Before we serve up any of these tasty libations we'll present a piece Rebecca's been mixing up on feminisim itself involving some informal research she's conducted on how everyday people see feminism and feminists; it will offer a great segue to a discussion of our feminist frame.

Here's a fun game...or a challenge, depending on how you look at it -  match the True Blood characters below to the essay titles above! Some are more obvious than others. For example: Maryann=The Great Goddess in Bon Temps (Hint - NOT the right answer). There can be more than one character matched with each title, and some charactrers might go with multiple titles. 

 

 

 

Good Luck!

Rebecca's up next with a discussion of feminism...hope you'll join in!

~ Rachel