Twitter Did Not Hold Back in Responding to James Cameron’s Wonder Woman Criticism

As you’ve no doubt heard, James Cameron said some truly idiotic things in an interview published at The Guardian yesterday. Most notably, he thinks Wonder Woman is “a step backwards” for Hollywood feminism because unlike his characters (according to him), Diana is “an objectified icon, and it’s just male Hollywood doing the same old thing.” Patty Jenkins has already responded to Cameron’s criticism, and did so with incredible grace. But she wasn’t the only person to have an opinion on his words. And those on Twitter were considerably less restrained.

Because Feminist Authority James Cameron is the final arbiter of what is and isn’t good for women, right?

So sure, James Cameron. Let’s talk about objectified female leads and “self-congratulatory back-patting.” You seem to be an expert on both.

https://twitter.com/GraphicArtMaddy/status/900855864898318336

After all, James Cameron sure does have a unique history with “strong women.”

https://twitter.com/thecherness/status/900816238863110151

In the interview, Cameron says “Sarah Connor was not a beauty icon.” Let’s ignore the fact that Linda Hamilton is gorgeous, and is definitely meant to be seen as a sexually desirable character. (Hello, that tank top.) What makes her “not a beauty icon”? Her muscles? The fact that she carries a gun? And why, in this version of feminism, does beauty preclude strength anyway?

https://twitter.com/geekgirldiva/status/900835741437235200

Also, does he really not understand that there can be more than one type of feminist character? It’s not a competition!

https://twitter.com/geekgirldiva/status/900833273324216321

In Jenkins’ response, she wrote that “James Cameron’s inability to understand what Wonder Woman is, or stands for, to women all over the world is unsurprising as, though he is a great filmmaker, he is not a woman.” He’s entitled to his opinion, but that doesn’t mean we have to care.

https://twitter.com/nprmonkeysee/status/900885513871257600

(image: Warner Bros.)

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Vivian Kane

Vivian Kane (she/her) is the Senior News Editor at The Mary Sue, where she's been writing about politics and entertainment (and all the ways in which the two overlap) since the dark days of late 2016. Born in San Francisco and radicalized in Los Angeles, she now lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she gets to put her MFA to use covering the local theatre scene. She is the co-owner of The Pitch, Kansas City’s alt news and culture magazine, alongside her husband, Brock Wilbur, with whom she also shares many cats.

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