Burka Avenger Fights For "Justice, Peace, and Education"

[Talvrae]

Seriously, not much new that character have been one of the X-Men for years: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/DustProfile.jpg/250px-DustProfile.jpg

 

[shirkbot]

Seriously, not much new that character have been one of the X-Men for years: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/DustProfile.jpg/250px-DustProfile.jpg

Can't you just enjoy something for being cool, rather than denigrating it for being similar to something that already exists? Not to mention that beyond the "Superhero in a Burka" thing there's not a lot of common ground.

OT: Nifty. I really hope this manages to come to the US, though I know it wouldn't be as culturally relevant. At least not directly.

 

[Charli]

I applaud this heartily. The burka is a controversial item of clothing (At it's root of origin, as are bras). But it's use here is a nice idea...as a first couple of steps, especially as it seems she doesn't wear it for anything other than superhero identity, during her day job she's un covered.

...However the animation style isn't my cup of tea. Still...I hope it takes off where it's needed.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Does the cartoon go into why she has to wear the costume because of oppressive religious dogma?

(BTW I am as disturbed over this this as I would be over any bible-based superhero if anyone is feeling hypersensitive)

As the article clearly states, she doesn't have to wear the costume. It's a way of disguising her identity. She's not being forced to. She's practically turning her enemies' own weapons against them.

 

[Colt47]

I question the use of the burka as the outfit. It comes off as encouraging young girls to wear burkas because the super hero wears them.

 

[DaRigger420]

Wow, the Burka Avenger really ....

taught them a lesson.

 

[Ian Kapsthan Frost]

Although the show appears to be well-intentioned, it still seems like it could have pro-burka effect on its audience, especially since the the main character doesn't wear it all the time. It seems to basically say: Hey, you can be a normal and boring person OR you could put on a burka and be an awesome superhero. And since burkas are so widespread, it is quite easy to just put one on. Well, for girls at least. It's as if someone told me it would be totally socially acceptable to run around dressed like Batman all day. If I was still a kid I would totally do that.

I do not know nearly enough to make a reasonably qualified statement about burkas in general, but I could see the point of them being glorified somewhat. Perhaps not as the "trendy symbol" the news mentions it being criticized as, but simply as the type of clothes that this "super-awesome TV-superhero is wearing!!".

On the other hand, characters using religion/culture/nation related clothes have existed since the days of Captain America or The Monk [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monk_(comics)], and I doubt they affected the mind of its audience that much.

At the end of the day it might just be perceived as what it apparently is, a funny use of a burka as a superhero costume.

 

[spwatkins]

non-violent? Have you ever had a pen stuck in your eye? In fact it's hard to imagine flinging pens at high rates of speed at someone without at least drawing blood.

 

[Flatfrog]

I'm not sure how I feel about the burka. Its not that she is forced to wear it but she wants to, which would encourage girls to wear it as well I imagine...

Although the show appears to be well-intentioned, it still seems like it could have pro-burka effect on its audience, especially since the the main character doesn't wear it all the time. It seems to basically say: Hey, you can be a normal and boring person OR you could put on a burka and be an awesome superhero.

But it's a *costume*. That's like saying boys who like Superman will be encouraged to get into capes as a fashion item, or Wonder Woman will make girls grow up wanting to wear big flouncy pants and an eagle bra.

I think turning a burqa into a costume is genuinely subversive. It simultaneously hooks into the culture and undermines it. If little girls dress up in a burqa for entertainment to pretend to be a superhero, the last thing they'll take away from that is that it's also a sensible clothing option.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Technically she isn't the first superhero to wear a burka as her costume/ suit, look up Dust from X-men. I'm not complaining as it does look appealing for the kids to watch it and the premise itself look positive.

 

[Ian Kapsthan Frost]

I'm not sure how I feel about the burka. Its not that she is forced to wear it but she wants to, which would encourage girls to wear it as well I imagine...

Although the show appears to be well-intentioned, it still seems like it could have pro-burka effect on its audience, especially since the the main character doesn't wear it all the time. It seems to basically say: Hey, you can be a normal and boring person OR you could put on a burka and be an awesome superhero.

But it's a *costume*. That's like saying boys who like Superman will be encouraged to get into capes as a fashion item, or Wonder Woman will make girls grow up wanting to wear big flouncy pants and an eagle bra.

