Women have had many representations in the media over the years. The genre I chose to focus on was action. I chose to focus on female stars from big action movie series: Torchy Blane (Glenda Farrell) from the Torchy Blane series; Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) from the Alien film series and Alice (Mila Jovovich) from the Resident Evil film series.
Torchy Blane Film Series: Torchy Blane is a somewhat relatively well known character from the 1930s. Glenda Farrell plays Torchy Blane, a newspaper reporter who uses her sweet-talking way to solve a murder. Torchy Blane is influential for she inspired Jerry Siegel to create the iconic DC Comics character Lois Lane.
Torchy Blane in Smart Blonde (1937)
I will focus on Torchy Blane in Smart Blonde (1937) as this was the introduction to the character. She is smart and beautiful and she does not use her sexuality to get what she wants. She has a police officer as her boyfriend, Police Detective Steve McBride and Blane is always one step ahead of her boyfriend in a mystery murder case. What is even more interesting is in this film, Torchy witnesses a murder in front of her eyes and instead of being hysterical, she seems unfazed and immediately goes to a phone booth to call the police. This shows Torchy to be a strong female character as she is able to face violence with out flinching.
Alien Film Series: The Alien series was a hit horror/action/sci-fi franchise that is beloved by many. It has a total of five films and a sixth one in production. The main character, Ellen Ripley is well known to most people as she received high rankings like 5th on Entertainment Weekly's list of The 20 All Time Coolest Heroes in Pop Culture. What is unique about her is that she represents the image of what female action characters are meant to be.
Ellen Ripley in Aliens (1986)
I will focus on Ellen Ripley in Aliens (1986) because this is where we really got to see a big development of the character of Ripley. In Alien, Ripley was a somewhat strong character as she becomes the remaining survivor of the cargo flight: The Nostromo. Aliens however expanded on her character and manner making her a unique strong character. Ripley was a strong independent woman who knew what she was doing.
Ripley was able to fight off the Alien with the use of a flamethrower. In the final scene, Ripley fights with the Xenomorph in a exosuit cargo holder. This was an iconic scene to many people and this showed that Ellen Ripley is the future of action female stars. Originally Ellen Ripley was meant to be a male hero actor however the production company, Fox had other films with main female stars so Fox decided to have the main character be a female. Aliens defied gender roles in the action/sci-fi/horror genre and this was good because the 80s was almost a time in which females were emerging to be equal.
Resident Evil Film Series: Many people will recognise Resident Evil as this film series is loosely based on a video game series of the same name. Although the main Character Alice does not exist in the Resident Evil game universe, she interacts with many characters linked in to the Resident Evil game universe like Jill Valentine. Mila Jovovich stars as the main Character Alice, who strives to take down the Umbrella Corporation: This corporation planned to unleash a zombie T-virus on humanity.
Alice in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)
I will focus on Alice from Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017). Although the film is not out, the teaser trailer has high hopes for presenting a powerful female character. Alice takes on the role of a leader in this movie and in the trailer she is seen not afraid to back down from a fight. Alice is shows that she has a mind of her own and that she does not need anyone to baby her every step of the way. Alice continues on the chain of strong female characters like Sarah Connor (Terminator) and Buffy Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). She, along with the other characters, prove that females don't need to use their sexuality to achieve something.
On the 22nd of September, we learnt a number of six theories regarding to why we watch films or TV Shows. Here are the list of the six theories: The hypodermic syringe theory is the idea that media injects ideas, beliefs and attitudes to the people which usually has a strong influence over people. People have different reactions to the way the media presents ideas through newspapers, radio, films, television etc. An example of the Hypodermic Needle/Syringe Theory is: I chose American Pie Presents: Beta House (2007) because a study was conducted in 2012. American Pie was one of few movies which had influence on young people. Young people started drinking because of this film and it's acceptance of casual drinking among college kids.
Uses and Gratifications Audience Theory:This theory was theorized by Katz and Bulmer in 1974. This theory includes subsections of reasons as to why we watch films, or TV shows. 1. Surveillance/Information: We watch movies/TV shows to gain information and knowledge regarding society and the world.
Freedom Writers (2007) conveys a strong powerful message of racism.
2. Personal Relationships: Sometimes we watch films to get an understanding on how people interact with one another which helps the audience to reflect in that behaviour and replicate that behaviour in real life with other people.
Love Actually (2003) is a romance comedy that follows the lives of different people who all fall in love in the time of Christmas.
3. Diversion: People watch movies as a procrastination method as it helps to escape the stress and pressures of life. Watching movies also helps to make up for a lack of something in the viewer's life.
4. Personal Identity: Watching films help people to express individuality as well as help one to develop their own personality and identity.
Todorov's Narrative Theory: Philosopher Tzvetan Todorov theorized that all stories went through five stages.
Stage 1 - Equilibrium: Everything is in balanced order and all is calm and peaceful.
Stage 2 - Disruption: The equilibrium is disturbed and all is out of order.
Stage 3- Recognition: Problem is identified and the characters notes the problem.
Stage 4 - Action: Work is made to restore balance and the characters aim to bring back peace.
