1] Examine the reasons why some stereotypes within the media have changed over time? JAN07
Intro=> explain the topic, eg stereotypes change as it refelects the zeitgeist, eg women in the media used to be The passive characters that were always female in the past were “symbolically annihilated,”as in they were underrepresented in the media. they were stereotyped to be passive and quite charcters, with limited value in a text. BUT they have changed to more dominant characters.
Paragraph 1=>
In the past: they are were stereotyped to be weak:
1970’s, when “only 15 per cent of the leading characters were women.” [Gauntlett]
example is sound of music and high noon, where they are in need of protection
“disempowered, degraded and subjugated” [M.French]
Paragraph 2 =>
However, films produced in the 1950’s also portrayed women as sex objects. The era witnessed “reaffirming male dominance and female subservience; movies showed women as breasts and buttocks, again idealizing women who were pretty, amusing, and childish". This is reinforced in the film, Some like it Hot (1959); the film portrays Marilyn Monroe’s character, as a “blonde bimbo,” which is seen through the medium shot of her on the beach; the camera zooms in on her body to show her as an object of desire.
Paragraph 3 =>
second wave of feminism in the 1970’s, when women were taken away from the stereotype “that marriage, parenthood and domesticity were…more important for women than men.”It marked a period when women were fighting for equality rights, abortion, independence, media gender stereotypes and sexist oppression. As a result, there were “20-35 per cent”more women on screen, however, it was still “15 per cent” in the action adventure genre. This can be seen in TV shows such as, The Bionic Woman (1976) and Charlie’s Angels (1976)
Paragraph 4 =>
Nonetheless, they were represented as influential women; this is noticeable in the 1979 film, Alien. The film “has been widely interpreted as a feminist text”, as Sigourney Weaver’s character, Ripley, is the only surviving character and the action revolves around her. On the other hand, Ripley’s character was “never intended to be played by a female.”
Paragraph 5 =>
Contemporay films represent women as strong and independent
EG. James Bond, Vesoper Lynd is an accountant for the national treasury, but she is still stereotyped to be a sexist eye candy for Bond
madonna vs whore theory, sex= death stereotype and final girl theory
Conclusion =>
Zeitgest reflects society
Wednesday 20 May 2009
Thursday 2 April 2009
“Genres must adapt in order to survive” discuss [JUNE 04]
“Genres must adapt in order to survive” discuss [JUNE 04]
Intro: introduce the slasher genre, and how it has to change to survive, eg
P1: TA, audience expectations, eg tcm1 +2
P2: technology-psycho and switchblade romance and Halloween comparison
P3: changes in society – ideologies, values and representation// eg, the era of feminism changed everything. Eg ,from being subservient and controlled in Psycho to the changed in Switchblade Romance. The final girl- needs phallic symbol though to show her masculine side
P4: censorship and codes of conduct= TCM 1 + 2 changes
P5: any other changes that have to occur to make the genre adapt
Conclusion: genres have to adapt because society and their expectations have change, therefore in order to make a profit, the institution has to appeal and try to attract an audience.
Intro: introduce the slasher genre, and how it has to change to survive, eg
P1: TA, audience expectations, eg tcm1 +2
P2: technology-psycho and switchblade romance and Halloween comparison
P3: changes in society – ideologies, values and representation// eg, the era of feminism changed everything. Eg ,from being subservient and controlled in Psycho to the changed in Switchblade Romance. The final girl- needs phallic symbol though to show her masculine side
P4: censorship and codes of conduct= TCM 1 + 2 changes
P5: any other changes that have to occur to make the genre adapt
Conclusion: genres have to adapt because society and their expectations have change, therefore in order to make a profit, the institution has to appeal and try to attract an audience.
Compare two examples, from different decades, of any media genre of your choice. Describe and account for the major differences and Similarities betwe
Compare two examples, from different decades, of any media genre of your choice. Describe and account for the major differences and Similarities between them. [2000]
Intro: introduces my two films, TCM 1974 AND 200? Give directors names and dates.
P1: i will talk about the narrative, and TA. E.g. they are both different because the 2nd one changes slightly to appeal to the current audience. E.g. they are going to the concert and not to see their relative’s graves. TCM1 historcal and eco changes occured
P2: the killer and differences and how the mask is better in the newer one. I will also mention the advancement of technology, phallic objects
P3: the same genre codes, eg final girl and the mad house/ Have group of friends- which get lost
P4: blood and more gruesome in the new one, censorship etc... deaths scenes are more visible etc..
P5: The family members-younger wants to save the friends, Propp theory
Todorv theory- Ending is diff
Conclusion: the changes are differ, because the TA was different, diff era, TCM1 was following Pyscho – the granddaddy of slasher, and TCM2 was more modern to show the era diff
Intro: introduces my two films, TCM 1974 AND 200? Give directors names and dates.
P1: i will talk about the narrative, and TA. E.g. they are both different because the 2nd one changes slightly to appeal to the current audience. E.g. they are going to the concert and not to see their relative’s graves. TCM1 historcal and eco changes occured
P2: the killer and differences and how the mask is better in the newer one. I will also mention the advancement of technology, phallic objects
P3: the same genre codes, eg final girl and the mad house/ Have group of friends- which get lost
P4: blood and more gruesome in the new one, censorship etc... deaths scenes are more visible etc..
P5: The family members-younger wants to save the friends, Propp theory
Todorv theory- Ending is diff
Conclusion: the changes are differ, because the TA was different, diff era, TCM1 was following Pyscho – the granddaddy of slasher, and TCM2 was more modern to show the era diff
Outline recent significant developments in one genre of your choice. Illustrate your answer with examples. [JAN03]
Outline recent significant developments in one genre of your choice. Illustrate your answer with examples. [JAN03]
Intro: Mention my 1 genre, which would be the slasher genre, and talk about how and why i think its developed. Mention the films i will discuss.
P1: the first slasher film, the granddaddy of slasher films, PYSCHO. I will talk about how Hitchcock made this film, eg with techniques
P2: Society during the 60s, as it was different then, eg, females were “symbolically annihilated”. The different stereotypes, eg of housewives, homemakers...
P3: how TCM 1974 developed the genre, and how it targeted the audience. I will also mention the way the censorship that occurred during the time. And how this changed, will compare the old and new one, and the different techniques used to attract the TA, do more on MIGRAIN.
P4: Talk about Scream and how it “rejuvenated” the genre, and its intertextuality references.
P5: This paragraph will talk about Switchblade Romance, and how it has developed the genre since psycho
Conclusion: Sum my info up, and just mention recent films and how it changed the genre, talk about institutional changes etc...
Intro: Mention my 1 genre, which would be the slasher genre, and talk about how and why i think its developed. Mention the films i will discuss.
P1: the first slasher film, the granddaddy of slasher films, PYSCHO. I will talk about how Hitchcock made this film, eg with techniques
P2: Society during the 60s, as it was different then, eg, females were “symbolically annihilated”. The different stereotypes, eg of housewives, homemakers...
P3: how TCM 1974 developed the genre, and how it targeted the audience. I will also mention the way the censorship that occurred during the time. And how this changed, will compare the old and new one, and the different techniques used to attract the TA, do more on MIGRAIN.
P4: Talk about Scream and how it “rejuvenated” the genre, and its intertextuality references.
P5: This paragraph will talk about Switchblade Romance, and how it has developed the genre since psycho
Conclusion: Sum my info up, and just mention recent films and how it changed the genre, talk about institutional changes etc...
Monday 30 March 2009
TCM ESSAY
Similarities and differences TCM- OLD VS NEW
Sims:
Both films are slasher =]
Same genre codes, such as the girl screaming
Use the chainsaw to present a phallic object
A psycho killer- from a family of cannibals
Have group of friends- which get lost...
SEX= death theory
Diff:
Made in different eras- therefore their target audience expectations are diff
The new one is not censored
The ending is very diff
The family members-younger wants to save the friends
The two films, TCM 1974 and 2003, are both from the slasher genre; therefore have the same generic conventions, such as the final girl and the stereotypical male killer. However, since they are both produced in different eras, their target audience expectations would be different; therefore their filming and plot are slightly different. The 1947 film is target to an audience of males and females of 18-35, C1, C2, D Class, and the newer one has an audience of males and females 16-40, of B,C1,C2 D class, as the effects is more interesting. Also, the 1947 version was censored, as a result it was not as gruesome as the 2003 version, none the less, it did meet its audience expectations as they, back then were not used to films like this.
