Monday, January 08, 2007
Task 13
Detailed Essay Plan“There’s a lot of stereotypes floating around which I don’t think are true”
How and why have the representations of women changed and do they break or conform to the stereotypes?
Introduction:
- Hypothesis:
o The representation of women has changed but gradually and only to a certain extent
o Women are breaking out of stereotypes
o Women are still seen as ‘objects of the male gaze’
- Talk about how women are slowly trying to break out of stereotypes
- The fact that women have encountered many difficulties in gaining positions of power of authority and control in the industry
- “Recent research suggests that the role of women has not been as silent as once thought” (research #5)
- Talk about Pretty Persuasion – budget etc
(R, I, SC, HC, PC)
Paragraph Two:
- Women represented as INDEPENDENT:
o The protagonist, Kimberly is shown as independent
o She is presented as doing what she wants to
o She isn’t family orientated, doesn’t listen to her step mom unlike Randa, the Muslim girl who is heavily family orientated
o She doesn’t have a boyfriend she’s committed to – uses him for sex
o She follows what she thinks is right herself
o Will do anything to get what she wants
- Talk about how women weren’t usually presented as being independent, but more damsel in distress
- The fact that women were the male side kicks and not the protagonists in most films
- Audience usually saw women to be weaker, but are now seen as more active
- Are sending out the message that they don’t need men in their lives – emphasized by the mother leaving the father and living on her own
(R, Id, A, HC)
Paragraph Three:
- Women represented as SEXUALLY ACTIVE
o Most of the characters in the film are sex driven
o The females in the film use the men for sex
o Kimberly is seen as more in control during sex, this is shown through the camera work
o Kimberly uses sex as a vehicle to help her reach her dream
o The film is based on sex – teacher harassing the school girls
o Kimberly is open about sex – even at home which shows how she has been bought up
o Kimberly is open to try all forms of sex – even homosexual with the journalist
- Talk about how women used to be inferior in sex
- Talk about how sex wasn’t as open as it is now
- Also talk of how women used to be used for sex but here there is gender reversal as women use the males for sex to get what they want
(R, Id, M, G, N, SC, HC)
Paragraph Four:
- Women represented as LESBIANS
o The news reporter and the camera woman are lesbian
o Kimberly uses this to her advantage and offers the reporter sex to spice up the story and make her famous à her dream
o “I could never give up men, I like cock too much, but sometimes, I just need a woman's touch”
o Exploring all forms of sexuality
o The girls watch “lesbian porn” on television too
o Showing the increase of lesbians represented
- Talk about how lesbians are now being represented
- They were normally shown as a stigma
- Nowadays people are more open about their sexuality
(R, Id, M, SC, HC)
Paragraph Five:
- Women represented as being ROLE MODELS
o Kimberly looks up to her mother
o Kimberly lives with her father but does not see him as a role model
o Kimberly is shown to be aspired to by the news reporter who respects what she did
o Could be shown to be a role model to other girls – you have to work hard to get what you want
o Shown that she doesn’t need a man in her life
- Talk about how women have become so in control that they can be role models to each other
- Talk about how this is a teenage film, where the young girls are subconsciously looking up to their elders
(R, Id, G, HC, SC)
Paragraph Six:
- Women represented as having priority to PERSUE AMBITION
o Kimberly aspires to be a TV actress
o We see her trying to reach fame
o She is shown to be assertive to try and get what she wants
o She uses sex and backstabs her friends for this
o Goes to try out to be main actress at the start of the film – and at the end she is shown to have got what she wanted
o How she instigates a plan beforehand and the audience think its coincidence but find out in the end it was all her plan
- Talk about successful women
- How women have to work hard to get what they want
- Show how nowadays women can get what they want whereas in the past they didn’t usually get their way
- Talk of cult of celebrity
(R, N, A, Id, SC, HC)
Paragraph Seven:
- Women represented as FEMME FATALE
o Kimberly is shown to be dangerous
o Uses sex to seduce men
o Introduces Randa to sex, alcohol, porn and men and corrupts her
o Does anything to get what she wants
o False accusations towards teacher – story is told through this
o Randa could also be seen as this – but she is punished at the end as she commits suicide
- Talk about femme fatales in the past and how this has changed
- Talk about how the femme fatales look and how this has an impact on them and the people around them
(R, M, G, N, SC, HC)
Paragraph Eight:
- Women represented as BREAKING TRADITIONAL STEREOTYPES
o There are lesbians
o The mother has divorced the father and lives on her own - not a housewife
o There is a step-mom but she doesn’t do much – plays sports
o Women taking dominant role in sex
o Kimberly does not listen to her father
o Teen film – does not completely revolve around boys
- Talk about how women have started to break out of traditional stereotypical roles
- Talk about traditional views and representations of women
- How teenagers are not like normal teenagers – take interest in other things – e.g. politics
- How women now can do what they want to
(R, Id, N, G, HC, PC)
Paragraph Nine:
- Asian women represented as STEREOTYPES
o Randa is shown to be stereotyped by everyone around her
o Talk of middle east conflict – asked to point out Palestine on the map
o Kimberly: “There's a lot of resentment in this country toward the Middle East and there's a lot of stereotypes floating around which I don't think are true because in the short amount of time I've known you, you haven't tried to bomb anybody and you currently smell okay to me.”
o Terrorism
o Family orientated
o Wants to be a doctor
o Religious – wears a scarf
- Talk about how the Muslim girl conforms to stereotypes
- Talk about how there have now been more inclusion of Asians in mainstream films
(R, Id, A, I, SC, HC, PC)
Paragraph Ten:
- Women represented as PASSIVE
o Men are seen as more dominant in society in general
o Male teacher, lawyer, judge etc
o The teacher is shown as a pedophile
o Brittany on stage in her drama class – humiliated by her teacher
o Teacher wins the court case
o There is a trophy wife – blonde = object of the male gaze
o Females tend to be the laughing stock
o Victims of “harassment”
- Talk about how even though there has been a gradual change there are still some changes that need to be made
- Women are not shown as completely dominant
- There is still a patriarchal society
(R, Id, N, A, M, SC, HC)
Conclusion:
- In conclusion…
- Talk about the fact that there has been changes in the representation of females in film but still at times the female is shown to be inferior
- Women still need to look beautiful and be an object of the male gaze
- Although this film is mostly a female cast – the dominant roles are still played by males
- Is this film a step towards the past?
(R, HC)
Sherish at 1:41 PM