Thursday 17 October 2013

Notes and Quotes

                                                                   Media texts

SALT (primary text)

1.'I'm fearless to the point of stupidity. Maybe I should have a little more fear': Angelina Jolie opens up
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1298459/Angelina-Jolie-Im-fearless-point-stupidity-Maybe-I-little-fear.html

  • "Jolie's character is an entirely different sort of female lead"
  • "'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"
  • "So when we wanted a real female action hero, we looked towards something that wasn't written for a woman"
  • "Years of intense training, handling weapons and honing fight techniques have turned Jolie into a formidable fighting machine"
2. Angelina Jolie adds spice to Salt
  • "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"
  • "The actress is no stranger to action films and she has her own signature in fight sequences and stunts"
  • ... "Jolie is pleased that the gender change did not turn on the character's sexiness"

The Dark Knight Rises (Secondary Text) 

1. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO MAKE A GOOD FEMALE SUPERHERO MOVIE?
http://screencrush.com/female-superhero-movie/
  • "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"
  • Catwoman’s case in ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ she uses female stereotypes like emotional weakness and vulnerability to cleverly manipulate her way out of dangerous situations
  • We can have a superheroine who is both attractive and kicks ass, but we can’t seem to give her a film to call her own without continuing to pander to a male-dominated audience of comic book fans and fanboys

 2. 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES': WHY ANNE HATHAWAY'S CATWOMAN IS THE BEST ONE YET
  • "She is, however, a woman that most contemporary audiences can truly relate to and understand"
  • "She spends her time using men as playthings in her scheme to better her life"
  • "She sees her role as almost modern day, feminist Robin Hood"
3. Catwoman actress Anne Hathaway in 'The Dark Knight Rises' claws out: Beating up bad guys was the ‘best feeling ever’
http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/34622682/the-dark-knight-rises-why-anne-hathaway-s-catwoman-is-the-best-one-yet?page=all
  • "When you talk about an action heroine, to me if you’re going to believe in this character, that she’s going to beat up the guys around her who weigh twice as much as her or whatever, you can’t do that through big biceps. It’s about brains, it’s about skill, and Anne is an unbelievable physical performer"
4.Anne Hathaway Talks Catwoman
 http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1524
  • "I wanted to find a way of talking where it wasn't as on the nose as a purr, but where you have to lean in a bit to hear her.."

 5. Marion Cotillard Confronts Rumors About Her ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Role
http://screenrant.com/marion-cotillard-dark-knight-rises-miranda-tate-talia-sandy-170446/
  • "Cotillard is playing “Talia al Ghul” – that is, a character who has ties to the League of Shadows"

6. Anne Hathaway Talks Catwoman In ‘The Dark Knight Rises
  • Hathaway’s Catwoman costume has drawn the ire of (and praise from) many a fan, in part because of accessories like her (potentially deadly) stiletto heels.."
  • Selina Kyle, who comes off as a more modernized femme fatale for Bruce Wayne – that is, a seductive woman with mysterious motives and shifting loyalty whose.."

Other media texts

1. 500 days of Summer
The film is a post modern love story focusing on two lovers. However, this film is not a typical love film as it includes a twist between the two characters. For example, the male character (Tom) falls in love with Summer, however things do not go according to the plans he had in mind as Summer is not interested in love and doesn't believe love exist. As a result, Tom does not give up on his love, Summer which clearly highlights a reverse in gender roles in films as well.

 2. Mr and Mrs Smith
The film focuses on a couple who are surprised to learn that they are both assassins hired by competing agencies to kill each other. Actress Angelina Jolie character represents female empowerment as she is not afraid to go against the female stereotype of being passive. This is effective as the film highlights that men and women can be equally powerful and therefore the concept of gender cannot prevent this from happening. 

3. Miss Congeniality
 This film focuses on Gracie Hart (played by Sandre Bullocks) who works for the FBI and goes under cover in the Miss United States beauty pageant in order to stop a group from bombing the event. This film links to my critical investigation as Sandre Bullocks character clearly goes against the female stereotype by her courageous behaviour and being portrayed as a 'tomboy' from the beginning of the film which is different from the usual representation of women. Notably,even through the way her character is dressed from the beginning and being the only female in her FBI team  is effective on the female audience as it shows that women are capable of doing male jobs as well. Furthermore, even though Gracie Hart has to transform he look into being more 'girly' her character does not let that stop her from taken an active role as she continues to fight in order to accomplish her mission.

4. Devil Wears Prada
This film links to my critical investigation as it shows a positive representation of women being independent, successful and active. The life of the protagonist does not revolve around her boyfriend as she chooses her career over him which clearly highlights a subvert in  female stereotype. 

5. Rear Window
This film is about a photographer called Jeff who broke his leg and in his spare time he begins to look out of the rear window observing the neighbours. Whilst Jeff was observing his neighbours he suspects that the man across his apartment has murdered his wife. Thus, he is determined to find out the truth with the help of his girlfriend Lisa and visiting nurse Stella. This film links to my critical investigation, as the female character Lisa is portrayed as an educated/sophisticated young woman which clearly goes against the traditional stereotype in the 1950's. Notably, she is strong minded as she tells Jeff what is right and what is wrong therefore she has a more decisions in their relationship with his a subvert in gender roles.

Links associated with 'Rear Window' and Hitchcock's Films.