The first difference that is noticeable from both films is the beginning, as they both open differently. The original film opens with a brief narration by John Laroquette, as his words scroll down the screen; his voice his very deep, as a result setting the eerie atmosphere amongst the audience. Then there are many flashing shots of rotting hands and teeth, which is followed by darkness and a corpse, with a close up shot if the sun to set the scene, of a hot summer’s Texas day. The new version, on the other hand opens with gritty black and white footage of police going through gruesome contents of a house, none the less John Laroquette’s role as narrator is used again; which can suggest that this is an homage to the original film, and showing the audience the aftermath of what’s to come. This can also suggest that in the era of the 1974 film, there was a patriarchal society, where males were more dominant. This theory is also evident in the newer version, thus suggesting that there is still a patriarchal society.
Another difference that can be seen is the narrative of the films; the original opens up of a dead armadillo, and then there is a medium shot of the five friends, who are going to check on relatives graves in a cemetery where grave robbing and desecration has recently been a problem. They pick up a hitchhiker man, who is crazy. In contrast, the new one there is also five friends but they are on their way to see a Lynyrd Skyynyrd concert and instead of a male hitchhiker it is a female, who shots herself.
The old version is also different as Todorovs narrative theory can be applied throughout, as there is equilibrium at the beginning and a disequilibrium, and finally there is a slight happy ending, where the final girl survives. The new one has a disequilibrium throughout.
The theory of sex= death is applied in the original version, as the couple die, because they have sinned. There is great emphasis on the couple and their action, such as the close up of them walking up the stairs to have sexual intercourse; as a result it suggests to the audience that they may die. This is similar to the new one, as the couple also die, thus suggesting religion is an important aspect of society, and that people have to follow a set of rules.
The final girl is evident in both films, and can suggest they are more superior to males, because they are the survivors. It opposes the stereotypical view of the women staying at home and being subservient to men. Finally the outcome of the two movies were similar and different in some ways as the final girl in both relied on someone to come in an distract leather face but in the 2003 version Erin got away on her own without being hitched hiked like in the first movie, she also got her revenge on the sheriff in the process by running him over in his police car.
Sims:
Both films are slasher =]
Same genre codes, such as the girl screaming
Use the chainsaw to present a phallic object
A psycho killer- from a family of cannibals
Have group of friends- which get lost...
SEX= death theory
Diff:
Made in different eras- therefore their target audience expectations are diff
The new one is not censored
The ending is very diff
The family members-younger wants to save the friends
The two films, TCM 1974 and 2003, are both from the slasher genre; therefore have the same generic conventions, such as the final girl and the stereotypical male killer. However, since they are both produced in different eras, their target audience expectations would be different; therefore their filming and plot are slightly different. The 1947 film is target to an audience of males and females of 18-35, C1, C2, D Class, and the newer one has an audience of males and females 16-40, of B,C1,C2 D class, as the effects is more interesting. Also, the 1947 version was censored, as a result it was not as gruesome as the 2003 version, none the less, it did meet its audience expectations as they, back then were not used to films like this.
The first difference that is noticeable from both films is the beginning, as they both open differently. The original film opens with a brief narration by John Laroquette, as his words scroll down the screen; his voice his very deep, as a result setting the eerie atmosphere amongst the audience. Then there are many flashing shots of rotting hands and teeth, which is followed by darkness and a corpse, with a close up shot if the sun to set the scene, of a hot summer’s Texas day. The new version, on the other hand opens with gritty black and white footage of police going through gruesome contents of a house, none the less John Laroquette’s role as narrator is used again; which can suggest that this is an homage to the original film, and showing the audience the aftermath of what’s to come. This can also suggest that in the era of the 1974 film, there was a patriarchal society, where males were more dominant. This theory is also evident in the newer version, thus suggesting that there is still a patriarchal society.
Another difference that can be seen is the narrative of the films; the original opens up of a dead armadillo, and then there is a medium shot of the five friends, who are going to check on relatives graves in a cemetery where grave robbing and desecration has recently been a problem. They pick up a hitchhiker man, who is crazy. In contrast, the new one there is also five friends but they are on their way to see a Lynyrd Skyynyrd concert and instead of a male hitchhiker it is a female, who shots herself.
The old version is also different as Todorovs narrative theory can be applied throughout, as there is equilibrium at the beginning and a disequilibrium, and finally there is a slight happy ending, where the final girl survives. The new one has a disequilibrium throughout.
The theory of sex= death is applied in the original version, as the couple die, because they have sinned. There is great emphasis on the couple and their action, such as the close up of them walking up the stairs to have sexual intercourse; as a result it suggests to the audience that they may die. This is similar to the new one, as the couple also die, thus suggesting religion is an important aspect of society, and that people have to follow a set of rules.
The final girl is evident in both films, and can suggest they are more superior to males, because they are the survivors. It opposes the stereotypical view of the women staying at home and being subservient to men. Finally the outcome of the two movies were similar and different in some ways as the final girl in both relied on someone to come in an distract leather face but in the 2003 version Erin got away on her own without being hitched hiked like in the first movie, she also got her revenge on the sheriff in the process by running him over in his police car.
Scry Movie
Scary Movie is a 2000 film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, as part of Wayans Bros. Entertainment. It is an American dark comedy which parodies the horror, slasher, and mystery genres. Several mid- and late-1990s movies are spoofed, including the more subtle horror film parody series Scream trilogy, The Sixth Sense, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Usual Suspects, The Matrix, and The Blair Witch Project, while it also parodies many of the classic horror films, most notably Halloween.
The tagline is "No mercy. No shame. No sequel.", with the last reference being to the tendency of popular horror movies to become long-running franchises. However, in 2001, Scary Movie 2 was released (with the tagline "We lied"). The film was followed by a series of sequels Scary Movie 3 (2003), and Scary Movie 4 (2006). The original title for the film Scream was "Scary Movie" which ironically was later used to parody it. Both films were released through Dimension Films.
In addition to parodying the Scream series and I Know What You Did Last Summer, a number of other pop cultural references are made:
The Blair Witch Project - The scene in which Gail Hailstorm and her Jamaican cameraman are videotaping one of the killer's murders, then they get spotted and they try to escape, however, Gail's cameraman gets killed and Gail apologizes to the cameraman's family by videotaping her apology and leaving it behind so it can be found.
The Usual Suspects - Doofy's character and situation remotely resembles that of Verbal Kint's. The scene towards the ending is an almost exact replica of the final scene from The Usual Suspects, complete with Cindy dropping the coffee mug with "Doofus Porcelain" written on the bottom (a direct parody of the scene where Detective Kujan discovers his own mug was made by a company called "Kobayashi Porcelain"), Doofy's limp gradually disappearing, him shedding clothing to reveal his real appearance, lighting a cigarette etc.
The Shining - When Buffy is about to be killed the word "Redrum," is whispered. In The Shining, Danny Torrance writes this word (murder reversed), and speaks it, while semi-possesed.
Titanic and Amistad - When Brenda and Ray are at the movies, a film trailer is shown showing a man on a ship at sea resembling like Captain Edward John Smith of the Titanic, and features a character (Keenen Ivory Wayans) saying the infamous "I'm king of the world!" line, leading the viewer to assume that the film is related to Titanic. Instead, a slave master whips the man, who is revealed to be a slave, as the trailer is revealed to be for a sequel to the 1997 film Amistad.
Thinner - In the opening scene, Carmen Electra's character is run over by a car. The driver (her father) gets distracted in a similar way as in the movie Thinner.
The Matrix - The fight scene between Cindy and the killer utilizes "Bullet time" special effects.
Drop Dead Gorgeous - The beauty pageant scene with Buffy.
Postmodernism literally means 'after the modernist movement'. While "modern" itself refers to something "related to the present", the movement of modernism and the following reaction of postmodernism are defined by a set of perspectives. It is used in critical theory to refer to a point of departure for works of literature, drama, architecture, cinema and design, as well as in marketing and business and the interpretation of history, law and culture in the late 20th century.
The word pastiche describes a literary or other artistic genre. The word has two competing meanings, meaning either a "hodge-podge" or an imitation.
