Attainment- 2
I my attainment at the moment is good, as i have attended all my lessons on time and have completed all my work.
Effort- 2
So far i believe that i have put in alot of effort into my work and have ensured that all the homework's and class works which i have produced are to the best of my ability.
Punctuality- 1
I have attended all my media lessons on time.
Submission and quality of homework- 2
I have submitted all my homework's on time, and have attempted to insure that it is of the highest quality
Ability to work independently- 3
i have worked independently on my blog, and have completed all the tasks set on my own, however some time i do need help from the teacher to guide me or from my peers.
Quality of writing- 3
The quality of my written work i believe is average at the moment, for example the migrain analysis i have done on my blog, however i can improve it more.
Organisation of Media folder- 1
My media folder is well organised. I have dividers for different topics and separate folders for med 5 and med 6.
Oral contributions in class- 3
So far i have contributed in class at times e.g. during presentations etc however i can maybe attempt to include my self more during class conversations.
Standard of Module 5 blog- 3
I believe my med5 blog is of well standard. it is well organised, e.g. starts of with my proposal then migrain analysis of my text etc and it is up to date with all the work set.
Standard of Module 6 blog- 3
So far i do not have much on my med 6 blog however i have completed all the tasks that were set and made sure that my blog is organised.
WWW:
-Complete all me work on time
-Attend all lessons and arrive on time
-Keeping med 5 blog up to date
EBI:
-Do more research for independent study
-Contribute more in class
-Do more work on med 6 blog
Friday 30 January 2009
Monday 5 January 2009
First Paragraph:
The representation of women has been a key area of development in film. Women were stereotypically presented as sex objects, especially in Hollywood films. They were considered to be “symbolically annihilated” and “underrepresented” in televisions fictional life, and an object of the ‘male gaze’. In 1970s the feminism and women's consciousness began to influence the production and distribution of film and television, which helped change the way that women are represented on screen. Now days there are many films which are aiming to challenge the stereotypes that women are associated with by having female action stars, for example Resident Evil, Kill Bill, Tomb Raider and many more. These films suggest that women are now becoming more independent and are taken more seriously then they use to be, and the characters in these films can be seen as role models to the young female audience who would aspire to be like them. The main purpose of this essay will be to account for the changes in the representation of women on screen. (RIA) (SH)
Detailed Essay Plan:
1. A brief description of the film and the stereotypes covered.
* Milla Jovovich, the main character in the film is represented as an independent and strong female. Her character seems to be challenging the stereotypes that females are associated with e.g. weak, emotional, and sex objects. In the movie she is viewed as the hero 'who will save the day', this is a part which is usually taken by a male whereas in this movie a female character is positioned in this place, who is more masculine, for example the way she dresses, which therefore differentiates the film from other movies of the same genre.
* Jovovich is represented as powerful, mainly through the use of prop’s e.g. her gun. In the poster of the film she is positioned in the middle, holding two guns, also through out the film she carries a gun with her; this could be a symbol to portray her power and superiority. The film Resident evil clearly suggests that the representation of females within the film industry has changed, due to the reason that nowadays there are many female action stars whereas before females were only given parts which fitted in with their stereotypes e.g. housewife or object of sexual desire for the male. By Jovovich taking on a masculine role she is presenting females as more independent and strong. (RMI) (H)
2. Feminism
* The development of feminist film theory was influenced by second wave feminism and the development of women's studies within the academy. The emergence of feminism from the past 20years has had a huge impact on the way that women are presented on television. After feminism flourished women were given the chance to take on roles which they could not before, for example the character of Ripley in Aliens is strong and courageous. However before feminism emerged women were seen as inferior and incapable of taking on such roles.
* Mulvey’s essay, visual pleasure and narrative cinema was citied “as the founding document of feminist film theory”. (SHEP)
3. Representation of women in the past
* The representation of women in the past was usually negative. They were mainly presented as either housewives or as objects of sexual desire to the male gaze.
* “In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s only 20 to 35% of characters were female” (David Gauntlet. Thus suggesting that males were more dominant in the film industry, making it difficult for females to become successful. Additionally “in action adventure shows, only 15% of the leading characters were women” (David Gautlett).
* Other studies in the 1970s found that men were the more dominant characters and the decision makers, whereas women would be presented as the obedient housewife who is inferior and powerless. Oakley argues that film and television reflects society. Thus claiming that society is male dominated and that women are oppressed. (SH) (IR)
4. Women as victims and in need of saving
* Tuchman argues that women in films were often presented as “victims, as incompetents and inferior or having trivial interests”. They were usually presented as in need of saving by the male hero, for example in Indiana Jones, the female character relies on the male to save her and is seen as useless.