1. Rear Window and Gender Roles
https://my.vanderbilt.edu/wgs272/2013/01/rear-window-and-gender-roles/

2.A Second Gaze at Hitchcock’s Women
http://sbccfilmreviews.org/?p=15302

TV documentaries/ YouTube videos


1.
This video focuses on female representation in the media industry particular in films and how inequality is still an issue. 
  • "No statistically difference between films featuring female protagonist or male protagonist or with women working behind the scenes or men"
  • "Difference was the size of the budge, it doesn't have nothing to do with  gender"
  • "If films featuring women, if films working with women behind the scenes were given the same budget as the films featuring men on screen or behind the scenes.. they would make the same box office grossing, but that is a hard sell in this community"
2. Why are women misrepresented in the media?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKqF0wcGhIE

 This clip from the film 'Miss Representation' focuses on the reasons why females are miss represented in the media.
  • "Media has always been overwhelmingly in the hands of the men"
  • "Women comprise only 16% of all writers, directors, producers, cinematography and editors"
  • "And only 7% of directors ad 10% of writers are women"
  • "The average number of news stories about women and girls is less then 20%
  • "Not only do you get more female characters on the screen but you get more different kinds of female characters, you get more powerful and multi dimensional female characters 


3.                                   Miss Representation - Documentary 
The American documentary 'Miss Representation' explores how the mainstream media under-represents women's and how it has a powerful impact on females especially teenage girls. The documentary includes interviews with teenage a girls which is effective as it gives the audience an insight of their opinion about the media representing women negatively. Notably, the personal stories of these teenage girls is vital as it shows how the concept of gender has disadvantaged and the impact the media has had on them to have the "perfect ideal image". Similarly, it also includes specialist's opinions on the media and the message it gives to teenagers. This would help me in my critical investigation because it highlights how the media portrays the same traditional female stereotype in films, advertisements, programmes. As a result, the mainstream media does strongly influences teenage girls as they believe that is the way they should look and behave therefore we are living in a society where females do face gender inequalities. 
  • "Girls get the meddage from a very early on that what is most important is how they look, their values and worth depends on that. Boys get the message that this is what is important for girls ... from films, televisions and video games" 0:05:19-0:05:32
  • "No matter what a women does, no matter what her achievements are, their values still depends on how they look" 0:05:35 - 0:05:39
  • "There is no appreciation for women intellectual. It is all about their body not the brain" 0:05:45
  • Culture damages women and girls. 0:08:56
  • "The media discriminates such portrayal of women and reveals every aspect of our culture" 0:10:73
  • In the media there is "so much negatively towards women and their weight and how they look. It's just a representation of the pressure we feel to conform to men's ideas" 0:11:21
  • "This can only make them feel dis-empowered and distract them from making a difference and become leaders" 0:08:24
  • "Only 34 women have ever served as governors compared to 2319 men" 0:18:49
  • "67 countries in the world have had female president or prime ministers. The US is not one of them" 0:19:06
  • "Without more women in politics we just don't really have a democratic legitimacy" 0:19:46
  • Sen Barbara Mikalski 0:24:08
  • Devanshi Patel ..aspiring public service leader 0:24:39
  • "Girls face early sexism" 0:24:39
  • "Politics considered to be for men & leadership is considered to be for men" 0:25:40
  • "68% viewers were more likely to accept a female president" 0:29:19
  • "See women leadership in reality of television is huge because we don't really have that many women in leadership" 0:26:40
  • "Some programmes show females as being strong but in Hollywood it is bleak" 0:29:59
  • Hollywood films use the same stereotype over and over again 0:27:39
  • "Women are never the protagonist but if they are it's about drama about a guy. It is never about there destiny. Audience never question, it is like it is normal, why can't a girl be powerful?" 
  • "Only 16 protagonists in films are females" 0:29:03
  • "Mainstream films are generally about men's live and we have sub-genre called chick flick about women lives but if you look at it more closely you realise that it generally revolves around men's lives, trying to get a man, trying to get love" 0:29:35
  • "Between 1937-2005 there was only 13 female protagonist's in animated movies, all of them except one had the aspiration to find love" 0:29:44
  • "20/30th included interested complex characters" 0:31:42
  • "Hip Hop/R&B music views objectify women .. they are body propps .. objective of desires" 0:31:42
  • "We socialise boys in thinking that men being a man means to be powerful/incontrol/being smarter than women" 0:32:06
  • "A new carination of women being powerful .. Action hero. But she is still objectified .. appealed to male viewers" 0:32:32
  • 0:54:51 "Walt + Disney Company Board: 4 out of 13 are women
  • "Time Warner Board: 2 out of 13 women"
  • Fox Company Board: 1 of 16 are women"
  • "The Media defines who we are" 1:02;:47 