Irony is a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is an incongruity or discordance between what one says or does and what one means or what is generally understood. Irony is a mode of expression that calls attention to the character's knowledge and that of the audience
Intertextuality: When a media text makes reference to another text that, on the surface, appears to be unique and distinct
The tagline is "No mercy. No shame. No sequel.", with the last reference being to the tendency of popular horror movies to become long-running franchises. However, in 2001, Scary Movie 2 was released (with the tagline "We lied"). The film was followed by a series of sequels Scary Movie 3 (2003), and Scary Movie 4 (2006). The original title for the film Scream was "Scary Movie" which ironically was later used to parody it. Both films were released through Dimension Films.
In addition to parodying the Scream series and I Know What You Did Last Summer, a number of other pop cultural references are made:
The Blair Witch Project - The scene in which Gail Hailstorm and her Jamaican cameraman are videotaping one of the killer's murders, then they get spotted and they try to escape, however, Gail's cameraman gets killed and Gail apologizes to the cameraman's family by videotaping her apology and leaving it behind so it can be found.
The Usual Suspects - Doofy's character and situation remotely resembles that of Verbal Kint's. The scene towards the ending is an almost exact replica of the final scene from The Usual Suspects, complete with Cindy dropping the coffee mug with "Doofus Porcelain" written on the bottom (a direct parody of the scene where Detective Kujan discovers his own mug was made by a company called "Kobayashi Porcelain"), Doofy's limp gradually disappearing, him shedding clothing to reveal his real appearance, lighting a cigarette etc.
The Shining - When Buffy is about to be killed the word "Redrum," is whispered. In The Shining, Danny Torrance writes this word (murder reversed), and speaks it, while semi-possesed.
Titanic and Amistad - When Brenda and Ray are at the movies, a film trailer is shown showing a man on a ship at sea resembling like Captain Edward John Smith of the Titanic, and features a character (Keenen Ivory Wayans) saying the infamous "I'm king of the world!" line, leading the viewer to assume that the film is related to Titanic. Instead, a slave master whips the man, who is revealed to be a slave, as the trailer is revealed to be for a sequel to the 1997 film Amistad.
Thinner - In the opening scene, Carmen Electra's character is run over by a car. The driver (her father) gets distracted in a similar way as in the movie Thinner.
The Matrix - The fight scene between Cindy and the killer utilizes "Bullet time" special effects.
Drop Dead Gorgeous - The beauty pageant scene with Buffy.
Postmodernism literally means 'after the modernist movement'. While "modern" itself refers to something "related to the present", the movement of modernism and the following reaction of postmodernism are defined by a set of perspectives. It is used in critical theory to refer to a point of departure for works of literature, drama, architecture, cinema and design, as well as in marketing and business and the interpretation of history, law and culture in the late 20th century.
The word pastiche describes a literary or other artistic genre. The word has two competing meanings, meaning either a "hodge-podge" or an imitation.
Irony is a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is an incongruity or discordance between what one says or does and what one means or what is generally understood. Irony is a mode of expression that calls attention to the character's knowledge and that of the audience
Intertextuality: When a media text makes reference to another text that, on the surface, appears to be unique and distinct
references to other horror films in Scream
-Two of the most common references are to A Nightmare on Elm Street and its director Wes Craven.
EG.
At one point Billy sneaks into Sidney's room through her window, startling her, in a way that quotes Glen sneaking into Nancy's room in A Nightmare on Elm Street. The similarity between the scenes in emphasized by the physical resemblance Skeet Ulrich, who plays Billy's character, bears to the young Johnny Depp, who played Glen's character.
-Halloween is referenced many times throughout the film.
EG.
When Casey's parents come home and see that something is wrong, her father says to her mother, "Drive down to the Mackenzies'", which is a quote from Halloween. During the party scene, Randy Meeks, Stu Macher and the other party goers are watching the horror film. They watch many famous scenes such as Michael Myers murdering Bob, as well as Laurie Strode discovering her friend's dead bodies scattered in the bedroom. The song that Billy puts on when he and Sidney are making out in her room is a cover version of "Don't Fear the Reaper" which was featured in Halloween in the scene where Laurie and Annie are driving to their babysitting jobs.
-Billy's surname, Loomis, is the same as that of Donald Pleasence's character in Halloween (1978), which in turn was the name of Marion Crane's lover in Psycho.
EG.
Billy Loomis quotes Norman Bates, saying "We all go a little mad sometimes." Licking his fake blood, Loomis says that it is actually corn syrup and food coloring, "the same stuff they used as pig's blood in Carrie".
-As Stu and Billy reveal themselves to Sidney as the killers, they stand head to head, echoing a famous still photo from the film The Thing With Two Heads (1972).
-When Casey (Drew Barrymore) is dragged across the lawn by her murderer it strongly resembles a scene from Dementia 13.
-The blood pooling at Gale's (Courtney Cox) feet by the news van is reminiscent of a scene in Night of the Living Dead where blood pools on the floor by Barbra's feet (played by Judith O'Dea).
-Many films are briefly mentioned during a scene in which Billy and Stu visit Randy at work at a video store. Films Randy mentions include Candyman, The Howling, Prom Night, Everybody's All-American. Frankenstein is showing on the monitors.
-Sidney mentions The Town That Dreaded Sundown while she, Dewey and Tatum are buying food for the party.
-During the party scene, the partygoers are struggling with which movie to watch. The possibilities include The Evil Dead, Hellraiser, The Fog and Terror Train. Clerks is seen as a videotape on top of a television. During the party scene, when Billy arrives, Randy exclaims "What's Leatherface doing here?". Leatherface is the antagonist in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
-In addition to mentioning several horror films throughout the film, many minor characters were portrayed by actors that have worked with Wes Craven before and have also appeared in prominent horror films. For example, Linda Blair, who played Regan in "The Exorcist", also plays the obnoxious reporter who approaches Sidney when she first returns to school. Joseph Whipp, who plays Sheriff Burke in Scream, also plays the sheriff in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Frances Lee McCain, playing Mrs. Riley, also played the part of Billy's mother, Lynn Peltzer, in 1984's Gremlins.
-Other films that are seen or mentioned throughout the film include:
Friday the 13th - When the killer calls Casey Becker, he asks her "Who was the killer in Friday the 13th?". She exclaims Jason Voorhees as the answer, but the killer meant the original killer from the first movie, Jason's mother.
The Exorcist - When Billy sneaks into Sidney's bedroom, he says he came by due to being bored, sitting at home watching a TV-cut version of The Exorcist. Also, Exorcist lead star Linda Blair appears in the film as a shrill voiced reporter.
Basic Instinct
All the Right Moves - Tatum mentions wanting to see All the Right Moves so she can see Tom Cruise's penis.
Clueless (Alicia Silverstone's character was quoted)
The Silence of the Lambs - Billy mentions Jodie Foster (who played Clarice Starling in the movie) in one scene with Sidney. He also mentions Hannibal Lecter and that they never decided why he liked to eat people.
Trading Places
I Spit on Your Grave - When Tatum encounters the killer in the garage, she mistakes him for Randy, exclaiming "So what movie is this from? I spit on your garage?"
The Town That Dreaded Sundown.
The Bad Seed.
Clerks. Seen on the top of Stu's video player and a poster for it is seen in the background of the movie store
EG.
At one point Billy sneaks into Sidney's room through her window, startling her, in a way that quotes Glen sneaking into Nancy's room in A Nightmare on Elm Street. The similarity between the scenes in emphasized by the physical resemblance Skeet Ulrich, who plays Billy's character, bears to the young Johnny Depp, who played Glen's character.
-Halloween is referenced many times throughout the film.
EG.
When Casey's parents come home and see that something is wrong, her father says to her mother, "Drive down to the Mackenzies'", which is a quote from Halloween. During the party scene, Randy Meeks, Stu Macher and the other party goers are watching the horror film. They watch many famous scenes such as Michael Myers murdering Bob, as well as Laurie Strode discovering her friend's dead bodies scattered in the bedroom. The song that Billy puts on when he and Sidney are making out in her room is a cover version of "Don't Fear the Reaper" which was featured in Halloween in the scene where Laurie and Annie are driving to their babysitting jobs.
-Billy's surname, Loomis, is the same as that of Donald Pleasence's character in Halloween (1978), which in turn was the name of Marion Crane's lover in Psycho.
EG.
Billy Loomis quotes Norman Bates, saying "We all go a little mad sometimes." Licking his fake blood, Loomis says that it is actually corn syrup and food coloring, "the same stuff they used as pig's blood in Carrie".
-As Stu and Billy reveal themselves to Sidney as the killers, they stand head to head, echoing a famous still photo from the film The Thing With Two Heads (1972).
