(original post date: 10/6/08 at 12:38pm, adjusted by Kris to keep abstracts in correct weekly order)

In the Tank Girl graphic novel an angry young woman stars in her own heroic flop of a life story. Frustrated with her absent father and her seemingly unimportant life Tank Girl opens a new chapter in her life and joins the military. After a few years of trivial lavatory cleaning she finally gets her chance to have a few more important missions, which she botches. She also manages to smoke like a chimney and make out with a kangaroo. Interesting. Very interesting.

In Male Fantasies Klaus Theweleit explores fascism through the Freikorps. Analyzing writings from members of the Freikorps Theweleit discusses the need for men to become machines for the military in order to live ‘male’ lives completely devoid of any feminine traits. He pulls from writings of Jünger and Freudian ideas to talk about the fear of feminine traits and behaviors.

Effluent- flowing out, moving forward
Pragmatic- pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations
Schlappschwanz- sissy
Jocularity- joking


What is the significance and symbolism of Tank Girl’s love-entanglement with the kangaroo?

Why do you think Tank Girl’s ‘important missions’ all seem somewhat meaningless and ultimately demeaning?

The second to last paragraph on page 155 of Male Fantasies talks about troops as a single machine. If that machine has no independence, doesn’t that defeat the purpose of having a machine in the first place?

On page 152 of MF, there’s a question about Salomon’s happiness as a part of the military machine. Does happiness seem to be an appropriate word? Especially since earlier it is referenced “…the military academy as an “institution” (Anstalt), a place where the cadet lives behind prison bars.”

How sweet does the Hitler Youth motorcycle squadron look?

What is the significance of men only receiving letters from their mothers and not significant others?