Academic texts online/books/magazines

Books

 1. Kat Banyard: The Equality Illusion The Truth about Men and Women Today  (2010)
  • "30,000 women are sacked each year in the UK simply for being pregnant .." P 75
  • "Sexist attitudes and outdated stereotypes continue to .. " P76
  • "80% of human resources managers would think twice before ..." P77
  • "Cultural stereotypes still persist as to women's maternal role" P79
  • "Glass ceiling has become common currency over the last two decades in discussion on women's participation in the workforce" P81
  • "In the UK, there are still twenty two FTSE 100 companies that have no women their boards at all.." P82
  • "Female directors have decreased from 43% in 1991 to 35% in 2007" P82
  • "Official national statistics found out that women working full time are paid on average 17% less then men" P89 
  • "In London 282,000 women are low paid compared with 199,000 men" p94
  • "Legislation can create illusion the that equality has been achieved" p101
2. Susan Manushart: WifeWork - What marriage really means for women (2002)
  • "US divorce rate now exceeds 50 percent" p2
  • "In the UK it is estimated that a third of couples marrying right now will be divourced within fifteen years" p2
  • "Sociologist Janice Stiel found that married women consistently fare worse on every measure .." p5
  • "Unemployed wives are the most disadvantaged of all females" p5
  • "Families headed by women who have children grew nearly five times faster in the 1990's than did two parent nuclear families" p6
  • "The British Office for National Statistics forecast that a quarter of all women will be single by the year 2020" p6 
  • Sociologist Steven Nock, "men reap greater gains than women for virtually every outcome affected by marriage" p8
  • "Division of labour within the family remains rigidly gender-specific" p10
  • ..."wives whether employed or unemployed perform 70-80 per cent of unpaid labor within families" p10
  • Sociologist Anthony Mcmation "the help that husbands provide does not even cover the amount of work they created" p28
  • "Societies which males dominate females are not simply common. They are universal" P41
3. Gill Branston and Roy Strafford - The Media Student's Book Third Edition (1996)
  • "Gender based arguemnts have insisted that because women bear children, therefore they should be the ones to stay at home .." p94
  • "Gender roles in magazines and advertising, for example, show that women are still represented according to long standing cultural stereotypes .." p95
  • "Women were repeatedly represented shown as housewives, moths, home makers while men were often represented in situations of authority and dominance .." p95
  • "What are needed are more realistic portrayal (e.g of women) since the media are said to reflect society, and such reflections should always be accurate" p96
  • "The term post-feminism suggest that we are now beyond the need to struggle for gender equality.." p96
4. Sherrie A. Inness: Action Chicks - New Images of Tough Women in Pop Culture (2004)
  • "This years heroines of prime time and the big screen are muscular and trained in the martial arts .." pg1
  • "Explosion of tough women in the popular media" p1
  • "Do they represent greater freedom for women from gender stereotypes?" pg2
  • "What do these figures suggest abour changing societal roles for women and men?" pg2
  • "Tough women are appeaing not only in popular media but in real life, too" p3
  • "These images reflect the fact that women are challenging the male monopoly on power and aggression .. " p5
  • "Feminism has also taught women to question the gender status quo" pg5
  • "No longer women could be represented in the same stereotypes ways as they has been in the past" pg6
  • "The rise of female action heroine was a sign of the different role available to women in real life" pg6
  • "Taskers points out that the evolution of women's action roles needs to be studied because it reflects the change of real women's roles in society" p6
  • "Tough women are still expected to be feminine, attractive and heterosexual appealing" pg14
  • "This particular interesting shift suggesting that women can be the hero's" pg14
  • "Nikita and its female star can be constructed as feminist empowering for women, yet, at the same time, reinforce stereotypical notions for white womanhood and Western interperialism" p97
  • "Television and mainstream films are increasingly sending images of physically powerful women into our houses and psyches" pg97
  • "Heroines all share in common portrayals as kick ass women who can physically power their way out of dangerous situations using any combination of weaponry and martial arts, all the while maintaining traditional signs of femininity" pg97
  • "The new heroine does not follow previous cinema and television characterization of tough women who are often portrayed as police officers or lesbians. She is constructed as masculine only in her ability to handle weapons and physically strike and fight back" p99
  • "Sherrie A. Innes points out, this heroine does not need male saviours, is physically tougher than the men surrounding her, maintains a connection to other women on gaining male approval or desires" P99
  • "They no longer need protection; they are no longer victims or hostages or prizes" p63
  • These images reflect the fact that women are challenging the male monopoly on power and aggression .. " p5 
5. Nick Lacey - Image and Representation Key Concepts in Media Studies (1998)
  • "Stereotype serve to naturalize the power relationships in society; they have a hegemonic function" p39
  • "Representation and stereotypes serve to reinforce the dominate ideological views .." p143
  • "The action movie of the 1980's and 1990's has also introduced an interesting variant on on the traditional representation of gender: women as heroes" pg218 
  • "The conclusion of Terminator 2 offers hope for the future: is this hope because women are gaining more power in society? pg218

Magazine


 1. Media Magazine: December 2008 Issue 26: Film
  • "They seem to embody some core elements of intense masculinity and femininity which attract the global audience" P21
  • "Men and women can identify with many characters during the spectacle of a film" P21
  • "Tasker rejects the rigid idea of a male/female binary cinema spectator ship" P22
  • "Can enjoy the pleasure of the cinema and identify with who we want to regardless of gender" P22
  • "Angelina Jolie is as heroic and skilled as Brad Pitt"P22
  • "Traditional film theory would use gender based assumptions to analyse the position of the audience in relation to this text"P22
  • "Viewers can identify with either Pitt of Jolie, or both, a process she has termed perverse identification" P22
  • "This extordinary twist allows for spectacular and violent action sequences, where the viewer could potentially perversely identify with either Pritt of Jolie" P22
2. Media Magazine: December 2010 Issue 34: The Change issue
  • "Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looking at" quotes by John Berger P65
3. Media Magazine: Decemeber 2008 Issue 26: Film
  • "Post-Feminism focuses on gender issues, specifically in the cultural context since feminism" P52
  • "Post Femininsm does not assume that this means gender issues are no longer valid"
  • "Binary oppositions create conflict" P52