-When Casey (Drew Barrymore) is dragged across the lawn by her murderer it strongly resembles a scene from Dementia 13.
-The blood pooling at Gale's (Courtney Cox) feet by the news van is reminiscent of a scene in Night of the Living Dead where blood pools on the floor by Barbra's feet (played by Judith O'Dea).
-Many films are briefly mentioned during a scene in which Billy and Stu visit Randy at work at a video store. Films Randy mentions include Candyman, The Howling, Prom Night, Everybody's All-American. Frankenstein is showing on the monitors.
-Sidney mentions The Town That Dreaded Sundown while she, Dewey and Tatum are buying food for the party.
-During the party scene, the partygoers are struggling with which movie to watch. The possibilities include The Evil Dead, Hellraiser, The Fog and Terror Train. Clerks is seen as a videotape on top of a television. During the party scene, when Billy arrives, Randy exclaims "What's Leatherface doing here?". Leatherface is the antagonist in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
-In addition to mentioning several horror films throughout the film, many minor characters were portrayed by actors that have worked with Wes Craven before and have also appeared in prominent horror films. For example, Linda Blair, who played Regan in "The Exorcist", also plays the obnoxious reporter who approaches Sidney when she first returns to school. Joseph Whipp, who plays Sheriff Burke in Scream, also plays the sheriff in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Frances Lee McCain, playing Mrs. Riley, also played the part of Billy's mother, Lynn Peltzer, in 1984's Gremlins.
-Other films that are seen or mentioned throughout the film include:
Friday the 13th - When the killer calls Casey Becker, he asks her "Who was the killer in Friday the 13th?". She exclaims Jason Voorhees as the answer, but the killer meant the original killer from the first movie, Jason's mother.
The Exorcist - When Billy sneaks into Sidney's bedroom, he says he came by due to being bored, sitting at home watching a TV-cut version of The Exorcist. Also, Exorcist lead star Linda Blair appears in the film as a shrill voiced reporter.
Basic Instinct
All the Right Moves - Tatum mentions wanting to see All the Right Moves so she can see Tom Cruise's penis.
Clueless (Alicia Silverstone's character was quoted)
The Silence of the Lambs - Billy mentions Jodie Foster (who played Clarice Starling in the movie) in one scene with Sidney. He also mentions Hannibal Lecter and that they never decided why he liked to eat people.
Trading Places
I Spit on Your Grave - When Tatum encounters the killer in the garage, she mistakes him for Randy, exclaiming "So what movie is this from? I spit on your garage?"
The Town That Dreaded Sundown.
The Bad Seed.
Clerks. Seen on the top of Stu's video player and a poster for it is seen in the background of the movie store
Monday 23 March 2009
Wes Craven's New Nightmare Julie's Death Scene
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A Nightmare on Elm Street
2. Freddy's Revenge
3. Dream Warriors
4. The Dream Master
5. The Dream Child
6. Freddy's Dead
7. New Nightmare
8. Freddy vs. Jason
The original film was released in 1984, and following it a series of sequels was produced by the independent film company New Line Cinema. New Line often attributes the growth of their company to the success of the Nightmare franchise
The film series as a whole has received mixed reviews by critics, but has been a financial success at the box office. When comparing the United States box office grosses of other American horror film series, A Nightmare on Elm Street is the third highest grossing franchise in adjusted US dollars.
In 1988, a television series was produced with Freddy as the host. The pilot episode focused on the night Freddy was burned alive by the angry parents of the children he had killed, though the rest of the series featured episodes with independent plots. Twelve novels, separate from the adaptations of the films, and multiple comic book series were published featuring Freddy Krueger.
2. Freddy's Revenge
3. Dream Warriors
4. The Dream Master
5. The Dream Child
6. Freddy's Dead
7. New Nightmare
8. Freddy vs. Jason
The original film was released in 1984, and following it a series of sequels was produced by the independent film company New Line Cinema. New Line often attributes the growth of their company to the success of the Nightmare franchise
The film series as a whole has received mixed reviews by critics, but has been a financial success at the box office. When comparing the United States box office grosses of other American horror film series, A Nightmare on Elm Street is the third highest grossing franchise in adjusted US dollars.
In 1988, a television series was produced with Freddy as the host. The pilot episode focused on the night Freddy was burned alive by the angry parents of the children he had killed, though the rest of the series featured episodes with independent plots. Twelve novels, separate from the adaptations of the films, and multiple comic book series were published featuring Freddy Krueger.
Friday 13th out- 1980
In Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Jason (Steve Daskewisz) is revealed to be alive, and fully grown.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) continues where Part III leaves off, with Jason (Ted White) found by the police and taken to the morgue at the Wessex County Medical Center.
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) tried to move in a new direction.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) begins with Tommy (Thom Mathews) visiting Jason's grave after being released from a mental institution
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) begins an indeterminate amount of time after Jason Lives.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) sees Jason return from the lake, brought back to life via an underwater electrical cable.
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), Jason, through unexplained resurrection, returns to Crystal Lake, where he is being hunted by the FBI
Jason X (2002) takes place in the future, where Jason has again been inexplicably resurrected.
Freddy vs. Jason
In Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Jason (Steve Daskewisz) is revealed to be alive, and fully grown.
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) continues where Part III leaves off, with Jason (Ted White) found by the police and taken to the morgue at the Wessex County Medical Center.
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985) tried to move in a new direction.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) begins with Tommy (Thom Mathews) visiting Jason's grave after being released from a mental institution
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988) begins an indeterminate amount of time after Jason Lives.
Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989) sees Jason return from the lake, brought back to life via an underwater electrical cable.
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), Jason, through unexplained resurrection, returns to Crystal Lake, where he is being hunted by the FBI
Jason X (2002) takes place in the future, where Jason has again been inexplicably resurrected.
Freddy vs. Jason
halloween UK
-The theme song would stay the same, because it is good, and eerie
-character roles (follows propps theory…final girl)
However I would make them more modern, through props, like clothing and hair and make up etc.. And give them acting lessons!
-the shots would need changing, some. They need to be abit faster to create tension amongst the audience, as films like the exorcist/omen/and new ones have a much faster paced feeling to it, to create an atmosphere as if the audience is with them.
-and the beginning didn’t really make sense, so I would sort of create a background info, like flashbacks of the killer, to show who and why he is like he is.
-I’d change his mask!
-I’d use more variety of angles, and effects if I want to attract an audience from 2009. There would be more pans, and high/low angles.
-character roles (follows propps theory…final girl)
However I would make them more modern, through props, like clothing and hair and make up etc.. And give them acting lessons!
-the shots would need changing, some. They need to be abit faster to create tension amongst the audience, as films like the exorcist/omen/and new ones have a much faster paced feeling to it, to create an atmosphere as if the audience is with them.
-and the beginning didn’t really make sense, so I would sort of create a background info, like flashbacks of the killer, to show who and why he is like he is.
-I’d change his mask!
-I’d use more variety of angles, and effects if I want to attract an audience from 2009. There would be more pans, and high/low angles.
Monday 16 March 2009
Essay evaluation:
Targets:
-increase word count
-link more to wider context SHEP
-do more on genre theory
Next Step:
-the next step would be to do my targets and make sure I complete them
-read through my essay at least twice to make sure I’ve done everything I need to do
-increase word count
-link more to wider context SHEP
-do more on genre theory
Next Step:
-the next step would be to do my targets and make sure I complete them
-read through my essay at least twice to make sure I’ve done everything I need to do
Monday 9 February 2009
Asain Articles
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/06/comment-thatcher-golliwog-bbc-racism
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/feb/08/bafta-awards-2009-winners
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/19/prince-harry-racism-newspapers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jan/13/television
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jan/13/television-radio:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/12/bbc-asian-programmes-unit
-----
The article which if find interesting, is the one about BBC's decision to close al asian programming unit. Channel 4 to stop making programming specifically targeted at ethnic minority audiences.
-as a result, British Asians could now become as underrepresented as other groups. Perhaps that's some semblance of equality
-programmes were shown late at night, therefore audince numbers are going to be low.
-"Channel 4 axed its department for multicultural programmes in favour of an editorial manager for diversity to persuade indies and commissioners to consider diversity during normal programming"
-"British Asians could now become as underrepresented as other groups. Perhaps that's some semblance of equality."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/feb/08/bafta-awards-2009-winners
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/19/prince-harry-racism-newspapers
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jan/13/television
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/jan/13/television-radio:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/12/bbc-asian-programmes-unit
-----
The article which if find interesting, is the one about BBC's decision to close al asian programming unit. Channel 4 to stop making programming specifically targeted at ethnic minority audiences.
