Why Arietta Murdock is Badass

I've been thinking about my history lecture last Thursday. We were learning about the history of America's encounters with the Natives. The professor put up a slide explaining The Wild West Weekly, a "Cowboys and Indians" magazine with stories and sketches of western life. This weekly subscription from early 20th century America would usually not spark my interest, but what intrigued me were its characters, namely Arietta Murdock. She and Young Wild West (a handsome youth with the body of Apollo, as he is described) go on adventures and kick ass, basically. I'm proud of this Arietta character, who is a golden haired heroine in a time when women weren't even allowed to vote.

The reasons why Arietta Murdock is badass:
- She is a highly skilled horseback rider and rides vicious broncs
- She saves Young Wild West's ass when he's tied up and about to get killed by the Sioux
- She is also really good with weaponry
- She is considered physically stronger than the average man

I've only read up a little bit on Arietta, but from what I learned she is a symbol of a western woman. And if this is what a western woman is like- strong, independent, and fearless- then I want to be one. In fact, I think Arietta would be a good role model for little girls. It's better to look up to her than to someone like... Cinderella.

The reasons why Cinderella is not badass:
- She doesn't know how to mount a horse, she rides in a pumpkin instead
- She is saved by a man who only likes her for her small feet/aesthetic appearance
- She can't use weapons, or kick ass, or stand up for herself. Oh, but she can cook and clean.
- She doesn't depend on herself to be successful. She believes in a fairy.

Truthfully, I have nothing against Cinderella, but when compared to cowgirl Arietta...she seems like a sissy. Lesson of the day: throw away the glass slippers and put on some cowboy boots instead. And don't wait for a man to save you. Hell, you can even save a man.

Sources (don't care about APA/AAA/MLA/Chicago style screw you all this is not school)
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/Exhibits/nativeamericans/44.html

Comments

Happiness is Pink Jellybeans

Happiness is jumping in a pool of pink jellybeans Feeling the cool candy on my skin Happiness is enjoying the pleasures of life Without worrying about confessing my sins Whoever said that we are gluttons For biting juicy pears on the beach Must never have felt the sand in their toes They must have placed their own soul out of reach And what about greed? It's not all that bad To bury a pile of chestnuts for the spring All animals do it, so why shouldn't we? If it's greedy to love yourself, let it be Lust is the one that makes pastors blush Yet it's one of the greatest joys in the body A kiss and a dance, laughter and romance Why did we ever label this happiness as naughty? Have you ever seen a cat sad when it naps? It is okay to sometimes be lazy The body needs rest as does the mind Or the world will set fire from the crazy If happiness is a sin, then let me smile in hell Looking up at the do-gooders above For to live is to err, to cry, and to sing Happiness is pink jell...

Love From Afar

Some people are in our lives Meant to be loved from a distance There's nothing wrong with that It's just that we're too different Or perhaps even too alike Two north poles repelling each other A couple of lone wolves mingling A dog barking at its own reflection The same blood runs through our veins But we are not meant to know each other We're just meant to co-exist On the same planet, but ignorant of the other A colourful scaled fish roaming the seas While a spider sits in its web in a barn One wholly unaware of the other But needing the other in some way For earth to reach an equilibrium Not everything is meant to be held forever Some things are meant to be let go Like the old school pencils at the bottom of the drawer Or the Barbie dolls in the back of the closet They're loved, but loved at a distance Admired from afar

Humble

Remember the days we feared the gods? Neither do I, or maybe we just forgot I think we need a little superstition To quell our aching ambition We need to honour the moon and sun Just as the cavemen had done To find awe in the things all 'round Before we jumped in tech and drowned If we were to hunt our next meal We'd starve collectively, I feel Because we're even too cowardly to look In the beast's eyes whose lives we took It's simply sliced and put on display In a supermarket on the way Yes, we need to get back to our roots Take off our socks and high heel boots It's okay to feel a little scared It is how our ancestors fared Life shouldn't be riding on a cloud Idle hands make the devil proud So when you dwell into the woods Don't forget that the gods are not all good They teach us lessons as we preen Gluing our eyes to our phone screen If you're famous and if you're clever Doesn't mean you'll live forever We may be great, but there's...

Olga's Poetry & Thoughts

Search This Blog