Stage 5 - Restored Equilibrium: The balance is back and all is once again calm and peaceful
Zootropolis (2016) is a powerful story which deals with racism in a metaphorical sense and it follows the same theory as Todorov's
Propp's Narrative Theory: Propp's theory was based on Russian folklore and he theorized that the characters had a specific role within a story Propp's Characters: The hero - Fights the villain, gains prize/weds princess, follows donors advice The villain - Fights against hero The princess/prize - Hero's accomplishment at the end but they are unable to attain it due to distraction from evil. Hero can either marry princess or gain prize The donor - Prepares hero/provides hero an item The dispatcher - Identifies problem and sends them to the quest The (magical) helper - helps hero with quest The prize protector/king - gives task to hero and awards prize/princess
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) is a perfect example of Propp's theory:
The Hero - Sir Bedevere the Wise
The Villain - The Black Knight
The prize - Holy Grail
The Donor - King Arthur
Dispatcher - God (Cutout of W.G.Grace)
The helper(s) - The Knights of the Round Table: Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Galahad the Pure and Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot.
The prize protector - Legendary Black Beast of Aaaaarrrrrrggghhh
Levi-Strauss Narrative Theory:Claude Levi-Strauss' theory was that there was a conflict of binary opposites i.e. rich vs poor; old vs young etc.
ET The Extra Terrestrial (1982) is an example of Levi-Strauss' narrative theory for it has kids going against government officials.
Roland Barthes Theory: Roland Barthes theorized that narratives were told through codes. Barthes had two codes which were: Enigma Code - A puzzle to solve i.e. mystery or detective
Gone Girl (2014) is a mystery thriller that slowly creates more riddles until all is solved at the end.
Action Code - Resolution through action
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) is a Western film that is notorious for its showdown scene.
On the 28th of September, our class studied intertextuality. Intertextuality was the shaping of texts' meanings by other texts. In other words it is when a piece of media mimics/replicates another well-known piece of media. References have a different effect on people for they remind people of well-known films and it encourages a new generation of film watchers to relive classical films that inspired said reference.
An example of intertextuality in film is Deadpool (2016) and Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). Deadpool parodies the post credits scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off . Both the characters break the fourth wall and talk to the audience to go home. Both films are popular for their fourth wall breaking. This is effective as it reminds the audience of a beloved character well known for breaking the fourth wall and interacting the audience. Deadpool reminds people of the hit classical 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986).
An example of intertextuality in TV Shows is Stranger Things (2016) and a number of 70s and 80s films. The hit TV show primarily uses ET Extra Terrestrial (1982) and Alien (1979) as inspiration however here are the other films it uses:
Carrie (1976)
Close encounters of the third kind (1977)
The Shining (1980)
Poltergeist (1982)
Firestarter (1984)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The Goonies (1985)
Explorers (1985)
Commando (1985)
Stand By Me (1986)
Stranger Things uses 1970-1980 references because the film was set in 1983 and the 1970-1980 references help the audience to understand the time period the TV show was set in. In fact, film viewers of the 1970-1980 were living in a time of great entertainment. These were the years of iconic beloved movies and it introduces a generation of post-1980 to a new kind of cinema and entertainment.
An example of intertexuality in Cartoons is the well known TV Show The Simpsons. This has been notorious in intertextuality as it uses a number of films to mimic and popularize. The Simpsons is a cartoon that has been around for years and this cartoon includes film references to pay a tribute to the iconic films as well as introducing cartoon viewers to watch the actual, genuine version of the reference.
The movie trailer I chose to analyse is called ‘Passengers’ (2016). This film will soon release in December and it stars Chris Pratt (The Lego Movie [2014] and Jurassic World [2015]) and Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games [2012] and Silver Linings Playbook [2014]). ‘Passengers’ is a mix of genres but its main genre is that it is a sci-fi action romance. The reason it is sci-fi is because it shows a range of futuristic technology as well as having the film set in a spaceship/outer space. The film shows action for it has moments of explosions, guns and weaponry and finally the reason I see romance, is because there was a short glimpse of a kiss between the main actors as well as intimate staring and promises. The title of the film, ‘Passengers’ denotes people on board a vehicle or vessel which is a part of the plot. Passengers is often connoted with people on aeroplanes, cars, ships or boats. Within the film the main stars denote to people who eventually fall in love with one another. Passengers also includes robots which connotes to future, helpers etc. In the beginning of the trailer some may perceive the trailer as a sci-fi romance as the only characters you see are Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt going on a date, and that they are surrounded by robots. However as the movie progresses, it starts to turn in to an action movie because it seems that the couple are at odds with their survival as the ship is seemingly close to destruction. The movie trailer definitely follows the Two-Step flow theory for it has a multiple amount of meanings which can only be expressed in discussion with another person. The movie has an interesting plot line which if shared, could instigate a thought or a belief. In addition, Passengers follows Katz and Bulmer’s 1974 Uses and Gratification theory in which this is a film where people watch, to develop their personality as well as enjoying the movie. Passengers is a film with many meanings but its main meaning is that it follows two people, alone in space, who eventually cannot deny an attraction to one another. Unfortunately they must come to face a danger that threatens their survival.
