Friday, August 25, 2006
My Proposal
How are females represented in films, with particular focus on “Pretty Persuasion”?As my independent study focuses on the representation of women in films and in particular “Pretty Persuasion” by Marcos Siega, I have used different types of research consisting of reviews of the film and other related texts such as “Mean Girls”, “Heathers” and “Clueless”. I also looked at a few textbooks as sources of information. For example, “Media, Gender and Identity” by David Gauntlett, which focuses on gender roles in the media and how they affect identity. Another textbook I will be looking at is “Lesbians and Film” by Edith Becker which looks at film and how lesbians are represented in them. As “Pretty Persuasion” is the main text I will be looking at, I also found an article in the “Sight and Sound” magazine which I will be looking at.
Media Language: Camera shots and movements allow the audience to identify with the characters and show the female as being superior, set in school at all times, mis-en-scene, iconography, references to sex
Institution: Hollywood film, distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, Roadside Attractions and Renaissance Films
Genre: Comedy, Black comedy, sexual, cynical, satire, unbalanced family
Representation: Females, Lesbians, Muslims, Jews, Males, Teachers
Audience: Teenage film but for older audience due to language, explicit sex, voyeuristic, sadistic
Ideologies and Values: Feminism, Patriarchy, Lesbianism, Teenage girls, racism, sexual harassment
Narrative: Flashbacks, flashbacks in flashbacks, non-linear
Social Context: coming of age, adolescent sexuality, lack of parental authority, sexual harassment, manipulation of the already biased and manipulative news media, racism in and outside the classroom and the obsession with achieving celebrity.
Historical Context: Increase of lesbian representation in films, women are now more dominant; women take the lead role in the film.
Economical Context: Hollywood film, distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films, Roadside Attractions and Renaissance Films, Budget - $2,500,000 US
Political Context: Middle East conflict, Iraq War, Racism towards Arabs, Terrorism
Bibliography:
• “Pretty Persuasion” directed by Marcos Siega
• Sight and Sound
• http://emanuellevy.com/article.php?articleID=143
• “Media, Gender and Identity” – David Gauntlett
Sherish at 11:05 AM
Pretty Persuasion Trailer
This is the trailer to my chosen text... enjoy it!
Sherish at 9:00 AM
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Pretty Persuasion...my chosen text
Directed by: Marcos Siega Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, James Woods, Ron Livingston, Adi Schnall, Elisabeth Harnois
Distributors: Roadside Attractions, Samuel Goldwyn Films
Genres: Comedy, Drama and Teen
Kimberly Joyce, an insanely intelligent, wildly funny, shockingly cruel and sexy-beyond-her-years Beverly Hills teenager will stop at nothing to become famous. Believing the world is an orchestra and she is the conductor, Kimberly masterfully manipulates all those around her. She convinces her two best friends to join her in a campaign against their befuddled teacher, Mr. Anderson. Kimberly entangles the entire Beverly Hills community in her carefully woven web of seduction and deceit. (source: Yahoo Movies)
Sherish at 3:08 AM