Gunter 1995 -
Before the 1970's women in magazine adverts were rarely shown to be in paid work and if they were shown to be in paid work it would be the stereotypical smiling secretary or hairdresser.
The number of housewife images started to decline in the 1950's although it was still common in the 1960's and 1970's.
In the 1970's strong evidence was found of stereotyping as three quarters of television ads featuring women were bathroom and kitchen products.
If and when women were seen in a paid environment they would be seen as subservient to men.
Studies in 1970's and 1980's showed a continuation of these trends.
It also became more common to see men in the home, as fathers or husbands.
Studies found strong simlirities in gender representations from country to country and particular sexism aimed at children.
In the 1980's, TV advertising did start to take on the idea of the busy working women.
Cumberbatch -
In the 1990's a study by cumberbatch of 500 prime time TV ads in the uk found that advertisers had become wary of showing women doing housework and for the fist time men wer shown doing the cooking more than women.
Still, not much had changed as women were more likely to be young and attractive and men were twice as likley as women to be shown in paid employment.
work was seen as central to mens lives; 'relationships' were shown to be more important to women.
89% of ads used a male voiceover
Macdonald 1995 -
Representation of gender roles seems to have been, for many years, one of the areas where advertisers were often reluctant to do anything very different.
'Advertisers generally lagged begind womens magazines in the cultivation of new modes of adress, even when the evidence suggested that commercial advantages could be gained from modernising their approach'
Scheibe -
Monday 15 December 2008
Tuesday 9 December 2008
1950's-1990's Films
1950's
'High Noon'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKLvKZ6nIiA
'Samson and Delilah'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rotd6t_BAhc
In high noon women are "symbllically anihillated", they have no real role in the film and in Samson and delilah portrays a powerful man however the female also has an aspect of power as she is able to weaken the male with her love and beauty.
1960's
'The sound of music'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtQdYoK64S4
'Cleopatra'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6tr9exD0kw
The sound of music represents caring nuturing women. It gives a "madonna" portrayal of females.Cleopatra has powerful strong women which is unusual as the 60's was still a decade were women werent really noticed however films like this brought female empowerment to attention.
1970's
'Alien'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HjwbnhVnDM
'Star Wars'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvqpFbRKtQ
The females in star wars are seen to be caring however are not portrayed as a "damsel in distress" she can defend herself and doesnt need men to fight her battles.The film alien supports the second wave of feminism as the female is out defeating aliens and her strenght is emphasized a lot.
1980's
'Terminator'
'Legend'
The film legend represents the damsell in distress whilst terminator represents an aggressive man.
1990's
'Fatal Attraction'
'Species'
Both these films 'fatal attraction' and 'species' are representing the "whore" and the "femme fatale" which is the deadly women, this is shown as she kills the men at the end.
'High Noon'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKLvKZ6nIiA
'Samson and Delilah'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rotd6t_BAhc
In high noon women are "symbllically anihillated", they have no real role in the film and in Samson and delilah portrays a powerful man however the female also has an aspect of power as she is able to weaken the male with her love and beauty.
1960's
'The sound of music'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtQdYoK64S4
'Cleopatra'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6tr9exD0kw
The sound of music represents caring nuturing women. It gives a "madonna" portrayal of females.Cleopatra has powerful strong women which is unusual as the 60's was still a decade were women werent really noticed however films like this brought female empowerment to attention.
1970's
'Alien'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HjwbnhVnDM
'Star Wars'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvqpFbRKtQ
The females in star wars are seen to be caring however are not portrayed as a "damsel in distress" she can defend herself and doesnt need men to fight her battles.The film alien supports the second wave of feminism as the female is out defeating aliens and her strenght is emphasized a lot.
1980's
'Terminator'
'Legend'
The film legend represents the damsell in distress whilst terminator represents an aggressive man.
1990's
'Fatal Attraction'
'Species'
Both these films 'fatal attraction' and 'species' are representing the "whore" and the "femme fatale" which is the deadly women, this is shown as she kills the men at the end.
Friday 5 December 2008
Representation of gender today
During the 1990's gender roles on television became increasingly equal and non streotyped, althought the majority of the main chacaters were still male.
In 1992-1993, men took 61% of the total number of speaking roles, wit women having only 39% of speaking roles in prime time tv.
In 1995-1996 the percentage increase to 63% of men having speaking roles and women decreased to 37%.
In 1992-1993 study found that only 3% of women were represented as housewives as their main occupation which is clearly a massive decrease from the 1970's, an additional 8 percent of womn were shown as 'homemakers', but without knowing the number of male homemakers it is difficult to interpret this properly.
Elasmar Hasegawa and Brain - "the women on prime time TV in the early 1990's was young single independant and free fromfamily and work place pressure.
Natasha Walter quotes surveys sugesst that today's women are more-or-less happy with they look, whereas a cast majority of men felt unsatisfied with thei own appearance.
Loaded- The truth is, it's women themeselves who see these freaks as the epitome of perfection.
Ibid- The exemplary female prototype in advertising, regardless of product or service, displays youth, good looks, sexual seductivesness and perfection.
