Examples - Print, E media, Broadcast

The Dark Knight Rises
Example 1 - Anne Hathaway.
http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1524

The link above is a interview with Anne Hathaway to who plays the female character of Selina Kyle (cat women) in The Dark Knight Rises."Selina Kyle came from a poor background and never lived an easy life. To help escape from the sinking weight of poverty she took to a life of crime, developing herself into an accomplished thief".  This is an example of a print media as this interview is from the Empire magazine and now it is available online. This is effective as people can access the internet to read the interview or articles from the magazine if they do not have a copy of it and it highlights that technology is becoming more advanced. Furthermore, Empire is a British film magazine which is published monthly by the Bauer Consumer Media. Also, apart from the film news, previews and reviews Empire magazine has some unique regular features and in terms of the social demographics the magazine targets a wider audience which are usually men from the age of 18-35 year olds. This is because the features which are included inside the magazine are in great detail therefore the younger audience may not understand the language being used. As the magazine is male dominated this may portray that the editors carefully style the magazine so it would fit their target audience. For instance by featuring sex icons in their issues such as Megan Fox would be effective as it would appeal to males.  Furthermore, the social economic classification for Empire magazine could be A,B, C1 which are more likely to be middle class men. However, the secondary audience for this article could be individuals who are fans or the Batman trilogy or are fans of Anne Hathaway and aspire to be like her.

 In this interview Anne Hathaway talks about her role in the film, costumes, how it felt working with the other cast members on set and her experience. For example she quotes "I think that Catwoman depends on the Gotham City she lives in. The characterisation of her is informed by the world around her. So what I sought to do with my Selina was make her part of Christopher Nolan's Gotham". This could suggest that Anne Hathaway really wanted to develop into her character and make make it in this visions of what the directed Christopher Nolan expected. 

Additionally, in the interview Anne Hathaway talks about her role in playing Selina Kyle and how she is the first "true action women" in Christopher Nolan films. In The Dark Knight Rises Selina Kyle is a head strong, independent, intelligent and flirtatious female character who does not let anybody get in her way which highlights a alternative representation of her. This is because in many films the female characters are usually represented in being inferior, objectified or not taken serious which are stereotypes of how people view women in society. However, in The Dark Knight Rises Selina Kyle has some control  over the protagonist(Batman/Christopher Bale) which conveys she is not inferior and her action skills she uses to defeat men who get are a threat to society highlights that she is fearless. 

Example 2 - Emedia
Anne Hathaway
http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/34622682/the-dark-knight-rises-why-anne-hathaway-s-catwoman-is-the-best-one-yet?page=all
The link above focuses on the character of Catwomen which has been played by different actresses and has been in all three of the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy. The article then focuses on Anne Hathaway and her role as the new Catwomen in The Dark Knight Rises. This article is beneficial to include in my critical investigation  because it highlights how some of the audience can relate to  Anne Hathaway character as she does not need a man to depend on.

Example 3 - Emedia
Anne Hathaway
http://screenrant.com/anne-hathaway-catwoman-dark-knight-rises-sandy-145361/
This online article focuses on Hathaway character Catwomen and how she feels about playing a fearless female. She reveals how she was influenced by Catwomen comic book methodology and how the new version of the character which she plays is different.

Example 4 - Print Media
Anne Hathaway
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/catwoman-actress-anne-hathaway-dark-knight-rises-claws-beating-bad-guys-best-feeling-article-1.1114767 

Example 5 - E Media
Marion Cotillard
http://screenrant.com/marion-cotillard-dark-knight-rises-miranda-tate-talia-sandy-170446/ 

SALT

Example 1 - E Media
Angelina Jolie
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1298459/Angelina-Jolie-Im-fearless-point-stupidity-Maybe-I-little-fear.html 

Criticial Investigation - Background Information on the film and female characters.

To what extent do the female characters in The Dark Knight Rises and Salt challenge the traditional female stereotypes? 

• The Dark Knight Rises - Primary Text
• Salt - Secondary Text

For this question I will be investigating to what extent do the female characters subvert their traditional stereotype or are their some elements in the film where their stereotype is reinforced. Living in a post feminist society where women  have become more independent and fearless this has greatly influenced female characters in the film. 

M - media language
I - insitutions
G - genre
R - representation
A - audience 
I - ideology
N - narrative

The Dark Knight Rises

• Focusing on the female characters - Anne Hathaway (Selina Kyle/Catwomen) and Marion Cotillard (Miranda/Antagonist) 
• The Dark Knight Rises is a Hollywood blockbuster of a comic adaptation and the film follows a trilogy.
• The narrative of The Dark Knight Rises is full of thrilling aspects and excitement which would keep the audience gripped to their seats.
• The film is directed by the famous and successful Christopher Nolan.
• The distributor of the film is Warner Bros. Picture.

Genre

• The genre of The Dark Knight Rises is a hybrid as it includes elements of action, thriller and drama.
• The major generic conventions which this film includes are enigma codes which are effective in keeping the audience hooked and appealed into the narrative. Notably, the film includes other generic such as cars blowing up, guns, fighting, violence which all makes it clear to the audience what the genre is. 

Possible theories/theorist to include:

• Barthes
•  Propp 
• Levis-Strauss
•  Todorov
• Mulvey
• Feminism 
• Katz and Blulmer

Anne Hathaway 

In The Dark Knight Rises Anne Hathaway takes on two oppositional roles of being a ordinary business women named Selina Kyle and a inferior female protagonist Catwomen. Immediately, the audience would be able to acknowledge that Hathaway represents female empowerment as she is represented in being fearless, strong minded and willing to never give up. However, critics have argued that the clothing of  Hathaway character 'Catwomen' wears which is a tight fitted black costume presents, her part of the male gaze for men as she is represented in looking sexual.

