Did Fangoria Just Say "Eat It" to Women in Horror Month?

I direct the Horrible Imaginings Film Festival in San Diego and, yes, I am putting on a Women in Horror Month event. I think I understand what Chris Alexander is trying to say, but I think there is a basic misunderstanding in his thesis here.

I get what Chris is saying about the celebration of women happening year round. However, having a Women in Horror Month does NOT mean they are ignored the rest of the year. I have directed five film events since moving to San Diego two years ago. At every one of my events, I have featured the cinematic work of female directors somewhere in the program. That is not going to stop me from focusing on this ignored group of filmmakers for a Women in Horror Month event. The reality is that featuring even 60% female directors at a normal horror film festival does little to curb the idea that female horror directors don't exist. That is why I feel it is necessary to have a time like WiHM to focus on that problem as the main thesis. The strength that is derived from something like WiHM has to do with the unity of an underrepresented group.

Also, it sure as Hell does not trivialize the individual. People have individual talents, but they can also feel the unique experiences and challenges that unite them with a group. There is nothing wrong with celebrating being a part of that group. Again, WiHM is NOT about relegating experiences and challenges to 28 days, but rather to ensure there is a time when women can proclaim in unity that they exists as filmmakers in the horror genre.

Yes, Fangoria does cover women in the genre, and they should be commended for that. The problem remains, however, that female creators are still grossly ignored in both independent and more mainstream venues. The purpose of something like Women in Horror Recognition Month is to serve as a wake up call to people that women are out there making horror movies--not just acting in them. Fangoria, I love you, but your features (which are mostly on actresses, anyway) just aren't making that well known enough. I don't think that's the fault of your magazine, but rather a systemic cultural problem that requires a movement (like WiHM) to change.

For anyone interested, my WiHM event will take place on two days and is completely free. You can get more information at www.hifilmfest.com

It's unfortunate Alexander let a condescending tone ("Is Hallmark behind this?") and his final summation on the matter ("Eat it!") mar an editorial with some interesting points. Had Alexander written the same ideas in a more professional tone, it could have been the start of an interesting discussion. As it stand, it reads more like the rantings of an internet troll, without the profanity, and is very unprofessional.

But another blow to Alexander's credibility on the subject occurs in the current issue of Fangoria. He cites his "wonderful chat with Barbara Crampton" further in the issue as proof the magazine celebrates women in horror year round. Yet the opening pages of his interview features two photos of the actress naked in From Beyond and Re-Animator. And though the next two pages have photos of the actress fully clothed, we see her wearing the S&M outfit in From Beyond. While any interview with Crampton should mention her work in Stuart Gordon's classic Lovecraft adaptations, the inclusion of photos with the actress naked and molested by monsters seems more a celebration of Boobs in Horror than an interview with a horror actress.

But Fangoria's schizophrenic treatment of women in horror isn't limited to the current issue. While Issue 305 contains an interesting article on women writers and directors during the silent era of film, it also features a photo of the space maggot rape scene (complete with the bare chested actress) from Galaxy of Terror. One could argue the photo is appropriate for an article about the film, but using it for an interview with Barry Schrader, the film's composer, seems gratuitous. And the photo's tagline about this being "...the most unusual, er, 'love' scene a composer has ever had to score," is quite tasteless. And a full length article on Galaxy of Terror in a previous issue (Number 274, while Anthony Timpane was Editor) did not include such titillating photos. The only shot of the space maggot was a behind the scenes glimpse as a crew member was working on the beast.

I'm not saying Alexander hasn't done some fine work while editor of Fangoria. But the magazine's willingness to use gratuitous nude photos of actresses calls into question just how it celebrates women in horror every issue. I hate to say it, but Alexander sounds like a horror fan claiming he respects women and leading a critical discussion of Shelley's Frankenstein, all while sitting in a strip club.

Amazingly enough I caught a fair bit of flack last year for a comment I made in regards to an article at Fangoria.com that decried the abuse that women take in horror movies. The film in question was the remake of "I Spit On Your Grave" & was written by a young lady named Lianne Spiderbaby. I commented that she seemed to be destined to a life as a spinster if she maintained the attitude she wrote about. Harsh words? yes they were & I apologized for them. Chris came to her immediate defense & pointed out that she was far from being anything akin to a spinster. Her response was to call me ugly after looking at my FB photo. Class act.
Anyways...my point is that Chris came to the defense of a woman who he deemed as being scorned. So he must have a soft spot for the ladies in horror somewhere inside. And yes, why shouldn't there be a "Women In Horror" month? I'm all for it & I suspect the majority of people who respond to this will agree. Women have just as much to say about the genre as anyone else does. Women can write, direct & act just as well as any man can. Women rule!
You girls just keep on making horror movies. Keep writing, directing, acting & producing them. Keep fighting the good fight...fuck the naysayers, If there can be a fucking national "Eat A Donut" day there can be a Women in horror month.
As to Alexander...cut him some slack. I don't think he meant to light this firecracker...shit happens.
Peace.