In 1992-1993, men took 61% of the total number of speaking roles, wit women having only 39% of speaking roles in prime time tv.
In 1995-1996 the percentage increase to 63% of men having speaking roles and women decreased to 37%.
In 1992-1993 study found that only 3% of women were represented as housewives as their main occupation which is clearly a massive decrease from the 1970's, an additional 8 percent of womn were shown as 'homemakers', but without knowing the number of male homemakers it is difficult to interpret this properly.
Elasmar Hasegawa and Brain - "the women on prime time TV in the early 1990's was young single independant and free fromfamily and work place pressure.
Natasha Walter quotes surveys sugesst that today's women are more-or-less happy with they look, whereas a cast majority of men felt unsatisfied with thei own appearance.
Loaded- The truth is, it's women themeselves who see these freaks as the epitome of perfection.
Ibid- The exemplary female prototype in advertising, regardless of product or service, displays youth, good looks, sexual seductivesness and perfection.
Representations of Gender in the Past
IN THE 1950'S 1960'S and 1970's only 20-30%of characters on tw shows were female,by the mid 1980's there were more women in leading roles however the number of men were still so much more.
Dyer (1980s) In drama the numebr of women in central roles in police or crime series had increased.
Miles (1975) found that there were nearly equal proportions of men and women in situation comedies where as in action adventure films only 15% of the leading characters were women.
A 1987 study found women to be most common in comedy programmes (43%).
Davis 1990 - Action adventure and dramas women had alomost doubled their showing to 29 % of characters, this is clearly still very low.
Gunter also says that studies in the 1970's also consistently find that marriage parenthood and domesticity were shown to be more important to women on tv.
Tuchman - Women are 'Symbolically Annihliated', women don't matter much. Also were to be seen as working were portrayed as 'incompetents and Inferiors'.
Mcneil - female characters were unlikley to work especially if they were wives or mothers.
1970's studies - Men were found to be more dominant, the "decision makers" on TV
Gunter 1995 - men were more likley to be assertive or agressive whilst women were more likley to be passive, men were more likley to be adventurous active and victourious whereas women were more frequently shown as weak and emotional and a lot of the time victimised or "merely token females"
Dyer (1980s) In drama the numebr of women in central roles in police or crime series had increased.
Miles (1975) found that there were nearly equal proportions of men and women in situation comedies where as in action adventure films only 15% of the leading characters were women.
A 1987 study found women to be most common in comedy programmes (43%).
Davis 1990 - Action adventure and dramas women had alomost doubled their showing to 29 % of characters, this is clearly still very low.
Gunter also says that studies in the 1970's also consistently find that marriage parenthood and domesticity were shown to be more important to women on tv.
Tuchman - Women are 'Symbolically Annihliated', women don't matter much. Also were to be seen as working were portrayed as 'incompetents and Inferiors'.
Mcneil - female characters were unlikley to work especially if they were wives or mothers.
1970's studies - Men were found to be more dominant, the "decision makers" on TV
Gunter 1995 - men were more likley to be assertive or agressive whilst women were more likley to be passive, men were more likley to be adventurous active and victourious whereas women were more frequently shown as weak and emotional and a lot of the time victimised or "merely token females"
Tuesday 4 November 2008
Representation of Men in Sex and the City:The Movie
The guy from next door! Is the female gaze applied here.Yes of course it is! The neighbour is always shown to be naked having showers on his balcony whilst miranda sits there fantasizing about what sexual activities she could be doing with him.He is very muscular and always has a new women at his house, although it seems he is there for female audiences to look at, his power is reinforced as he is unfaithful as he has a new women,he has no repect for women.
Representation of Men in Sex and the City:The Movie
Mr BIG - The name of this male character instantly suggest that men have authority, there are only two male protagonists in the film compared to the fivee female protagonists and the male has ironically been given a name like"MR BIG"
Mr BIG is represented as a wealthy man, there are many elements of the new man in him as he is always smartly dressed in a suit and tie, and he is quite a charmer when it comes to his girlfriend Carrie Bradshaw, he wants to buy a house with his girlfriend which shows he can sentimental and emotional and in the house he makes a huge cupboard for clothes for his girl,again this shows many aspects of the new man.
Mr BIGs power is shown as powerful when he leaves his girlfriend standing at the alter,he had the power to break carries heart, here he is shown as heartless and selfish as he only thought about himself.
Monday 3 November 2008
Lauraaaa Mulveyyyy Maleee Gazzee
Whilst these notes are concerned more generally with ‘the gaze’ in the mass media, the term originates in film theory and a brief discussion of its use in film theory is appropriate here.
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). The concept derives from a seminal article called ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’ by Laura Mulvey, a feminist film theorist. It was published in 1975 and is one of the most widely cited and anthologized (though certainly not one of the most accessible) articles in the whole of contemporary film theory.