* However Resident Evil challenges this, and the female character is the one who saves the survivors, for example in the scene where the survivors are getting attacked by several crows, Alice arrives at the right time to rescue them. There are a variety of different shots used in the scene in order to make Jovovich look powerful and superior, e.g. the use of low angle shot and when the camera pans all around her presenting her as the main focus and the person who will “save the day”.
5. Films related to my text:
* Alien is one of the first films which was seen as a celebration for feminists due to the reason that it was one of the first action films which had a female protagonist. In the film women are p8ortrayed as independent and intelligent. She is given the role of an officer in the film and is in control most of the time. This was unusual during that era, because the main representation of females was as housewives.
* Kathi Maio in a book of her film reviews stated that “women are not only given less screen time, when were up there on the screen we are likely to be portrayed as powerless and ineffectual”. However the film ‘Alien’ seems to be challenging this statement as the main character of the film is female who is presented as rather strong and powerful. This is similar to resident evil: extinctions as the protagonist of the film is also female, and both films fall into the same genre category (action). In both films the female character is the only one who survives at the end; we can refer to her as the ‘final girl’ which is a theory developed by Carol Clover in her book ‘Men, women and chainsaw’s. However she found this to be most common in slasher films were the audience is made to identify with the resourceful young female (the Final Girl) who survives and ends the threat e.g. Ripley in Alien and Alice in Resident Evil: Extinctions.
* On the other hand the females are also shown as weak and emotional. For example in Alien, we see the female character crying at times e.g. when one of her friends is killed. This suggests that no matter how powerful women are they still conform to the stereotypes placed upon them. The film also objectifies the female character in a similar way to resident evil. This is done through the clothing; for example at one point the protagonist removes all he clothing and is only wearing a vest and underwear with the camera zooms on her body parts.
* Other films such as Tomb Raider, Kill Bill and Cat Woman, all have female action stars, which tend to end the threats. (RMIG)
6. Women are still presented as sexual objects
* As Jonathan Schroeder notes, 'Film has been called an instrument of the male gaze, producing representations of women, the good life, and sexual fantasy from a male point of view' (Schroeder 1998, 208). Even though women are given lead roles they are still objectified and portrayed as sexual objects for the male desire.
* An example of this is the film Cat Women. The female protagonist portrayed as strong, however is objectified through her tight fitted leather suit and whip. She is also portrayed as provocative at points. This is also evident in other films such as Tomb Raider, Kill Bill, Resident evil and Matrix.
* In a review by Rich Cline it stated that “Director Mulcahey uses the extensive flesh-and-gore make-up brilliantly, although the bigger special effects are more uneven. He also shamelessly indulges in rather a lot of female flesh, which will keep the fan boys coming back for more.” Suggesting that he only uses young and attractive females in lead roles in order to attract a male audience.
7. Laura Malvey – male gaze
* Mulvey’s essay “visual pleaser and narrative cinema” was seen as the feminist claim that men and women are positioned differentially on screen; men as heroes who drive the narrative of the film forward and women as objects if sexual desire and fetishistic gazing. Women are considered to be there in order to be “looked at, objectified and sexualized by the male protagonist”
* In Resident Evil Milla Jovovich is objectified through her clothing e.g. tightly fitted shorts and sleeveless tops. Similarly all the female characters in the film are young, good looking and attractive. Sharon Smith claimed that "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", implying that women are not really considered because of their intelligence but only because of their looks
Conclusion:
* Extinctions is the third instalment in the series of film adoptions based on the CAPCOM survival horror series Resident evil. All the sequences follow the same genre. The audience’s generic expectations of the film are fulfilled because to an extent the film conforms to the conventions of an actions/horror film. One of the main ideologies that could be underpinning the text could be the change in role of women in the film industry. The film could be portraying the fact that women are not just given "housewife" roles or are sexually objectified whereas they are now ranked much higher in the industry then they use to be for example the role of Alice, a strong and powerful Heroine. The film is therefore mainly attempting to challenge stereotypes that females are associated with through having a female protagonist for an action movie; other actresses such as Ashanti and Ali Larter are also used to challenge these stereotypes. However all these actresses are good looking and attractive and to an extent desirable to men, therefore the film could also be reinforcing these stereotypes. Feminists who watch the film may consider it to be presenting women in a pessimistic way e.g. sexual object because of the way they are dressed and positioned etc.
* Milla Jovovich, the main character in the film is represented as an independent and strong female. Her character seems to be challenging the stereotypes that females are associated with e.g. weak, emotional, and sex objects. In the movie she is viewed as the hero 'who will save the day', this is a part which is usually taken by a male whereas in this movie a female character is positioned in this place, who is more masculine, for example the way she dresses, which therefore differentiates the film from other movies of the same genre.