-as a result, British Asians could now become as underrepresented as other groups. Perhaps that's some semblance of equality
-programmes were shown late at night, therefore audince numbers are going to be low.
-"Channel 4 axed its department for multicultural programmes in favour of an editorial manager for diversity to persuade indies and commissioners to consider diversity during normal programming"
-"British Asians could now become as underrepresented as other groups. Perhaps that's some semblance of equality."
Tuesday 27 January 2009
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Link to Trailer:
Link to Danny Boyle on India:
Link to Some say its poverty porn - but not many: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/24/oscars-india-slumdog-millionaire-ian-jack
Link to so what do British Asians think of Slumdog Millionaire?:http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jan/18/slumdog-millionaire-british-asian-reaction
The film is a fair representation of India, I have seen the film, and it in a way shows the truth about India. The way it is shown to be corrupt, can be seen to be true. It also shows the poverty stricken cities (slums) which are hardly shown through the media; it shows how hard life really is for poor people, people from other religious backgrounds etc...It shows how people exploit homeless children for their own advantages- to gain wealth. They are seen to be uncivilized and barbaric.
Since the film was adapted from a novel by Vikas Swarup's [Q&A] it can suggest Boyle may have exaggerated to make the film more entertaining. The film represents India in many ways, through various storylines and techniques.
The first representation which is noticed by the audience is that the country is corrupt, because of what the characters do in the film. There is a gang of ‘villains’ that do bad things to the small innocent children, for instance a scene is shown where the main villain makes a young boy unconscious and puts hot wax in his eyes to make him blind, and makes him beg for money which goes to him. Boyle depicts Indian people here as cruel and untrustworthy.
”His "poverty porn" is damaging the image of a country on the brink of becoming a superpower.
“”
Jaspreet Pandohar, 35, a freelance writer, says she feels the film portrayed the city and its people in a truthful, dignified manner.”India's commercial capital may be booming but there's a dark underbelly of crime, deprivation and poverty that is often ignored or misrepresented by Indian cinema and the government."”
Indians are shown to be clever, through the main character Jamal.
It also shows the country in a positive way, through the beautiful scenery, e.g. the Taj Mahal, HOWEVER this is contrasted with the shots of the slums.
The film does conform to the stereotype of the “The Other” as it shows Indians to be Barbaric through what they do, which is seen to be cruel.
Link to Danny Boyle on India:
Link to Some say its poverty porn - but not many: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/24/oscars-india-slumdog-millionaire-ian-jack
Link to so what do British Asians think of Slumdog Millionaire?:http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jan/18/slumdog-millionaire-british-asian-reaction
The film is a fair representation of India, I have seen the film, and it in a way shows the truth about India. The way it is shown to be corrupt, can be seen to be true. It also shows the poverty stricken cities (slums) which are hardly shown through the media; it shows how hard life really is for poor people, people from other religious backgrounds etc...It shows how people exploit homeless children for their own advantages- to gain wealth. They are seen to be uncivilized and barbaric.
Since the film was adapted from a novel by Vikas Swarup's [Q&A] it can suggest Boyle may have exaggerated to make the film more entertaining. The film represents India in many ways, through various storylines and techniques.
The first representation which is noticed by the audience is that the country is corrupt, because of what the characters do in the film. There is a gang of ‘villains’ that do bad things to the small innocent children, for instance a scene is shown where the main villain makes a young boy unconscious and puts hot wax in his eyes to make him blind, and makes him beg for money which goes to him. Boyle depicts Indian people here as cruel and untrustworthy.
”His "poverty porn" is damaging the image of a country on the brink of becoming a superpower.
“”
Jaspreet Pandohar, 35, a freelance writer, says she feels the film portrayed the city and its people in a truthful, dignified manner.”India's commercial capital may be booming but there's a dark underbelly of crime, deprivation and poverty that is often ignored or misrepresented by Indian cinema and the government."”
Indians are shown to be clever, through the main character Jamal.
It also shows the country in a positive way, through the beautiful scenery, e.g. the Taj Mahal, HOWEVER this is contrasted with the shots of the slums.
The film does conform to the stereotype of the “The Other” as it shows Indians to be Barbaric through what they do, which is seen to be cruel.
Thursday 22 January 2009
First paragraph re-write
“You think of women as disposable pleasures, rather than meaningful pursuits” [1]
Has the representation of females changed in the action adventure genre?
With reference to Casino Royale (2006)
The number of females in the action adventure genre has changed considerably since the 1970s, when “only 15 per cent of the leading characters were women” [2] The portrayal of these women has also changed from being “symbolically annihilated”[3] to a significant character in the genre. The 2006 action adventure film, Casino Royale, the twenty first film in the James Bond series, depicts the female characters differently. “For decades the Bond girls who accompany 007 on his missions have been dismissed as sexist eye candy and lampooned for their suggestive names”.[4] However, the female protagonist, Vesper Lynd, is an accountant for the national treasury; therefore her status is higher than Bond’s. In addition, Lynd is a typical ‘femme fatale’ her character is both, strong and intelligent, who knows how to use her feminine qualities to her advantage. This is similar to the 1949 film, White Heat, Verna Jarret who is played by Virginia Mayo, uses her appearance to serve her purpose.
[1] Casino Royale (2006)
[2] Gauntlett, David (2002) Page 43
[3] Tuchman, G
[4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Has the representation of females changed in the action adventure genre?
With reference to Casino Royale (2006)
The number of females in the action adventure genre has changed considerably since the 1970s, when “only 15 per cent of the leading characters were women” [2] The portrayal of these women has also changed from being “symbolically annihilated”[3] to a significant character in the genre. The 2006 action adventure film, Casino Royale, the twenty first film in the James Bond series, depicts the female characters differently. “For decades the Bond girls who accompany 007 on his missions have been dismissed as sexist eye candy and lampooned for their suggestive names”.[4] However, the female protagonist, Vesper Lynd, is an accountant for the national treasury; therefore her status is higher than Bond’s. In addition, Lynd is a typical ‘femme fatale’ her character is both, strong and intelligent, who knows how to use her feminine qualities to her advantage. This is similar to the 1949 film, White Heat, Verna Jarret who is played by Virginia Mayo, uses her appearance to serve her purpose.
[1] Casino Royale (2006)
[2] Gauntlett, David (2002) Page 43
[3] Tuchman, G
[4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Self Evaluation
Attainment
1-
Effort
1- I always put 100% effort in everything I do, in class and for h/w
Punctuality
2- I am usually on time for lesson, but I have been late a few times
Submission and quality of homework
1- My h/w is always posted up on the blog on time
Ability to work independently
I can work independently, for example on the coursework
Quality of writing
2- My quality of writing can be improved a bit more, because I make mistakes sometimes, like phrasing sentences.
Organisation of Media folder
1- My media folder is well organised into sections- I have my med 6 in one folder, and another for med 5 and another for representations of women and Asians in another
Oral contributions in class
2- I do usually contribute in lessons, but only when I’m in the mood, so I could do it more often
Standard of Module 5 blog
1-All my work is on the blog, with good headings, so it’s easy to understand
Standard of Module 6 blog
2-3-I haven’t done much work on this blog, nevertheless all the blog work set has always been posted up.
WWW:
My work is always to the best of my ability
I always complete it on time
I have good understanding of med 5 work
EBI:
I need to improve on my med 6 work- I don’t understand some of the topics
I need to do extra reading outside of class, to help me understand more
I need to make sure I meet the coursework deadlines
1-
Effort
1- I always put 100% effort in everything I do, in class and for h/w
Punctuality
2- I am usually on time for lesson, but I have been late a few times
Submission and quality of homework
1- My h/w is always posted up on the blog on time
Ability to work independently
I can work independently, for example on the coursework
Quality of writing
2- My quality of writing can be improved a bit more, because I make mistakes sometimes, like phrasing sentences.
Organisation of Media folder
1- My media folder is well organised into sections- I have my med 6 in one folder, and another for med 5 and another for representations of women and Asians in another
Oral contributions in class
2- I do usually contribute in lessons, but only when I’m in the mood, so I could do it more often
Standard of Module 5 blog
1-All my work is on the blog, with good headings, so it’s easy to understand
Standard of Module 6 blog
2-3-I haven’t done much work on this blog, nevertheless all the blog work set has always been posted up.
