Ginger Snaps Viewing

4

We viewed Ginger snaps in class and I made notes during the film through the lens of Gender/Sexuality as this interests me a lot and is along the lines of what I'd like to do for my project.

- 'Wrists are for girls' idea that an act can be feminine based on the fact that male acts are 'tough' or more difficult. Masculine is harder therefore better and they want to steer away from feminine things as they are associated with being weak - stereotyped gender roles

- We see the women playing sport from the male point of view. The first time the sisters come across as sexual is the camera being through the eyes of a male, idea that women's sexuality is based off men's desires.

- Girl called a 'bitch' because she rejects a boy. Negative connotations to girls who make own choices on sexuality.

- Can't talk about menstruating at dinner in front of man even though it's natural because society views it as a bad, taboo subject.

- Menstruating is a curse because it's a sign of women losing their innocence. Once a girl has her first period she is no longer pure and untouched. She is now 'dirty' and no longer innocent therefore something bad must happen to her. A punishment for the sin of womanhood (religious connotations in this - traditional values are still upheld)

- Man slays the beast whilst the girls run

- After she has her first period she wears tighter clothes, different hairstyles, sexuality begins to increase because her innocence is lost. All this is seen from the male perspective as she walks down the corridor in school.

- woman is overally sexual and the man sees it as uncomfortable and tells her to lie back. Society is uncomfortable with women being dominant sexually. 'who's the guy' = men should be dominant sexually and women should be submissive. The swapping of roles is uncomfortable and different. The werewolf could be seen as a metaphor for society being uncomfortable with women's owning their sexuality.

- Rape comment = women being overtly sexual, dressing in a certain way gives men the right and excuse to rape her? Another common view in society that girls 'asked for it'

- women are stereotyped as 'slut, bitch, tease or virgin next door'. We box in women's personalities to make them keep to what society thinks is best or make them feel guilty if they do otherwise.

- Very sinful act of killing is compared to masturbating  - something that society see's as sinful for a woman to do.

- Overly sexualised Halloween costume is again seen from the male perspective as she walks in the room.

- Younger sister takes positive action by the end - she's doing and he's encouraging. She's left as the last girl standing.

Alien - Film Viewing

5

We viewed the 1979 film Alien in class. Again I viewed this film through the light of gender identities as this is what I will be focusing around for my project.

- Woman is asking to leave where they are exploring, men are persuading and making the decision to go on. Stereotypical gender roles of women as passive and men as aggressive and the decision makers.

- The least intelligent character is the first to die. Role of  'stupid' man to show the group what they're up against.

- Two clear women in film. One woman panicking and one woman being strong and giving instructions. Not much light and shade.

- Women viewed as sentimental when she goes back for the cat. Risks life for it - women are motherly and maternal and can't leave something helpless. Viewed as senseless and idiotic in the film.

- The man jumps infront of the woman to save her so he dies first - volunteer to die = brave

- The woman is clearly strong and capable against the alien but when she gets attacked by a man then other men have to save her.

 - She is the character that said the first man infected by the alien needed to be quarantined but no-one listened as she wasn't being compassionate and this was viewed as bad (especially as she is a woman) By then end we know that her decision would have been right all along. but it's not admitted by anyone.

- After she has first escaped she takes her clothes off which could be seen as belittling achievement as we see her sexually as a character after all she's done. When she first takled the alien she tied her hair up - a symbol of hiding her femininity to take on the masculine role of fighting. Once that's done we need to remember she's a woman so we see her in few clothes. Mirrors societies view that women can't just be clever/brave  without using their body as a tool. There is no need for her to be in her underwear as it doesn't add anything to storyline.

- When she needs to be empowered and take on a males role again she is in a spacesuit so her gender identity is more masculine again.

 - Afterwards she is back in skimpy clothing to reinforce her gender role - even though she's done something brave and strong to be a comfortable gender role as a woman she must then be seen as back in the place of nurturing the cat and being a 'woman'

The Women - Film Viewing

21

We viewed the 2008 film The Women in class which is a modern adaption of the 1930s play in the same name. I focused on many aspects on the film as I want to focus on women's representation and gender in my project.

- Most women in the film were very classic ideas of what it means to be female eg. likes shopping, gossip etc.

 - Idea throughout that you can't be with a man if your more successful than him?

 - The young girl worries she's fat, idea must be inspired by the role models and women she has around her?

 - women from lots of different job roles - high fliers, charitable ladies, nannies, cleaners etc.

 - Awareness of the trappings of women's magazine. They put a perfect image of women that impossible to achieve in them and although we know this we keep reading and buying them.

 - Story line hinges on women's tendency to gossip - what does this say about women even if they're meant to be 'good'

 -  Different ideas of motherhood - the hectic mother with many children (loves them a lot but very tired from them all) main character whose own problems cause her to ignore her child's problems

 - Men are there in spirit throughout the film but they are never actually present. We as an audience build an idea of their characters based on stereotypes we know without ever meeting them. These women's lives hinge on men that are never present - how much influence men have whether they're in our lives or not.

 - Idea of reinventing yourself is strong - finding self-love, changing hair = embodies identity change, finding a true passion when free from man.

 - Although the women all work different jobs they are all still stereotypical 'womens' jobs. the high flier works in fashion which is a female industry, the mother then goes onto work in fashion designing, housekeeper, beautician, sales assistant etc.

 - The reinvention of the main character means she comes out more feminine. Does dressing more sexually mean more empowering? Message is to succeed we need to act more feminine?

- The high powered career character in the end gives up her job to find love - message that women can't find love when they're more successful than men? That women can't succeed at the top? There is never a man present and yet the male is the reason she leaves her job.

