A visual essay discussing the representation of women in film.
Disclaimer:
This essay, including examples of film, music, images and interviews is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not created with intent to copy or reproduce content in any manner otherwise.
This production was inspired by UI English’s video titled “Gender Roles in the Media”. An excellent commentary with a beautiful song by Passenger which I went on to use in my video. It can be seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fveBNgY96YY
Films featured (by order of appearance):
She’s All That (1999) Directed by Robert Iscove
The Other Woman (2014) Directed by Nick Cassavetes
Thelma and Louise (1991) Directed by Ridley Scott
Stuart Little (1999) Rob Minkoff
Grey’s Anatomy (2015) Episode: The Distance. Directed by Eric Laneuville
Snow White (1937) David Hand, Wilfred Jackson, Ben Sharpsteen, Larry Morey, William Cottrell, Perce Pearce
Legally Blonde (2001) Robert Luketic
Enchanted (2007) Kevin Lima
Easy A (2010) Directed by Will Gluck
A Cinderella Story (2004) Mark Rosman
Mean Girls (2004) Directed by Mark Waters
The Invisible (2007) Davis S. Goyer
Stick it (2006) Jessica Bendinger
The Truman Show (1998) Peter Weir
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) Directed by Martin Scorsese
Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging (2008) Directed by Gurinder Chadha
Cinderella (1950) Directed by Clude Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske
Bring it On (2000) Peyton Reed
Clueless (1995) Directed by Amy Heckerling
Suddenly 30 (2004) Directed by Gary Winick
Beauty and the Beast (1991) Directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
The Princess Diaries (2001) Gary Marshall
The Little Mermaid (1989) Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker
Ice Princess (2005) DIrected by Tim Fywell
Anastasia (1997) Directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman
The Hunger Games (2012) Directed by Gary Ross
Insurgent (2015) Directed by Robert Schwentke
Songs:
Passenger – “Things That Stop You Dreaming”
Maria Taylor – “Time Lapse Lifeline”
All other Reference material:
About Us – See Jane. (2016). Geena Davis on Gender in Media. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from http://seejane.org/about-us/
Bandura, A. (2016). Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic perspective. uky.edu. Retrieved 25 March 2016, from https://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Bandura/Bandura1999AJSP.pdf
Burger King,. (2009). It Just Tastes Better. Retrieved from http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02999/BKsevenincher1_2999378a.jpg
Butler, J. (1998). Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory. Amherst College. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from https://www.amherst.edu/system/files/media/1650/butler_performative_acts.pdf
Coca-cola,. (2014). Milk Product advertisement. Retrieved from http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/coca-cola-advert-new-milk-product-4728555
Definition of Terms: Sex, Gender, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation. (2016). American Psychology Association. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/sexuality-definitions.pdf
Dinzer, L. (2012). The Gender Box feat. Miles Jai. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC-HWBX1YhY
GQ Magazine,. (2012). Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Retrieved from http://www.mtv.com/news/2516960/joseph-gordon-levitt-gq/
Kenwood Chef,. The chef does everything but cook – that’s what wives are for!. Retrieved from http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_ix1vfz78iaI/S815H7RchXI/AAAAAAAAAAs/vwKwi2fPHwA/s1600/untitled.bmp
Kids In Th House,. (2014). Raising Awareness About Gender In The Media In Hollywood – Geena Davis. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpesO1iHYSI
L. Smith, D. & Allene Cook, C. (2016). Gender Stereotypes: An Analysis of Popular Films and TV. Geena Davis on Gender in Media. Retrieved 24 March 2016, from http://seejane.org/wp-content/uploads/GDIGM_Gender_Stereotypes.pdf
Men’s Health,. (2012). David Beckham. Retrieved from http://www.blogcdn.com/www.mydaily.co.uk/media/2012/01/davidbeckhammenshealthcover.jpg
Men’s Journal,. (2010). Robert Downy Jr. Retrieved from http://cdn04.cdn.justjared.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/robert-downey-jr-journal/robert-downey-jr-mens-journal-may-2010-rome-vacation-01.jpg
Schlitz,. Don’t worry darling, you didn’t burn the beer!. Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/sexist-ads-mad-men-era-gallery-1.1050013?pmSlide=1.1050006
WGBH News,. (2013). Actor Geena Davis Challenges Typecasting of girls. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4WlcUNA-iw
Wonderbra,. I can’t cook. Who cares?. Retrieved from https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600×315/d9/e9/8b/d9e98b023d2505edbb6e487e7ee71881.jpg
Sequence edited by me.
All animations were drawn and created by me.
Claudia Blanch
Source
This is great! But some times the music is a bit too loud to hear what is being said.
Keep it up!
I actually really like this!
I enjoyed this and found it informative. I do find it harmful that often when women's characters are broadened to be other than "decorative" (I loved the use of that term by Gina Davis), they are then killers or warriors. In other words, what we see as "strong" women in film are portrayed as stereotypical males, and that is a problem too. There isn't any in-between.
Loved the video… Im working in a video on this subject… sad that is going to be in portuguese, so I cant share it with you.
But still… your video is really nice and informative, thks!