WWW:
My work is always to the best of my ability
I always complete it on time
I have good understanding of med 5 work
EBI:
I need to improve on my med 6 work- I don’t understand some of the topics
I need to do extra reading outside of class, to help me understand more
I need to make sure I meet the coursework deadlines
Wednesday 7 January 2009
Need to rephrase
The Great Train Robbery (1903)- historical film
With the rise of the self-sufficient woman, the male-defying woman, the single mother, the working class female and the female bosses in society there has been a rise of women in film who are meet these same characteristics.
Society has also affected the representation of females; with a rise of independent women, single mothers, working class female and female bosses, the characters in recent films now meet these same characteristics.
The successful female action films up until recently have featured what were essentially women playing men. Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in the first two Alien films, Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Brigette Nielsen in Red Sonya were women who shared similar characteristics: strong, muscular, hard-edged and essentially masculine characters who wield large guns and swords as though they are substitute phalluses. They are not overtly sexual beings but instead are women who can step into roles that could easily be occupied by men.
Women in action films, are considered to be playing men, because of their similar characteristics.
Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in the first two Alien films and Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, are strong, muscular and have no emotions. They also carry similar weapons, guns and swords, however this can suggest Freud's theory, that women are in need of anything shaped like a phallus.
The journey from Sigourney Weaver's desexualized Ripley in Alien to Angelina Jolie's sexually charged Lara Croft in Tomb Raider has marked something of a sea change in popular conceptions of gender.
Ripley is desexualized, and Lara Croft is sxually charged.
Many of these heroines are based in stereotypical roles such as the dominatrix, which has long been a transgressive female identity—she both sexually dominates men and exists to satisfy them. Similarly, the female action hero transgresses gender boundaries by occupying traditionally masculine spaces—that of the battlefield, particularly—yet maintains an appearance of hyper-femininity to draw in male viewers and underscore her identity as female.
This marks a change from the 1990s, when female action heroes were either stripped of their feminine sexuality in order to masculinize them enough to carry a weapon, or hyper-sexualized to drive home their masculinity.
For example, the character of Sarah Connor in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), was buff to the extreme, but focused only on the safety of her child. In G.I. Jane (1997), Demi Moore's character stripped down to the physical basics until she was nearly indistinguishable, physically, from a man—except for a lack of sexual desire. In The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), Geena Davis' character transformed from stereotypically feminine to stereotypically masculine, complete with a macho sex drive.
“As the spectator identifies with the main male protagonist, he projects his look onto that of his like, his screen surrogate, so that the power of the male protagonist as he controls events coincides with the active power of the erotic look…” (Mulvey 20) Laura Mulvey’s article “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema
While Scorpio is looked at fetishistically, the gaze upon Bond is more conservative and it is not usually as conspicuous from a female character. We notice the passivity of a female noticing Bond, whereas fetishistic scopophilia is overt and active. In Goldfinger, the audience never takes on the gaze or the POV of a female spectator. We notice that characters such as Pussy Galore and Miss Moneypenny are attracted to Bond, but different conventions are used to articulate this sense of attraction. For instance, the change of intonation in both the voices of Galore and Moneypenny signify an interest in Bond while Bond’s active gaze is the signifier of his female interest. Sociologically speaking, the reason for the subdued female gaze could be a result of prominent ideologies present in the early 1960s. Since the male figure was the dominant of the two sexes, his gaze will be active over the passive one of the female.
Films from the James Bond series, such as Goldfinger, involves the audience, however never taking the point of view of the female spectator. We notice that characters such as Pussy Galore and Miss Moneypenny are attracted to Bond, but different conventions are used to articulate this sense of attraction. For instance, the change of intonation in both the voices of Galore and Moneypenny signify an interest in Bond while Bond’s active gaze is the signifier of his female interest.
Although the female gaze is present in Goldfinger, there is also a gaze casted upon Bond from the male spectator. This is not necessarily a homosexual gaze, nor a heterosexual gaze. It is a gaze that could potentially meet both standards in the sense that both homosexual and heterosexual audiences can identify with the Bond character. For instance, males will tend to idolize Bond because of his smooth McIveresque nature, whereas females will find sexual appeal in Bond. When Bond is tied to the table with the threat of laser castration, the focus is on Bond’s groin area. As we can see, according to Mulvey, Freud’s analysis of the threat of castration is a literal obstacle that Bond must overcome. Although perhaps not consciously intended to be a homosexualized focal point, a gay audience who reads into the Bond films could interpret this scene from a fetishistic standpoint. As with the lingering crotch shot in Scorpio Rising, the Bond crotch shot has the potential to appeal to both a female and gay audience, sexualizing the Bond character.
In a study of the films from the 1930s to 1970s, historians have categorized four dominant types of roles that women played. The first one is the “Pillar of Virtue” types played by Doris Day or Julie Andrews. This category also features mothers and mammies such as Hattie McDaniel’s character in “Gone with the Wind.”The “Glamour Girl” range from sex goddesses such as Marilyn Monroe in “Bus Stop” to femme fatales such as Marlene Dietrich in “Blonde Venus.”The “Emotive Woman” is the sexually frustrated Rosalind Russell in “Picnic” and the seductive Elizabeth Taylor in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Thus, the last category, the “Independent” woman or the Katharine Hepburn type, is Barbara Streisand in “Funny Girl,” or Jane Fonda in “Klute,” the liberated woman.
In the 1950s, especially, we witnessed an era of “reaffirming male dominance and female subservience; movies showed women as breasts and buttocks, again idealizing women who were ‘pretty, amusing, and childish,’” (Butler, 145).
With the rise of the self-sufficient woman, the male-defying woman, the single mother, the working class female and the female bosses in society there has been a rise of women in film who are meet these same characteristics.
Society has also affected the representation of females; with a rise of independent women, single mothers, working class female and female bosses, the characters in recent films now meet these same characteristics.
The successful female action films up until recently have featured what were essentially women playing men. Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in the first two Alien films, Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Brigette Nielsen in Red Sonya were women who shared similar characteristics: strong, muscular, hard-edged and essentially masculine characters who wield large guns and swords as though they are substitute phalluses. They are not overtly sexual beings but instead are women who can step into roles that could easily be occupied by men.
Women in action films, are considered to be playing men, because of their similar characteristics.
Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in the first two Alien films and Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, are strong, muscular and have no emotions. They also carry similar weapons, guns and swords, however this can suggest Freud's theory, that women are in need of anything shaped like a phallus.
The journey from Sigourney Weaver's desexualized Ripley in Alien to Angelina Jolie's sexually charged Lara Croft in Tomb Raider has marked something of a sea change in popular conceptions of gender.
Ripley is desexualized, and Lara Croft is sxually charged.
Many of these heroines are based in stereotypical roles such as the dominatrix, which has long been a transgressive female identity—she both sexually dominates men and exists to satisfy them. Similarly, the female action hero transgresses gender boundaries by occupying traditionally masculine spaces—that of the battlefield, particularly—yet maintains an appearance of hyper-femininity to draw in male viewers and underscore her identity as female.
This marks a change from the 1990s, when female action heroes were either stripped of their feminine sexuality in order to masculinize them enough to carry a weapon, or hyper-sexualized to drive home their masculinity.
For example, the character of Sarah Connor in Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), was buff to the extreme, but focused only on the safety of her child. In G.I. Jane (1997), Demi Moore's character stripped down to the physical basics until she was nearly indistinguishable, physically, from a man—except for a lack of sexual desire. In The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), Geena Davis' character transformed from stereotypically feminine to stereotypically masculine, complete with a macho sex drive.
“As the spectator identifies with the main male protagonist, he projects his look onto that of his like, his screen surrogate, so that the power of the male protagonist as he controls events coincides with the active power of the erotic look…” (Mulvey 20) Laura Mulvey’s article “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema
While Scorpio is looked at fetishistically, the gaze upon Bond is more conservative and it is not usually as conspicuous from a female character. We notice the passivity of a female noticing Bond, whereas fetishistic scopophilia is overt and active. In Goldfinger, the audience never takes on the gaze or the POV of a female spectator. We notice that characters such as Pussy Galore and Miss Moneypenny are attracted to Bond, but different conventions are used to articulate this sense of attraction. For instance, the change of intonation in both the voices of Galore and Moneypenny signify an interest in Bond while Bond’s active gaze is the signifier of his female interest. Sociologically speaking, the reason for the subdued female gaze could be a result of prominent ideologies present in the early 1960s. Since the male figure was the dominant of the two sexes, his gaze will be active over the passive one of the female.
