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Found this MTV interview with Jamie Alexander over on the CBR boards about yet another topic for who should play the part of Wonder Woman in a live action role.
While I like the idea of having an unknown play the role like Linda Carter of the 70's series fame, I wouldn't mind seeing Jamie Alexander fill Wonder Woman's shoes, who was also Lady Sif in the Thor live action feature.
She brings up some points that have been plaguing Wonder Woman fans on the topic of her attire. When ever I hear the notion that creators want to move forward with a motion picture idea that feature Wonder Woman without her star spangled panties I get a little miffed. On the other hand I think that Wonder Woman also looks better in leggings as long as the star spangled theme isn't lost. The problem of Wonder Woman's costume, in my estimation, is that what ever you set you're sights on for a theatrical interpretation, I would really want there to be an embracing of the character's, neary75 year, heritage and that includes her Ms. America swimsuit aesthetic.
The most notable change to a Superhero theme is Batman. In the Nowlan incarnation and the Burton Batman franchises the character wears all black, making a logical choice to submerge the character into the dark realm of Gotham's inner turmoil, without the grey & blue, and the fans ate it up. I think that this is what people like Jamie Alexander and Sara Lima are driving at when they call for Wonder Woman to be taken seriously as far as her aesthetic, but can Wonder Woman be seen as Wonder Woman if the Red & Blue with Star accents are obscured, diminished, or even ousted? There is some debate over the pending Superman film, Man of Steel, about weather or not his trademark Red & Blue is too dark for the character. that grim and gritty isn't a fair representation of a character of light and hope, much like Wonder Woman.
To this debate, I see both sides of the argument, the Traditionalist who want nothing more than a comic book translation of the character to film and the Modernists who see the great potential of Wonder Woman shackled in what they see an archaic and potentially sexist design what could undermine the purpose and theme of the character. The image to the left is a frame from the fan made trailer that's been hopping around the web the last couple of days. It's a back shot of Wonder Woman with her ass falling out of her little boy shorts. Here the creative team is mixing a blend of New and Classic Era Wonder Woman to dress their performer. There is an undeniable air of titillation here that may gear viewer persuasion to see her as a sex object rather than the purist nature of the character.
What would Wonder Woman think about all of this jabbering about her fashion sense? To be honest with you I don't think that she would really care, where repressed American culture sees the excess of flesh as social faux pas, too commonly associated with promiscuity or wanton sexual perversion or female impropriety, Diana might be like what's the big deal. The early Perez & Wein comics had her naked in the wilderness on many occasions praying to the Gods to guide her and show her good favor for the outcome of coming events. Perhaps Diana would scoff at the idea, her culture and upbringing, possibly, free of such low minded restrictions an shame.
I stand at the podium of the Traditionalist based on what I think Wonder Woman's Perception would be and the, nearly, 75 years of Wonder Woman's unyielding aesthetic from not only comics but multimedia and merchandising campaigns that have not depicted her in any other fashion. Even the New 52 initiative bowed to the pressure of fandom's outcry to strip Diana of her pants. While I was a fan of the leggings (in contradiction to my stance) I support the long standing fashion choice of the publishers of Wonder Woman comics and history that goes with it. While the image to the right is deeply excessive to any standard of western ideals, I actually think that Wonder Woman would wear something like that as I think she would just as soon be naked challenging her foes as partially clothed here.
That said the notions that I have expressed simply won't sit well the majority of folks who's ideals are in stark contrast to these points and it's always about majority rule in the end.
Though I haven't seen the Borne Supremacy, I do agree with Jamie's desire to see something "AWESOME" in regards to a Wonder Woman live action treatment weather it's on the large or small screen.
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