“[Poe Dameron] is unquestionably the space cowboy of this piece. In the past, a guy like this would display all the trappings of typical male posturing — just look at Han Solo. He’s pretty much the blueprint from which characters like this have been copied for the last 40 years.
But Poe isn’t like that. He’s different. In the best possible way, he has nothing to prove, and it makes for a very refreshing change. He’s an action hero without a chip on his shoulder. Poe is fearless, but not reckless. He’s compassionate, he doesn’t feel the need to pretend he doesn’t have feelings, even about his little droid. When he’s not whooping in delight while flying, he speaks softly and kindly. He’s confident about his abilities — “I can fly anything,” — but it never transgresses into cockiness, and he admits when he’s challenged.
There’s nothing whatsoever to say that all of these admirable attributes can’t belong to a straight man, and, indeed, having Poe as a role model for upcoming generations of heterosexual masculinity sure would be nice. Regardless of sexuality, Poe Dameron is a fantastic, exciting, attractive, atypical portrayal of manhood, and I hope that it continues to be the case. But then, there’s the Finn factor to consider.” Natalie Fisher on Hypable
This is a very well-written, concise, and comprehensive look at the many possibilities the new Star Wars franchise has to really change the game for the way we make media. It touches on gender, masculinity and femininity, race, and sexuality, and discusses what the new trilogy could mean for future generations:
Imagine the new Star Wars trilogy as your default movie experience, starring Rey, the tiny, terrifying Jedi whose womanhood is never equated with weakness, Finn, the black, brave ex-Stormtrooper who made a choice not to kill for his captors, and Poe Dameron: alpha male, queer, Latino, the poster boy for the Resistance. Imagine growing up, from childhood, with those characters as your Luke, Leia and Han. Imagine the way that could help to shape hearts and minds and opinions. Imagine what it would allow, and what it would normalize. Imagine what the kids for whom this has always existed will be able to contribute to the world.
I really recommend the read! Check it out over here.
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