Films from the James Bond series, such as Goldfinger, involves the audience, however never taking the point of view of the female spectator. We notice that characters such as Pussy Galore and Miss Moneypenny are attracted to Bond, but different conventions are used to articulate this sense of attraction. For instance, the change of intonation in both the voices of Galore and Moneypenny signify an interest in Bond while Bond’s active gaze is the signifier of his female interest.
Although the female gaze is present in Goldfinger, there is also a gaze casted upon Bond from the male spectator. This is not necessarily a homosexual gaze, nor a heterosexual gaze. It is a gaze that could potentially meet both standards in the sense that both homosexual and heterosexual audiences can identify with the Bond character. For instance, males will tend to idolize Bond because of his smooth McIveresque nature, whereas females will find sexual appeal in Bond. When Bond is tied to the table with the threat of laser castration, the focus is on Bond’s groin area. As we can see, according to Mulvey, Freud’s analysis of the threat of castration is a literal obstacle that Bond must overcome. Although perhaps not consciously intended to be a homosexualized focal point, a gay audience who reads into the Bond films could interpret this scene from a fetishistic standpoint. As with the lingering crotch shot in Scorpio Rising, the Bond crotch shot has the potential to appeal to both a female and gay audience, sexualizing the Bond character.
In a study of the films from the 1930s to 1970s, historians have categorized four dominant types of roles that women played. The first one is the “Pillar of Virtue” types played by Doris Day or Julie Andrews. This category also features mothers and mammies such as Hattie McDaniel’s character in “Gone with the Wind.”The “Glamour Girl” range from sex goddesses such as Marilyn Monroe in “Bus Stop” to femme fatales such as Marlene Dietrich in “Blonde Venus.”The “Emotive Woman” is the sexually frustrated Rosalind Russell in “Picnic” and the seductive Elizabeth Taylor in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Thus, the last category, the “Independent” woman or the Katharine Hepburn type, is Barbara Streisand in “Funny Girl,” or Jane Fonda in “Klute,” the liberated woman.
In the 1950s, especially, we witnessed an era of “reaffirming male dominance and female subservience; movies showed women as breasts and buttocks, again idealizing women who were ‘pretty, amusing, and childish,’” (Butler, 145).
Saturday 3 January 2009
First Paragraph- draft 1
“You think of women as disposable pleasures, rather than meaningful pursuits” [1]
Has the representation of females changed in the Action Adventure genre?
With reference to Casino Royale (2006)
The figures of females in the Action-Adventure genre have changed considerably since the 1970s, when “only 15 per cent of the leading characters were women”. [2] The portrayal of these women has also changed from being “symbolically annihilated” [3] to to a significant character in the genre. The 2006 Action- Adventure film, Casino Royale, the twenty first film in the James Bond series, depict the female characters differently. For decades the Bond girls who accompany 007 on his missions have been dismissed as sexist eye candy and lampooned for their suggestive names." [4] However, the female protagonist, Vesper Lynd is an accountant for the national treasury, therefore showing her status higher than Bonds. On the other hand, Lynd is a typical ‘femme fatale; her character is both, strong and intelligent, who knows how to use her feminine qualities to her advantage. Similarly, to the 1949 film, White Heat, Virginia Mayo’s character, Verna Jarrett uses her appearance to serve her purpose.
[1] Casino Royale (2006), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Columbia Pictures
[2] Gauntlett, David (2002): ‘Media, Gender & Identity: An introduction’ Routledge
[3] G TUCHMAN - Issues in Feminism: A First Course in Women's Studies, 1980 - Houghton Mifflin College Div
[4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3024355/James-Bond-girls-are-feminist-icons-says-Cubby-Broccolis-daughter.html
Has the representation of females changed in the Action Adventure genre?
With reference to Casino Royale (2006)
The figures of females in the Action-Adventure genre have changed considerably since the 1970s, when “only 15 per cent of the leading characters were women”. [2] The portrayal of these women has also changed from being “symbolically annihilated” [3] to to a significant character in the genre. The 2006 Action- Adventure film, Casino Royale, the twenty first film in the James Bond series, depict the female characters differently. For decades the Bond girls who accompany 007 on his missions have been dismissed as sexist eye candy and lampooned for their suggestive names." [4] However, the female protagonist, Vesper Lynd is an accountant for the national treasury, therefore showing her status higher than Bonds. On the other hand, Lynd is a typical ‘femme fatale; her character is both, strong and intelligent, who knows how to use her feminine qualities to her advantage. Similarly, to the 1949 film, White Heat, Virginia Mayo’s character, Verna Jarrett uses her appearance to serve her purpose.
[1] Casino Royale (2006), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Columbia Pictures
[2] Gauntlett, David (2002): ‘Media, Gender & Identity: An introduction’ Routledge
[3] G TUCHMAN - Issues in Feminism: A First Course in Women's Studies, 1980 - Houghton Mifflin College Div
[4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3024355/James-Bond-girls-are-feminist-icons-says-Cubby-Broccolis-daughter.html
Detailed Essay plan
My independent study focuses on Female representation in Action films; I have chosen James Bond- Casino Royale as my main text, because the main female character has multiple representations. They have become more involved within the plot, instead of being seen as a sex symbol to the male protagonists [Laura Mulvey]. Action films usually are usually watched by males, because of the ‘personal identity’ they have with the male star, however this film can suggest that females have become more empowering because she is a main star in the film, and plays a role within the narrative, and because Daniel Craig is seen as a sex symbol [beach scene]. Therefore, the representation of females has changed over the years.
[A, R, ID, G, N, ML]
INTRO-
Has female representation changed in action films? - will answer this question.
Will include the above info summarised, with a quote from the film [probably one that Bond says]. Brief history on the Action genre and representation of females.
My thesis and would be introduced.
[H, S, R, G]
1-
How the depicted in the past: in 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
They were also depicted as employed professionals, as opposed to the percentage of women who were depicted as unemployed housewives.In a study of 100 films released in 1941 and 1942, “eighty percent of films focusing on the love/hate problems of a man had a good bad girl as the main female character. In 50 percent of the films, the good bad girl successfully opposed a bad girl,” (Butler, 141). In the 1950s, especially, we witnessed an era of “reaffirming male dominance and female subservience; movies showed women as breasts and buttocks, again idealizing women who were ‘pretty, amusing, and childish,’” (Butler, 145).
“The role of a woman in a film almost always revolves around her physical attraction and the mating games she plays with the male characters”.(1972: 13)Smith, Sharon (1972) ‘The image of women in film: some suggestions for future research’, Women and Film, 1, 13-21.
[H, ML, R, A, ID, G,]
2-
70s, 80s, 90s, today
Presently, films show women who are outside their standard role of femininity. Although they use their sexuality, they derive power from it and use their intellect to get what they want. They represent strong, active women and these virtues override the male-centered moral it is to enforce upon the audience.
"In 1970s action-adventure shows, only 15 per cent of the leading characters were women".Gauntlett, David (2002): ‘Media, Gender & Identity : An introduction’ PUBLISHER: (pg 43)
-rise of feminism, backlash…etc
[H, P, ML, A, N, R]
3-
James Bond- Casino royale, action ref. Who are the bond girls, how are they seen?
Compare to other current action films [Propp]
[ML, A, R, N]
4-
“Girl-power flicks like Charlie’s Angels, Crouching Tiger, and Tomb Raider are topping the $100 million mark once dominated by men like Schwarzenegger”. (1) She also mentions the very poor box office numbers from the recent films of Schwarzenegger and Stallone. “
The women in films such as Charlie’s Angels, Tomb Raider, and Crouching Tiger have progressed from feminized-masculinity to sexy, attractive women who are genuinely skilled with their bodies. As men no longer have to be hard-bodies in order to succeed on film, neither do women. Films like Charlie’s Angels are gratuitous in their depictions of the female body. The curves rather than the muscles are emphasized.
I will focus on other action films that have changed the representation of females. Using the above paragraph as a starting point.
[E, P, H, ML, R]
5-
Anything else I have not mentioned…How they have not changed. [Mulvey]…
CONCLUSION-
Thesis again, my opinion. The verdict, if the representation has changed or not. Which it has to an extent- more theorists.
Bibliography:- so far
Butler,
1972: 13)Smith, Sharon (1972) ‘The image of women in film: some suggestions for future research’, Women and Film, 1, 13-21.
