Critical Research: Representation of women in Romantic Comedies
I would strongly appreciate your completion of the questionnaire below as the information will help me towards my A2 Media Exam.
1. