Aug. 28: Woman Only

MerchManDan · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 2126 Location: Somewhere else.

You ask where Tat has distinguished between Men and the Patriarchy. I can't answer that because I don't immediately recall if he has - at least, not blatantly. OK, so Tat isn't in the habit of spelling out his ideas in big bold letters or gently taking the readers hand & guiding us through his comic. The example you provide makes some assumptions about the readers: That we know what Squig thinks, what Lil' Sis thinks, etc. It assumes we know that Squig does not represent ALL men (well, males) and that Lil' Sis is somewhat more radical in her beliefs than the Sisterhood at large. It assumes we know we have to read between the lines.

Yes, it's annoying to have to think this much about a webcomic (as a longtime reader of Wapsi Square, I know ALL about that). But I believe it's worth the effort; if you don't, then oh well. There are plenty of webcomics out there that don't ask as much from their readers.

Edited to add: "Spelling everything out" is almost exactly what you're asking for.
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Boing Fwip · Joined: 21 Jul 2013 Posts: 19

Zhuinden · Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 293

I'd say Fuchsia is in the women's only zone because D represents the control over her appearance and thoughts. As such, D is a representation of her past oppression.

Vancore · Joined: 18 Jun 2012 Posts: 127

I find this situation interesting because now that they are not in the patriarchy/men dominated zone Tat has a chance to expand on their characteristics outside of those influences.

Ennis · Joined: 08 Jun 2013 Posts: 992 Location: Australia

Criminy has also been shown in a positive light, and I'm pretty sure he's going to be the first male character to be shown to "get it" (it's just taking forever, grrr, there's enough strips about Sam being an asshole Tat!)

Also post-Lethe Lil'E/Lily has never been conflated with the Patriarchy. He's got his own storyline and is a sympathetic character. I'd say that the Devil, who actually DOES pretty much embody the Patriarchy, is maybe going to learn some kind of lesson from Lil'E if Lil'E stands up to him and is like "No, I don't have to be some kind of powerful demon who wants to oppress others, I have friends and I'm happier now than I was before when I was trying to live up to your standards. I'll choose my own path, not follow yours."

Yinello · Joined: 09 May 2012 Posts: 3456

Out of all 4 cases, the only one that has directly a man tied to it is Liberty. The others deal with anonymous people/things (the internet, an audience, bad memories/trauma). The internet and audiences can have people of all genders and Fyoosh's trauma is from her time working in the Mansion. Devil may be the boss there, but it doesn't look like Devil alone is the sole reason she has nightmares.

Personally I hope Fyoosh talks about it with the others in the Women Only Space. She shouldn't bottle it up inside her.

MerchManDan · Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 2126 Location: Somewhere else.

merest · Joined: 15 May 2011 Posts: 325

It's interesting (and I don't mean this in an ironic sense) that the male characters who are most like allies of the Sisterhood are also the least conventionally heterosexual. Lil E (around 5 years old a lot of the time). Gay Guy. Criminey (very passive, naive, and blushing at the drop of a hat). It would be interesting to see how Mr. Ishida would sympathetically treat male heterosexuality, without it being safely wrapped in blushing naivety or blameless passivity. That he may not be interested in doing so isn't a fault of the comic, however, since it is not contractually obliged to do any such thing.

Felgraf · Joined: 10 Jul 2012 Posts: 734

Boing Fwip · Joined: 21 Jul 2013 Posts: 19

Geareye · Joined: 21 Mar 2013 Posts: 438