"I don't understand why we didn't get any unemployment money... We've never even been employed. Doesn't that mean we should get more unemployment? " Tanzie Marchetta [1]
How has the stereotypical view of women been reinforced throughout the film "Material Girls"?
The ways in which the film, Material Girls (2006) is able to conform to the main sterotypes which are given towards young blonde females in society, therefore emphasising the fact that women are being underrepresented and shown to conform to the "male gaze".[2] This shows to the audience what there main roles are in the film and what is expected from the stereotypical blonde female characters to do throughout the film. Tuchman[3] asserts that women were shown to be working were portrayed as "incompetentents and inferiors"[4] This therefore may justify the reasons to why women are represented in a certain way in films.
The media tend to exploit the faults in which blondes make highlighting them to be degrading to all blondes. Having blonde women constantly in the media like paris hilton can only justify the label in which blonde women are given which makes it evident that they would be the perfect roles to have in comedy films such as material girls.
Films like Mean Girls (2004) and Legally Blonde (2001) are able to show the audience the familiar roles in which blondes girl have within films of this genre. There roles are often comical and heavily sterotypical. Compared to the 1940s film "Double Indemnity" (1944) the female role differs to the one in which is shown in material girls. Even though the chracter is blonde she is very powerful in terms of the way in which she is able to manipulate the male charcter with her good looks.
The main focus of this essay would be to analyse the ways in which stereotypes have been reinforced and presented throughout the film and relevant texts.
[1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433412/quotes
[2] male gaze
[3] Tuchman, G
[4] Gauntlett, David
Sunday 25 January 2009
Self Evaluation 2
Attainment-1
My attainment is still good as I have continued to attented all my media lessons and have completed all of my work.
Effort-2
I believe that I am putting more effort into my work. This is because I am spending more time on my work and starting my work earlier. This helps me because it ensures that I don't leave my work untill the last minute so i can spend more time and effort on to it.
Punctuality-2
Sometimes I am late for my lessons usually on a wednesday but my attendence for my lessons overall throughout the whole week is good.
Submission and quality of homework-2
I believe that my work has improved throughout the year due to the fact that I am spending more time on it ensuring that there is a quality of work being done. And most importantly I ensure that all my work gets done.
Ability to work independently-1
Throughout my independent study I have continued to work independently, therefore I believe that this has been very good.
Quality of writing-2
I believe that my writing has improved from the last time in which I wrote out my first self evaluations however there is still a need for improvement when I am writing. To do this I would have to check all my work after I have finished and correct mistakes.
Organisation of Media folder-2
The organisation of my media folder has improved from the last time I had written my first self evaluation. Before I failed to have a folder that was up to standard and my work was not organised in the correct order. However now I have put together a separte media folder with just media work in it. This allows me to then remain fully organised and be fully aware of all the work in which has been done in lessons. But I still need to ensure that all of my work gets put in the folder properly and remains organised.
Oral contributions in class-2
My contribution in class still remains the same as whenever we have discussions in class i do try and take part.
Standard of Module 5 blog- 1
My module 5 blog has continued to remain fully organised. I have made sure that all work has been completed on time and posted onto my blog. However I have to ensure that after I have completed my work to ensure I check my spelling.
Standard of Module 6 blog-3
I believe the standard of the module 6 blog compared to my module 5 blog differs a lot in the ways in which my work is presented and the way in which it gets complete. I still need to ensure that I complete some of the work which was set and post it onto my med 6 blog
www
My work is always completed on time
work is done to the best of my ability
EBI
Always try and check work after I have finished
Do some more wider reading
Do more work on med 6 blog
My attainment is still good as I have continued to attented all my media lessons and have completed all of my work.
Effort-2
I believe that I am putting more effort into my work. This is because I am spending more time on my work and starting my work earlier. This helps me because it ensures that I don't leave my work untill the last minute so i can spend more time and effort on to it.
Punctuality-2
Sometimes I am late for my lessons usually on a wednesday but my attendence for my lessons overall throughout the whole week is good.
Submission and quality of homework-2
I believe that my work has improved throughout the year due to the fact that I am spending more time on it ensuring that there is a quality of work being done. And most importantly I ensure that all my work gets done.
Ability to work independently-1
Throughout my independent study I have continued to work independently, therefore I believe that this has been very good.
Quality of writing-2
I believe that my writing has improved from the last time in which I wrote out my first self evaluations however there is still a need for improvement when I am writing. To do this I would have to check all my work after I have finished and correct mistakes.
Organisation of Media folder-2
The organisation of my media folder has improved from the last time I had written my first self evaluation. Before I failed to have a folder that was up to standard and my work was not organised in the correct order. However now I have put together a separte media folder with just media work in it. This allows me to then remain fully organised and be fully aware of all the work in which has been done in lessons. But I still need to ensure that all of my work gets put in the folder properly and remains organised.
