aim 1:
aim 2:
aim 3
What
can a comparative analysis of Biopics Walk the line and Gia reveal about
cinematic representations of women?
For this investigation I will be looking at two
biopics that explore contrasting ways women are represented in my
chosen texts. I will be applying Mulvey's theory of the 'Male Gaze', looking at
the objectification and purity shown through the individual female characters
paying particular attention to how they are both represented, differently but
the same. The
first film I will be looking at is based on the life of Johnny Cash, the period
of time where male dominated roles of society started deteriorating after the
end of World War 2; looking at close reference to the way the women were
portrayed purely as objects and how their roles get transferred and transfused
with the male's position and responsibilities how they became the figure of
what women are to this day looking at close reference to how the world war
changed that. [1]
The second text I'll be looking at is a film called 'Gia' which is based on the life of popular model, Gia Allemend. The biopic portrays her animal characteristics and the rebellious behavior she introduced wide audiences to, portraying a counter stereotype of the female presence than the usual womanly characteristics from earlier 1900's. [2] Both women are shown differently throughout the two texts, but still consist of being objectified throughout the scenes. I will be comparing selected scenes and backing them up with deep analysis and exploration.
The second text I'll be looking at is a film called 'Gia' which is based on the life of popular model, Gia Allemend. The biopic portrays her animal characteristics and the rebellious behavior she introduced wide audiences to, portraying a counter stereotype of the female presence than the usual womanly characteristics from earlier 1900's. [2] Both women are shown differently throughout the two texts, but still consist of being objectified throughout the scenes. I will be comparing selected scenes and backing them up with deep analysis and exploration.
Aim 2: How are women presented
differently through and from patriarchal societies?
Looking at my first text ‘Walk The Line’ the main role of
J.R's wife is to be a mother, remaining at home looking after the property
and doing housework as most women in the 1960's were expected to be doing.
Prior to World War 2 lots of women were becoming more powerful from acquiring
the male jobs whilst they were away, adapting and escaping their subordinate
roles to be more than just a housewife. [3] The devalued society of women in
the early 60’s was soon rendered with the first wave of feminism. Subjects
against the political discussion said that “a woman
could either be a career woman or she could stay at home and have children.
There was no way she could do both” [3] The role of Johnny’s wife conforms to the
primary research through her archetype status, looking after the children
whilst her husband takes on the business career. Introducing the role of June
Carter, (a performing artist Johnny meets and falls in love with) her position
contrasts with his wife’s career as an artist and her ability to travel around
freely and unconditional. The two women show the roles of a mother and a woman
with a career, the significant subordinate differences they are open to and the
way they both conform to needing men even though the role of June is a much
stronger character and defies to not needing Johnny throughout the film. From
point of view tracking shots and close ups we begin to see June being opened up
to the audience, she is rarely shown as being weak and her character isn’t
exposed but the interaction with Johnny corrupts her and she begins to lack in
concealment, she starts to become
vulnerable and the camera focuses on her emotion and interactions with others, allowing the audience to allow her story
and character as passive. One scene shows June Carter conforming to Johnny
where he convinces her to come on his tour by bribing her with money for her
children’s well being. The close up details and rigid hand held camera work
makes the audience feel more involved with the characters. The desperation that
Johnny prevails alongside close up camera shots of his eyes focused on June, the
camera swapping to her from J.R’s level looking down on her. (TWO READINGS WORD?) This scene shows
the two different readings of the passive audiences, conforming to their
preferred characters. These kind of interactions engage and inform audiences on
the lives of higher status people, previewing us with something that the ‘fans’
don’t usually see. This inside story creates a shared meaning for us as an
audience enabling us to relate and feel empathy for June, from the way the male
reacts and is strongly besotted with her.
-scene where Johnny asks her
to stay on tour, convinces her? Conforms to him, sings and goes on tour
manages to turn her mind set
into him.
Aim 3: How are women placed in
stereotypical gender roles?
There are two prominent stereotypes of women in my first text, Johnny’s wife Vivian was left whilst her lover sends the cash she needs to live; thus showing the dependency house wives had on the male figure, making his role seem like a necessity. Looking at the scene where Johnny phones Viv whilst she’s at home with the crying children, the camera uses close up shots and camera angles that overlook her body, showing the fragile position she’s in, capturing and streaming the point where she looks most vulnerable. The scene focusing on the incapability that she possesses, showing the audience that she has a lack of control without the male figure around. This scene allows the audience to make their own interpretations highlighting the build-up of emotions and vulnerability she’s in instead of showing the other 9/10 of her living where she is more capable.
