Perfect Student COM 303 Everything I Know About Images of Women in Film
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Perfect Student COM 303 Everything I Know About Images of Women in Film Throughout the years, women have been depicted in many various ways in films. Some actresses have become role models for how to be the ideal woman through their looks and roles they play. Some have become an icon of how to be a woman of strength and set new standards for women. It seems that when thinking of a genre made for female viewers, the phrase “chick flick” comes to mind. A chick flick is typically a type of romantic comedy or romantic drama. They are movies based around the strong presence of a female lead. There are three categories of chick flicks. The first is the classic. Classic flicks involve the female searching for love and a relationship, or trying to fix one. They are usually a comedy, or a drama. The next category is independent. Independent flicks involve the lead female struggling through life’s obstacles. This includes striving to move up in her career, or leaving bad relationships in search for freedom, liberty, and acceptance. These are also typically a comedy or drama, and usually involve some form of romance. The last chick flick category is progressive. Progressive flicks generally entail an action or thriller feel that is not seen in the other categories. These action/thriller chick flicks more often involve themes of freedom from society and men and acceptance for herself. Often enough, these types of chick flicks appeal to both male and female viewers. Mostly because they are more action oriented and have more testosterone driven things like fighting, killing, and explosions. These movies do not contain the light hearted feel like the first two categories do. Out of the three categories though, there is a chick flick that is suited for any kind of female viewer. Out of the three categories of chick flicks, the first one that comes to mind is the classic. Classic chick flicks have qualities that most female viewers can relate to. Some of these qualities include men going through toils and troubles to prove their affection and undying passion. Other qualities include young love and innocence entering adulthood. There are usually romantic settings at some point, like beaches, weddings, parks, or anything with beautiful scenery. Basically all things considered feminine, happy, dramatic, and fantasy-like will always be in a classic chick flick. One example of a comedic classic chick flick is My Big Fat Greek Wedding . This flick features the unlikely romance between a mid-30s frumpy woman and a handsome man out of her reach. Toula still works at 1 Perfect Student COM 303 her family owned Greek restaurant as a waitress. She never thought in a million years that someone she loved would love her back, especially a non-Greek man. One day Toula is a waitress for Ian Miller and it was love at first sight, for Toula anyway. It was enough to spark her into wanting to look pretty to start attracting men. In this typical romantic comedy, the story of Toula takes you through her transformation as a once ugly duckling. She is then revealed as a beautiful swan, who now has the looks to get back into the game. Toula was changing herself for love. The desire to be romanced by a man was so strong that she had to alter her physical appearance. Ian Miller only notices Toula in a romantic way after her metamorphosis. They end up dating and getting married, living happily ever after in the home that her father bought them. Over the course of their developing love involves many comedic moments. One is when Toula's father states that everything can be cured by Windex. Another is when he declares that all words are derived from the Greek language. All in all, this classic comedy chick flick has love conquer at the end of the day. It has fun elements such as of makeovers, weddings, falling in love, and turning something undesirable into desirable. Those are all recipes for classic chick flicks that depict women as dependent on a quest for love. It also portrays women as craving acceptance from men. As great as comedies are, dramas are the other sub category of a classic chick flick. One such epic drama would be Titanic . This Kleenex puller takes the viewer into the lives of two young lovers, Rose and Jack. Rose came from a family of wealth, and was aboard the Titanic on first class. Jack was third class, poor, and not suited for Rose. She ended up falling for Jack who could not stop advancing on her, for he had already fallen in love. Romantic scenes from their love story include Jack sketching Rose nude, and the pair making love in a parked taxi. One of the most famous scenes is of Jack standing behind Rose at sunset on the tip of the bow. All of these moments appeal to a female audience. The woman here is depicted as desirable, and all women in some way, want to be desired. This drama includes Rose’s mother not approving of her and Jacks love. By escaping the disapproval of Rose’s mother, it gives the young lovers desire for each other an element of risk. It proves to the viewers how strong their dependency for one another is. This adds a sense of urgency and passion and youthfulness that appeals to the female audience. At the end, the Titanic hits an iceberg and begins sinking. The two lovers hold on to each other as Jack sacrifices his life for Rose to live. He lets her have the small piece of floating ship, while he himself stays in the sub-zero water. After 2 Perfect Student COM 303 such an act of valor, and declaring love after death, Jack sinks to the bottom of the ocean. Rose is then rescued and grows old. This is the epitome of a romantic drama, and shows that love even conquers death. The theme song My Heart Will Go On echoes in the minds of viewers after having seen this tearjerker. Every female truly desires a love full of passion and a lover willing to die for her. All in all, the classic chick flick appeals to a female on an emotional level. Jack’s sacrifice caters to the theme in classic chick flicks that men need to ultimately take care of women. Although most chick flicks could be defined as classic, there are some that would be considered independent. Some examples would be The Devil Wears Prada , and Easy A . The Devil Wears Prada is about a young woman, Andy, who lands her dream job for a fashion magazine. She soon finds out that her boss is from hell. Although treated like dirt, Andy works her way up the corporate ladder and becomes the boss’s right hand woman. By doing this she fails to see her relationship with her boyfriend unraveling, and her friends don’t like her anymore. She realizes she was becoming the very person she despised. In the end, Andy is a strong enough woman to quit her job. She realized it was turning her into someone she did not want to be. She had to find the strength within herself to get out of the alluring pull of a high paycheck and fame. As a chick flick, The Devil Wears Prada , in a light way, empowers the female to forge her own path. The leading actress encourages female viewers to become the woman she wants to be, even if it is extremely trying. The next example of an independent chick flick is Easy A . Olive Penderghast feels pressured by her best friend to admit that she has had sex. Because of this, she makes up a story that she had a one night stand with a random college guy. Olive’s “story” spreads like wildfire around the campus. Embellishments get added on such as Olive has STD’s and she will sleep with guys for money. Believing the rumor beyond repair, she starts accepting money and gift cards from her male peers. She allows them to say they have done intimate things with her even though they have not. Because of this Olive is harshly judged and seen as an outcast, but the guys are seen as cool. Unfortunately, this is how girls against guys are viewed in today’s society. Guys are able to sleep around without repercussions, and have a high social status, while girls are seen as slutty. Eventually Olive realizes she needs to bring the truth to light, so she makes a video to post online. The school then hears from her video the truth to the rumors. Whether or not people believe it, she is happy she no longer will commit to the rumors she helped fuel. 3 Perfect Student COM 303 Standing up for herself proved that Olive had the courage to defend her integrity. Ultimately she just wanted to feel accepted by her peers and society. Unfortunately there is a sad truth to this story about how children and teenagers bully each other. By taking a stand though, Easy A shows that fighting for your acceptance and freedom leads to a happy ending. Independent chick flicks help aspire their female viewers to know that it is okay to be who you are. Sometimes showing people the real you, and being comfortable in your own skin is the hard road. In the end, if you keep trying, just being true to your heart will win you that happily ever after.