Oral contributions in class-2
My contribution in class still remains the same as whenever we have discussions in class i do try and take part.
Standard of Module 5 blog- 1
My module 5 blog has continued to remain fully organised. I have made sure that all work has been completed on time and posted onto my blog. However I have to ensure that after I have completed my work to ensure I check my spelling.
Standard of Module 6 blog-3
I believe the standard of the module 6 blog compared to my module 5 blog differs a lot in the ways in which my work is presented and the way in which it gets complete. I still need to ensure that I complete some of the work which was set and post it onto my med 6 blog
www
My work is always completed on time
work is done to the best of my ability
EBI
Always try and check work after I have finished
Do some more wider reading
Do more work on med 6 blog
Thursday 1 January 2009
Essayy Plan...
How has the stereotypical view of women been reinforced throughout the film "Material Girls"?
The main focus of my essay is on the way in which female characters are sterotyped throughout films to create humour for the audience and to conform to the sterotypical representations of society, with the main focus of this essay being on my chosen film "Material Girls". It could be argued that the reasons for this being evident in films due to the fact that this is what the audience believe to be an accurate representation therefore the films interpretation of the females would have to be accurate which would encourage people to want to go out and watch the film.
The films main focus is on the lives of two sisters Ava and Tanzie, young females who enjoy life, explained in the title of the film that they are material girls, like many enjoy looking good and going shopping. The girls are presented as always being in the public eye and are alomst glamourised in order to show them as material girls.
Other texts which I would be able to relate to, in order to prove that in films which conform to the typical chick flick genre conventions are, Legally Blonde, Mean Girls and the sitcom The Simple Life which importantly stars Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. These two films and the television series would allow me to make similiar links to my film material girls due to the fact that they all show females to be presented in a similar way. In legally Blonde the main charcter is played by Reese Witherspoon. The character she plays in the film is sterotypically made to look stupid by wanting to study law in order to win the effections of her boyfriend. In mean girls the film portrays the actions of a group of young females highlighting how competeitve and bitchy they can become. Typical of a film like this to have girls falling out over a male character and failing to show female unity. The simple life is able to give the audience a real life view of two celebrities, both blonde trying to fit into the world which they seem to no nothing about.
Using the information above would help me writing up my essay as it invloves the main foucs of my question which would be to find out how in both my own film and the other texts which i am going to make references to, how sterotypes of the female characters espically chracters who are blonde are being reinforced to the audience watching.
Introduction:
Write about the ways in which women are sterotyped within some films and begin to talk about how I may begin to answer my question. Compare the other films and discuss how they are relevant to my essay and how they would help me answer my question.
Para 1- Women throughout history in film
Begin to discuss in the essay the ways in which the roles of women have changed throughout history. Include theorists.
Para 2- Stereotyping
The representation of blonde females in material girls and compare to the historical film double indemnity.
If the films are able to reinforce the negative sterotypes in which young blondes are given, or able to challenge them.
Link to the films to the sitcom the simple life which stars paris hilton and nicole richie. A real account of what blonde women are like in real life instead of film and begin to argue if this is the reason to why blondes are represented like this in film.
This would be an important part of my essay as it is the main topic in my question. It would allow me to show the changes of womens roles in film and the way in which they have been sterotyped.
Para 3- The whore vs the bimbo
Compare the representations of the female charcters in both double indemnity and material girls and discuss how they have changed over time. The whore in double indemnity and the bimbo image created in material girls.
Link to laura mulveys male gaze theory
Para 4- Womens roles in film
In this paragraph I will write about the ways in which womens roles in films have changed over time. Disscus the femme fatale (the bad women) the whore and women as the token characters in films.
Look at films which show women in leading roles and have more power. Shown in such films like tomb raider.
Link to mc neil (1975) typical role of a women in film would be a housewife.
Contrast with gaunters thoery as not all women in film are shown to be weak.
Conclusion:
Summarise the whole essay and to explain how my essay question has been answered
Discuss the different ways in which women are sterotyped within the film and conclude to whether or not the sterotypes have been reinforced in the films or not.
Give my own opinons to whether or not things have changed within films.
Compare
The Chick Flick Genre
This type of genre often shows young females in comical roles. The females would often clash during the film many beacause of another male charcter.
Blonde Women
Blonde women are often represented in film having the most comical roles in film and are often heavily stereotyped throughout them
The media students book Third edition- Gill Branston And Roy Stafford
Impossible bodies, femininity and masculinity at the movies- Chris Holmlund
The main focus of my essay is on the way in which female characters are sterotyped throughout films to create humour for the audience and to conform to the sterotypical representations of society, with the main focus of this essay being on my chosen film "Material Girls". It could be argued that the reasons for this being evident in films due to the fact that this is what the audience believe to be an accurate representation therefore the films interpretation of the females would have to be accurate which would encourage people to want to go out and watch the film.
