Gushy Highlights From Joss Whedon’s “Thank You” Note to All the Fans Who Saw The Avengers

My theory is that the censors didn’t have a clue what a “quim” was, so they let it slide so they could see more HULK SMASH. But yeah, I was open-mouthed when I heard that one!

Here is why Joss is perfect for the Avengers.

He’s one of us.  Avengers is for the nerds that love super heroes.  Which I proudly count myself as one.

First regular showing I was there in the theater.

Me too! I was a bit taken aback. “How did he get that one in?”

Thank you, Venture Brothers and Google.

I was shocked and rather uncomfortable.

I don’t know if I’m going to see them again in the theater but I will be picking up the blu rays, that’s for sure. I’m dying to freeze frame the final scenes of Cabin in the Woods to see what I missed and I already have all the other “Avenger” movies on blu ray so I would be remiss if I didn’t get The Avengers.

I wonder what’s next for Joss after Much Ado About Nothing?

Is he going to try his hand at television again?

I would love to see him direct a Hulk movie.

He’s used it before, so I’m less shocked, more disappointed.  I mean seriously here’s someone who proudly supports Equality Now and identifies as a feminist, but he thinks it’s clever to use gendered insults so long as they’re archaic and can thus fly under the radar.

The words says everything about Loki and absolutely nothing about Joss. 

Joss mentions it as one of the “greatest achievements” of the film, so yeah I’d say that reflects on Joss a little bit.

 I’m positive that censors don’t know what that word means, it got through on Boston Legal.

Yes, he’s clearly the second coming of Hitler. Hitler 2, if you will.

Note the lack of Hitler comparisons in any of my comments.  I merly expressed disappointment and pointed out that it is somewhat troubling for someone who openly and proudly declares himself an ally to consider the use/popularization of a gendered slur one of the “greatest achievements” in his film.

Michael Bay has fans?

And I’ll go see Avengers a second time with my 9-year old daughter because she will finally get to see a female superhero kick serious butt.

No. THANK YOU Joss!!
Thank you.

 He used a gendered insult because that’s what men in power do to intimidate women. And Loki thought it worked. Only to find out 10 seconds later BW totally played HIM!
It shocked – and it should shock, because it came across as gross, ugly and pathetic. Unlike the 10.000 uses of the B-word and increased used of the C-word in so many films today that just wash over us and don’t register.
This one word made us stop and react.

I did see The Avengers 2 times in the theatres here in South Africa. I saw it the second time because I missed the credits scene (whoops, had to go back and see it again) and now apparently there is an easter egg at the END of the credits, so I do have to go again. Whedon is just adorable and I really appreciate his work! 
And the quim… when I heard that I giggled uncontrollably. Only Loki…

Look, I’ve been letting people make the “it was in character for Loki” argument because I have yet to see the movie (it’s finals period at my collage) and you’re right men do use gendered insults to belittle women.  However, I would still like an explanation for why Joss considers “getting ‘mewling quim’ out there to the masses” one of “the greatest achievements” of the film.  Why is a feminist proud of popularizing a gendered slur, would someone please explain THAT to me.

I’ve already seen it twice, and will be seeing it again tonight… And I’m cheaper than anyone else I know, so that says something. Joss is just a perfect, beautiful, wonderful person.

:bows: We are not worthy! We are not worthy! Joss = Awesome nuff said
Can’t wait for Dr. Horrible 2! He needs to make more superhero movies. Cabin in the Woods was classic him. He is one of my top directors and yet he is humble and funny and well awesome. Stick with movies doll because tv doesn’t understand your talent but, we do…we do.

Also, about this ‘quim’ uproar. It’s great you are ‘offended’ it’s your rite. My opinion is, is that he could have dumbed it down and used the b-word or *gasps* the c-word and the uproar would be just a meow because we are desensitized to these words. But, he didn’t he was smart and kept it old english because that is how Loki (and Thor) spoke. And I’m okay with that.
Use your ‘anger?’ ‘hate?’ whatever you want to call it and direct it where it counts if you want to be angry about something get angry about Amendment 1 from NC or anything else political that is going on in the world. Stand up and do something to help your fellow human. ‘Quim’ has been spoken printed and put on film. He isn’t going to change it (obviously). So, act on something you can voice and perhaps get changed. 

 Yes, because it couldn’t *possibly* be that he’s being sarcastic or joking about it in any manner given the completely serious nature of the rest of his post.

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 Look, “I’m letting you” be an idiot, but you obviously didn’t notice the joking/sarcastic tone of the ENTIRE LETTER.

*facepalms*

 Yes, I enjoy his movies.

Yes, i wish he had done transformers differently.  I just go to the theater tell myself “it’s a totally  different universe than the TV show” and sit back and watch the pretty explosions.