Laura Mulvey did not undertake empirical studies of actual filmgoers, but declared her intention to make ‘political use’ of Freudian psychoanalytic theory (in a version influenced by Jacques Lacan) in a study of cinematic spectatorship. Such psychoanalytically-inspired studies of 'spectatorship' focus on how 'subject positions' are constructed by media texts rather than investigating the viewing practices of individuals in specific social contexts. Mulvey notes that Freud had referred to (infantile) scopophilia - the pleasure involved in looking at other people’s bodies as (particularly, erotic) objects. In the darkness of the cinema auditorium it is notable that one may look without being seen either by those on screen by other members of the audience. Mulvey argues that various features of cinema viewing conditions facilitate for the viewer both the voyeuristic process of objectification of female characters and also the narcissistic process of identification with an ‘ideal ego’ seen on the screen. She declares that in patriarchal society ‘pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female’ (Mulvey 1992, 27). This is reflected in the dominant forms of cinema. Conventional narrative films in the ‘classical’ Hollywood tradition not only typically focus on a male protagonist in the narrative but also assume a male spectator. ‘As the spectator identifies with the main male protagonist, he projects his look onto that of his like, his screen surrogate, so that the power of the male protagonist as he controls events coincides with the active power of the erotic look, both giving a satisfying sense of omnipotence’ (ibid., 28). Traditional films present men as active, controlling subjects and treat women as passive objects of desire for men in both the story and in the audience, and do not allow women to be desiring sexual subjects in their own right. Such films objectify women in relation to ‘the controlling male gaze’ (ibid., 33), presenting ‘woman as image’ (or ‘spectacle’) and man as ‘bearer of the look’ (ibid., 27). Men do the looking; women are there to be looked at. The cinematic codes of popular films ‘are obsessively subordinated to the neurotic needs of the male ego’ (ibid., 33). It was Mulvey who coined the term 'the male gaze'.
Mulvey distinguishes between two modes of looking for the film spectator: voyeuristic and fetishistic, which she presents in Freudian terms as responses to male ‘castration anxiety’. Voyeuristic looking involves a controlling gaze and Mulvey argues that this has has associations with sadism: ‘pleasure lies in ascertaining guilt - asserting control and subjecting the guilty person through punishment or forgiveness’ (Mulvey 1992, 29). Fetishistic looking, in contrast, involves ‘the substitution of a fetish object or turning the represented figure itself into a fetish so that it becomes reassuring rather than dangerous. This builds up the physical beauty of the object, transforming it into something satisfying in itself. The erotic instinct is focused on the look alone’. Fetishistic looking, she suggests, leads to overvaluation of the female image and to the cult of the female movie star. Mulvey argues that the film spectator oscillates between these two forms of looking (ibid.; see also Neale 1992, 283ff; Ellis 1982, 45ff; Macdonald 1995, 26ff; Lapsley & Westlake 1988, 77-9).
This article generated considerable controversy amongst film theorists. Many objected to the fixity of the alignment of passivity with femininity and activity with masculinity and to a failure to account for the female spectator. A key objection underlying many critical responses has been that Mulvey's argument in this paper was (or seemed to be) essentialist: that is, it tended to treat both spectatorship and maleness as homogeneous essences - as if there were only one kind of spectator (male) and one kind of masculinity (heterosexual). E Ann Kaplan (1983) asked ‘Is the gaze male?’. Both Kaplan and Kaja Silverman (1980) argued that the gaze could be adopted by both male and female subjects: the male is not always the controlling subject nor is the female always the passive object. We can ‘read against the grain’. Teresa de Lauretis (1984) argued that the female spectator does not simply adopt a masculine reading position but is always involved in a ‘double-identification’ with both the passive and active subject positions. Jackie Stacey asks: ‘Do women necessarily take up a feminine and men a masculine spectator position?’ (Stacey 1992, 245). Indeed, are there only unitary ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ reading positions? What of gay spectators? Steve Neale (1983) identifies the gaze of mainstream cinema in the Hollywood tradition as not only male but also heterosexual. He observes a voyeuristic and fetishistic gaze directed by some male characters at other male characters within the text (Stacey notes the erotic exchange of looks between women within certain texts). A useful account of 'queer viewing' is given by Caroline Evans and Lorraine Gamman (1995). Neale argues that ‘in a heterosexual and patriarchal society the male body cannot be marked explictly as the erotic object of another male look: that look must be motivated, its erotic component repressed’ (Neale 1992, 281). Both Neale and Richard Dyer (1982) also challenged the idea that the male is never sexually objectified in mainstream cinema and argued that the male is not always the looker in control of the gaze. It is widely noted that since the 1980s there has been an increasing display and sexualisation of the male body in mainstream cinema and television and in advertising (Moore 1987, Evans & Gamman 1995, Mort 1996, Edwards 1997).
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). The concept derives from a seminal article called ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’ by Laura Mulvey, a feminist film theorist. It was published in 1975 and is one of the most widely cited and anthologized (though certainly not one of the most accessible) articles in the whole of contemporary film theory.