The films main focus is on the lives of two sisters Ava and Tanzie, young females who enjoy life, explained in the title of the film that they are material girls, like many enjoy looking good and going shopping. The girls are presented as always being in the public eye and are alomst glamourised in order to show them as material girls.
Other texts which I would be able to relate to, in order to prove that in films which conform to the typical chick flick genre conventions are, Legally Blonde, Mean Girls and the sitcom The Simple Life which importantly stars Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. These two films and the television series would allow me to make similiar links to my film material girls due to the fact that they all show females to be presented in a similar way. In legally Blonde the main charcter is played by Reese Witherspoon. The character she plays in the film is sterotypically made to look stupid by wanting to study law in order to win the effections of her boyfriend. In mean girls the film portrays the actions of a group of young females highlighting how competeitve and bitchy they can become. Typical of a film like this to have girls falling out over a male character and failing to show female unity. The simple life is able to give the audience a real life view of two celebrities, both blonde trying to fit into the world which they seem to no nothing about.
Using the information above would help me writing up my essay as it invloves the main foucs of my question which would be to find out how in both my own film and the other texts which i am going to make references to, how sterotypes of the female characters espically chracters who are blonde are being reinforced to the audience watching.
Introduction:
Write about the ways in which women are sterotyped within some films and begin to talk about how I may begin to answer my question. Compare the other films and discuss how they are relevant to my essay and how they would help me answer my question.
Para 1- Women throughout history in film
Begin to discuss in the essay the ways in which the roles of women have changed throughout history. Include theorists.
Para 2- Stereotyping
The representation of blonde females in material girls and compare to the historical film double indemnity.
If the films are able to reinforce the negative sterotypes in which young blondes are given, or able to challenge them.
Link to the films to the sitcom the simple life which stars paris hilton and nicole richie. A real account of what blonde women are like in real life instead of film and begin to argue if this is the reason to why blondes are represented like this in film.
This would be an important part of my essay as it is the main topic in my question. It would allow me to show the changes of womens roles in film and the way in which they have been sterotyped.
Para 3- The whore vs the bimbo
Compare the representations of the female charcters in both double indemnity and material girls and discuss how they have changed over time. The whore in double indemnity and the bimbo image created in material girls.
Link to laura mulveys male gaze theory
Para 4- Womens roles in film
In this paragraph I will write about the ways in which womens roles in films have changed over time. Disscus the femme fatale (the bad women) the whore and women as the token characters in films.
Look at films which show women in leading roles and have more power. Shown in such films like tomb raider.
Link to mc neil (1975) typical role of a women in film would be a housewife.
Contrast with gaunters thoery as not all women in film are shown to be weak.
Conclusion:
Summarise the whole essay and to explain how my essay question has been answered
Discuss the different ways in which women are sterotyped within the film and conclude to whether or not the sterotypes have been reinforced in the films or not.
Give my own opinons to whether or not things have changed within films.
Compare
The Chick Flick Genre
This type of genre often shows young females in comical roles. The females would often clash during the film many beacause of another male charcter.
Blonde Women
Blonde women are often represented in film having the most comical roles in film and are often heavily stereotyped throughout them
Books which I will refer to:
Working Girls, Gender and Sexuality in Popular Cinema
The media students book Third edition- Gill Branston And Roy Stafford
Impossible bodies, femininity and masculinity at the movies- Chris Holmlund
Historical Task..
Double Indemnity (1944)
This film is able to exploit the man for being the weaker compared to the women as throughout the film the female charcter is shown to be in control and have enough power in order to manipulate the male character. The females character in the film is the "whore" as she plays the bad women, as in not caring that she is only using the male charcter in order to meet her own needs.
The plot of the film shows the main female character aiming to murder her husband and is able to manipulate the male charcter to help her. The fact that the women in the film has the most power and is able to manipulate the male character with her good looks challenges Gunters thoery that in films women were more passive and presented as the weaker charcter. It is evident from the film that the male chracter is the weaker as he is easily influced by the female.
The female charcter in this film compared to the females in the film material girls contrast as in double indemnity she is presented to the audience as not being the typical blonde, as in being stupid and dim, however one in which is clever and is able to use her sexuality in order to get what she wants. Looking at the material girls film both of the main female charcters enjoy life and are fully aware of what they want from it.
The film is able to show the audience the ways in which blonde womens roles within film have changed over time, however quite a few of the characteristics of them have not changed and still have been presented in films today. The blonde in the film is manipulative and uses her good looks in order to get the males to do what she wants which is similiar to the female charcters in the meaterial girls film.
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