Daria thinks this is all so typical; image courtesy of doree.tumblr.com
So, Daria is coming out on DVD next year. This is very exciting news. My only hope is that it comes out on my birthday, like The State did this year. Is it weird that I’m stoked about the future sick day that will enable marathon viewing? I’m also excited at the prospects of having friends over to watch it. I might even have to dress up as Ms. Morgendorffer for Halloween. Yes, I’m that excited.
Daria came into my life thanks to Beavis and Butthead (the one show my mother wouldn’t let me watch so I had to follow it obsessively). She was the bored, rebellious girl who hung out with them when she needed amusement. But I really fell in love with her when she got her own whip-smart show in 1997, created by Beavis alum Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis Lynn. In it, our titular heroine plotted schemes with like-minded best friend Jane Lane, clashed with her popular sister Quinn, and rebelled feminist-style against the high school machine. Often, Daria and Jane would work together, thus exhibiting that girls could have subversive, productive, supportive homosocial friendships. Remember the episode when they made a provocative, darkly comic school spirit poster about popularity, female body image, and eating disorders? Love it. Daria also clashed with a hip female magazine editor who is clearly modeled after Jane Pratt. I’ll have to watch that one again too.
Jane and Daria, having none of it; image courtesy of listal.com
Kathy M. Newman reminded me why I loved this show when I read her essay in Prime Time Animation: Television Animation and American Culture while chilling in the Nasher Sculpture Center garden this weekend. Newman brings up Daria’s primarily harmonious relationship with Jane, which I wonder if it is queerable upon revisitation. I also like her discussion about how the show uses irony in a myriad of ways — it employed a movement-based form like animation to convey suburban high school stasis, it used animation to create a rare girl character who was often desexualized, it suggested nihilism in a teenage character who was actually quite politically motivated and proactive, and it showcased socially marginalized characters who were often empowered and more interesting than their more popular counterparts. It even suggested that characters could grow, mature, or deviate in ways that belied its flat, outlined visual style. Witness moments when Quinn wanted to be more than just pretty and popular. Or any closing credit sequence, when the characters were usually configured in tableaus that often referenced figures and/or moments in popular culture that seemingly had little in common with the characters in those poses.
In addition, I wonder how popular music and sound will play in all of this. For one, there are legal issues at stake. Will the DVDs contain the same once-timely pop songs that were used in the original series, or will sound-alikes be employed like they were to expediate the release of The State? In addition, I wonder how my theory-head will process the diegetic use of pop songs written and performed by real people being listened to and commented on by un-real characters. Hmmm.
One song that better be kept intact is “You’re Standing On My Neck” by Splendora, the show’s very rad theme song. If they don’t, I might go pop. Unfortunately, I cannot find the original opening credit sequence, which features a delicious scene where Daria misses a volleyball spike in gym class on purpose. Until the DVDs become available, enjoy this fan-made montage that features the original song in its entirety plus several closing credit tableaus.
God! I love Daria sososososo much, too! And it’s fabulous you are thinking of being her for Halloween. I’ve been contemplating putting together an ensemble to go as Jane this year — I do have the hair, ya know.
And you are Candice Jane! Doitdoitdoit! I want to see the pictures.
Well, it’s about fricken time. This show has influenced so much of my internal dialogue. I can’t even look at a hipster with black stretch pants and hear “They’re leggings! Leggings!” Or look at a super-model and think “I do not have pores! My pores are cute! My pores are tiny!” Good stuff.
I really liked that Jane didn’t have a stereotypical home life but she was okay with that.
Can’t look at them *without* hearing…. Thoughts faster than fingers.
Agreed on all counts. We should have viewing nights when it comes out.
Ooh! I’m surprised to learn that Daria wasn’t out on DVD already. Yay for MTV finally getting with the program on this.
I think one thing that always stuck with me about Daria — and I like to think this was a hugely-on-purpose decision by the show’s creators — was how wealthy her family was. Even though Daria’s adventures don’t take her too far off her own beaten path, I do think there is a below-the-surface class commentary throughout this series. Thoughts on this?
I think there was a VHS release some time ago, but not a DVD release. Excited!
I agree with your statements about class and would add that the Morgendorffers’ class position seems common in the affluent suburb of Lawndale. I’d need to watch it again, but I don’t remember any characters being anything lower than middle-class. I remember Daria’s bf Tom is wealthy but tries to obscure it out of embarrassment, so that’ll be interesting to re-visit. I’m interested in seeing how Daria uses her class position toward political ends, or if she gets away with certain things because of it.
OMG Divine at 1:30
I know, right?!?