Marion Cotillard

The second female character in The Dark Knight Rises is Miranda Tate/ Talia al Ghul who is played by Marion Cotillard. Her two roles are very different as on one hand she is a  business women but towards the end the audience are revealed to a big shock when they find out that Miranda is a villain alongside with antagonist Bane. One of  the reason why the characters Miranda//Talia al Ghul go against the female stereotype is because she is not represented as being naive, dependent and innocent and the fact that she is a Villian could suggest that even the roles between men and female characters are changing.

SALT - Angelina Jolie

Institution Information

• Directed: Phillip Noyce
• Distributed by Columbia Picture and Sony Productions
• Release Date: August 18 2012
• Budget: $110
• Box Office: $293, 503, 354
• The Genre of the film is hybrid of action, crime and mystery.

The distributor Columbia Pictures are very successful as they have helped to with big blockbusters such as The Da Vinic Code, The Pursuit of Happiness and Casiono Royale.  Whereas, Sony Pictures has helped also to produce successful block busters such as The Karate Kid, Spider- Man and Men In Black.

The talented and successful Angelina Jolie was chosen for the leading role in the film SALT which was ment to be played by Tom Cruise. Her character is called Evelyn Salt is a Russian Spy and is represented as being a powerful women however "Jolie fought to keep her character from turning into a stereotypical femme fatale" http://io9.com/5589284/how-angelina-jolie-fought-to-keep-salt-from-becoming-pretty  

Quotes to back up point (For and Against) - References.

• "In ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ Hathaway’s Selina Kyle is, again, crucial to the plot, but the male gaze was prevalent in many scenes in which the catsuit-clad Hathaway straddled the Batpod and the camera gave us a rather eye-popping view of her from behind" http://screencrush.com/female-superhero-movie/
• "The dominating issue with these films is the way the filmmakers choose to continue to capitalize on the attractiveness and physical appeal of their leading ladies and their costuming to draw the male fanbase" http://screencrush.com/female-superhero-movie/
• "‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ she uses female stereotypes like emotional weakness and vulnerability to cleverly manipulate her way out of dangerous situations" http://screencrush.com/female-superhero-movie/
• "A woman that most contemporary audiences can truly relate to and understand" http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/34622682/the-dark-knight-rises-why-anne-hathaway-s-catwoman-is-the-best-one-yet?page=all
• " On one hand, she spends her time using men as playthings in her scheme to better her life. But on the other, she sees her role as almost modern day, feminist Robin Hood http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/34622682/the-dark-knight-rises-why-anne-hathaway-s-catwoman-is-the-best-one-yet?page=all

• 'Salt is nothing like Bond,' says Jolie. 'In so many spy films women are femme fatales and we wanted to avoid that. My character doesn't use her sexuality to get anything. It's the roughest I've looked. When we fight, it gets ugly. Somebody breaks my nose in the film. It's not pretty" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1298459/Angelina-Jolie-Im-fearless-point-stupidity-Maybe-I-little-fear.html

• "We made a point not to use her sexuality or her femininity in the film in ways that is usually done in films, especially in this kind of genre," explains Jolie. woman." http://sofiaecho.com/2010/07/30/939975_angelina-jolie-adds-spice-to-salt
  

http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/34622682/the-dark-knight-rises-why-anne-hathaway-s-catwoman-is-the-best-one-yet?page=all

http://screenrant.com/anne-hathaway-catwoman-dark-knight-rises-sandy-145361/  PRINT

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/catwoman-actress-anne-hathaway-dark-knight-rises-claws-beating-bad-guys-best-feeling-article-1.1114767   PRINT

http://screenrant.com/marion-cotillard-dark-knight-rises-miranda-tate-talia-sandy-170446/  PRINT

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1298459/Angelina-Jolie-Im-fearless-point-stupidity-Maybe-I-little-fear.html PRINT/EMEDIA

Audience Research - The Dark Knight Rises & SALT

The Dark Knight Rises

• As the film has a certificate of a 12A (UK) I think the primary audience would be individuals between the age demographic of 13-year old as children below the age of 15 may not understand the narrative; however, the secondary audience could be individuals who have been fans of the Batman trilogy. One the other hand, the film does attract a large audience as the film has been around for a long time. Notably, the film include a range of different actors and actresses, therefore this is another reason why the film may also attract a large audience.
• Using Katz and Blulmer Uses and Gratification theory the audience are likely to watch the film for diversion which allows them to escape from their everyday life and keep them entertained, and possible personal relationships as some of the audience may form a social interaction about the film.
• Using Young and Rubicam marketing model the psychographic group which may be associated with The Dark Knight Rises could be mainstreamers as the film is a popular block buster.
• Using Mulvey male gaze theory the male audience may view the female characters, especially Anne Hathaway, sexually when she wears a tight fitted leath cat women suit. This is because even though she is represented in being powerful she is also portrayed as being seductive. The theory suggest that the audience are forced to view the text from a white hetrosexual male perspectie, therefore in this case Hathaway is is presented to be gazed by men.

SALT

• The film was given a certificate of a 12A (similar to The Dark Knight Rises) therefore the primary audience for SALT could be individuals between the age demographic of 15-30 year olds who enjoy watching action/thriller films. However, the secondary audience could be individuals who are fans of Angelina Jolie and are appealed in watching her new materials. 
• I think the film would appeal to both genders as it is not specifically aiming at males even though it is an action film however, as Jolie is the protagonist perhaps females may be intrigued to watch the film as well.
• Using Katz and Blulmer Uses and Gratification theory the audience may watch the film for diversion (escapism) and personal relationship. However, the audience may watch the film for surveillance as the film is based on true events.