Gender and Media

Andrew Ramos

13 May 2001

VSAR422

Panel Presentation

Abstract: Gender and Film

Context: History. Questions. Overview.

Thesis: Woman throughout history have been depicted as sex objects in film and advertising gains.

Outline Structure:

What is the male gaze?

How have woman Been depicted as so.

What does the male gender think of this?

How does these affect women?

Society? Why?

In-Depth: How women throughout history are subjected to the power of the male gaze in film, and media. Male gaze being “the ‘sexual depiction’ of women”. My presentation will consist of various films and pictures refering to this subject of women being depicted as sexual objects. These films and advertisements are said to be targeted towards the “popular culture”. The male gender from this class, is said to see woman as inferior in some ways and just mere sex objects. Why do these films and advertisments depict woman in such a way? And how does society and female activists feel about the representation of the female gender in such a way? The bottom line being sex sells!

Structure and Detailed Points

How this effects woman, mentally, physically, and socially.

Why women are viewed in such a sexual content?

-Popular culture over rules, and sets the way we think.

-How various Films and Advertising Depicts woman in such a way?

- Proof? (Charles angels,…)

B.) What do men think of all of this?

1.) Mentally

-Are Women inferior?

-Women are being belittled.

2.) Actions:

-Cause them to commit crime? (Rape, assault.)

-Stereo types.

How does this effect woman?

1.) Mentally?

-Think they can get away with anything by using “body language”

-Thinking of inferiority (I’m just a nobody).

2.) Physically

-Use it to make money (Entertainer ‘stripper’, Hooters, etc.)

-Can cause unwanted advances. (Assault)

3.) Socially?

-Women stereotypes?

-What are people saying about these films, Advertisements, etc.

- misrepresentation.

Ultimate Question Why?

- Sex sells!

Resources: I will use various media films, advertisements, Text from the reader, and sources from the Internet to prove my thesis.

FILMS:

Erin Brocivich 2000

The Spy Who Shagged Me 1998

Charles Angles. 2000

Rosler, Martha. Vital Statistics of a Citizen 1977

ADVERTISMENTS: (TBA)

TEXT(FROM READER):

Kipnis, Luara. FEMALE TRANSGRESSION. University of Minnesota Press 1996.

Kipnis, Laura. Pornography. University of Minnesota Press.

Mulvey, Laura.Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinaema. Screen 1975 University of Minnesota Press.

4.) MISCELANOUS PICTURES: (TBA)

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