Academic Texts


 1. Laura Mulvey: Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema (1975)
http://www.asu.edu/courses/fms504/total-readings/mulvey-visualpleasure.pdf
  • "Socially establishing interpretation of sexual difference which controls images, erotic ways of looking and spectacle" p57
  • "Cinema has not sufficiently brought out the importance of representation of the female form.." p57
  • Psychoanalytic theory is thus appropriated here as political weapon, demonstrating the way the unconscious of patriarchal society has structure film form" p57
  • "Woman then stands in patriarchal culture as signifier for the male other .." p58
  • " indifferent to presence of the audience, producing for them a sense of separation and playing on their voyeuristic phantasy" p60
  • " pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female" p62
  •  "role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact ..." p62
  • "Hitchcock had never concealed his interest in voyeurism, cinematic and non-cinematic" p65
  • "deepend on voyeuristic active/passive mechanism" p68
2. Milkshake, Lady Lumps and Growing up to want Boobies: How the sexualisation of popculture limits girls horizons
  • "sexualisation results in negative outcomes for girls and young women in terms of lack diminished educational achievement... P373
  • "Sexualisation of culture is identified as a context that reinforces gender inequality by designating women as sexually available and objectified... P373
  • "Media transmit messages about girlhood and womanhood that constrain the range of opportunities open to girls and young women" P373
  • "In December 2006, pole-dancing classes for children from 12 year old were introduced in Northumberland" P374
  • "Influences young men's expectations of sexual relationships, to pressure on young women to comply relationships" P378
  • "A 2005 UK online survey almost 1000 girls aged 15-19 year found out that 63 per cent considered 'glamorous model' and 25 per cent 'lap dancer' .." P376
3. Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz and Dana E. Masto - MEAN GIRLS? THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER PORTRAYALS IN TEEN MOVIES ON EMERGING ADULTS' GENDER-BASED ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS
http://syndicatemizzou.org/resources/behm-morawitz/Mean_Girls.pdf

  • "Watching televised gender portrayals has an effect on individuals' real-world gender-based attidudes, beliefs and behaviours" P1
  • "According to Bandura's social cognitive theory, media messages, serve as a meaningful source for the acquisition of gender-linked knowledge and consequences" P2
  • "In recent years , girls have been increasingly portrayed in everything from serious journalistic studies to light comedies like 'Mean Girls' as tyrannical, bullying and devoted to a ruthless caste system" P2
  • "The focus on the 'queen bees' of female teenage friendships seems to dominate teen film portrayal of girls, when reality, this stereotypes of the 'mean girls' does not reflect the true variety  in female friendship roles and the positive attributes of these friendship networks" P2
  • "Mean Girls brought the portrayal of teen girls as socially aggressive to the forefront of popular discourse about female adolescence"  P2
  • "Although reseach does suggest females engage in less physically aggression than do males, we cannot conclude that the stereotypes of the socially aggressive girl is, in fact, accurate" P3
  • "This study lends insight into the nature of gender based images in teen films and the influence of exposure to these representation on emerging adult's attitudes about female friendship's and women roles in society" P11 
4.  Kennedy, H. W.-  Lara Croft: feminist icon or cyberbimbo? (2002)
http://www.gamestudies.org/0202/kennedy/

  •  "Trying to decide whether she is a positive role model for young girls or just that perfect combination of eye and thumb candy for the boys"  paragraph 1
  • "In this respect alone Lara was a welcome novelty for experienced female game players. "There was something refreshing about looking at the screen and seeing myself as a woman. Even if I was performing tasks that were a bit unrealistic…  I still felt like, Hey, this is a representation of me, as myself, as a woman. In a game. How long have we waited for that?" (Nikki Douglas in Cassell and Jenkins 1999). paragraph 2
  • "At the center of Tomb Raider was a fantasy female figure" paragraph 3
  • "It is clear that the producers of Lara wanted to market her as a character potentially appealing to women; her arrival on the game scene dovetailed nicely with the 90's girl power" paragraph 4
  • " Lara amongst a number of feisty and highly sexualized female characters that rose to prominence in the 90s – including Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002). These characters have a strong "bimodal" appeal in that they manage to engage a large following of both young men and women" paragraph 4
  • "Thelma and Louise, and other action heroines such as Trinity in The Matrix, can also be considered as what Mary Russo describes as "stunting bodies" (1994): Female figures which, through their performance of extraordinary feats, undermine conventional understandings of the female body" paragraph 6
  • "The action genre is typically masculine so this type of characterization is often celebrated as at least offering some compensation for the ubiquity of oppressive representations of women and the preponderance of masculine hard bodies" paragraph 6
  • "Her occupation of a traditionally masculine world, her rejection of particular patriarchal values and the norms of femininity and the physical spaces that she traverses are all in direct contradiction of the typical location of femininity within the private or domestic space" paragraph 6

5. Doris G. Bazzini, William D. McIntosh, Stephen M. Smith, Sabrina Cook, and Caleigh Harris
- The Aging Woman in Popular Film: Underrepresented, Unattractive, Unfriendly, and Unintelligent (1997)

