Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
Ashley Masog (@ashleymasog) is an artist, illustrator, and creative Lady Geek to the core. Masog’s bright, full of energy, and as an artist, unafraid of the unknown. We were lucky enough to meet her and ogle at her work at MSP ComicCON this past weekend. Check out some of her original work here, and get a sneak peek at Chester the Snail, her work-in-progress book about an adventurous (and ridiculously adorable) snail here.
Want more? Follow Masog on Instagram to get behind-the-scenes on her life, and see sketches of her in-progress works, like this drawing of the inimitable Scarlet Witch. And you know you need more drawings of Hulk giving his fellow Avengers a bear hug in your life.
So go ahead and read on for this Lady Geek’s interview with BGC!
Q: How did you discover your passion for being an artist?
A: I discovered my passion at a very young age, with the help of my grandmother. She would sit in the porch during the summers and paint and draw flowers, and rather than making something for me, she would teach me how to create it myself. It was hard, but I enjoyed the process of art making and it lead to experimentation with other paints and drawing materials. I’ve had some kind of sketchbook at my side ever since.
Q: Where do you find your inspiration in life?
A: It is an artist’s go to statement to say that they pull inspiration from everything. As infuriating of an answer that is, I can say that it is absolutely true. There are just some things that you HAVE to draw, or paint, or translate into some other kind of medium. Whether it be a really amazing tree that I see on my way to work, or the guy sitting across from me at the coffee shop with the permanent scowl on his face - small things are enough to inspire me to bring out the pencil and paper. This goes for daily events, too. If I have a bad day? I draw it. If I have a particularly strange date? I draw it, and there’s a whole mini comic devoted to that topic alone. Inspiration is all around us, you just have to have that certain eye to turn it into something.
Q: If you could take any fictional character out for a drink, whom would you choose and what would you drink?
A: Talk about the most difficult question ever! I am a person who practically devours books and fictional media, so there are countless possibilities for this one, but I would have to say that I would really, really, really enjoy taking Tony Stark out for a drink. As for the drink itself I can’t exactly picture Tony Stark sitting there sipping sangria, despite that being one of my go-to drinks, so it would probably be whiskey or bourbon.
Q: What would you tell your 13-year-old self?
A: I would tell my 13-year-old-self to stop comparing her work to other people. It’s toxic and it doesn’t get you anywhere, nor does it make you better than anyone else. Everyone develops at a different rate and just because someone is “better” than yours right now, doesn’t mean that your work is never going to be good enough.
Q: What’s the title of your memoir?
A: Why Doesn’t Starbucks Deliver?: The Memoir of a Sleep-Deprived Artist
Emma Bauer is a Being Geek Chic Contributor. Clearly, she’s got great taste. She is a PR enthusiast, dog lover, tea drinker, art appreciator, and of course, aspires to Be Geek Chic. Follow her on Twitter: @emmalynnbauer
It would be futile for me to list a bunch of reasons for you to go see Age of Ultron if you haven’t already. You already have all the reasons you need and it’s clearly the blockbuster movie of 2015 so far. It would, however, be irresponsible of me not to point out the most important part of the entire film.
Here’s the basic description: Early in the film, Thor and Tony Stark are standing at the bar when Maria asks: “Where’s Pepper?” Simple question. Simple response: She has a company to run. Could be the end of the conversation and move along, but critically it is not. Joss Whedon instead uses it as a moment to establish that these men have chosen REMARKABLE women as partners. Thor goes on to brag about Jane’s consideration for a Nobel Peace Prize and Tony postures additionally about Pepper’s girl boss status.
These men are not intimidated by brilliant, powerful and successful women. These men didn’t choose damsels in distress. These men chose women who were so badass, they were probably too busy to hang out with their boyfriends at some random party anyway.
Why is this important? Imagine the millions of little boys who want to be Iron Man or Captain America or Thor. There are plenty of non-realistic, totally fantastical reasons to aspire to superheroics: flying, fighting bad guys, awesome outfits and powers from beyond human understanding. But then there are qualities that are real. Qualities that are actually translatable to the futures they are envisioning and actively creating. Imagine planting the idea that men should strive for not the hottest woman, but the most brilliant. The CEO status-caliber woman. The Nobel Prize-winning woman. The Feminist Anarchist Federal Agent woman.
The scene is used to establish that it’s not just Hawkeye and Bruce and Natasha who have relationships in their interpersonal lives. But more than that, it also serves to display the constant sense of competition amongst each of our respective heroes. This could be done in a lot of ways: see the “let’s watch everyone try to pick up Thor’s hammer” scene, for example. We’ve all seen movies and media that show men competing with their respective partners for the appreciation of their male friends. Most media literally shows off two women alongside each other in a scene without listing her accomplishments or even mentioning a single thing about her. In fact, at best, it’s a bikini scene where she gets one small line of dialogue.