Laura Mulvey did not undertake empirical studies of actual filmgoers, but declared her intention to make ‘political use’ of Freudian psychoanalytic theory (in a version influenced by Jacques Lacan) in a study of cinematic spectatorship. Such psychoanalytically-inspired studies of 'spectatorship' focus on how 'subject positions' are constructed by media texts rather than investigating the viewing practices of individuals in specific social contexts. Mulvey notes that Freud had referred to (infantile) scopophilia - the pleasure involved in looking at other people’s bodies as (particularly, erotic) objects. In the darkness of the cinema auditorium it is notable that one may look without being seen either by those on screen by other members of the audience. Mulvey argues that various features of cinema viewing conditions facilitate for the viewer both the voyeuristic process of objectification of female characters and also the narcissistic process of identification with an ‘ideal ego’ seen on the screen. She declares that in patriarchal society ‘pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female’ (Mulvey 1992, 27). This is reflected in the dominant forms of cinema. Conventional narrative films in the ‘classical’ Hollywood tradition not only typically focus on a male protagonist in the narrative but also assume a male spectator. ‘As the spectator identifies with the main male protagonist, he projects his look onto that of his like, his screen surrogate, so that the power of the male protagonist as he controls events coincides with the active power of the erotic look, both giving a satisfying sense of omnipotence’ (ibid., 28). Traditional films present men as active, controlling subjects and treat women as passive objects of desire for men in both the story and in the audience, and do not allow women to be desiring sexual subjects in their own right. Such films objectify women in relation to ‘the controlling male gaze’ (ibid., 33), presenting ‘woman as image’ (or ‘spectacle’) and man as ‘bearer of the look’ (ibid., 27). Men do the looking; women are there to be looked at. The cinematic codes of popular films ‘are obsessively subordinated to the neurotic needs of the male ego’ (ibid., 33). It was Mulvey who coined the term 'the male gaze'.
Mulvey distinguishes between two modes of looking for the film spectator: voyeuristic and fetishistic, which she presents in Freudian terms as responses to male ‘castration anxiety’. Voyeuristic looking involves a controlling gaze and Mulvey argues that this has has associations with sadism: ‘pleasure lies in ascertaining guilt - asserting control and subjecting the guilty person through punishment or forgiveness’ (Mulvey 1992, 29). Fetishistic looking, in contrast, involves ‘the substitution of a fetish object or turning the represented figure itself into a fetish so that it becomes reassuring rather than dangerous. This builds up the physical beauty of the object, transforming it into something satisfying in itself. The erotic instinct is focused on the look alone’. Fetishistic looking, she suggests, leads to overvaluation of the female image and to the cult of the female movie star. Mulvey argues that the film spectator oscillates between these two forms of looking (ibid.; see also Neale 1992, 283ff; Ellis 1982, 45ff; Macdonald 1995, 26ff; Lapsley & Westlake 1988, 77-9).
This article generated considerable controversy amongst film theorists. Many objected to the fixity of the alignment of passivity with femininity and activity with masculinity and to a failure to account for the female spectator. A key objection underlying many critical responses has been that Mulvey's argument in this paper was (or seemed to be) essentialist: that is, it tended to treat both spectatorship and maleness as homogeneous essences - as if there were only one kind of spectator (male) and one kind of masculinity (heterosexual). E Ann Kaplan (1983) asked ‘Is the gaze male?’. Both Kaplan and Kaja Silverman (1980) argued that the gaze could be adopted by both male and female subjects: the male is not always the controlling subject nor is the female always the passive object. We can ‘read against the grain’. Teresa de Lauretis (1984) argued that the female spectator does not simply adopt a masculine reading position but is always involved in a ‘double-identification’ with both the passive and active subject positions. Jackie Stacey asks: ‘Do women necessarily take up a feminine and men a masculine spectator position?’ (Stacey 1992, 245). Indeed, are there only unitary ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’ reading positions? What of gay spectators? Steve Neale (1983) identifies the gaze of mainstream cinema in the Hollywood tradition as not only male but also heterosexual. He observes a voyeuristic and fetishistic gaze directed by some male characters at other male characters within the text (Stacey notes the erotic exchange of looks between women within certain texts). A useful account of 'queer viewing' is given by Caroline Evans and Lorraine Gamman (1995). Neale argues that ‘in a heterosexual and patriarchal society the male body cannot be marked explictly as the erotic object of another male look: that look must be motivated, its erotic component repressed’ (Neale 1992, 281). Both Neale and Richard Dyer (1982) also challenged the idea that the male is never sexually objectified in mainstream cinema and argued that the male is not always the looker in control of the gaze. It is widely noted that since the 1980s there has been an increasing display and sexualisation of the male body in mainstream cinema and television and in advertising (Moore 1987, Evans & Gamman 1995, Mort 1996, Edwards 1997).