* Jovovich is represented as powerful, mainly through the use of prop’s e.g. her gun. In the poster of the film she is positioned in the middle, holding two guns, also through out the film she carries a gun with her; this could be a symbol to portray her power and superiority. The film Resident evil clearly suggests that the representation of females within the film industry has changed, due to the reason that nowadays there are many female action stars whereas before females were only given parts which fitted in with their stereotypes e.g. housewife or object of sexual desire for the male. By Jovovich taking on a masculine role she is presenting females as more independent and strong. (RMI) (H)
2. Feminism
* The development of feminist film theory was influenced by second wave feminism and the development of women's studies within the academy. The emergence of feminism from the past 20years has had a huge impact on the way that women are presented on television. After feminism flourished women were given the chance to take on roles which they could not before, for example the character of Ripley in Aliens is strong and courageous. However before feminism emerged women were seen as inferior and incapable of taking on such roles.
* Mulvey’s essay, visual pleasure and narrative cinema was citied “as the founding document of feminist film theory”. (SHEP)
3. Representation of women in the past
* The representation of women in the past was usually negative. They were mainly presented as either housewives or as objects of sexual desire to the male gaze.
* “In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s only 20 to 35% of characters were female” (David Gauntlet. Thus suggesting that males were more dominant in the film industry, making it difficult for females to become successful. Additionally “in action adventure shows, only 15% of the leading characters were women” (David Gautlett).
* Other studies in the 1970s found that men were the more dominant characters and the decision makers, whereas women would be presented as the obedient housewife who is inferior and powerless. Oakley argues that film and television reflects society. Thus claiming that society is male dominated and that women are oppressed. (SH) (IR)
4. Women as victims and in need of saving
* Tuchman argues that women in films were often presented as “victims, as incompetents and inferior or having trivial interests”. They were usually presented as in need of saving by the male hero, for example in Indiana Jones, the female character relies on the male to save her and is seen as useless.
* However Resident Evil challenges this, and the female character is the one who saves the survivors, for example in the scene where the survivors are getting attacked by several crows, Alice arrives at the right time to rescue them. There are a variety of different shots used in the scene in order to make Jovovich look powerful and superior, e.g. the use of low angle shot and when the camera pans all around her presenting her as the main focus and the person who will “save the day”.
5. Films related to my text:
* Alien is one of the first films which was seen as a celebration for feminists due to the reason that it was one of the first action films which had a female protagonist. In the film women are p8ortrayed as independent and intelligent. She is given the role of an officer in the film and is in control most of the time. This was unusual during that era, because the main representation of females was as housewives.
* Kathi Maio in a book of her film reviews stated that “women are not only given less screen time, when were up there on the screen we are likely to be portrayed as powerless and ineffectual”. However the film ‘Alien’ seems to be challenging this statement as the main character of the film is female who is presented as rather strong and powerful. This is similar to resident evil: extinctions as the protagonist of the film is also female, and both films fall into the same genre category (action). In both films the female character is the only one who survives at the end; we can refer to her as the ‘final girl’ which is a theory developed by Carol Clover in her book ‘Men, women and chainsaw’s. However she found this to be most common in slasher films were the audience is made to identify with the resourceful young female (the Final Girl) who survives and ends the threat e.g. Ripley in Alien and Alice in Resident Evil: Extinctions.
* On the other hand the females are also shown as weak and emotional. For example in Alien, we see the female character crying at times e.g. when one of her friends is killed. This suggests that no matter how powerful women are they still conform to the stereotypes placed upon them. The film also objectifies the female character in a similar way to resident evil. This is done through the clothing; for example at one point the protagonist removes all he clothing and is only wearing a vest and underwear with the camera zooms on her body parts.
* Other films such as Tomb Raider, Kill Bill and Cat Woman, all have female action stars, which tend to end the threats. (RMIG)
6. Women are still presented as sexual objects
* As Jonathan Schroeder notes, 'Film has been called an instrument of the male gaze, producing representations of women, the good life, and sexual fantasy from a male point of view' (Schroeder 1998, 208). Even though women are given lead roles they are still objectified and portrayed as sexual objects for the male desire.
* An example of this is the film Cat Women. The female protagonist portrayed as strong, however is objectified through her tight fitted leather suit and whip. She is also portrayed as provocative at points. This is also evident in other films such as Tomb Raider, Kill Bill, Resident evil and Matrix.
* In a review by Rich Cline it stated that “Director Mulcahey uses the extensive flesh-and-gore make-up brilliantly, although the bigger special effects are more uneven. He also shamelessly indulges in rather a lot of female flesh, which will keep the fan boys coming back for more.” Suggesting that he only uses young and attractive females in lead roles in order to attract a male audience.
