Inara Serra: Difference between revisions

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'''Inara Serra''' is a character in "[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]" and its follow-ups.


'''Inara Serra''' is a character in "[[Firefly (TV series)|Firefly]]" and its follow-ups; in TV and film, the character was played by Morena Baccarin, and comic illustrations were modeled after her.  Inara's character's profession is "Companion", a sort of sacred prostitute. According to one report,<ref>Morena Baccarin, on a panel, confirmed a fan's report that [[Joss Whedon]] had confirmed that the character was dying. See [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTxGOi9coWQ YouTube] video, Oct. 1, 2008.</ref> Inara Serra was dying, although that had not yet been revealed in the show.  If true, then this places Inara squarely in the "tragic courtesan/harlot" tradition, exemplified, for example, by [[Violetta Valéry]] in ''[[La Traviata]]''.


==Historical antecedents==
; Historical antecedents
A number of possible historical antecedents have been suggested for "Companions":  
A number of possible historical antecedents have been suggested for "Companions":  
* Shuyu in 19th century Shanghai<ref>http://aaru-tuesday.blogspot.com/2007/07/ill-be-in-my-bunk.html</ref>
* Shuyu in 19th century Shanghai<ref>http://aaru-tuesday.blogspot.com/2007/07/ill-be-in-my-bunk.html</ref>
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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==Discussions, critiques, commentaries==
==Further reading==
; Databases
* [http://firefly.wikia.com/wiki/Inara_Serra "Inara Serra"], Firefly & Serenity wiki
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Firefly_characters#Inara_Serra "List of Firefly characters"], Wikipedia
 
 
; Discussions, critiques, commentaries
*[http://tallis-ryhope.livejournal.com/26911.html Firefly], Tallis_ryhope (LJ), 2008/4/14
*[http://tallis-ryhope.livejournal.com/26911.html Firefly], Tallis_ryhope (LJ), 2008/4/14
* Dee Amy-Chinn, "‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore: Postfeminist Prostitution in Joss Whedon’s Firefly?", ''Feminist Media Studies'', June 2006, v.6, n.2, pp.175-190 (available at [http://slayageonline.com/Mr_Pointy/Amy-Chinn_Tis%20Pity%20She's%20a%20Whore.pdf slayage online])


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Sex workers in SF]]
* [[Sex workers in SF]]


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[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters of color]]
[[Category:Characters of color]]

Latest revision as of 13:09, 17 January 2011

Inara Serra

species: Human

Companion

from
Firefly

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
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Inara Serra is a character in "Firefly" and its follow-ups; in TV and film, the character was played by Morena Baccarin, and comic illustrations were modeled after her. Inara's character's profession is "Companion", a sort of sacred prostitute. According to one report,[1] Inara Serra was dying, although that had not yet been revealed in the show. If true, then this places Inara squarely in the "tragic courtesan/harlot" tradition, exemplified, for example, by Violetta Valéry in La Traviata.

Historical antecedents

A number of possible historical antecedents have been suggested for "Companions":

  • Shuyu in 19th century Shanghai[2]
  • Hindi temple dancers[3]
  • Geishas, in Japan[4]
  • Courtesans in ancient Greece, 16th-18th century Europe
  • Hookers in the US 19th century West; the character and profession simultaneously reference and subvert that role.[5]

References

  1. Morena Baccarin, on a panel, confirmed a fan's report that Joss Whedon had confirmed that the character was dying. See YouTube video, Oct. 1, 2008.
  2. http://aaru-tuesday.blogspot.com/2007/07/ill-be-in-my-bunk.html
  3. Constance, Deep Genre; see also FSFblog
  4. http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?showtopic=27495&st=0&start=0
  5. Esoteric Appeal, 2008/3/27

Further reading

Databases


Discussions, critiques, commentaries
  • Firefly, Tallis_ryhope (LJ), 2008/4/14
  • Dee Amy-Chinn, "‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore: Postfeminist Prostitution in Joss Whedon’s Firefly?", Feminist Media Studies, June 2006, v.6, n.2, pp.175-190 (available at slayage online)

See also

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