Hey, thanks a million for reading my essay. I’m an English professor and when someone reads anything I wrote it’s like Christmas. I’m glad to see other Daria fans out here!
I really liked your essay, Kathy! It helped form some of my opinions about animation and movement, so thanks! (And it’s like Christmas when someone reads anything I write too). Also, I’m happy that Daria lives on and people who missed out on her are going to get to watch the show on DVD.
Daria is my all time favorite cartoon, so I’m so glad you wrote a praiseworthy analysis on the series. (By the way, I’ll also have a sick day when the Daria DVDs are released.)
I think this cartoon serves as a witty parody and a genuine highschool story, which is not easy to do. This has to be one of the only animated comedies where the characters are intricate and captivating.
Now I must get your opinion. I truly believe Quinn and Brittney are just as intelligent as Daria. However, they choose to hide (or forfeit in Brittney’s case) their intelligence in order to conform to female stereotypes. By doing this, they gain popularity and male attention. What do you think about this statement? (I posted this comment on Youtube, but it’ll be nice to an insightful perspective on the subject matter.
I’d need to rewatch the series to provide more concrete evidence to affirm this position, but I definitely think Quinn and Brittney are smart. I especially remember Quinn growing tired of the fashion club and working harder at her studies. I also seem to remember instances where Brittney would show depth and maturity, much to the surprise of her peers.
As to whether they are as smart as Daria, I’d posit to say that all three girls are smart but have different values that inform their personae. I’d point out that being fluent in fashion, beauty, and Lawndale’s social world takes a brain too, and that these are talents that I’m not sure if Daria knows how to cultivate or cares to learn. So I think Quinn and Brittney’s ability to conform to female stereotypes to gain popularity and male attention could either speak to Daria’s inability to do these things or a lack of interest in acquiring that ability. I’d wager it’s the latter, as Daria is above all else a conscious objector. But I also think that Daria is not able to play the part of the popular girl and thus cultivates a less normative persona that is more comfortable and “natural” to her.
But I’d also be curious, upon revisiting, if/when Quinn and Brittney reject these normative markers of femininity, utilize them knowingly for personal gain, abandon them briefly to return to them later, or relish in them for personal pleasure. I’m also interested in finding those moments when Daria isn’t in such stark opposition to Quinn and Brittney. If these moments occur over the series (and I feel like they do), it might suggest the complex, reflexive, fragmented, discursive nature of being female during the era of third-wave feminism.
Wow! You provided more than enough interesting information to support your argument. It’s too bad you don’t have an “about” page. I’m curious to know what inspired you to become so knowledgeable in feminist criticism.
I’m glad I asked you this question because your response got me thinking about my definition of intelligence. When I say Quinn and Brittney are as smart as Daria, I was mainly talking about awareness. I think both Quinn and Brittney know the social order of Lawndale High, and they active choose what category they want to be associated with.
Although, your response broaden my definition of intelligence. You’re right! Consistently keeping up with the latest trends and maintaining their social status requires extensive research and analysis. However, I also believe Daria is capable of gaining the image of Lawndale’s standard of femininity if she put effort into doing so. Actually, her social status, “the brain,” is just as superficial as Quinn and Brittney’s social status. The episode titled “Quinn the Brain” proves this point. In this episode, Quinn gets one “A” on her essay, and all of a sudden she has the same label as her sister.
About your Third-wave feminist comment…Quinn participates in each of those events that you have listed. Brittney never abandons her feminine persona though. I think this is due to Brittney’s family background. Brittney isn’t as fortunate as Quinn because Quinn has her sister and even her mother to test out different aspects of her intelligence (personality too).
I looked up some quick facts on Third-wave feminism, and the information I found provided a broad description of this movement. Third-wave feminism seems to include everyone. It makes me wonder if this is the final form of feminism for human-kind.
Whoa! I wrote too much. Anyway, I enjoyed reading your blog and your opinions on female intelligence in this show.
Good points all! Thanks for commenting. Also, thanks for mentioning Brittney’s background. I actually remember very little about her beyond being a cheerleader and the football star’s girlfriend, so it’ll be great to revisit her.
As for an “about” section, you can find it under the banner on the home page. I document there the reasons for why I started this blog.
In my own life, I came to feminism thusly — I grew up in a feminist-friendly household and had some empowered girlfriends. I began cultivating my beliefs during college, specifically by getting involved in a university feminist organization and having my own college radio show. From there, I got a master’s degree in media studies and kept developing as a feminist and scholar alongside a rad group of people, many of whom are also feminists. I’m hoping to get into a PhD program in the not-too-distant future, but am enjoying the time off for the moment.
Thanks for reading!