In the article written by Noah Berlatsky, he proposes the
following question to the readers: In fight between Bella and Katniss, who
would win? Berlatsky toys with this question by taking into account the
strengths and weaknesses of both heroines. Firstly, He starts the comparison by stating that Bella
would need Edward or Jacob to save her. Also, placing a little more perspective
on Bella’s lack of self-defense, or lack of offensive capabilities, he mentions
that Bella’s attempts at violence are “always ineffectual and comical.” When
Berlatsky begins to talk about Katniss, his first comments are about the body
count that impress Dirty Harry. Immediately
after that he draws the conclusion that Bella could never hold a candle to
Katniss. In the next couple of paragraphs, Berlatsky provides sources that
support the “Katniss-would-beat-the-tar-out-of-Bella” party. He quotes Meghan
Lewitt from The Atlantic, who states
that the ‘“tough-as-nails Katniss’” is more welcomed than the ‘“swoony Bella.”’
The article also quotes Yvonne Zip from Christian
Science Monitor, Alyssa Rosenberg, Tina Jordan and Melinda Beasi. When Berlatsky
finally gets around to go more in-depth with Bella’s character, He does not
quote other critics, but merely gives his analysis of Bella. Berlatsky does a good job of tying in feminism into the
article stating that Katniss’ character type is the preferred image for women. Apparently,
not do second-wave feminists dislike the “girly” image but so do women in
general. While one would think that Katniss would downright win the
fight, Berlatsky does a poor job of comparing both characters in an equal
manner. He provides more support for Katniss than Bella, making the article
seem extremely biased. He also ends the article stating that both Katniss (masculinity)
and Bella (femininity) might not agree with each other but they would acknowledge
each other in a respectable manner. Also, both women would empathize with the
other’s desires. Berlatsky, again, neglects to provide support for this claim.
The majority of his article seems fashioned to get all of the Bella’s to become
Katniss’ rather than supporting his “either one is ok” outlook.
Noah Berlatsky raises the question of who would win in a fight; Bella or Katniss. From the beginning it sounds as if he and critics favor Katniss’s passionate fight for her family, desire to change government, and fight for what is morally right. Bella on the other hand is portrayed as frail and helpless, “Bella is, as the critics say, passive, hapless, and an utter mess. Not only is she physically inept, but she has no particular talents or even distinguishing characteristics other than her desperation for romance.” Berlatsky briefly considers the opposing view in regard to looking up to each character he states, “And yet, for all the critical accolades...is masculinity really categorically better and more feminist than femininity? Would we really rather have our 17-year-old daughters kill dozens than have them carry a baby to term. It seems as though masculinity is favored and viewed as honorable. It’s as if females admire a reversal of gender roles and detest stereotypes. Although, Berlatsky fails to consider why some might admire Bella’s actual personality- girly, awkward, and her desire to be loved. Berlatsky treats sources to his advantage and uses quotes which support Katniss and belittle Bella. I agree with your analysis of sources, Thomas.
ReplyDeleteIn this article they talk about who would win in a physical fight between Katniss from The Hunger Games and Bella from Twilight. Noah Berlatsky states that Katniss would destroy Bella in the fight I do agree with your take on how the author, Noah Berlatsky, does not equally compare the two characters. I did enjoy his take on how each had what the other wanted. How Bella wanted power but had desire and how Katniss wanted desire but had the power. Both did end up with what they wanted, almost changing places, if you will. At the end of Hunger Games, Katniss ended up giving up her power to settle down and she finally got her “desire” and at the end of Twilight, Bella got her power by becoming a vampire. I also agree with you on how you state that the author describes Katniss as the “ideal” form for feminism. I think the author portrays a very biased view against Bella throughout the entire articles. He states, “Bella is, as the critics say, passive, hapless, and an utter mess. Not only is she physically inept, but she has no particular talents or even distinguishing characteristics other than her desperation for romance.” At the end he finally tries to say that the two, while they may not be friends, they would at least understand each other’s desires and strengths.