Oh my god Joss
let me love you

Yey!  It’s a joke and therefore completely and totally ok!  Humor doesn’t automatically get you off the hook for things you say and if you pay attention you’ll note that Joss is MIXING humor and seriousness in signature style, so no the “ENTIRE LETTER” isn’t a joke unless you don’t think Joss was serious about how movie making isn’t a zero sum game and he intends to support The Dark Knight Rises.

@daftalchemist:disqus Humor isn’t a ‘get out of jail free’ card.  Yes, he’s joking in many places in the letter, but he’s also being serious in many places in the letter and if he wanted to joke about the ‘greatest achievements’ of the film he didn’t actually HAVE to mention that line, even if he was being sarcastic about it he could have chosen to poke fun at something else or else chosen to make fun of it in a way that is not INCREDIBLY open to being misinterpreted as serious.

*sniff* I just… *sniffle* LOVE JOSS WHEDON SO MUCH. And he’s darn right about his work helping people. If he only knew how many time’s Doctor Horrible and Firefly and Dollhouse have helped me get through rough times by pretending I was characters from them…. He would be astounded. And to be able to talk my friends into going to see The Avengers more than once and my sister into seeing Cabin In The Woods? Priceless.

 @ladydreamgirl:disqus  And a lack of a sense of humor doesn’t make you look any less of an uptight prick here.

Just saying.

@biffibiffley:disqus  You know what, if you want to consider me humorless it surprisingly doesn’t really make me feel bad about myself.  I deal with plenty of individuals on the internet who are willing to sling insults and unwilling to critically engage with media.

@ladydreamgirl:disqus Doesn’t surprise me, oh “internet white knight”  If you want my opinion of what you’re up too here.

Well intentioned, I will give you that.  But you miss the point and continue to do so. I understand the reasoning of why you want to do this.. but there are much better places to campaign for better treatment of women.

I know what it’s like, I have my hot topic issues myself. This is just not one of them.

Since I seem to be the only active person in this thread expressing distaste for Joss’s use of ‘quim’ and his claim of it as one of the greatest achievements in the film I’d like to say: I’m not angry, I don’t hate Joss, I am DISAPPOINTED in him.  I think he can do better and I think that the only way to improve our media in this day and age is to engage with it by discussing it.  If you don’t think the quality of our media and the quality of discussion concerning our media are important, then don’t, I’m not asking everyone to have my priorities, but I do expect that my choice of priorities for where I am going to direct my activism are MINE to make.

@biffibiffley:disqus  What, pray tell, is the point?  People keep telling me that it’s a joke and I’m ignoring the humor, so please, ruin the joke for me and explain it.  How is it funny to claim a gendered slur as one of the greatest achievements in your film?

I appreciate your opinion on where to best direct my activism, but I would like to point out that it is MY ACTIVISM, I am allowed to do with it what I please.  Is my concern about the values expressed in popular media and by creators of popular media somehow ruining some precious cause of yours?  Because you’ve expressed both antagonism and apathy, so which is it?  Do you not care or do you think I’m an “uptight prick”?

 ’Quim’ is better than some alternative by a mite, but I think he could have done something else with Loki.  Yes, Loki was trying to hurt Natasha/Black Widow.  But she is probably least vulnerable from this angle.  She’s dealt with misogyny her whole life and uses her enemies’ misogyny and ignorance against them (like we saw in that first interrogation scene).

Loki comes from Asgard where he has spent his whole (very long) life observing women who are warriors with the strength, speed and skill of the men.  Sif can fight with the best of them.  The Frost giants are also very equally strong and skilled and emotionally fortified regardless of gender.

Why would Loki, who loves to cause mayhem with his words, use a nasty gendered barb as part of his onslaught against Black Widow?  It’s probably the absolute least effective insult to rile her, she’s heard its like so many times. 

The only thing I can think of is it was used for the story, to make us feel next-to-no sympathy for Loki, who was at least a more relatable character in Thor.  He was a lot easier to detest after that.  I really hope they make him loads more complex and sympathetic in Thor 2, because Loki is unpredictable and not usually so uniformly vicious.

 There are a lot of people who do NOT think it was in character for Loki.  Quite the opposite.  I’m one of them.  Loki’s much more suave than that, and insidious, and smart.  How is that word supposed to intimidate Black Widow?  Especially compared to the other things he reminded her of.

Even in the comics, it’s not exactly in character for Loki. 

I know, I was so thrilled to see a badass woman up there and it’s nearly even cooler that she’s not “super”, just a Legend! No damsels in distress for Joss. 
I’m not even gonna let the fact that it is so rare get me down, cos it was just fab. Straight after the film was over, I wanted to see it again. Have seen it twice and will be going again :)

Complete geekout that he mentioned the Court Jester!!!!