For this task we were asked to find a film opening and analysis the stereotypes which are shown.
For this I used DR GAGES
Disability
Regional identity
Class
Age
Gender
Ethnicity
Sexuality
Stereotypes- media institutions use stereotypes because the audience will understand them. they are visual shortcuts. they're repeated so much that the audience then assumes these labels are 'normal' or 'true'
Archetypes- this is the ultimate stereotype.
Countertype- a representation that challenges traditional stereotypes associated with groups, people or places.
Representation- the way which people, events and ideas are presented to the audience.
Representation- the way which people, events and ideas are presented to the audience.
Legally Blonde- OPENING SCENE
Feminism - the advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.
In the opening scene of legally blonde stereotypes are very obviously present. Instantly the colour pink is shown for the opening credits; this is a very well known stereotypical colour which portrays girls. This instantly makes they audience aware this film will be based around girls, without any characters having to be introduced. This is the medias way of stating the obvious without having to actually state it. The next thing which is seen is blond hair and manicured hands this is also a very subtle yet obvious stereotype that the character is a girl and can be instantly recognised as a preppy girl who is very self aware of her appearance to others. The whole opening centres around activities and stereotypical ideologies of girls. The first face which can be seen is a girl, whom is riding a bike, as she rides past a group of boys they all stop and stare, this appears to make the character happy as she is gaining the attention that she wants. The whole scene makes girls seem like they only care about their appearance and the way others view them. Everything is very pink and 'girly' all the girls are either doing something to their appearance, partaking in sport, with a boy or doing some kind of activity which the media would deem as 'girly'. The age of those in the scene are around 18 as it is an America film and the girls are in college. The kind of audience this seems to be aimed at are girls in their teenage years or just over between 13-18. It is a fun 'chick flick' film which entices those of similar age of the characters and targets the audience of the same sex as the main characters; girls. The way girls are presented in this film at the beginning can be portrayed as degrading to all females, it suggest females are not 'go getters' and that they will settle for looking 'pretty' it also suggests an antifeminist tone by the way women are objectified; this can be seen in the clip where the group of boys call out at the girl on the bicycle.
Furthermore if the audience compares and looks at the closing scene of the same film below the tone changes. The main character; Elle woods although still looks pretty has changed her perception and realises that she can do more than look pretty for those who have seen the film, you can remember how the original reason for Elle woods enrolling at Harvard law was to chase a guy and it is easy to recognise the struggles she faces as an attractive women. From not being taken seriously, to being made fun of, and even being 'felt up' by her professor as he assumes she would do anything to be able to support herself in the law career. However Elle woods sticks at it and eventually graduates from Harvard law. she fins herself throughout the film and realises her own aspiration sand how you can achieve anything if only you try and persevere.
In the opening scene of legally blonde stereotypes are very obviously present. Instantly the colour pink is shown for the opening credits; this is a very well known stereotypical colour which portrays girls. This instantly makes they audience aware this film will be based around girls, without any characters having to be introduced. This is the medias way of stating the obvious without having to actually state it. The next thing which is seen is blond hair and manicured hands this is also a very subtle yet obvious stereotype that the character is a girl and can be instantly recognised as a preppy girl who is very self aware of her appearance to others. The whole opening centres around activities and stereotypical ideologies of girls. The first face which can be seen is a girl, whom is riding a bike, as she rides past a group of boys they all stop and stare, this appears to make the character happy as she is gaining the attention that she wants. The whole scene makes girls seem like they only care about their appearance and the way others view them. Everything is very pink and 'girly' all the girls are either doing something to their appearance, partaking in sport, with a boy or doing some kind of activity which the media would deem as 'girly'. The age of those in the scene are around 18 as it is an America film and the girls are in college. The kind of audience this seems to be aimed at are girls in their teenage years or just over between 13-18. It is a fun 'chick flick' film which entices those of similar age of the characters and targets the audience of the same sex as the main characters; girls. The way girls are presented in this film at the beginning can be portrayed as degrading to all females, it suggest females are not 'go getters' and that they will settle for looking 'pretty' it also suggests an antifeminist tone by the way women are objectified; this can be seen in the clip where the group of boys call out at the girl on the bicycle.
Furthermore if the audience compares and looks at the closing scene of the same film below the tone changes. The main character; Elle woods although still looks pretty has changed her perception and realises that she can do more than look pretty for those who have seen the film, you can remember how the original reason for Elle woods enrolling at Harvard law was to chase a guy and it is easy to recognise the struggles she faces as an attractive women. From not being taken seriously, to being made fun of, and even being 'felt up' by her professor as he assumes she would do anything to be able to support herself in the law career. However Elle woods sticks at it and eventually graduates from Harvard law. she fins herself throughout the film and realises her own aspiration sand how you can achieve anything if only you try and persevere.
Legally Blonde- CLOSING SCENE
The closing scene of Legally blond is hugely different to the opening scene. The stereotypes are broken and a blonde female proves herself as an intellectually equal to men; even above the man she was at first chasing(warner). she identifies that first appearances are no always correct., and even the colours shown in the scene are more professional and unisex. although Elle's personality has not totally changed it is clear that she has become more true to herself. This is important because of the films target audience It was important that the film shows girls can achieve anything and not to allow people to label them.
Well done Lorna! This is thorough and insightful work, and I like that you've gone further to explore the way the representation changes.
ReplyDelete