...It is imperial that we understand how the representation of women in film is wholly based on a male perspective. Throughout the history of film, we should acknowledge that the classical studio system in Hollywood has provided audiences with a patriarchal notion of society. Nowadays directors form their films around an institution that best suits the script and therefore, constructing the film. It is not uncommon for films to take advantage of the female body to an extent in which it gains a sexual aspect for the film thus producing a male stance on the matter. Furthermore, the use of women in films has been for the most part “an indispensable element of spectacle… yet her visual presence tends to work against the development of a storyline, to freeze the flow of action in moments of erotic contemplation” (Mulvey, 346). The film industry has continuously managed to restrict women’s freedom and thus encouraging male dominance in society. Because “cinema’s identity lays in its ability to record reality” (Manovich, 2), then how gender is represented in films alludes to our understanding of set roles in society. Nevertheless, we also need to recognize that there is notion of change relating to gender stereotypes within the film industry. There are countless movies starring women as lead characters who epitomize...
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...With popular fictional films reaching more audiences, compared to their independent counterparts. With so much influence over majority of moviegoers, the filmmakers that are involved in mainstream cinema have more power than those that are fighting to reach the big screens. Though the size of the audiences may be different, it does not change the responsibilities that come with the role of being a filmmaker. Titon points out in his article that non-fiction films have a bit more complex when it comes to representation. The people do get to represent themselves on camera, in a way that it still seems real to viewers, but the “director inevitable selects and edits, making a film or video that follows convention and often comprises as little as...
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...The American film industry succeed in the promotion of racism concepts as they considerably influence the viewers. Actually, people often use the images they see in movies to understand the situations they do not go through. Hernandez notably claims that “such powerful and consistent message evident in American Films influence all filmgoers’ understanding of the role Chicanos/Hispanics” (Hernandez). The images about Hispanics in the film industry influence people in their perception of this minority. This suggests that when a movie director decide to use negative images of Hispanics, he creates a negative opinion of Latinos. In addition, as mentioned before, movies use many stereotypes to define Hispanics. The problem is that “stereotypes...
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...In Early American film history stereotypes of blacks as lazy, stupid, foolish, cowardly, submissive, irresponsible, childish, violent, sub-human, and animal-like. These degrading stereotypes are reinforced and enhanced by the negative portrayal of blacks in the media. But blacks weren't even hired to portray blacks in early works. Instead, white actors and actresses were hired to portray the characters while in "blackface." By refusing to hire black actors to portray black characters, demeaning stereotypes were being created as blacks were presented in an unfavorable light (Massood, P. J. 2006). In addition, blacks were purposely portrayed in films with negative stereotypes that reinforced white supremacy over blacks. This has had a tremendous effect on our society's view of blacks since motion pictures have had more of an impact on the public mind...
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...Stereotypes in films and tv Films and television shows are responsible for exposing racial stereotypes. These prejudice stereotypes often affect how individuals are treated in society. Since society watches these films and TV shows, their perception of certain races are altered or tainted. In the article, “In living color: Race and American Culture,” Michael Omi states, “In contemporary television and films, there is a tendency to present and equate racial minority groups and individuals with specific social problems. Blacks are associates with drugs and urban crime, Latinos with ‘illegal’ immigration, while Native Americans cope alcoholism and tribal conflict” (Omi 632). Television and films represent ethnic groups poorly and can therefore make society also think negative of them. Minorities can often become victims of racial stereotyping. These racial stereotypes are heavily influenced by TV shows and movies. Most of the times these stereotypes will have a negative effect on a certain minority and can cause individuals to be treated with prejudice and discrimination. Sometimes stereotypes can put these individuals in danger. It is believed that one of America’s most awful sins was the enslavement and segregation of nonwhites. America, since the 1600’s has been accountable for racism and discrimination especially in the south. Even today in 2015, America is still in the process of overcoming prejudice for good. For example, in August 9, 2014, an 18 year old African American...
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...Australian film started off with a bang in 1906 with its first feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang written and direction by the notorious Tait Brothers. Since the Australia film industry’s beginnings in 1906*there are been a number of prominent genres that have emerged in correlation with eras, events and people that show how Australia . The first prominent genre that emerged was the Aboriginal narrative during the 1950’s where the Australian public began to question the division between the two cultural and began to appreciate the native and traditional ways of the original custodians of the land. One of the films that bought awareness to the public was Charles Chauvels 1955, Jedda, a film that saw a young aboriginal taken into the care of a white family while she figures out her origins and roots. Throughout Australian history, migrants and the influx of other cultures into society have played a...
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...impressions are comparable to the idea of Stereotypes, or preconceived notion placed on a certain groups of people . In Celluloids Indians Jacquelyn Kilpatrick describes stereotypes as such, “‘ [s] tereotypes are evaluative concepts about status and roles and as such are central to interpreting and evaluating social groups including one’s own.”’ (xvi) Using this idea Kilpatrick explores “the social, ideological and political construction” (xvi) of stereotypes in literature, film and politics in accordance to different perspectives. In short we explore how the interpretation of film and literature relies on the perspective in which it is told, as different perspectives manifest different stereotypes. Prehaps some of the most prevalent examples are Literary works. These works often stem from stories of experience in encounters with Native Americans. Many of these literary...
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...In the film Crash, there are many stereotypes about each race and ethnicity throughout the movie. I feel as though these stereotypes were challenged in this movie, as each character found their own truths in their lives. At the end of each story, the stereotypes each character held were broken and proven to be wrong. A stereotype that I’ve held in the past was broken in this movie. The stereotype of only small-town police officers being racist and using their power to do bad things, while officers in major cities are the opposite. Officer John Ryans was a police officer on the LAPD force for many years. He used his status as an officer to do wrongful things to those he pulls over, such as inappropriately touching women. However, not everyone on the force purposefully does wrongful things. Officer Tom...
