200 Years of Awesomeness

Hello internet peoples! I have some very exciting news to share with you. First of all, my birthday was a couple of days ago, which is worth remarking on. Because yay birthdays!! Secondly, you may have realized by now that I get obsessions. They are usually over books, movies, TV shows, and, occasionally, boy bands. These obsessions usually start very strongly, and become the only thing I can think about for several weeks, until tempering to a more socially acceptable level of fandom. Not that my intense love of people and things that aren't real is ever truly socially acceptable. But who wants society to accept them? I'd much rather go see the Avengers four times in theaters. (Anybody wanna go again?)

But I digress. My point is that there are a few obsessions that are different. Obsessions that started years and years ago, and made such an impact on my life that they've become part of my personality. For better or worse, I would not be who I am today if it weren't for

1. Harry Potter
2. The Princess Diaries book series (not the movies)
3. Disney Renaissance movies
4. Pride and Prejudice

It's the last of these that I want to talk about today.

Pride and Prejudice. Published in 1813 by that paragon of female literary prowess, that eternal Single Lady who managed to accomplish so much in her life--Jane Austen--Pride and Prejudice has been beloved by women everywhere for 200 hundred years. (And I do mean everywhere--perhaps you're aware of the Bollywood production Bride and Prejudice? That was fun.) It's the original chick-lit book,  with a strong and intelligent heroine who eventually finds her happily ever after. Thousands of women have come to consider Elizabeth Bennet their best friend. I read a critique for another Jane Austen novel, Mansfield Park, which said that the reason modern readers were not as fond of it was that the main character was not enough like Lizzy Bennet. So true. And the male characters? For many, many readers, Mr. Darcy has become the ideal man. Imperfect, but lovable. It is his imperfection that makes him so completely perfect.

It always galls me that in every single European history or humanities class I take there is absolutely no mention of Jane Austen when we reach literature of the nineteenth century. I mean, sure, Pride and Prejudice didn't spark any revolutionary changes in society, or bring to light the plight of the child coal miners, but I think the fact that women around the world have been able to relate with it for two centuries says something about the impact it has had on western culture. It's more than just a chick-lit book. It's the story of how several women dealt with the constrictions of early nineteenth century England. For middle class women without much money, the only chance for survival was a prosperous marriage. Too genteel to become a governess (or a housekeeper or maid), but not genteel enough to easily make an advantageous marriage or remain single. Take Charlotte. She had to snap up a completely repulsive guy because she literally had no other options. She wasn't pretty enough to attract anybody else, and at 27 she was practically an old maid. Isn't that terrible? She chose personal humiliation and a disgusting husband for security and social respect. Luckily for us we can focus on Jane and Lizzy, who had happy endings. Yay chick-lit!!!

As if countless movies and BBC miniseries based on the book weren't enough, the world of entertainment has recently brought us yet another take on the well-loved story. My dear friends, Lizzie Bennet now has a vlog.

EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

A good friend of mine (Thanks, Amy!) told me about the videos a few days ago, and let me tell you, they are phenomenal. Like Bridget Jones' Diary or Pride and Prejudice: A Latter-Day Perspective (aka Mormon Pride and Prejudice), it's a modern retelling of our favorite tale, but this time, it is completely from Lizzie's (oh so biased) point of view.

The premise is this: Lizzie Bennet is a 24-year-old grad student majoring in Mass Communications who has to make a video diary with her film student best friend, Charlotte Lu (yes, Charlotte is Asian. Yay diversity! I don't think they had much of that in Victorian England.) Along the way, we meet Lizzie's two sisters Jane and Lydia (who has a pet cat named Kitty. I guess Mary was a much too depressing character to include on the show) and are regaled with tales of a crazy, marriage-obsessed mother (which, 200 years later, is still a staple of western society), an uninvolved father, the handsome new neighbor Bing Lee, his stuck-up sister Caroline, and his truly awful best friend...William Darcy.

Let me just tell you, these videos are amazing, which just goes to show that the story of Pride and Prejudice will never ever ever ever ever ever get old. Just like with every other adaptation, there are major differences. Obviously, there are three sisters instead of five, both to keep in line with modern family size and the keep the cast of the videos small. The girls are older, more independent, able to work and wear pants. They don't need to get married, which will make their decision to all the more special. Lydia is much more likable, despite her promiscuity. Sadly, the actions of Lydia in the book would not be considered at all inappropriate today, thanks to our extremely loose moral standards.  I don't think Mr. Collins will make an appearance (Note the reference to "Rick Collins" in episode 9) because marriages to cousins are generally frowned on in this century. Other than that, Jane is sweet and too nice, Lizzie is strong-willed and witty, and Charlotte attempts to be the voice of reason. So far, George Wickham has been mentioned, and I feel the tension building. At 22 videos, the show is heading straight into the first major conflict (the aftermath of the Netherfield party, when Bingley leaves town) and I can't wait!!!!!!!!

Please, join me in experiencing Pride and Prejudice in this new and exciting way. So much amazing new technology available to us, and yet we stick with this classic tale. Jane Austen, you rock. Thanks for making the last 200 hundred years a little bit more light, bright, and sparkling.

(Note: This isn't the 1800's, so the show can be slightly inappropriate, especially when Lydia is around. There are occasional sexual references and bad words. You have been warned. But you should watch it anyway.)

Always and forever a P&P fan,

Emily <3