Wonder Woman Supports Cosplayers Shamed Online

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. mock / mɒk / (v) – to make fun of someone or something
    Example:

    Many people mock others on social media sites.


  2. retaliate / rɪˈtæl iˌeɪt / (v) – to do something bad to someone who has done something bad to you
    Example:

    I do not want to retaliate against the person who called my photo ugly.


  3. geek / gik / (n) – someone who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about certain fields
    Example:

    Some of my friends are comic book geeks.


  4. demeaning / dɪˈmi nɪŋ / (adj) – something that makes another thing seem less important or respectable
    Example:

    Some people use demeaning language against people they do not like on social media.


  5. box-office / ˈbɒksˌɔ fɪs / (adj) – relating to the theater or the movie industry
    Example:

    Box-office superhero movies are loved by both children and adults.


Article

Read the text below.

Two cosplayers from Sri Lanka /ˌsri ˈlɑŋ kə / were mocked for their cosplay of Hollywood superhero Wonder Woman.


Photos of the two women while cosplaying at a comic convention in Colombo, Sri Lanka were uploaded by the event’s photographers. The photos gained a negative response from many netizens. The cosplayers were mocked for their appearance, with some bashers saying that they were too thin to portray the warrior-like character.


One of the cosplayers said that she chose not to retaliate publicly because she did not want to use her energy on online bullies. Instead, the cosplayers, their friends, and the Sri Lankan geek community reported the demeaning comments and pages. Through this, some of the negative posts and pages were removed from social media sites.


On Twitter, some people showed support for the bullied women by sharing their photos with encouraging words. The posts reached Hollywood actress, Gal Gadot [gal GUH-doht], who played Wonder Woman in the movie. She shared the cosplayers’ photos, saying that they looked amazing. Even the movie’s director, Patty Jenkins, showed support for the cosplayers, saying that they looked strong and beautiful.


The film, which was released early this year, became a box-office hit in several countries. Despite the audience’s positive response, however, Jenkins still received some criticism for the film. A renowned Hollywood director said that Jenkins’ Wonder Woman was not a good portrayal of a powerful female character. She answered him by saying there is no right or wrong way to portray a powerful woman.


Jenkins is set to continue her success in 2019 with Wonder Woman 2.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Are movies an effective way to promote empowerment? Explain.
• If you could create a movie meant to empower or inspire people, what would it be about? Discuss.

Discussion B

• In your country, is there inequality in the number of male and female directors in the film industry? Why do you think so?
• Are movies with female lead characters successful in your country? Discuss.