Bibliography Task
http://feministreview.blogspot.com/2008/06/sex-and-city-movie.html
http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2008/04/17/satc/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Mulvey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_girl
http://www.feministing.com/archives/004026.html
http://community.feministing.com/2008/08/my_problem_with_sex_and_the_ci.html
http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2002/04/the_spice_girls
http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/2008/04/17/satc/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Mulvey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_girl
http://www.feministing.com/archives/004026.html
http://community.feministing.com/2008/08/my_problem_with_sex_and_the_ci.html
http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2002/04/the_spice_girls
Delicious tags
http://www.gc-fattyz-gc.blogspot.com/
This independent study is about the representation of women in bad girls, there is a lot of information about different feminist theories such as thorham 1991 etc so I could use this for my study as it is also about the representation of females.
http://www.ienadua.blogspot.com/
This is a blog from a girl that did her independent study on the sex and the city series, she talks about the representation of women compared to past representation, this would definitely be useful for my study although mine is focused on the movie rather than the series.
http://cbjuicyfruity.blogspot.com/
This is about the representation of women in Kill Bill which is one of the texts I will compare sex and the city to, I will discuss how very differently women have been portrayed in the both.
http://mediamj.blogspot.com/
Again this is another blog that has an independent study on the representation of women in sex and the city which is directly linked to my study
http://bananaboijohn.blogspot.com/
this is about the representation of women in stepford wives and how representations of women have changed over time, the stepford wives is not a txt I am comparing it to however this delicious tag is still useful as it discusses the change of roles of women over time which is something I will be including.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/gaze/gaze09.html
One of the main theories I am focusing on is laura mulveys theory of the male gaze and this is a very useful site about her theory which has a lot information on it.
http://sexinthecity06.blogspot.com/
Another independent study directly related to representation of women in sex and the city.
This independent study is about the representation of women in bad girls, there is a lot of information about different feminist theories such as thorham 1991 etc so I could use this for my study as it is also about the representation of females.
http://www.ienadua.blogspot.com/
This is a blog from a girl that did her independent study on the sex and the city series, she talks about the representation of women compared to past representation, this would definitely be useful for my study although mine is focused on the movie rather than the series.
http://cbjuicyfruity.blogspot.com/
This is about the representation of women in Kill Bill which is one of the texts I will compare sex and the city to, I will discuss how very differently women have been portrayed in the both.
http://mediamj.blogspot.com/
Again this is another blog that has an independent study on the representation of women in sex and the city which is directly linked to my study
http://bananaboijohn.blogspot.com/
this is about the representation of women in stepford wives and how representations of women have changed over time, the stepford wives is not a txt I am comparing it to however this delicious tag is still useful as it discusses the change of roles of women over time which is something I will be including.
http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/gaze/gaze09.html
One of the main theories I am focusing on is laura mulveys theory of the male gaze and this is a very useful site about her theory which has a lot information on it.
http://sexinthecity06.blogspot.com/
Another independent study directly related to representation of women in sex and the city.
KeY WoRdS
Feminism -
Political movement to advance the status of women by challenging values, social constructions and socioeconomic practices which disadvantage women and favour men.
This is a word that will definitely be used in my study as my study is all about the representation of women in sex and the city and I will be looking at many feminist reviews of the film and look at how the representation of women in all films have changed since feminism occurred.
Laura Mulvey –
Feminist academic and media and film critic ,responsible for developing theories of the male gaze in her 1975 essay ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’
I’ll be including laura mulvey in my study as I will need to discuss her theory on the male gaze and also discuss whether or not there is such thing as a female gaze in sex and the city.
Representation –
The process whereby the media construct versions of people, places, and events in images, words or sound for transmission through media texts to an audience.
Representation is obviously a very key word for my study as my study is all about the way in which women have been represented in sex and the city
Gender –
Physiological and cultural aspects of behaviour associated with masculinity or femininity, acquired through socialisation, n accordance with the expectations of a particular society.
Aswell as discussing the representation of women in my film I will also be discussing the representation of men, so I will basically be discussing representation of gender roles etc.
Radical Feminism –
a feminist perspective that sees men as the enemy who have used patriarchy and the traditional family structure to suppress all women, regardless of class culture of ethnicity.
I will try and use this in my study and will think about whether this has any connection with the narrative of the film and whether or not radical feminists would agree with the representation of the women in sex and the city.
New Ladism –
Term applied to the male backlash against feminism and girl power, as exemplified by the values represented in magazines such as loaded,FHM and maxim.
I will have a look at whether there actually a new ladism approach in sex and the city, ill analyse whether the value of feminism and girl power are being fought against.
New Man –
A term used to describe a new type of masculinity identified and developed by advertising media in the 1980’s in line with lifestyle marketing strategies. The new man is seen to be more caring, happy and emotional.
I’ll discuss whether not the men in sex and the city are represented as the new man or the traditional man.
Institution – The organisation responsible for the production,marketing,distribution or regulation of media texts.
Knowing the institution that produced and distributed my film is very important as I will then be able to link that to the economical factor of the wider context.
Political movement to advance the status of women by challenging values, social constructions and socioeconomic practices which disadvantage women and favour men.
This is a word that will definitely be used in my study as my study is all about the representation of women in sex and the city and I will be looking at many feminist reviews of the film and look at how the representation of women in all films have changed since feminism occurred.
Laura Mulvey –
Feminist academic and media and film critic ,responsible for developing theories of the male gaze in her 1975 essay ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’
I’ll be including laura mulvey in my study as I will need to discuss her theory on the male gaze and also discuss whether or not there is such thing as a female gaze in sex and the city.
Representation –
The process whereby the media construct versions of people, places, and events in images, words or sound for transmission through media texts to an audience.
Representation is obviously a very key word for my study as my study is all about the way in which women have been represented in sex and the city
Gender –
Physiological and cultural aspects of behaviour associated with masculinity or femininity, acquired through socialisation, n accordance with the expectations of a particular society.