Gauntlett, David (2002): ‘Media, Gender & Identity : An introduction’
Berger, John (1972) Ways of seeing, London: Penguin
Laura Mulveys article ‘Visual Pleasure and narrative cinema’ in 1975 (reproduced in Hollows et al., 2000)
Kaplan, E. Ann (1983) Women and film: Both sides of the Camera, London: Methuen
G TUCHMAN - Issues in Feminism: A First Course in Women's Studies, 1980 - Houghton Mifflin College Div
“Gunter (1995: 13-14).”-pg 43
Photography: A critical introduction’ Liz Wells, (2004), pp 172
Websites:
http://www.geocities.com/albanystudent/wif.html
‘Literary Theory and Criticism: An Oxford Guide’ Patricia Waugh, (2006), pp 510
http://www.007.info/Girls.asp
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/233970/postfeminism_in_action_a_critical_analysis.html?cat=40
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/57771/feminine_masculinity_the_rise_of_women.html
http://www.themovieblog.com/2008/04/why-most-female-lead-action-films-dont-succeed
[A, R, ID, G, N, ML]
INTRO-
Has female representation changed in action films? - will answer this question.
Will include the above info summarised, with a quote from the film [probably one that Bond says]. Brief history on the Action genre and representation of females.
My thesis and would be introduced.
[H, S, R, G]
1-
How the depicted in the past: in 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s.
They were also depicted as employed professionals, as opposed to the percentage of women who were depicted as unemployed housewives.In a study of 100 films released in 1941 and 1942, “eighty percent of films focusing on the love/hate problems of a man had a good bad girl as the main female character. In 50 percent of the films, the good bad girl successfully opposed a bad girl,” (Butler, 141). In the 1950s, especially, we witnessed an era of “reaffirming male dominance and female subservience; movies showed women as breasts and buttocks, again idealizing women who were ‘pretty, amusing, and childish,’” (Butler, 145).
“The role of a woman in a film almost always revolves around her physical attraction and the mating games she plays with the male characters”.(1972: 13)Smith, Sharon (1972) ‘The image of women in film: some suggestions for future research’, Women and Film, 1, 13-21.
[H, ML, R, A, ID, G,]
2-
70s, 80s, 90s, today
Presently, films show women who are outside their standard role of femininity. Although they use their sexuality, they derive power from it and use their intellect to get what they want. They represent strong, active women and these virtues override the male-centered moral it is to enforce upon the audience.
"In 1970s action-adventure shows, only 15 per cent of the leading characters were women".Gauntlett, David (2002): ‘Media, Gender & Identity : An introduction’ PUBLISHER: (pg 43)
-rise of feminism, backlash…etc
[H, P, ML, A, N, R]
3-
James Bond- Casino royale, action ref. Who are the bond girls, how are they seen?
Compare to other current action films [Propp]
[ML, A, R, N]
4-
“Girl-power flicks like Charlie’s Angels, Crouching Tiger, and Tomb Raider are topping the $100 million mark once dominated by men like Schwarzenegger”. (1) She also mentions the very poor box office numbers from the recent films of Schwarzenegger and Stallone. “
The women in films such as Charlie’s Angels, Tomb Raider, and Crouching Tiger have progressed from feminized-masculinity to sexy, attractive women who are genuinely skilled with their bodies. As men no longer have to be hard-bodies in order to succeed on film, neither do women. Films like Charlie’s Angels are gratuitous in their depictions of the female body. The curves rather than the muscles are emphasized.
I will focus on other action films that have changed the representation of females. Using the above paragraph as a starting point.
[E, P, H, ML, R]
5-
Anything else I have not mentioned…How they have not changed. [Mulvey]…
CONCLUSION-
Thesis again, my opinion. The verdict, if the representation has changed or not. Which it has to an extent- more theorists.
Bibliography:- so far
Butler,
1972: 13)Smith, Sharon (1972) ‘The image of women in film: some suggestions for future research’, Women and Film, 1, 13-21.
Gauntlett, David (2002): ‘Media, Gender & Identity : An introduction’
Berger, John (1972) Ways of seeing, London: Penguin
Laura Mulveys article ‘Visual Pleasure and narrative cinema’ in 1975 (reproduced in Hollows et al., 2000)
Kaplan, E. Ann (1983) Women and film: Both sides of the Camera, London: Methuen
G TUCHMAN - Issues in Feminism: A First Course in Women's Studies, 1980 - Houghton Mifflin College Div
“Gunter (1995: 13-14).”-pg 43
Photography: A critical introduction’ Liz Wells, (2004), pp 172
Websites:
http://www.geocities.com/albanystudent/wif.html
‘Literary Theory and Criticism: An Oxford Guide’ Patricia Waugh, (2006), pp 510
http://www.007.info/Girls.asp
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/233970/postfeminism_in_action_a_critical_analysis.html?cat=40
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/57771/feminine_masculinity_the_rise_of_women.html
http://www.themovieblog.com/2008/04/why-most-female-lead-action-films-dont-succeed
Thursday 1 January 2009
Historical Texts
Hells Angels on Wheels is a 1967 American cult film starring Jack Nicholson, Adam Roarke, and Sabrina Scharf. This film was directed by Richard Rush
The trailer has focused very little on females, as it is more of a male action film, however there are females shown throughout, with a negative representation. The women are represented as objects of male gaze, because of what they are doing dancing around-in their bras, being touched by males. They are seen to have no position in society; this can conform to the stereotype that females back in the early 60s were seen as less important; however this was the time that the backlash occurred. It is very different to my chosen text- James Bond- Casino Royale, because the main female- Vesper Lynd has an actual part in the film and is considered important even if she is a Bond Girl- someone who is Bonds desirable girl.
Another film I have chosen is Scarface 1932, which presents females as victims. This is seen at 01:12, where she is trying to stand up for herself, but instead gets assaulted by the male [slapped, and dress is torn]. At 01:05, she is a there for male gaze. This is different and similar to mine, because even though the Bond girl is a victim she is being saved by Bond, not assaulted by, and she is an object of male desire. At the same time, but it is not seen as straightforward as Scarface.
Scarface:
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2363818777/
Princess Leia Organa is the main female protagonist of this film. This is similar to James Bond, because is the highest ranking official in the Rebellion chain of command, but is also there as an object of desire-Hans Solo. The voice over in the trailer refers to her as a victim, presenting her as weak and desperate for a mans helpThe "petite, fair-skinned human female" is known perhaps as the most beautiful and remembered woman in the Star Wars universe. [Perry, Steve (1996). Shadows of the Empire. Spectra ]. Leia was a wanted woman for love. She was loved by Luke Skywalker (before their sibling relationship was discovered), Han Solo, Prince Xizor, Prince Isolder (before he met Tenejiel Djo) and other men who fell in love with the beautiful woman.
The trailer has focused very little on females, as it is more of a male action film, however there are females shown throughout, with a negative representation. The women are represented as objects of male gaze, because of what they are doing dancing around-in their bras, being touched by males. They are seen to have no position in society; this can conform to the stereotype that females back in the early 60s were seen as less important; however this was the time that the backlash occurred. It is very different to my chosen text- James Bond- Casino Royale, because the main female- Vesper Lynd has an actual part in the film and is considered important even if she is a Bond Girl- someone who is Bonds desirable girl.
Another film I have chosen is Scarface 1932, which presents females as victims. This is seen at 01:12, where she is trying to stand up for herself, but instead gets assaulted by the male [slapped, and dress is torn]. At 01:05, she is a there for male gaze. This is different and similar to mine, because even though the Bond girl is a victim she is being saved by Bond, not assaulted by, and she is an object of male desire. At the same time, but it is not seen as straightforward as Scarface.
Scarface:
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2363818777/
Princess Leia Organa is the main female protagonist of this film. This is similar to James Bond, because is the highest ranking official in the Rebellion chain of command, but is also there as an object of desire-Hans Solo. The voice over in the trailer refers to her as a victim, presenting her as weak and desperate for a mans helpThe "petite, fair-skinned human female" is known perhaps as the most beautiful and remembered woman in the Star Wars universe. [Perry, Steve (1996). Shadows of the Empire. Spectra ]. Leia was a wanted woman for love. She was loved by Luke Skywalker (before their sibling relationship was discovered), Han Solo, Prince Xizor, Prince Isolder (before he met Tenejiel Djo) and other men who fell in love with the beautiful woman.
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