THIS WEEK IN THE XENA NEWS....
TWXN #14
07/23/96


Brought to you by Xena: Media Review (XMR)

XMR is a periodic annotated world press review of
reports regarding the internationally syndicated
television show XENA: Warrior Princess (1995 - ) and
the castmembers, Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor.  For
a free e-mail subscription send "subscribe XMR" to
ktaborn@lightspeed.net. Excerpts from the following
cites will appear in future issues of XMR.


[219.5] 04-01-96
   STARLOG. No. 225. Page 6. Cartoon. "Xena was always a tough
date." By Mike Fisher.
   COMMENTARY: First known mainstream media cartoon of Xena:
Warrior Princess. It pictured a brave man holding flowers going
"Yi!" as Xena, brandishing a swishing sword, says, "These flowers
are useless decoration, and I DON'T care to go to a restaurant.
For tonight,...WE HUNT WILD PIG!" The caption read: "Xena was
always a tough date." 


[219.6] 04-01-96
   STARLOG. No. 225. Page 36. "Legendary Visions. Creating the
special FX for the heroics of Hercules is truly a labor of myth &
magic." By Joe Nazzaro.
   COMMENTARY: Primarily a showcase for HTLJ use of special
effects, the article mentioned in passing that XWP used the Flat
Earth special effects team as well as HTLJ.


[Tentative 262]  05-01-96
   SCI-FI UNIVERSE. Vol 2. No. 15. Page 37. --- words. "Babes in
Boyland. When it comes to science fiction, why does ERA stand for
'Exploitation Roles Always'?" By Amanda Finch.
   COMMENTARY: XWP was mentioned in passing as an example of the
exploitation of women ("For every appropriately attired Agent
Scully on The X-Files (who, lacking the traditional attributes of
the TV sexpot, has watched as her co-star has gotten the lion's
share of publicity), female science fiction fans face seven or
eight leather-thonged 'warrior princesses' (Xena) or Pamela
Anderson's cleavage fighting crime in black leather (Barb
Wire)."), this article was discussed in relative detail in my
introduction to XMR #03 [with emphasis on Xena: Warrior Princess]
and RIF (Resistance is Futile Netzine) #55 [with emphasis on Star
Trek]. These back issues are available at the web pages (for
XMR): http://www.teleport.com/~gater/IAXS.html; and (for RIF):
http://www.startrek.in-trier.de/rif.
   Some issues raised in this article were discussed specifically
in the XWP context in the Ms. Magazine (July/August 1996) article
"Xena: She's Big, Tall,Strong--and Popular" [tentative XMR322].   
   The author may have been referring to the episode "Hooves and
Harlots." 

[Tentative 295] 06-01-96
   CRACKED MONSTER PARTY. Page 44. --- words. "Eczema: Wearisome
Princess" Written by Greg Grabianski. Art by Walter J Brogan.
   Commentary: Calling it puerile, scatological and offensive
would be too light an indictment for the very first mainstream
satire of Xena: Warrior Princess. 
   The running joke was various characters attempting to look up
Eczema's skirt (7 separate jokes!). Blabriella (Gabrielle) was
drawn wearing Xena's chakram as a hat, as Gabrielle did in "Black
Wolf". 
   Characterizing Eczema as solely motivated by the opportunity
to chop up and skewer men, the satire was based primarily on the
episode "Cradle of Hope".  It was revealed that Eczema's decision
to become a warlord was based in part on her experience at a
little boy's birthday party when she was 5 years old. "I ate my
slice of birthday cake really fast. I wanted more. So I took away
a little boy's piece. The wimp started crying and his parents
yelled at me for being so greedy. I vowed never to be pushed
around by anyone again -- ever! So I slaughtered everyone at the
party and ate the whole cake myself!" 
   "Xena! Hot Warrior Babe!" on the cover with a drawn likeness
of Lucy Lawless as Xena.


[296] 06-01-96
   SPECTRUM. Vol. 1 No. 6. Page 22. "Xena: Warrior Princess (Part
2)"
   COMMENTARY: Continuation of the episode guide began in the
previous issue (XMR260), covering episodes 11 through 22 (does
not include Deathmask #23 and Is There A Doctor in the House
#24). Part two of two parts. Discussed each episode separately
and included commentary about mythology. 


[322] 07-01-96
   MS. Vol 7. No. 1. July/August 1996. Page 74. "Xena" She's Big,
Tall, Strong--and Popular." By Donna Minkowitz.
   COMMENTARY:  Continuing with a socio-psychological approach
only attempted thus far by the Village Voice, Ms. Minkowitz
attempted to understand why XWP had (has) such a large and loyal
female demographic. Exploring the theme of the underlying
inherent scariness of a feminist hero who could simultaneously be
accepted as a sex symbol to men, the article touched on the
issues of feminism, violence, ambiguous sexual orientation,
interracial relationships, politics, and fan reaction (just to
name a few). This article, along with Stacey D'Erasmo's piece in
the Village Voice of 12/26/95 (XMR115), represented to date the
most significant sociological analysis of XWP.
   On the cover: Xena with sword and text "Xena-Mania. Why Is
TV's Warrior Princess A Hit With Women?"