Aswell as discussing the representation of women in my film I will also be discussing the representation of men, so I will basically be discussing representation of gender roles etc.
Radical Feminism –
a feminist perspective that sees men as the enemy who have used patriarchy and the traditional family structure to suppress all women, regardless of class culture of ethnicity.
I will try and use this in my study and will think about whether this has any connection with the narrative of the film and whether or not radical feminists would agree with the representation of the women in sex and the city.
New Ladism –
Term applied to the male backlash against feminism and girl power, as exemplified by the values represented in magazines such as loaded,FHM and maxim.
I will have a look at whether there actually a new ladism approach in sex and the city, ill analyse whether the value of feminism and girl power are being fought against.
New Man –
A term used to describe a new type of masculinity identified and developed by advertising media in the 1980’s in line with lifestyle marketing strategies. The new man is seen to be more caring, happy and emotional.
I’ll discuss whether not the men in sex and the city are represented as the new man or the traditional man.
Institution – The organisation responsible for the production,marketing,distribution or regulation of media texts.
Knowing the institution that produced and distributed my film is very important as I will then be able to link that to the economical factor of the wider context.
Thursday 23 October 2008
SeLf eVaLuAtIoN
ATTAINMENT: 2 - cause i think my level of work has been quite good,and my presentation for independant study was also good.
EFFORT: 2 - i put it quite a lot of effort as i patiipate in class but i dont htink i should get a 1 because i dont always hand my homework in on time
PUNCTUALITY: 1 (mr bush's lessons) - always on time and always in lesson
SUBMISSION AND QUALITY OF WORK: 3 - i dont always hand in my work on time and its not always to the highest standard
ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDANTLY: 1 - my progress for my indpendant study shows that im able to work very well independantly
QUALITY OF WRITING: 2 - the analysis etc for my med 5 work shows that the quality of written work is good.
ORGANISATION OF MEDIA FOLDER: 2 - i have everything i order with dividers etc
ORAL CONTRIBUTION: 2 - always have something to say in class
STANDARD OF MED 5 BLOG: 2 - i havent copied and pasted everything onto the blog yet because ive been having a few technical problems but mr bush has seen all my work on microsoft and has said its good, ill try to copy and paste everything onto the blog again
STANDARD OF MED6 BLOG: 4 - its hardly got anything on it
EFFORT: 2 - i put it quite a lot of effort as i patiipate in class but i dont htink i should get a 1 because i dont always hand my homework in on time
PUNCTUALITY: 1 (mr bush's lessons) - always on time and always in lesson
SUBMISSION AND QUALITY OF WORK: 3 - i dont always hand in my work on time and its not always to the highest standard
ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDANTLY: 1 - my progress for my indpendant study shows that im able to work very well independantly
QUALITY OF WRITING: 2 - the analysis etc for my med 5 work shows that the quality of written work is good.
ORGANISATION OF MEDIA FOLDER: 2 - i have everything i order with dividers etc
ORAL CONTRIBUTION: 2 - always have something to say in class
STANDARD OF MED 5 BLOG: 2 - i havent copied and pasted everything onto the blog yet because ive been having a few technical problems but mr bush has seen all my work on microsoft and has said its good, ill try to copy and paste everything onto the blog again
STANDARD OF MED6 BLOG: 4 - its hardly got anything on it
Monday 20 October 2008
ACTION PLAN TIMETABLE!
1- Wed 22nd oct - Complete ALL possible reasearch on Laura Mulvey and her theory on the male gaze
2- Thurs 23rd Oct - take out AT LEAST two books that may have relevent information, photocopy important pages!
3- sat 25th Oct - Analyse the representation of the men in Sex and the City: The movie
4- mon 27th Oct - watch Sex and the City again
5- Wed 29th Oct - read over assesment objectives and have a look at what i have covered so far
6- Fri 31st Oct- After analysing the way in which men are being represented, think about why they are behind represented in this particular way and think about if this affects the way females are represented.
7- Sun 2nd November - Put together a bibliography
8- Mon 3rd November - Make sure i have read about at least 4 different theories that i could use in my study.
2- Thurs 23rd Oct - take out AT LEAST two books that may have relevent information, photocopy important pages!
3- sat 25th Oct - Analyse the representation of the men in Sex and the City: The movie
4- mon 27th Oct - watch Sex and the City again
5- Wed 29th Oct - read over assesment objectives and have a look at what i have covered so far
6- Fri 31st Oct- After analysing the way in which men are being represented, think about why they are behind represented in this particular way and think about if this affects the way females are represented.
7- Sun 2nd November - Put together a bibliography
8- Mon 3rd November - Make sure i have read about at least 4 different theories that i could use in my study.
Monday 6 October 2008
SELF ASSESSMENT OF BLOG WORK
AO1 Key Concepts
I think I’ve analysed Sex and the City: The Movie pretty well, I have covered all of the MIGRAIN key concepts but I have focused on the representation of the women in the film and did this better than any other concepts as this is what my actual question is about.