  • "It was hypothesized that ageist and sexist stereotypes would interact such that (a) older female characters would be more unrepresented, and (b) more negatively portrayed, than their male contemporaries" pg1 
  • "Popular media images are reflections of a culture's attitudes, beliefs, and standards, as well as projections of desired realities" pg2
  • "Two classes of stereotypes that are commonly depicted by the media are ageist and sexist stereotypes" pg2
  • "When women are depicted in the media, they are typically subjected to a greater degree of physical scrutiny than men" (e.g., their appearances more likely the topic of commentary, Archer et al., 1983) pg2.
  • "Silverstein, Perdue, Peterson, and Kelly (1986) found that for 40 of the most popular prime-time television shows, women characters were portrayed as thinner and younger than their male counterparts. Such portrayals may imply that women's primary value lies in the possession of physical beauty, while men's does not" pg2
  • "One message conveyed by popular film is that women are valued primarily for youth and beauty" pg3
6. Dr. Stacey L. Smith & Crystal Allene Cook - Gender Stereotypes: An Analysis of popular  Films and TV (2008)
http://www.seejane.org/downloads/GDIGM_Gender_Stereotypes.pdf
  • "Portrayal. It has been argued that exposure to thin, attractive, sex-saturated culture may be having a negative effect on young-sters social emotional development" P13
  • "Viewing these types of portrayals may overemphasize the importance  of appearance norms among developing youth" P13 
  • Psychologist Sarah Murnen recently stated, "The promotion of the thin, sexy ideal in our culture has created a situation where the majority of girls and women don't like their bodies" p13
  • According to one parent, "Though it's been more than 30 years since feminist first drew attention to the stereotyped gender messages delivered by mainstream televisions, movies, and books, men and women are still portrayed in very  traditional roles". Pg14
  • "Examining over 4,000 characters across 4000 G, PG, PG-13, and R-Rated .. data reveal that two types of female frequent film: the traditional and the hypersexual". Pg14
  • "Significant proportion of the females in films are shown in hypersexualized fashion" P14
  • "Hypersexuality refers to an over emphasis on attractiveness and sexuality by the way of clothing and body porportions" p14
  • "Females were five time as likely as males to be shown in sexually revealing clothing" P14
  • "Female protagonist are sometimes shown engaging in heroic acts to save friends, family members and society" P18  
7.

Internet Links
New's Links
  1.  Hanna Rosin Interview: Can it really be the end of men?http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/9611934/Hanna-Rosin-interview-Can-it-really-be-the-end-of-men.html
  • "Last year, 40,000 more women than men applied to university here"
  • "The latest figures show that since the recession...." 
  • "Women's earnings have risen 44 percent compared to a measly 6 percent of men"
  • "Yes, women have more opportunities now but we still have to work twice as hard to make a much money as men"
  • "I think Feminism has helped us shift expectations ... "
  • "Neither women nor men give up on is the idea of men as protectors"
  • "They would expect the man to be the one to protect them"
2. The End of Men: And the Rise of Women by Hanna Rosin - review
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/oct/03/end-of-men-hanna-rosin-review
  • "Myth if matriarchy is one of the patriarchy's oldest invention" 
  • "Now actually living under a matriarchy, or very soon will be"
  • "Decline of modern man and the rise of woman in terms of money, education, employment and power.
  • "In 2009 ... America l women out numbered men in the workforce for the first time"
  • "Outnumbered men on degree courses by a ratio of three to two"
  • "Beginning to crowd out men on science and engineering courses"
  • "Families depend on woman as the main breadwinner"
  • "In the US, 12 are now dominated by women"
3. Our generation needs to reclaim feminism
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/our-generation-needs-to-reclaim-feminism-2373962.html
  • "Feminism is, simply, the march of women towards equality .... "
4. What's wrong with Hitchcock's women
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/21/alfred-hitchcock-women-psycho-the-birds-bidisha
  • "Marine is a liar, thief and all-round uptight frigid piece of trouble"
  • "Hitchcock's women are outwardly immaculate, but full of treachery and weakness"
5.  How the 'new-feminism' went wrong
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/mar/06/charlotte-raven-feminism-madonna-
price&sa=U&ei=YXJBUqPeLIiN7QbNroG4Aw&ved=0CAoQFjABOBQ&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHwPv1Lopb1QoqVG-aHqhJFM5mw2Q


  • "Feminist have become increasingly frivolous"
  • "Today's young women are right to think they will be judged on ..."
  • "In recent study of 1,000 British girls ..."
  • "Women themselves fell in with the view that feminism was un-glamorous and inhibiting"
  • "Needed new role models to replace uninspiring "downtrodden" feminists"
  • "Before 50 and 75% of women in prostitution in the UK begin selling ..."
  • "Living Dolls does an excellent job of exposing the brutal reality behind the sex industry's increasingly, sophisticated facade"
  • "We have Madonna-ised woman grinding out routines in front of a mirror .."
6. The Girl Wih the Dragon Tattoo: feminist, or not?
  • "The book promotes a very Scandinavian sort of equality"
7. Twitter boycott is my small symbolic gesture against online misogyny
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/04/twitter-boycott-gesture-online-misogyny
  • "Women - the majority of social media users - should not be subject to rape and death threats"
  • "Right now it possible to threaten rape and kill women online without consequences"

 8. Page 3's days may finally be numbered as online activist makes it mark
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2013/aug/23/online-activism-page-3-campaign
  • "resurgent feminist movement, which has a growing dexterity with online activism"
  • "1970 a group of men in a male-managed media, in a male- managed country, decided to put the naked breasts of young women in the newspaper"
  • "No more page 3 is now backed by the Girl Guides Unison, the National Union of Teachers, the Association of Teachers and Lectures, and the National Union of Head Teachers"
Rupert Murdock, "page three is so last century! You maybe right, dont know but considering, Perhaps halfway house with glamorouus fashionists"

Les Hinton "@TheSunNewspaper great but Page 3 has jarred for ages"

David Dinsmore "Page 3 was here to stay"
  • "Two thirds of our readers wanted to keep Page 3"
  • "People who are against Page 3 have never read the Sun and would never read the Sun"
  • "The Sun website was attracting around 30million unique visitors a month in early 2013"
  • ""Page 3 site was only attracting 1.4 million since the beginnig of August"
9. Warning: If you upset to today's ferocious online feminist, prepare for a flood of abuse
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/jackrivlin/100010138/warning-if-you-upset-todays-ferocious-online-feminists-prepare-for-a-flood-of-abuse/
  • "Feminism is back on the rise, and it's all thanks to the internet"
  • Everyday sexism has "90,000 followers on Twitter"
  • "Feminist societies have popped up at university everywhere including Durham, Liverpool and Kings College London"
10.BBC
This short video from BBC focuses on the positives and negative impacts female's around the world are facing based on their gender. It makes the audience question whether girls would have the same opportunities as boys? or will they face more dangers? and highlight the limitations females will face in their lives but also shows the opportunities they have now. (eg voting & going to school)

 11. No wonder men treat us as sex objects if we act like this
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/sep/13/comment.pressandpublishing

  • "But the thousand of images have been uploaded by ordinary women - entirley voluntarily for free, as the spokesman took pleasure pointing out"
  • "FHM was censured for publishing a photograph of a topless 14-year-old topless without her consent - but the real shock came in FHM's revelation that it receives more than 1,200 submissions of women topless or in lingerie every single week"
  • "It is no wonder a lot of men now genuinely believe that women want to be treated as sex objects"
  • "The beauty industry is a monster, selling unattainable dreams. It lies. It cheats, it exploits women"
12.From today, women work for free
 http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/06/from-today-women-work-free

  • "The pay gap is a result of and contribute to, unhelpful stereotypes about men and women"
  • " The impact of becoming a mother still has a greater impact on earnings than becoming a father. Working hours must be reduced for all and the stereotypes about who does the caring confronted"

13. The Rise of the Female-Led Action Film
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/01/the-rise-of-the-female-led-action-film/251678/
  • For many years, there were even fewer opportunities  for actresses in another genre: the action move"
  • "It;s been accepted in popular culture that the traditional 'action film' is gender revered image of the chick flicks"
  • "Big budget action films of the 1950's and 1960's echoed the sexism of their time..."
  • "Female characters have slowly but steadily evolved beyond the universal hostage, victims or conquest archetype and became the heroine of their own actions"
  • "Actions films starring women did not exist until recent years"
  • "If audiences respond to action movies starring women, Hollywood will continue to make action films starring women"
14. 40 years since the Equal Pay Act, equality remains a dream

  • "Men still earn more than women in nearly 90% of job categories, according to analysis by The Guardian"
  • "Men earn 42.4% more in their annual salaries"
  • "The average man working full-time has a median salary, including overtime, of £28,091 in 2010, 19.9% more than his female counterpart"
  • "The gap falls to 10.2% when overtime - which typically pays a much higher rate and is largely carried out by men"
  • ""It's appalling. How can this be when we have pay equality laws?" said Ruth Sealy, deputy director of the International Centre for Women Leaders at Cranfield University."
  • "Six in 10 women aged 15 to 30 say they have experienced sexist remarks or sexist behaviour, while 47% of women do not believe they are treated equally to men in the workplace, according to a survey by Ipsos Mori on behalf of Amnesty International, the Fawcett Society and Women's Aid"
15. Cèlia Romea: "The representation of women in film has changed in its formal aspects, but the underlying misogynist message remains"
http://www.ub.edu/web/ub/en/menu_eines/noticies/2011/Entrevistes/Celia_Romea.html

  • Female characters in Spanish cinema were created and directed by men. They are principally given the roles of mother or wife. 4th paragraph
  • "The roles given to women in cinema are relatively colourless compared to the approach taken to male figures" 4th paragraph
  • woman within a patriarchal system that restricts her to the functions of the heterosexual, virginal wife and mother, or the object of desire who passively receives the active attentions of the man" Paragraph 8
  • the heroine who seeks the condition through the acts of men, from the classic figures of patriotism to the more recent heroines, of which Angelina Jolie is the best example" Paragraph 9
  • cinema is largely controlled by men. Values such as power, sex, violence and money appear legitimate on the big screen. paragraph 10
  • The media impose trends, shape attitudes and conduct, issue messages, perpetuate myths and cement certain values.  paragraph 13
  • Women are represented in traditional, supporting roles, which are repeated over and over again; this representation shapes a general image of women that remains stuck in the past. paragraph 14
  • In contemporary cinema, the role of women is becoming more important, with a growing number of female directors and a more critical view of the portrayal of dependency. paragraph 14
16. http://www.theory.org.uk/ctr-que1.htm

  • "Queer theory is a set of ideas based around the idea that identities are not fixed and do not determine who we are"
17. http://brontebailey.wordpress.com/disney-princesses/mulan/ 

  • "She gains respect off of hundreds of men, showing that women are as equal as men and sometimes better"
  • She is classed as a tomboy as she doesn't fit the stereotypical feminine traits

http://lauratobin.webs.com/mulan.htm

  • "An unwed girl will bring dishonor to her family and is to be looked down on by many"

19. http://history-and-film.tripod.com/roles.html

  • Pressures on girls and women came from all angles.  To look normal and acceptable to men, and to be the women that could keep the home well for their future husbands.
20. http://womenandhollywood.com/2010/07/13/thinking-beyond-gender-angelina-jolie-in-salt/

21. http://filmstudz.tumblr.com/


  • "the eroticisation of women on the screen comes about through the way in which film assumes the spectator to be a white male and encourages his voyeurism, through specific camera and narrative techniques.”


