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