WWW: I’ve done a detailed analysis of the representations of the women in the film from the way they talk, dress and act and have thought about why they are being represented in that particular way.
EBI: My analysis would be even better if I included more research on narrative and theories it would also be good if I analysed the representation of men in the film rather than just the women.
How to achieve it? I will watch my text AGAIN for the 50 billionth time and keep analysing it over and over again until each key concept is fully covered I will also do research on more theories and ask Mr Bush what other theories/theorist can be linked to my question/text.
A02 Demonstrate knowledge and application of the wider contexts (historical, social, political, economic) relevant to Media Studies:
I have thought about the current zeitgeist (‘spirit of the age’) and how it has affected my text but I haven’t actually done anything about it yet. Although I am constantly thinking about the A02 objective in particular social and historical e.g the suffragettes I haven’t actually sat down n started doing work on it. I need to start working on wider contexts properly and start looking at how I can link political and economical issues to it.
WWW: Not much is going well for this particular objective but I guess I’ve at least thought about the suffragettes for historical stuff.
EBI: It would be even better if I got started on SHEP and started actually focusing on it properly.
How to achieve this…I will start researching historical and social issues by reading books and searching the net and I will also try and see how I can fit in political and economic issues.
AO5 Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate investigative and research techniques in carrying out an independent study of a media text, topic or issue.
I haven’t really thoroughly reviewed the literature available for my text, I haven’t looked at books but I have looked at many reviews and online articles from different perspectives and picked out lots of quotes that could be useful for my final essay. I think I have formulated a good question as it allows me to discuss the representation of women in the past and now in many different ways.I haven’t really considered the issues and debates involved in my study. I’ve analysed my text soo much that I don’t even think its possible to analyse it more but I guess ill have to find a way.I have only really looked at my text from a feminist perspective so I think I should start looking at it through postmodern etc.I’ve viewed my text soo many times that ive lost count and yes I have viewed texts from a similar genre from both the past and newer texts and am comparing them to my own too.Yes I am keeping track of key quotes and where I am getting them etc.
WWW: I have viewed my texts many times and have also viewed similar texts and compared them.I am also keeping track of websites etc.
EBI: It would be even better if I could look at my texts from different perspectives and not just a feminist view.
How to achieve this…I will research what postmodernism is and I will look at my text with a post modernistic approach.
Synoptic Ability- Together understanding of Key Concepts, from different parts of the specification in order to make effective textual readings.
Draw upon knowledge and application of a wide range of possible relevant contexts, in order to account for the characteristics of media texts.
I haven’t really linked my independent study to other parts of the course but I have done a little bit, during the migrain analysis of my texts and similar texts a lot of my skills learnt in Med 1 last year were used and audience which was studied med 2 was also used.
Critical Autonomy – Apply critical ideas and principles to new situations – and demonstrate media literacy in responses to media texts.
My critical autonomy is ok, I have been coming up with loads of ideas and have been very self motivated.
Quality of written communication
My presentation is quite poor and so is the way I’ve organised it. I have been using key media terminology and I don’t really spell check my work.
I think I’ve analysed Sex and the City: The Movie pretty well, I have covered all of the MIGRAIN key concepts but I have focused on the representation of the women in the film and did this better than any other concepts as this is what my actual question is about.
WWW: I’ve done a detailed analysis of the representations of the women in the film from the way they talk, dress and act and have thought about why they are being represented in that particular way.
EBI: My analysis would be even better if I included more research on narrative and theories it would also be good if I analysed the representation of men in the film rather than just the women.
How to achieve it? I will watch my text AGAIN for the 50 billionth time and keep analysing it over and over again until each key concept is fully covered I will also do research on more theories and ask Mr Bush what other theories/theorist can be linked to my question/text.
A02 Demonstrate knowledge and application of the wider contexts (historical, social, political, economic) relevant to Media Studies:
I have thought about the current zeitgeist (‘spirit of the age’) and how it has affected my text but I haven’t actually done anything about it yet. Although I am constantly thinking about the A02 objective in particular social and historical e.g the suffragettes I haven’t actually sat down n started doing work on it. I need to start working on wider contexts properly and start looking at how I can link political and economical issues to it.
WWW: Not much is going well for this particular objective but I guess I’ve at least thought about the suffragettes for historical stuff.
EBI: It would be even better if I got started on SHEP and started actually focusing on it properly.
How to achieve this…I will start researching historical and social issues by reading books and searching the net and I will also try and see how I can fit in political and economic issues.
AO5 Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate investigative and research techniques in carrying out an independent study of a media text, topic or issue.
I haven’t really thoroughly reviewed the literature available for my text, I haven’t looked at books but I have looked at many reviews and online articles from different perspectives and picked out lots of quotes that could be useful for my final essay. I think I have formulated a good question as it allows me to discuss the representation of women in the past and now in many different ways.I haven’t really considered the issues and debates involved in my study. I’ve analysed my text soo much that I don’t even think its possible to analyse it more but I guess ill have to find a way.I have only really looked at my text from a feminist perspective so I think I should start looking at it through postmodern etc.I’ve viewed my text soo many times that ive lost count and yes I have viewed texts from a similar genre from both the past and newer texts and am comparing them to my own too.Yes I am keeping track of key quotes and where I am getting them etc.