22. http://purpleprosearchive.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/salt-2010/
"At the beginning of the film, Evelyn is represented as highly feminine (heels, tightly-fitted suit, full face of makeup, beautifully coiffured blonde hair etc), but as the story progresses she is gradually divested of her femininity, ending the film as an androgynous figure who is able to pass for male"

 22. http://best-movies-articles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/background-of-feminist-film-theory.htm
http://media.litmuse.net/bibliography/richard-dyer-the-role-of-stereotypes

  • "Smelik notes that such fixed and endlessly repeated images of women were considered to be objectionable distortions that would have a negative impact on the female spectator"

 Media Magazine Links
1. Apparatus Film Theory.
http://media.edusites.co.uk/article/film-theory-and-language/
  • "Model of spectatorship and institutions"
  •  "Cinema is ideological (based on ideas) because the films are created to represent reality. This means that because film is created to illustrate different ideas, everything has meaning - from the camerawork to the editing"
  • "Ideology is not imposed on cinema, but is part of its nature (through the viewer) and it shapes how we think"
  • "This theory is that the central position of the spectator/ viewer within the perspective of the text is also ideological - it is a reproduced reality and the experience of cinema influences the viewer on a deep level"

2. Gender Theory
http://media.edusites.co.uk/article/gender-theory/

  • "Judith Butler’s work on gender is set out in Gender Trouble (1990). In Butler’s terms the performance of gender, sex, and sexuality is about power in society."
  • "Sex is biological while gender is culturally constructed"
  • "Butler argues that gender is performative. She says that no identity exists behind the acts or performance that express gender, and these acts constitute the illusion of the stable gender identity".


18. ttp://sc2220.wikifoundry.com/page/Mulan+Analysis (havent added yet bib)
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Thursday 10 October 2013

Critical Investigation Proposal

(Include separate historical paragraph 20/year olds vs contemporary: 5years- comparing films)
E.g 'Bridesmaids' 'The Wrestler' '500days of summer'
(separate paragraph on pop culture / impact it has on audience / does not have to link to film. 'Everyday sexist' (website)

 Working title
'To what extent do the female characters in The Dark Knight Rises and SALT challenge the traditional female stereotypes?

-Primary Text : Salt
-Secondary Text; The Dark Knight Rises

 Angle
The angle will be focusing on different Feminist perspectives and what impact does the representation have on the female audience. Notable, I am considering to compare films over the years to now and explore if the films have subverted or reinforcing this the female stereotypes.
(Contrast to males stereotypes in the film - one paragraph)

Hypothesis
The female characters from both of the films are very different to one another in terms of their representation however there are similarities between them. In a greater extent the female characters do challenge the traditional female stereotypes; however, some critics may argue that the films still reinforces this dominant stereotypes.


Linked production piece
Anita, Gagan and I will be creating a music video which would have similarities to a film. For instance we would include codes and conventions of a film and as all of our questions focuses on representation we will clearly highlight the representation of genders.
E.G - Haims - Wire

MIGRAIN (Key Concepts)

 Audience
  • Primary audience could be individuals between the age demographic of 15- 30 year old due to the fast pace actions.
  • Secondary audience could be those who have been following the 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 psycho graphic group which may be associated with The Dark Knight Rises could be mainstreamer 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 leather 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 heterosexual male perspective, therefore in this case Hathaway is is presented to be gazed by men.

 Representation
  • Positive representation of female characters as they subvert the stereotype which highlights that they may represent female empowerment. 
  • Reinforcing the dominate stereotypes of women based on their tight and revealing clothing which would appeal to the male audience
  • In SALT there is a switch in gender roles - Jolie has more control over her job where as her male colleges follow her. Out of all of the SALT cast she is the only female actress which could suggest that she is suitable in taking on a masculine role and therefore this may impact the female audience positively in showing that they should not be afraid of going against their female domain.
Genre
  • The genre of Salt is a Thriller/Action film which may appeal to both genders.
  • The genre of the Dark Knight Rises is also a thriller/action and therefore both of the films us enigma and action codes to keep the audience intrigued with the narrative.
  • This shows that both of the films are hybrid as it includes elements of action, thriller and drama.
  • Using generic codes of enigma codes are effective in keeping the audience hooked on the narrative there are generic action codes used as well such as cars been blown up, guns, fighting and violence.
Narrative
  • The Dark Knight Rises follows theorist Todorov structure of narrative of a equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium.
  • Exposition of enigma codes (Barthes) are used to keep the audience intrigued to the narrative.
  • The Dark Knight Rises/SALT include flashbacks in certain scenes and therefore it includes a non-linear narrative as well.
  • Narrative themes are included in both of the films such as binary oppositions (Levis-Strauss)
  • In The Dark Knight Rises narrative roles which is associated with Propps character type theories.
Institutions 
The Dark Knight Rises:
  • Director: Christian Nolan
  • Distributed: Warner Bros.
  • "The official website launched in May 2011 introduced an viral marketing campaign similar to the one used to promote The Dark Knight Rises. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_(2010_film)
SALT
  • Director: Phillip Noyce
  • Distributed: Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures
  • The production of the film is Hollywood
  • SALT made £294 at the world box office, but also received mixed reviews about the film
  • At first there were discussion about who would play the character of Salt which was suppose to be Tom Cruise; however, Noyce changed his mind as he believe Jolie would be perfect for the role.
  • The budget for the film was $110 million
Media Language 