7. Laura Malvey – male gaze
* Mulvey’s essay “visual pleaser and narrative cinema” was seen as the feminist claim that men and women are positioned differentially on screen; men as heroes who drive the narrative of the film forward and women as objects if sexual desire and fetishistic gazing. Women are considered to be there in order to be “looked at, objectified and sexualized by the male protagonist”
* In Resident Evil Milla Jovovich is objectified through her clothing e.g. tightly fitted shorts and sleeveless tops. Similarly all the female characters in the film are young, good looking and attractive. Sharon Smith claimed that "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", implying that women are not really considered because of their intelligence but only because of their looks
Conclusion:
* Extinctions is the third instalment in the series of film adoptions based on the CAPCOM survival horror series Resident evil. All the sequences follow the same genre. The audience’s generic expectations of the film are fulfilled because to an extent the film conforms to the conventions of an actions/horror film. One of the main ideologies that could be underpinning the text could be the change in role of women in the film industry. The film could be portraying the fact that women are not just given "housewife" roles or are sexually objectified whereas they are now ranked much higher in the industry then they use to be for example the role of Alice, a strong and powerful Heroine. The film is therefore mainly attempting to challenge stereotypes that females are associated with through having a female protagonist for an action movie; other actresses such as Ashanti and Ali Larter are also used to challenge these stereotypes. However all these actresses are good looking and attractive and to an extent desirable to men, therefore the film could also be reinforcing these stereotypes. Feminists who watch the film may consider it to be presenting women in a pessimistic way e.g. sexual object because of the way they are dressed and positioned etc.
Saturday 3 January 2009
Historical Texts:
Aliens (1979)
Short Synopsis:
Analysis:
Short synopsis:
Short Synopsis:
Other Films Related To My Text Include:
Short Synopsis:
- On what should have been a trip back to Earth, the Nostromo, a mining freighter, is automatically re-routed to a desolate planet after receiving an SOS coming from it. After the crew is awakened, they investigate the source of the SOS, and discover a derelict alien ship on the planet. One of the crew members is put into a coma by an alien creature while investigating the ship. But the alien parasite dies and the crew think all is well. But the small ordeal was only a prelude for greater things to come...
Analysis:
- This was one of the first films which had a female protagonist as the "action hero". In this film the main female character, Ripley, is portrayed as strong and independent. The female characters are presented as intelligent and Ripley is given the role of an officer in the film where she seems to be quite dominant and in power. We can apply Clovers Final girl theory to the film as Ripley is the only survivor at the end of the film.
- On the other hand it can be argued that even though the protagonist of the film is female, it is still male dominated. For example at the beginning of the film there are no females and we are presented with all the male characters. Similarly throughout the film there are only two female character whereas there are about 6 male characters suggesting that men are still more dominant.
- This is similar to the film that i am studying in many ways, e.g. they both fall under the same genre category (action). Both films have female protagonists and both of the protagonists are the only survivors at the end of the films.The film shows that the society we are living in now has changed in the sense that women are now taken more seriously and are given more power then they had before.
Short synopsis:
- The story begins as "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", oversees his daughter's wedding. His son Michael has just come home from the war, but doesn't intend to become part of his father's business. The business of the family is just like the head of the family, kind and benevolent to those who give respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the good of the family. Don Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the old ways and look out for community and "family". An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan. The clash of the Don's fading old world values and the new ways will demand a terrible price, especially from Michael, all for the sake of the family
Short Synopsis:
- After the terrifying events in LA, John McClane (Willis) is about to go through it all again. A team of terrorists, led by Col. Stuart (Sadler) is holding the entire airport hostage. The terrorists are planning to rescue a drug lord from justice. In order to do so, they have seized control of all electrical equipment affecting all planes. With no runway lights available, all aircraft have to remain in the air, with fuel running low, McClane will need to be fast.
- The film conforms to the generic conventions through the violence and fighting, and use of props e.g. guns etc. The main character of the film is male which is typical in this genre (action). The female character in the film is presented as useless, mainly because she is just on a plane throughout the whole film, however she is presented as intelligent. The male character, on the other hand, is presented as powerful, strong and dominant who fights all the villains on his own, and saves the day.
- The film is linked to the text that i am studying because they are both of the same genre (action). However the film is different in the sense that the protagonist is male and in resident evil the protagonist is female.
Other Films Related To My Text Include:
- The Terminator (1986)
- The Matrix
- Supergirl (1984)
- Indiana Jones
- Three Men And a Baby
- High Noon(1952)
- Lawrence Of Arabia
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