WWW: I have viewed my texts many times and have also viewed similar texts and compared them.I am also keeping track of websites etc.
EBI: It would be even better if I could look at my texts from different perspectives and not just a feminist view.
How to achieve this…I will research what postmodernism is and I will look at my text with a post modernistic approach.
Synoptic Ability- Together understanding of Key Concepts, from different parts of the specification in order to make effective textual readings.
Draw upon knowledge and application of a wide range of possible relevant contexts, in order to account for the characteristics of media texts.
I haven’t really linked my independent study to other parts of the course but I have done a little bit, during the migrain analysis of my texts and similar texts a lot of my skills learnt in Med 1 last year were used and audience which was studied med 2 was also used.
Critical Autonomy – Apply critical ideas and principles to new situations – and demonstrate media literacy in responses to media texts.
My critical autonomy is ok, I have been coming up with loads of ideas and have been very self motivated.
Quality of written communication
My presentation is quite poor and so is the way I’ve organised it. I have been using key media terminology and I don’t really spell check my work.
Tuesday 30 September 2008
MIGRAIN ANALYSIS OF SEX AND THE CITY: The Movie
Media Language:
Bright colourful designer costumes.
Cheerful music which could represent the happy lives of the four female characters.
Panning shot over new york city represents the "city" in Sex and the city.
Carrie has her leg up which connotes sexual activity.It also glamourisis the city.
Many long shots of the four best friends, long shots are usually used to show "togetherness" which emphasises the love they have for eachother, the big city in the background shows that even though its such a big place their love for eachother will never die.
Moreover, Mulveys male gaze is reinforced through the trailer as their is a point of view shot of a female in revaling attire as she is wearing lingerie. Not only does this portray that females are only in this movie to appeal to the likes of the men, but also reinforces the ideology that females are subordinate to males as they can only achieve things purely on the basis of their looks. This initiates a patriachal society. However, it can also be interpreted that the male gaze is reversed as the trailer progresses as the male is half naked whilst the female is caressing over his body. The grape the female is eating whilst looking at the male can be a form of phallic symbolosm as she is getting turned on by him.
The insitituon of Sex anbd the city is HBO, and thi instiituion specialises in Chick flick movies such as Mean girls and therofre was very suitable for screening this trailer.
Bright colourful designer costumes.
Cheerful music which could represent the happy lives of the four female characters.
Panning shot over new york city represents the "city" in Sex and the city.
Carrie has her leg up which connotes sexual activity.It also glamourisis the city.
Many long shots of the four best friends, long shots are usually used to show "togetherness" which emphasises the love they have for eachother, the big city in the background shows that even though its such a big place their love for eachother will never die.
Moreover, Mulveys male gaze is reinforced through the trailer as their is a point of view shot of a female in revaling attire as she is wearing lingerie. Not only does this portray that females are only in this movie to appeal to the likes of the men, but also reinforces the ideology that females are subordinate to males as they can only achieve things purely on the basis of their looks. This initiates a patriachal society. However, it can also be interpreted that the male gaze is reversed as the trailer progresses as the male is half naked whilst the female is caressing over his body. The grape the female is eating whilst looking at the male can be a form of phallic symbolosm as she is getting turned on by him.
The insitituon of Sex anbd the city is HBO, and thi instiituion specialises in Chick flick movies such as Mean girls and therofre was very suitable for screening this trailer.
Monday 29 September 2008
Self Evaluation
I did my presentation during fridays lesson and i think it went alright.Mr bush told me i need to change the title of my independant so its now going to be "how do representations of women in movie's such as Sex and the City differ from previous media texts,how and why have these changes occured".From the feedback i recieved i will ensure that my next presenttaion will have less text on it,just a few bullet points from which i will elaborate my point.Faizuls question about why the representation of the women have changed from the series to the film was also a good question which i will now discuss in my independant study.During the feedback mr bush told me not to quote directly from wikipedia because its basically just shit to do that so i will look for more reviews from the guardian etc to get quotes from.
Tuesday 23 September 2008
AO1-Key concept - For ao1 i will practice doing migrain regularly on different texts.
i need to focus on audience and representation.
A02 - For this target objective again a little more work is needed as i haven't gone that much into detail about the shep of the text however it's all in my head and in the internet.
A05 - for this assessment objective i will need to do a lot more research on my film and look at theories like Laura mulvey thourougly.
i need to focus on audience and representation.
A02 - For this target objective again a little more work is needed as i haven't gone that much into detail about the shep of the text however it's all in my head and in the internet.
A05 - for this assessment objective i will need to do a lot more research on my film and look at theories like Laura mulvey thourougly.
Monday 14 July 2008
Movie Trailer
How have representations of women changed in film's and soaps over the years with specific references to Sex and the City.
Sex and the City Movie Trailer
"You know me, I don't really believe in marriage, now botox on the other hand works every time"
" The only two choices for women- witch or sexy kitten"
Sex and the City Movie Trailer
"You know me, I don't really believe in marriage, now botox on the other hand works every time"
" The only two choices for women- witch or sexy kitten"
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