Drive

To what extent are the representations in your three main texts stereotypical?

Drive is a post modern hybrid, that combines conventions of both the film noir and comic book genres. Drive was directed by Nicholas Winding Refn and released in 2011. As Drive is a post modern film, we would except it to see modern representations of gender but it still conforms to the stereotypical representations of a classic texts of the comic book and film noir genres, although there are traces of more modern representations throughout the film.

Throughout the film, we see the protagonist, Driver, conform to stereotypical representations of the male gender. Driver is often represented to be very masculine, this is portrayed within the scene where the Driver is sat in the coffee shop and an older man begins a conversation with the driver, brining p a criminal job that they had previously worked on together. The Driver replies to the man in a very aggressive manor, saying "How about you shut your mouth or....." The words used and the deep, violent tone demonstrates aggressive behaviour, which is associated with being masculine

research

"The...transformations of genre can...be seen as repons to political, social and economic conditions."-
Daniel Chandler

"Semiotically, a genre can be seen as a shared code between the producers and interpreters of texts included within it."-

Daniel Chandler

"Genres are instances of repetition and differences"-Steve Neale

"difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre, mere repetition would to attract an audience"- Steve Neale

Christian Metz- argued that genres go through a typical cycle of changes during their lifetime

"Genres are not static, but evolve"- Warren Buckland

  

Does Her challenge or conform to traditional representations of masculinity?

"Does Her challenge or conform to traditional representations of masculinity?"

Masculinity is how men are perceived, it is made up of a group of social norms that are associated with men, but just like stereotypes, not all men fit into these social norms, therefore men often feel as though they have to put on a front (1) to fit into this "Box." Men are often forced into "Gender perfomativity,"(2) thus forcing them to put on a front, to try and enable themselves to fit the social norms associated with masculinity, in an attempt to avoid abuse from society. Some of the social norms that society associate with being masculine and a being a "Real man," are: athleticism, violence, toughness or independency etc, and if a male does not fit any of these they are often deem unmasculine and suffer abuse.

In the opening scene of the film "Her" we are introduced to a male character in a close up shot of his head. The lack of non-diegetic or diegetic sound means that we are drawn to what he is saying and we are forced to focus on what he is saying in detail. It is immediately apparent that he is talking about being in love and a wedding anniversary. It is clear the male character is being sensitive and discussing his feelings, therefore we get the impression that he is quite feminine and doesn't fit into the masculine group, as stereotypically, masculine men are not portrayed as sensitive or in touch with their feelings.


(1) Jackson Katz
(2)Judith Butler

Miley Cyrus: objectification task

Spring Breakers: objectification task

Who Framed Roger Rabbit: objectification task

The male gaze is used throughout this clip. The scene starts with a a shot of a female cartoons leg sticking out of a curtain, it then cuts to the reaction shot of a man with his mouth and eyes wide open whilst he is watching the female cartoon emerge from the curtain. The use of fragmentation, and scopophelia used in the opening of this scene supports the idea of character gaze, within the male gaze theory. As we see the leg coming from the curtain, there is a spot light focused on it and it is also clear that she is not wearing a lot of clothes, therefore sexualising her body parts. As the female character emerges on to the stage, she is wearing a skinny, revealing pink dress and high heels. The colour connotations of the pink dress suggests that she is seen as a very feminin and sexy character.

course work

Most film genres are often spoken about as now being stagnant and "Instances of repetition and differences"(1) In my research investigation I will be exploring whether this is the case for the horror genre, or if it is "not static, but evolving"(2). The horror genre is said to be heavily reliant on "Anxieties created by the changing role of human knowledge and science in our society."(3) This suggests that the horror genre can not afford to be stagnant, in order for people to want to continue watching it, the genre will have to evolve and adapt according to the period and social anxieties of the time. One of the arguments suggesting a reason as to why "Horror isn't as lively as it once was is because people are out of ideas," which is supported by the post-modernism theory, proposed by Jean-Francois Lyotard, which suggests the idea that everything has already been made, anything made now is just a remake that is slightly different. To aid my research investigation I will be looking at two horror films, My Bloody Valentine(1981) directed by George Mihalka and the (2009) My Bloody Valentine remake, directed by Patrick Lussier. I will be looking at these films because they will both have very similar narrative, therefore any changes will be clear and obvious to spot. Moreover, the large time gap between the making of the films will have allowed time for transformations in the ever-changing society, thus making it clear whether or not the genre has detected and incorporated these changes into the film or if it has just stayed stagnant. "Genre must respond to socio-economic and cultural change."(4) By looking at these films, I will be trying to determine weather the established codes and conventions, of the horror genre are still evident in modern films, or if they have transformed as a "Response to  political, social and economic conditions."(5) To determine this, I will be looking at: the representation and stereotypical archetypes of females within the horror genre. I will be looking at this because in the during the decades between the making of the two films, woman have become more empowered and following the second world war there has been a "Crisis of Masculinity" which suggests that it has been and is still becoming unclear what the roles of males and females are in society, as females are slowly becoming less domesticated. Furthermore, I will also be looking at the established conventions of the horror genre and exploring whether the same conventions are still evident in the remake of the film. if they are still present or if they have been changed slightly to adapt to desensitization, then it could prove whether the horror genre is stagnant or still evolving. Lastly, I will be looking at the use of new technology, to see if the use of things such as CGI has helped the genre to move forward and evolve over the years. To further aid my research I will be applying

















(1) Steve Neale- Genre theory
(2)Warren Buckland
(3)Jason Colavito- Knowing Fear: Science, knowledge and the Development of the Horror Genre.
(4) David Buckingham
(5)  Daniel Chandler