Oh, I just Googled Ms. Spiderbaby and she's a stunning woman who holds a degree in Cinema Studies and has worked with Herschell Gordon Lewis; also soon set to appear in her first film in addition to writing for Fangoria. You go, Sister 'Spinster!':)

One more sign I'm getting old? I now start each morning with The Today Show. Hey, Ann Curry is hot!

Oh crap! That means I should be six feet under!!!

Yes, I get Chris Alexander's point, as well. What he's saying is that he doesn't care to do anything more than celebrate the women in horror just as he usually does -- as beautiful beings first, and then as those girls who, it just so happens, can also hold a camera and make up stories and stuff.

Hey, I'm not gonna deny the birds and bees here. Yeah, Final Girls are hunnies. No duh! But, you know what -- I hear tell that some men are easy on the eyes, too. Just ask the ladies. So, why aren't the horror grinder-guys getting hottie treatment in the pages of Fango? Why aren't we hearing about Stephen King's soulful eyes, or the way Ti West can fill out a pair of jeans? Cripes! All we hear
about is how they change the face of horror and boring crap like that. Why is that? Maybe because most major publications are run by men.

And, so now you might get a hint of what Women in Horror Month is
really about.

The point is, women get the short shrift in the horror biz (and in
Hollyweird and every other entertainment business -- again, no duh!).
So, Women in Horror Month is an event to which we can take a few days
out of the year to NOT explore their physical dimensions (we do that all year!), but to recognize their WORK, their artistry, their spirit... their voice. One month, for cryin' out loud -- ONE issue Fango!

You are right on one note Chris -- I have not read much Fango lately. I cannot attest to how you, personally, treat women throughout your time at the magazine. I can say, with honesty, that the reason I no longer seek out Fangoria is that I found the coverage had gotten very trivial. Generally, for me, it's been guts, girls and gore, and not nearly enough critical thinking to keep me coming back for more. Sure, that could be because I'm gettin' to be a little older, and I like a little more meat on the bone.

With age, I also got to recognizing when there is an injustice in the world, and within my chosen field of work. The fact that women in film have to take a back seat to men is a matter that needs to go away. Yes, we talk about it everyday. But where has that gotten us? Not very far. How about everyone else in the genre world? We can talk amongst ourselves all we want, but there needs to be something more. This is the point of having a Women in Horror Month. To get their message, and our opinions, out into the mainstream. If you make a banner big enough, and raise it high enough -- someone is gonna see it. That's the point of it all.

The women want to get our attention, and then promote the simple thought that there are women in the field who are making a difference -- a huge difference, in many instances. If the movement were to simply raise that banner and then do nothing to forward their message -- then yeah, that would be trivializing, or "ghettoizing" the idea of Women in Horror Month. Wouldn't a simple -- "hey, let's hear it for this movement!" have solidified your stance a whole lot better than "Eat it!"?

Though I don't read your mag anymore, I know that it is still a far-reaching publication, with a lot of young readers. Wouldn't it be a benefit to take another extra moment to discuss the issues of women in horror, and in the film/television world?

Chris,

Can we just make one thing really clear? You didn't come close to hurting my feelings. I don't get why you would even think you had to power to hurt my feelings? Sure, I'm female but I can take some criticism. I'd like to think over the years I have become rather confident in who I am, my art, my thoughts, and my passions.

Remember, all the feedback your readers have been expressing have nothing to do with me/how I feel. All those debates are coming from your readers about how *they* feel about what *you* wrote. I am not in that equation.

What you did do is bring a lot of attention to Women in Horror Month right before February and help get people fired up and remember why this work we are doing is so important. Nothing about that comes close to hurting my feelings.

Happy Women in Horror Month!

-Hannah

I have a lot of thoughts on this matter, which I'm saving for a later date; but just briefly, why is there anything so wrong about a positive celebration of, well, anyone or anything? Could you imagine a devoted Christian saying, "I think we should cancel Christmas, because the birth of Jesus should be celebrated every day of the year!" Could you imagine a civil rights leader saying, "Down with Black History Month! The accomplishments of African Americans should be celebrated every day!' Well of course they should; but what's wrong with taking some special time to acknowledge and applaud those who have made a difference in our industry?

This struck me as well. I'm impressed at how civil some of your readers are, especially given the outrageously dismissive tone of Alexander's provocative editorial (which by the way, perfectly illustrates why we NEED a WOMEN IN HORROR MONTH!)

But more on that later......

As February draws to a close, so does Women In Horror Month.

But here on the Rue Morgue Podcast we’re raging against the dying of the light with a blistering interrogation with Ms. Heidi Honeycutt (the artist formerly known as Heidi Martinuzzi), one of the masterminds of the Viscera Film Festival and the creator of PLANETETHERIA.COM and PLANETFURY.COM (the website formerly known as FANGIRLTASTIC.COM).

http://rue-morgue.com/2012/02/rue-morgue-podcast-heidi-honeycutt/