Feminist/art question of the day

[trinityvixen]

Is it just me, or is there something androgenous, nay, even feminine about the shape of Iron Man's chassy? (WINKWINKNUDGENUDGEBOOTY)

Hear me out on this. While I realize that short of giving the suit a codpiece, you'd have a hard time "sexing" it anyway, there seems something very anti-hypermasculinity about the suit. It's the legs that do it for me most, as they are model-shapely. The extra girth of the breast plate draws attention to the lean, hourglass shape of the torso through the hips. While the shoulders are broad, the thighs are not. The low-slung hip piece reminds me of nothing so much as those low-rise jeans that were so popular a little while ago (and the low-riding bikini underwear that went with).

Am I taking crazy pills or does anyone else see this? Maybe I've been confused by Samus turning out to be a girl. (I don't know how that would have happened as I never played the game where that was an OMGSPOILER).

Comments

[gryphonrose.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on, it's all metal and hard edges! That's very manly!
:)
Actually, many of the red-and-gold Iron Man versions have been very androgynous, esp. the first one with its sloe eyes and bikini briefs. So this just fits with the rest.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Oh, this could have always been the trend; I'm only just now catching on in the movie what I never looked at in the comics. I think it's neat, especially since, as a rich guy with a serious alcohol problem, Tony Stark isn't going to be Mr. Muscle and could easily slip into a suit that's so svelte (though I suspect Doug Jones rather than Robert Downey Jr. has actually done the suit work--he's the only one in Hollywood who does that stuff any more).

I quite like the sense of sexlessness or bi-genderedness to the suit. For one thing, it makes it look that much more impressively not-human, which is important for subduing enemies with confusion and fear (like Batman!). That and the fact IT HAS NO NOSE make it look so alien and wonderfully so.

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

Two words: CRAZY PILLS

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Aww, you don't see it at all? Really?

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

Definitely crazy pills. And it's spelled "chassis".

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Ha! I can has spell-check LJ?

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

"Can has," eh?

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! Teh kittehs!!

[cbreakr.livejournal.com]

It's just not as hyper-masculine as other superhero costumes - not a lot of muscular (metal) bulges. That's about it.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

The emphasis of smoothness, though, the subtle curvature of it is traditionally feminine. Otherwise, you're right, it's entirely possible that, in a world full of muscle-ridged superheroes, a suit lacking that definition would appear weird. Which is what I love, honestly, since the steroidal look is a little done.

[wellgull.livejournal.com]

It is smooth-edged and shiny, but that makes it look like one of those really shiny new Chrystlers. Or possibly a katana. Not a woman.

You're smoking the wacky tobaccy on this one.