The Marvel universe may not always get women right. And they certainly don’t deserve credit for being feminist friendly, but they do deserve credit for this. Specifically, I would guess that Joss Whedon deserves credit for this moment in the film.
If more little boys growing up thinking: I want to be seen with/connected to/married to a bad ass woman, then maybe we will have achieved a certain kind of global peace after all.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve been going through Marvel withdrawal since last summer. So much so that on my last trip, I loaded up my iPad with The Avengers and settled into a chair at the Orlando airport to watch it for probably the hundredth time.
Well, Avenger Geeks, our wait is over. Last week Marvel dazzled us with our first major glimpse at Thor: The Dark World, which hits theaters in November (two words: Loki’s. Hair.) This week, the third installment of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man lands.
Hopefully, the film will answer the question we’ve all been wondering: if the Mandarin (which, if I’ve gleaned correctly, is the villain facing off with Iron Man this bout) is really such a Big Bad, then why, why, why wouldn’t the Avengers reassemble to handle it?
These cookies may not be strong enough to fuel Tony Stark’s heart or suit of voice-activated robotics, but they should be good enough to get you through a pre-premiere Iron Man marathon or a midnight showing.
Let’s make some Iron Man Arc Reactor Cookies!
Though Joss Whedon says The Avengers is an imperfect movie, I contend that it’s perfect entertainment. It’s what the summer movie season is made for. But I’m just going to go ahead and point out the big error in the film (SPOILERS AHEAD!):
Why no shirtless Thor? Captain America? Iron Man? Hawkeye? Hell, I’d take Agent Coulson shirtless!
Sure, we got 25 seconds of Bruce Banner naked in some rubble. But it wasn’t sexy. It wasn’t in a moment of action. It was just sort of, eh. As much as I love Mark Ruffalo for being totally cute and charming and an incredible actor - I can guarantee you that his contract didn’t require he add 35 pounds of pure muscle before shooting. (I’m looking at you, Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans.)
Thinking back, the Thor movie surprised me. It turned the objectification of the body on its head. Natalie Portman and Kat Dennings donned flannels and puffy vests for most of the movie and cleavage was always at a minimum. (And we all know that Dennings isn’t short on titty.) Instead, the entire film was designed to gaze at Thor. Both from the perspective of the supporting characters and from the audience.
Marvel nerds will take me to task if I don’t mention the fact that Thor is a God and, in my opinion, this fact influenced the cinematography. If you’re really paying attention, you’ll notice just how slowly and thoughtfully the camera passes over his body. I don’t think it’s a stretch to suggest that director Kenneth Branagh was throwing a wink to all the ladies and gays in the audience with this film.
Now, back to lack of abdominals in The Avengers. This infographic helpfully titled, “Reasons your girlfriend loved and hated The Avengers,” suggests that Scarlett Johansson is the primary reason why the ladies didn’t dig The Avengers. (I disagree on the order on the loved pie, but it’s irrelevant.) I have yet to meet a single woman who didn’t love The Avengers, but we all agreed: more abs. More shoulder muscles. More arms. More of this:
(It would be drastically improved if that shirt wasn’t involved.)
Don’t worry boyfriends of the world. Your girlfriend doesn’t give a shit about ScarJo. She’s got lots of other things to look at when it comes to the Marvel films.
(Gif credit: Thanks to the person in the comments section over at Kotaku for posting this gif. I can’t find you again - so, I’m sorry - but believe me when I say that I’m sending positive feelings in your direction.)
These are the things that are delighting me this week. These articles and the fact that I’m going to see the Avengers tonight. (Who wants a Captain America cupcake?) Here’s hoping for a big box office this Whedon weekend.
Supporting A Daughter’s Love for Superheroines (While Wishing There Were More of Them)
“It all started with She-Ra. I was strolling through Target and I saw The Princess of Power on DVD. I thought my daughter might get a kick out of the ’80s cartoon I grew up on. So I grabbed the story of He-Man’s twin sister and introduced my daughter to a whole world of girls who save the day and fight the forces of evil. …” Yes, this essay is the loveliest thing of the week. Go read it.
Alex + James’ Colorful Superhero Wedding
I’m a little obsessed with this wedding. Almost enough to want a wedding myself. Almost. The good news for people who are already married or who don’t plan on it: there’s a lot of great ideas in here for people who just like a great party and innovative, cheap design ideas that look pricey.
10 places to find your future geeky boyfriend (or girlfriend)
Depending on your perspective, lists like this are patronizing or awesome. But since I met my geeky boyfriend with the help of number 10 - I felt I had to include it for the single ladies. Are they right on? Or totally dense?
(Image via When Geeks Wed)