June was first introduced to J.R when he listened to her on the radio as a young boy. His low status and love her music enabled him to look up to her as a role model with the high class and power she possessed at such a young age. This social difference shows the controversy of the change in representations from childhood to becoming a man. The preponderance of her position remained until J.R then grew up and became Cash and the authority and ‘power’ conveyed over to him. This is shown when June supports his headline act. [1]
There are two prominent stereotypes of women in my first text, Johnny’s wife Vivian was left whilst her lover sends the cash she needs to live; thus showing the dependency house wives had on the male figure, making his role seem like a necessity. Looking at the scene where Johnny phones Viv whilst she’s at home with the crying children, the camera uses close up shots and camera angles that overlook her body, showing the fragile position she’s in, capturing and streaming the point where she looks most vulnerable. The scene focusing on the incapability that she possesses, showing the audience that she has a lack of control without the male figure around. This scene allows the audience to make their own interpretations highlighting the build-up of emotions and vulnerability she’s in instead of showing the other 9/10 of her living where she is more capable.
June was first introduced to J.R when he listened to her on the radio as a young boy. His low status and love her music enabled him to look up to her as a role model with the high class and power she possessed at such a young age. This social difference shows the controversy of the change in representations from childhood to becoming a man. The preponderance of her position remained until J.R then grew up and became Cash and the authority and ‘power’ conveyed over to him. This is shown when June supports his headline act. [1]
Aim 2: Different forms of female representation
throughout
the text/Opposing forms of representation?
Looking at the second text the main character is Gia Allemend, the female protagonist. Her position has a variety of representations, the main one being her ability to be outgoing and using her sexuality to her advantage, the empowering character has the ability to control men with her appearance; in the resource ‘Miss Representation’ it says ‘The Male Media represents females in power trivially’ [4] The scene that she’s is presented this way is when a male enters a cafe she is working at and her she uses her ability to seductively control his actions and make him entranced by her with her language and looks. Her body language towards the male as she swings her legs and body of the bar to sit in front of him, holding his eye contact using the camera enhance tension in the scene by using close ups and using high camera positioned shots, looking down on the male from the counter to show her control over the situation. The scene also includes a two shot where the camera shows a mid length position and presents the two opposing characters face to face, this could involve Strauss’ theory exploring the binary opposition between the innocence and power; the male being shown as the innocence and Gia as the opposition, influencing and succumbing him to fulfill her desire. Gia’s characters is extremely objectified, applying Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze that will engage the audience, making the extremity of her character turn passive with the familiarization of sexual behavior. Allemend’s character has unusual masculine qualities, her ability to overpower the male whilst still being objectified as such shows something different that's not usually expected and will corrupt the audience’s recognition and intrigue them more so, appealing to the male gaze.
Looking at the second text the main character is Gia Allemend, the female protagonist. Her position has a variety of representations, the main one being her ability to be outgoing and using her sexuality to her advantage, the empowering character has the ability to control men with her appearance; in the resource ‘Miss Representation’ it says ‘The Male Media represents females in power trivially’ [4] The scene that she’s is presented this way is when a male enters a cafe she is working at and her she uses her ability to seductively control his actions and make him entranced by her with her language and looks. Her body language towards the male as she swings her legs and body of the bar to sit in front of him, holding his eye contact using the camera enhance tension in the scene by using close ups and using high camera positioned shots, looking down on the male from the counter to show her control over the situation. The scene also includes a two shot where the camera shows a mid length position and presents the two opposing characters face to face, this could involve Strauss’ theory exploring the binary opposition between the innocence and power; the male being shown as the innocence and Gia as the opposition, influencing and succumbing him to fulfill her desire. Gia’s characters is extremely objectified, applying Laura Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze that will engage the audience, making the extremity of her character turn passive with the familiarization of sexual behavior. Allemend’s character has unusual masculine qualities, her ability to overpower the male whilst still being objectified as such shows something different that's not usually expected and will corrupt the audience’s recognition and intrigue them more so, appealing to the male gaze.
[1] Walk
The Line
[2] GIA
[3]
http://www.archives.gov/atlanta/education/resources-by-state/wwii-women.html
[4] Miss Representation –
2011
‘the socially constructed nature of sexual
difference’ - (Harrison Ford) in Mike Nichols’ Working Girl (1988)
genre
formulae-
challenge
prevailing ideologies?
The
usefulness of having predicted elements is that a communication will be
understood because they’re expected (or conventional) in which people
anticipate in certain situatuations or context.
Rhetorical
sensitivity – it is a way of thinking about what should be said and then
deciding a way to say it / how
(Unofficial not finished)
Notes~
-Mulvey theory
-Rebellion
-Cultivation theory (how people are influenced from
them)
-Place and a time
‘it could
be argued’
-messages
are shaped – constructed?
