In this episode, Janine Engelbrecht chats about the kick-ass movie, Gunpowder Milkshake, and some feminist themes that the movie explores. These include women reading, women fighting, motherhood and sapphic undertones.
What’s in episode 23, “Gunpowder Milkshake!”?
Welcome back
Janine welcomes everyone back and introduces this episode’s topic, the movie Gunpowder Milkshake. She also gives her short opinion on the movie and a brief summary of what type of movie it is.
Janine briefly asks viewers to subscribe to her YouTube channel and other social media sites. She also gives a quick overview of this episode.
Subtle feminist themes in Gunpowder Milkshake
Janine mentions that the movie is subtly and also overtly feminist. She then gets right into the first feminist commentary the movie makes – Sam sewing up her wound. Here Janine briefly gives a short summary of the movie’s plot.
Women and books
More overt feminist references in the movie are linked to the scenes that take place in the library, Janine explains. Janine gives some more background on the synopsis of the movie and recounts the first explicit reference to feminism. This reference takes place in the library.
On the topic of books, Janine also recounts the types of books the ‘aunts’ give Sam. These books and authors are also linked to feminism, Janine explains.
Knowledge is power
Janine continues the discussion of books by first mentioning that we see many women reading in the movie. She continues by explaining that the guns hidden in the books also carry a feminist message.
As she explains, it could literally translate to saying that for women, knowledge is power. This makes a feminist stance that women should have access to education and knowledge.
Motherhood
Janine moves on to discuss women working together and mother-daughter relationships in the movie. She recounts all the instances of women working together to take down ‘the patriarchy’ in the film.
Sapphic undertones
Janine then briefly explores the librarians’ sapphic undertones. She expresses her frustration at not knowing what Florence whispered to Madeleine and asks listeners to let her know. Janine then links the ‘aunts’ with the tradition of radical feminism.
Like mother, like daughter
Janine returns to the discussion of motherhood. She discusses how Sam inherits many qualities from her mother. Janine also mentions how this is a contrast to representations of women from the late 1990s.
Sam’s representation
Janine goes on to a discussion of Sam’s representation. She is de-sexualized, and not in any romantic relations, Janine explains.
Questioning violence
Janine briefly chats about the idea of women killing is linked with heroism. She explores one scene where Emily questions Sam’s violence.
Wrap up
Janine wraps up by listing some of her favorite moments/themes from the movie. She thanks listeners and also gives a short preview of next week’s episode.
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The theme music is "Dashboard Light" by One Two Feet, and is licenced by Holosuite Media through Epidemic Sound.
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