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...with little distractions. This setting is an ideal situation to sway an audience. Movies are at their most potent when seen at the theater (Harper, 2003). Movies can desensitize people to issues and shift public attitudes through influence. While there are many real scenarios portrayed in fictional film, to say that movies similar to Crash are completely accurate portrayals of reality is an oversight. With this influential medium, the film Crash is an attempt to accurately portray the various racial, ethnic, and racial stereotypes within the cast of characters in Los Angeles, California. I am from Los Angeles, and while I understand what the film-makers were trying to do, I thought it was rather shallow and merely a portrayal of what people THINK L.A. is. The film is supposed to be snapshot of America; as a melting pot of cultures. The movie is complete with a racial mix of every nationality. Prejudices are the strong backbone to the concept of racism. They are the labels and images that we designate to a group of people on the basis of what we imagine to be the characteristics of all members of that group. More often than not, they are incorrect and incomplete. The film Crash, directed by Paul Haggis, addresses the strong existence of racial and racial prejudices against many groups from various perspectives in today's society. Racial perception and racial sensitivity Edward Hall theorizes that every human being is exposed to so many perceptual stimuli - sights...
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...Expressing what their viewers want to see, it has caused characters of color in movies to be either misrepresented or discriminated. The presentation of women on screen has drastically changed and progressed for the better. For years, women faced discrimination and limitations both on and off the screen. Now their roles in society has seemingly gave them an equal footing to men in many aspects of life. Though society has changed for the better, sexism and male dominance of the movie industry is still evident in the 21st century. In movies, women are subject to uncharacteristic types of beauty and behavior. They are given fived representations that are typically associated with the damsel in distress. Many of the female characterizations in...
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...The documentary Wings of Defeat challenges conventional views of the Japanese kamikaze pilots in World War II by interviewing kamikaze pilots who survived the attacks. These men defy stereotypes about the kamikaze; they were not ruthless in their mission to destroy themselves if it meant ending American lives. Instead, the pilots were boys forced into the Tokkotai order out of desperation to save their homeland. Before the film, I thought the kamikaze were extremists who acted independently from any military command. I was shocked to learn that the Japanese government formed the kamikaze order, and eventually ordered all pilots and then all citizens to become kamikaze. I empathize more with the kamikaze pilots now, who had no choice but to...
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...Stereotypes against minorities through film Introduction: Stereotyping against minorities had been an issue since the 20th century and since then the minorities had been protesting against the discrimination and inequality in entertainment industries. This includes the discrimination in vote, ownership, basic human rights and social rights which led to the stride of the minorities to protest for the equal rights living in a country. For example in America, the black Americans were hunted and lynched by the white Americans and it was celebrated as a sport. So in mid of 20th century, although the black Americans got their freedom, they still faced the color racism by the majority of America. Stereotyping against minorities through entertainment started at the start of the entertainment industry in the world. Unfortunately, stereotyping against the minorities through media was also recorded by the film’s historians. Considering the example of Joseph Goebbels, who was the propaganda general during World War 2 and he was considered to be the founder of the discrimination portrayed in his directed films. During Nazi Regime, there were many stereotyping against the Jews and this discrimination was proudly displayed by the Goebbels propaganda they specifically targeted the Jewish controlled organization and they were negatively portrayed in the entire film. However these stereotyping ended by the end of National Socialist Party but sadly the practice of stereotyping the minorities...
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...Since the early twentieth century, Disney and it’s films have been a major influence to society and pop culture. Many people today enjoy the classical films that have been created throughout the years and the lasting characters who have evolved from their success. These character’s became our idols and exemplify everything that an average person would want: fame, glory, looks, and a happily ever after. Beneath the story lines that compose an idealistic world, these films possess the stereotypes and are riddled with gender roles that have fabricated our generation. Social issues such as offensive stereotypes and gender roles that are reinforced in Disney films can contribute to a negative impact on susceptible minds. Gender roles are a perceived...
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...to show Islamic stereotypes in American movies made before and after the attacks on 9/11 and this was inspired by the movie, American Sniper, and the backlash and the response that the movie got and it begs the question why did people react the way they did and way they did it. After the movie came out, the people who saw it had a strong opinion about it, either that it was a patriotic movie or that it was offensive to Muslims. Many Americans have grown up in a post 9/11 world and don’t remember what the world was like before that fateful day and as a consequence have grown up with the “War on Terror” and trying to find the people responsible for the attacks on that infamous day in September. After...
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...In the documentary assigned they go into great detail about how race is perceived by people in todays modern society. The documentary honestly did not change any of the assumptions that I already had about race. It is kind of just part of society today that people often get stereotyped by the race that they are. For example I feel like most people in todays society think that people of African decent have more athletic ability that than people of all other races. Another example from the movie is that white people are more privileged than other races and once again I feel that is a very common issue in todays society that is assumed by a lot of people. The one thing from the movie that did surprise me though was that people of two different races some times have very little genetic diversity. They said that people of two different races sometimes have less diversity than people of the same race. I found that to be very odd because I though genes were what determined ones race and people of the same race would have very similar genes. Race can be viewed in two different ways, the first way being the biological view. The biological view can be defined as grouping people to how they are built. In the documentary they mention that scientist have done extensive research on the dimensions of people such as head size, ear size, and nose size. They have found tendencies between different people based on where they are from so they used these factors to group them into different races...
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