Transcript of October 25, 2011. The Politics of Difference in Films Race Gender Sexual Preference Religion The...
- Slide 1
- October 25, 2011
- Slide 2
- The Politics of Difference in Films Race Gender Sexual
Preference Religion The issue here is whether Hollywood-made or
other types of films can directly confront these types of issues --
and, if so, under what conditions.
- Slide 3
- Race Relations in Films How are the different races portrayed
on film? Roles played by actors of different races Types of scripts
selected for films about race relations (or seemingly unrelated
topics) Directors and producers of different races? How has
Hollywood tried to make amends for its history of reinforcing
racism?
- Slide 4
- Examples of Films about African- Americans and Race Relations
Roots (1977) The Color Purple (1985) Driving Miss Daisy (1989) Do
the Right Thing (1989) Boyz N the Hood (1991) New Jack City (1991)
Malcolm X (1992) Amistad (1997) Contrast these films with earlier
films that contained basically racist ideas: e.g. Step n Fetchit or
Amos and Andy characters
- Slide 5
- Films about Racism Gentlemens Agreement Chocolat World of Suzie
Wong The Hurricane Men of Honor Jungle Fever Mississippi Masala
American History X Crash
- Slide 6
- Major African-American Actors/Actresses Paul Robeson Dorothy
Dandridge Sidney Poitier Denzel Washington Lawrence Fishburn Halle
Berry Morgan Freeman Jamie Foxx Forest Whitaker
- Slide 7
- African-American Directors Spike Lee Melvin Van Peebles Mario
Van Peebles Gordon Parks John Singleton Robert Townsend Reginald
Hudlin Oz Scott
- Slide 8
- Gender Issues How are women portrayed (as opposed to men)?
Types of roles played by actresses Types of scripts selected which
deal with gender-related issues How has Hollywood tried to atone
for past misdeeds in this area?
- Slide 9
- Key Ideas of Liberal Feminism in Film Studies Symbolic
annihilation through the under- representation of women in films
and other popular culture media. Use of content analysis techniques
to demonstrate the above. In particular, under-representation of
working and professional women in TV shows and movies.
- Slide 10
- Female Directors Leni Riefenstahl Elaine May Lina Wertmuller
Kathryn Bigelow Diane Kurys Jodie Foster Barbara Streisand Nora
Ephron Kathryn Bigelow So far, there are no female directors with a
record of multiple blockbuster films -- mainly because most female
directors have not been allowed to direct more than a few
films.
- Slide 11
- Definition of Patriarchy a set of social relations between men,
which have a material base, and which, though hierarchical,
establish or create interdependence and solidarity among men that
enable them to dominate women Source: H. Baehr as quoted in
Strinati, p. 198
- Slide 12
- Feminist Films? Woman of the Year (1942) Nine to Five (1980)
The World According to Garp (1982) Fatal Attraction (1987) Blue
Steel (1990) Thelma and Louise (1991) G.I. Jane (1997)
- Slide 13
- Happy Hooker Movies Never on Sunday Klute Risky Business
Private Lessons The Gift Pretty Woman One of the last bastions of
patriarchy: the idea that prostitutes like their jobs and are happy
individuals.
- Slide 14
- Female Envy and Role Reversal Films Some Like It Hot Tootsie
Mrs. Doubtfire Mr. Mom The Bird Cage (La Cage aux Folles) What
these films have in common is the representation of males in
traditional female roles and (in some of them) males masquerading
as females.
- Slide 15
- Selfish Mother Movies Kramer vs. Kramer Ordinary People The
World According to Garp One True Thing Here the main question is
how films portray motherhood in an age of increased visibility of
feminism.
- Slide 16
- Families: Functional or Dysfunctional? Prevalence of divorce in
U.S. society Changing gender roles Dealing with mental illness and
disability inside the family Teenage rebellion Child abuse How do
Hollywood films deal with these issues?