I think turning a burqa into a costume is genuinely subversive. It simultaneously hooks into the culture and undermines it. If little girls dress up in a burqa for entertainment to pretend to be a superhero, the last thing they'll take away from that is that it's also a sensible clothing option.

This does seem like a possible effect that I hadn't thought of, a very good point indeed. Girls reaching the age to wear a burka might really start regarding to do so as stupid. On the other hand though, if someone told me it would be okay to dress up like a superhero in real life, and that a lot of people would even prefer me doing so ... I would probably go for that INSTANTLY. By the way, does anyone know at which age girls are supposed to start wearing a burka? I loosely remember that headscarfs were linked to menstruation, but I don't know anything exactly.

 

[Deacon Cole]

As long as the goal isn't to get girls to shut up and wear their burka, then that's fine. If that is their goal, they're doing it all stupid anyway. People don't walk around all day dressed like Batman. This turns the burka into a costume, not everyday wear. If this is the case, it would be another case of the religious wrong not understanding people at all.

 

[anian]

So throwing books as weapons...I don't think that points to "education" as the author might intend for it to do. I mean you might as well use books to keep yourself warm, but in both cases the intended use is not really accomplished.

I still think burka is a messed up choice for a superhero costume since it kind of sends contradictory messages. And it is in itself a "stereotype". On the other hand, Assassin's Creed protagonists need to see how "blending into the crowd" is done, I dare ya to try and find her when she hides among other people in burkas.

 

[Norix596]

Huh, so this is a real thing. Ok, interesting.

 

[Diddy_Mao]

Hmm, I like the design a lot and it looks cute. I hope it finds an audience.


I've heard some people express a desire to see it get a domestic US release...which I imagine has the same chance of happening as a snowball fight in hell.

I still remember "The 99" and the embarrassing manner in which it was received.

 

[stabnex]

So does this mean that ALL Islamic women are ninjas? Cool.

 

[5mj7R7yf4Dwr3gdZyyu9PeGNwYjlNrjzuh3iTXQG]

Just a minor nitpick, when you throw heavy or pointy objects at people with enough force to make a difference, that is violence. Just because she's beaning / poking them with books and pens doesn't give her a free pass as a pacifist.

Maybe if she used her 15-years-of-teaching-honed voice of authority (e.g. You. Sit down. You. Shut up. YOU! To the principal's office. NOW!) one might be able to argue she's engaging in non-violent (or at least less-violent) action.

One wonders if she'll be fighting Shariah-maximalist radicals or the Talibani government, or will they just make up foes for her to fight?

238U

 

[ShadowStar42]

I question the use of the burka as the outfit. It comes off as encouraging young girls to wear burkas because the super hero wears them.

Well, 1) Burka are only a problem when people don't want to wear them, if she makes Burka popular it's not for us to say they shouldn't be worn.
and 2) Where do you bring your spandex and cape to get them cleaned, I tried a regular dry cleaner and the whole outfit faded and shrank. Do you know if there's a special process you can ask for or something?

 

[Colt47]

I question the use of the burka as the outfit. It comes off as encouraging young girls to wear burkas because the super hero wears them.

Well, 1) Burka are only a problem when people don't want to wear them, if she makes Burka popular it's not for us to say they shouldn't be worn.
and 2) Where do you bring your spandex and cape to get them cleaned, I tried a regular dry cleaner and the whole outfit faded and shrank. Do you know if there's a special process you can ask for or something?

Is number 2 aimed at my comment or someone elses? It doesn't seem to connect at all to anything I said without some kind of mental gymnastics and false assumptions.

 

[ShadowStar42]

I question the use of the burka as the outfit. It comes off as encouraging young girls to wear burkas because the super hero wears them.

Well, 1) Burka are only a problem when people don't want to wear them, if she makes Burka popular it's not for us to say they shouldn't be worn.
and 2) Where do you bring your spandex and cape to get them cleaned, I tried a regular dry cleaner and the whole outfit faded and shrank. Do you know if there's a special process you can ask for or something?

Is number 2 aimed at my comment or someone elses? It doesn't seem to connect at all to anything I said without some kind of mental gymnastics and false assumptions.

Pointing out your false assumption that a superhero wearing something will somehow make it more common wear in normal society. There is literally no part of the a popular super hero's costume that is in any way popular clothing.