ReplyDeleteI would have to disagree with you on one aspect, in the beginning it does seem like Berlatsky favors Katnis and her character. However, towards the end of the text she does go in depth to say that at the end of Bella’s journey she becomes a vampire and would smash Katnis with her supernatural vamp powers. On the other aspect I do agree with you Berlastsky was a little vague and limited when explaining their aspects and wants in the end and how they change so suddenly, she did have great strength and listed great detail in what their physical strengths are and how they would compare in that aspect but he was definitely lacking putting it all together in the end when he jumped from physical to emotional comparisons. Bertlastsky only explained them as in the end one having strength but lacks family stability and the other as being weak and wanting great adventure. He fails to go in depth as to what aspects of them would suggest that they actually would have in interest in each others former characteristics. Although it does make sense to jump to the assumption that the value of them wanting to maintain their former lives from the beginning of both would eventually be a hassle and they would want to move past that. He would need to explain maybe a little more how he got to that assumption. For example, how is it assumed that Bella would want to live a violent and fierce life like Katnis is she has just given birth to a child, their would be extra reason to assume that she would want to remain the same in order to have her family and take care of them.
ReplyDeleteIn the article “Twilight vs Hunger Games,” Noah Berlatsky asks the question “If Bella fought Katniss, who would win?” I feel like Berlatsky was really biased in the beginning of the article towards Katniss. He states all of her pros and only states Bella’s cons. He says “Bella's main distinguishing characteristic is her clumsiness; she can't get out of gym class without getting injured, much less survive a fight.” He is only showing Bella’s cons and says this about Katniss “Katniss, on the other hand, is an extremely competent hunter and archer, a born survivor who is deadly when cornered.” What Berlatsky is lacking to say is that some people may like how Bella is portrayed, the sensitive girly type of person. Not everyone likes a butch girl, people have different preferences on a lot of things. Berlatsky does not compare both of the girls equally and uses quotes to his advantage to belittle Bella. I do agree with him in the end where he says “I don't know that Bella and Katniss would necessarily like each other much if they met. But I think they might understand each other's desires and each other's strength.” I feel like they would both understand each other and how they are different.
ReplyDeleteThis article bring up the question of who would win in a fight between Bella from Twilight and Katniss from The Hunger Games. The author, Noah Berlatsky, starts off by comparing the two characters by saying that Katniss would easily beat Bella. However, I agree that the author doesn’t compare them equally by saying that Bella is girly and clumsy while Katniss is a deadly hunter. I agreed with Berlatsky when he says that one had characteristics that the other wanted. If they were together instead of fighting they would balance each other out. Bella wanted power and had desire vs. Katniss who had power and wanted desire. Berlatsky seemed to build up the roles of these two women and then at the end he managed to switch them which I found was very accurate. At the end of the Hunger Games Katniss chose the role of giving up her power and found the desire she was missing. Bella gained the power she was missing by becoming a vampire. The author does indeed state that Katniss is the “ideal” form of present day feminism, someone who is strong and independent. I think that his analysis of Bella was biased saying that she was “passive, hapless and an utter mess.” He also said that she has no talents other than her “desperation for romance.”
ReplyDeleteNoah Berlatsky asks the question on who would win a fight, Bella from Twilight or Katniss from The Hunger Games? I feel like Berlatsky was kind of bashing Bella by just listing her weaknesses, but he was only listing Katniss’ strengths. Therefore I don’t think he was being fair. When he was talking about how Bella only wanted to get married to Bella, he made it seem like it’s a bad thing, like who cares if she wants to get married? It’s her life and if she wants to get married to a certain someone then it’s her choice, there’s nothing wrong with that. He explains that Katniss is “athletic, focused, responsible, and able to take care of herself”. I do agree with his description of Katniss, but I feel like that’s because she was forced to grow up like that because of where she lived, on the other hand, Bella never had to because she didn’t live that type of life. So, I think it’s kind of unfair to compare the two. I do like how he explained that what Bella had, Katniss got in the end and what Katniss had, Bella also got it in the end. I thought that was a really cool way to connect the two. I agree when Berlatsky says, “I don’t know that Bella and Katniss would necessarily like each other much if they met . . . they might understand each other’s desires and each other’s strengths”. I totally agree with him on this, I don’t know if they would be friends but I think they would understand everything they’ve been through.