The Dark Knight Rises
  • Mis-en-scene is used effectively in the film to highlight to the audience the genre of the film. For instance, the technical code such as the fast editing clearly conveys to the audience that the film is action and therefore it makes the audience intrigued with the chaotic elements. 
  • In some scenes of the film  include Batman, low key lighting is used to reinforce that he is a mysterious figure as know one in Gothic city knows who the real Batman is. 
  • The different cinematography (camera shots) are significant in the film to keep the audience engaged with the fast pace action and to keep intrigued throughout the narrative. For example, the low angle shot is used for the villan Bane which is effective in reinforcing his power. Notably, close up shots of the actors facial expression are also used in some scenes to make the audience sympathise or feel contempt for their behaviour.
  • Diegectic and Non Diegtic are used throughout the film; however, the parallel sound is effective in creating the mood and atmosphere for the audience.
SALT
  • Technical Code: Fast pace editing is effective in engaging the audience with the action.
  • Iconography of guns, car blowing up, bombs etc all highlight the genre of the film to the audience.
  • Cinematography is effective in the film such as the variety of camera shots to keep the audience intrigued in the narrative.
  • The tracking shot is effective in keeping the audience engaged and intrigued with Jolie actions.
Ideology
  • Both of the films challenge the dominant ideologies of females as being inferior and passive, instead the female characters represent female empowerment.
  • Both of the films also promote a matriarchy ideology as the female characters go against the stereotype by behaving acting and not passive.
  • Positive values promoted by encouraging females to not be afraid by going against their female domain.
Theories
  • Audience theories - link to Katz & Blulmer uses and gratification theory./ effects theory
  • Post-modernism and Critiques (knowing how females are represented) Postmodern texts do not follow traditional narrative or genre expectations, challenge the relationship between text and audience. Post-feminism which a postmodern perspective of feminism achievement and explain the current condition of women.
  • Gender & Ethnicity
  • Liberal (individual choice and freedom to equal rights) Pluralism (freedom, a range of politic views i democratic societies) . They see the mass media as having a beneficial role in contempory society.
  • Genre Theories - consider the relationship between the audience and the media text, including how films appeal to a specific audience. E,g Richard Dyer argues that genres are pleasurable because they allow audience to escape into fictional words 

 Issues and Debates
  • Representation & Stereotype: In both of the films stereotype are presented as the female characters are portrayed as being seductive by their tight revealing clothes which is a negative representation. However, positive representation are presented as well as the female characters represent female empowerment.
  • Media Effects (how does news impact/influence) : link to the hegemonic perspective on gender as there is evidence that females are going against their stereotype. 
  • Media technology and the digital revolution (New and Digital Media) changing technologies in the 21st century: In my research I can include new articles about Feminism such as the 'no more page 3' which has been driven by blogs, Twitter and online campagine. (User-generate content)
  • Regulation and censorship : There have been issues in the news which focuses on page3 girls in The Sun newspaper  being removed. 
Shep
(Social, historical, economical, political)
Social - This refers to society and therefore Feminists such as Liberal Feminists have started varies of campaigns in order to stop the change of patriarchy. For example, the Sex Discrimination Act and The Equal Pay Act has made a difference in reducing gender inequality in the work place; however, some women are still facing gender inequalities in still in contemporary society. Relating to my critical question this would have a social impact on women in becoming ambitious and not being dependent on women.
Historical - Focuses on First Wave Feminism, Second Wave Feminism and Third Wave Feminism.
Political - First female prime minister was Margaret Thatcher but after there was no other female after her position. Liberal Feminism fight for equality through political and legal reform in order to create equality in social institutions such as the work place.
Economical - Feminist economists try to overcome patriarchy but focuses on the relevance of women in terms of thier occupation and segrating them from certain work fields. 
Post Feminism - we dont need feminism anymore due to equality?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_economics

 Media Texts (Main Focus)
SALT - Primary Text

The Dark Knight Rises - Secondary Text

 Other Media Texts

500 Days of Summer: This film clearly highlights a switch in gender roles as the male character is represented in being madly in love with a girl and being emotional; whereas, the female character is represented in being not interested in the guy.
The Wrestler - The Film clearly portrays a reverse in gender roles as the female protagonist is taking on a sport which was part of the male domain, thus conveying that she is going against the female stereotype.

Mr and Mrs Smith


Miss Congeniality

Colombiana


 TV Documentaries/ Youtube Clibs/ Programmes

 http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=14157709 (Documentary about the film 'Miss Representation')



The Apprentice - In the BBC hit programme 'The Apprentice' clearly portrays the females as ambitious and strong minded individuals which shows that they are going against their female stereotype by not being dependent on men. Notably, this conveys that the concept of gender cannot prevent a women from achieving high and therefore allowing them to break the glass ceiling and become successful.
Books
  • 'The Equality Illusion - The Truth about Men and Women Today. (Kat Banyard)
  • Media Magazine December 2008 Issue 26: Film : Brangelina
  • Media Magazine April 2013 Issue 44:Ideas - The Dark Knight Rises
  • Media Magazine December 2010 Issue 34: The change scene
  • Media Magazine December Issue 26: Post-Feminism in contempory Film
Internet Links
University websites/academic papers online:

http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC29folder/WomenRepnGaines.html    1983

 http://www.asu.edu/courses/fms504/total-readings/mulvey-visualpleasure.pdf

 http://78.133.124.150/digitalversion/Table_of_Contents_133052.pdf  1984

 Milkshakes,Lady Lumps and Growing Up to Want Boobies: How the Sexualisation of Popular Culture Limits Girls’ Horizons - PDF documents

 Media Guardian:

 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/04/twitter-boycott-gesture-online-misogyny

 http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/our-generation-needs-to-reclaim-feminism-2373962.html

 https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/mar/06/charlotte-raven-feminism-madonna-
price&sa=U&ei=YXJBUqPeLIiN7QbNroG4Aw&ved=0CAoQFjABOBQ&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHwPv1Lopb1QoqVG-aHqhJFM5mw2Q

 http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2010/mar/15/girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo

 http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/21/alfred-hitchcock-women-psycho-the-birds-bidisha

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/9611934/Hanna-Rosin-interview-Can-it-really-be-the-end-of-men.html (important)

 http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/oct/03/end-of-men-hanna-rosin-review (important)

 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/oct/02/not-the-end-of-men

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/jackrivlin/100010138/warning-if-you-upset-todays-ferocious-online-feminists-prepare-for-a-flood-of-abuse/

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2013/aug/23/online-activism-page-3-campaign


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