Film Viewings

These are a copy of some of the original notes I made from my film viewing for my essays.

10

- Older man, younger more beautiful woman
- Black servant
- In car scene lots of women seen objectively through the mans eyes (the male gaze to view women)
- We as the audience are meant to sympathise with the husband when his wife throws him a surprise party and he's not satisfied.

The April Fools

- Older man, business suit, going for a promotion on respectable job
- Female first seen from the male perspective - up the stairs - sexual view
- He's meant to be masculine because he doesn't like art, fashion etc.
- Wife is meant to be viewed as bad because she doesn't support her husbands job move and wants lots of material things
- Sexual freedom of the late 1960s shown through Catherine leaving with him
- They don't actually have any conversation, it's very awkward between them.
- Men do masculine activity of fencing, the women drink tea and talk
- Catherine has wanted to leave husband but only chooses to do so when she's had an experience with another man - needs someone to rely on. In constant need of a man there.
- Representation of toad is meant to be like a fairy story. Brubaker is bad before he meets Catherine, or not his true self?
- He naturally attracts women - it's not that he's sexually attractive it's the new powerful job?
- An affair is seen as okay if it's love?
- Wife is very domesticated which were meant to view as bad but Catherine doesn't have a job either - she is shown to be dissatisfied in her stagnant life though to contrast the wife
- Classical rom-com montage of spending the day together and falling in love
- Controlling husband who 'allow's her to go and flirt but tells her off when something happens and resents it - doesn't care about her happiness but clearly wants to own her and thinks he has rights over what she does and what he allows her to do
- Husband is physically forceful with Catherine - doesn't let her go when he's trying to talk to her
- He admits he had an affair but doesn't think it's wrong he did, but believes she shouldn't? Double standards and no respect for her.
- Uses adopting a child to persuade her to stay - plays on her being female and meant to be maternal. Says she would be a terrible person of she left this child without a mother.
- It's not bad that Brubakers leaving his child though? Not even mentioned?

Just Friends

- Pretty girl, chubby boy friendship cliche
- Friendzone established - nice guy, girl who doesn't notice him like that and goes for the jocks
- The nice guy has more feminine qualities - loving, crying.
- Years later and we see him as much more masculine because he's good looking and lost weight. Therefore he can get a girl, who's dressed like a 'slut' and is having a joke made at her because of it. She's an object in the film to prove his new masculinity, not a character.
- His manliness is shown through sex and sport
- Dumb blonde celebrity cliche, famous for doing nothing
- He hasn't come home since college - forgotten who he is?
- Lesbianism seen as inappropriate
- Girl is still at home, working behind a bar. Hasn't done anything with her life so were meant to view him as better now, he has the upper hand in the relationship.
- She's first seen again from the male gaze
- Treats the celebrity girl terribly because she's 'stupid' but we're still meant to view him as the nice guy. This is just comedy relief?
- He tries to act cool to get with her - playing 'mean'
- Her working behind the bar is part time to fund her career. She is very clever but he assumes he in a better job - masculine attitude to jobs. Her job is still stereotypicaly 'female'
- When he's fussy around food lots of derogatory gender terms used 'little girl' 'pussy' - terms show that being a typical girl and feminine aspects are seen as negative and something we shouldn't want to be.
- Eventually shows sensitive side to win her
- The other guy is seen as a 'dickhead' for seeing lots of women - which was what Ryan was doing at the beginning? It's now seen as bad because it involves a girl who isn't a 'slut' and who we're meant ot care about.
- Domesticated home girl with the family is seen as attractive. Not jet setting like the guy
- She's a 'prick tease' for being pretty and being best friends with a boy - idea that she knew she was playing with him and did it on purpose? Blame goes to girl.

13 going on 30

- Plain girl friends with dorky chubby guy, wants to be in with the popular pretty girls
- Girl wants to change who she is so she is cool
- Matt is sensitive and sweet which are seen as uncool and is in love with her - classic trope
- Flash-forward in New York, successful business woman, sexual freedom
- Matt has grown up, lost weight and is now 'handsome' - still artistic but this is now seen as cool
- Jenna became cool and got everything she wanted, losing Matt in the process
- Jenna is pleased she has boobs - pleasure in womanly figure, meant to be sexually funny
- The hokey player boyfriend is very masculine into sports, sex and is overly confident, can easily get any girl.
- Trope of fat woman as the bumbling assistant
- Finds out her friend is a 'bitch' so has to go it along - becomes more successful when she starts acting like her 13 years old self
- Jenna and Matt get along very naturally, conversation flowing, make each other laugh
- She's cheating and that seen as bad but him kissing her while he's in a relationship is seen as romantic?
- Matt's fiance is meant to be viewed as bad because she wants him to move for her job. Something that women do a lot for men but unacceptable and bad girlfriend when it's the other way round.
- Matt refuses to back out of his wedding even though he likes Jenna and has kissed her - is the cowardliness shown as chivalrous?
- Film ends with Jenna making the right decision but the flash-forward we see them as domesticated in the suburbs with her unpacking boxes - comfortable view of a woman to end a film as the loving wife not in a new job etc. after an 'adventure' we must return to our classical feminine spheres.

For the second wave feminism film I chose The April Fools because it was set in a better era than 10 and fitted the brief better. For the post-modern feminism film I chose 13 going on 30 as it has a lot of the tropes I want to focus on - the sensitive nice guy, the career 'bitch' character, the classical ending whereas Just Friends has some of these but they're a little more blurred and I especially wanted to focus on the career path that 13 going on 30 has.