Thursday 24 January 2019
Introduction to Feminism Blog Task
Case study: Everyday Sexism
Watch this TEDx talk by Everyday Sexism founder Laura Bates:
1) Why did Laura Bates start the Everyday Sexism project? The reason Laura Bates started the Everyday Sexism project is because she has been sexually harassed multiple times and when she spoke up about it, everyone saw this as normal and wondered why she was making a big deal out of it.
2) How does the Everyday Sexism project link to the concept of post-feminism? Is feminism still required in western societies? The Everyday Sexism project links very well to the concept of post-feminism as it helps support women and helps them speak up about their experiences. I think feminism is still required in the western societies as not everything is balanced between men and women e.g. majority of builders are men and there are not many female builders around.
3) Why was new technology essential to the success of the Everyday Sexism project? Apps such as twitter allow the Everyday Sexism project to share stories and allow people to talk to people the Everyday Sexism project. This also creates awareness for everyone.
4) Will there be a point in the future when the Everyday Sexism project is not required? What is YOUR view on the future of feminism? At this rate, I don't think so as there are countries outside England that have women doing all the work at home and men going to work.
Monday 14 January 2019
Introduction to Representation
1) List the different people/groups represented in the trailer (men/women/Americans etc.)
In the beginning of this trailer, the Americans are represented as more positive and they all have smiles on their face however, when Amanda goes to Paris there is a strobe effect and low-key lighting which suggests something bad is going to happen. The eastern Europeans are presented as sex traffickers and dodgy. In this film trailer as a whole, females are presented as powerless and vulnerable because after Amanda gets kidnapped, every shot of females are seen as them crying. However, men are presented as strong and vigorous. This reinforces stereotypes of Males, Females, Americans and Eastern Europeans.
2) For each group you identify, decide whether the representation is a dominant or alternative portrayal. Explain why you think this.
The representation of males and females are dominant representations and reinforces the stereotypes that men are more stronger than women whereas, women are vulnerable and weak. The media wouldn't be surprised seeing how males and females are presented in this film trailer.
The representation of American's are dominant representations as people see America as the perfect place and potentially their dream country to live in.
3) What stereotypes can you identify in the trailer? One of the stereotypes I can identify in the trailer is that eastern Europeans are always seen as criminals and they're always sex trafficking where as the Americans are seen as innocent.
Another stereotype I can identify is Men seen as more powerful then women. After Amanda gets kidnapped, almost every shot of women in the trailer is seen of them crying whereas, the men are working hard in solving out where Amanda is being held.
4) Why might the Taken trailer offend or alienate certain groups?
Eastern Europeans might take offence in this Taken trailer as they are not all sex traffickers that kidnap people.
Females might also take offence to the Taken trailer as not all of them are weak, vulnerable and always rely on men to do all the work.
5) Why do mainstream film and television texts such as Taken so often use stereotypes?
Mainstream films use stereotypes for the audience to relate to which will encourage them to continue watching the film.
In the beginning of this trailer, the Americans are represented as more positive and they all have smiles on their face however, when Amanda goes to Paris there is a strobe effect and low-key lighting which suggests something bad is going to happen. The eastern Europeans are presented as sex traffickers and dodgy. In this film trailer as a whole, females are presented as powerless and vulnerable because after Amanda gets kidnapped, every shot of females are seen as them crying. However, men are presented as strong and vigorous. This reinforces stereotypes of Males, Females, Americans and Eastern Europeans.
2) For each group you identify, decide whether the representation is a dominant or alternative portrayal. Explain why you think this.
The representation of males and females are dominant representations and reinforces the stereotypes that men are more stronger than women whereas, women are vulnerable and weak. The media wouldn't be surprised seeing how males and females are presented in this film trailer.
The representation of American's are dominant representations as people see America as the perfect place and potentially their dream country to live in.
3) What stereotypes can you identify in the trailer? One of the stereotypes I can identify in the trailer is that eastern Europeans are always seen as criminals and they're always sex trafficking where as the Americans are seen as innocent.
Another stereotype I can identify is Men seen as more powerful then women. After Amanda gets kidnapped, almost every shot of women in the trailer is seen of them crying whereas, the men are working hard in solving out where Amanda is being held.
4) Why might the Taken trailer offend or alienate certain groups?
Eastern Europeans might take offence in this Taken trailer as they are not all sex traffickers that kidnap people.
Females might also take offence to the Taken trailer as not all of them are weak, vulnerable and always rely on men to do all the work.
5) Why do mainstream film and television texts such as Taken so often use stereotypes?
Mainstream films use stereotypes for the audience to relate to which will encourage them to continue watching the film.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)