ReplyDeleteWhen comparing the two articles,I agree that the author doesn’t compare them equally by saying that Bella is girly and clumsy while Katniss is a deadly hunter. However, This essay is questioning who is going to win the fight? Bella from Twilight and Katniss from The Hunger Games. The author,Berlatsky, compares the two girls by saying that Katniss would easily beat Bella.I think I agree when the author said that one had the characteristics of the other person's desire. I think they are better of together as a team to balance each other out. Bella wanted power and had desire vs. Katniss who had power and wanted desire. Berlatsky seemed to build up the roles of the two women. He also worked on switching them,which I found was very true. Bella finally had the power she wished to have and became a vampire. I think that his analysis of Bella was biased saying that she was "hapless and an utter mess.” He also said that she has no talents other than her “desperation for romance.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I would have to agree with you, it is very favored towards Katniss with all of the supporting evidence and none towards Bella. He seems to push Katniss on his readers because she seems to be what majority of society seems to like, or at least her image. Although he doesn't give evidence or support for Bella, I would still have to agree with him that Katniss is still the stronger woman. He mentions that Bella wouldn't be able to fight without the help of Edward or Jacob, which is true, and right there is enough evidence to support his statement. Bella isn't strong enough to fight Katniss by herself. Katniss is a much stronger and athletic woman, with the experience of killing other humans, whereas Bella hasn't. Even though he doesn't provide as much support for Bella, the fact still remains that Katniss would win. Maybe there just isn't any support out there for Bella, which would be the reason he doesn't provide as much for her. Majority of society would agree that Katniss would win, plus society prefers the image of a woman that can hold her own. Now to look at it in a bigger picture, would these two ever fight, probably not. I feel like there would be no need for it and I would agree with you that they would have a mutual respect for one another.
ReplyDeleteI very clearly see where you are coming from with all of this. Berlatsky is trying to compare Bella to Katniss, but in using outside sources he has created a bias. My guess would be that he favors Katniss. Simply because when he described Bella, it just seemed shallow, and hardly any outside source was used. It seems as if Bella is set up for failure from the start. Until you reach the end he points out Bella is no longer a human, and pretty much wins by default. Putting one girl with one wave of feminist, and the other girl with another wave seems to be his main focus. Comparing the two girls showing how Bella is your typically teenage story chasing a guy around. While Katniss is strong and solo. Berlatksky tries to tie the differences to "What would you want your daughter to be like?" He then shares that as time goes on both of these characters have swapped sides. At the end he says "masculinity and femininity isn't a duel" telling you here that this whole time this was his argument. A girl can be strong and powerful, and yet be so bliss at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWhen comparing the two articles,I agree that the author doesn’t compare them equally by saying that Bella is girly and clumsy while Katniss is a deadly hunter. However, This essay is questioning who is going to win the fight? Bella from Twilight and Katniss from The Hunger Games. The author,Berlatsky, compares the two girls by saying that Katniss would easily beat Bella.I think I agree when the author said that one had the characteristics of the other person's desire. I think they are better of together as a team to balance each other out. Bella wanted power and had desire vs. Katniss who had power and wanted desire. Berlatsky seemed to build up the roles of the two women. He also worked on switching them,which I found was very true. Bella finally had the power she wished to have and became a vampire. I think that his analysis of Bella was biased saying that she was "hapless and an utter mess.” He also said that she has no talents other than her “desperation for romance.
ReplyDelete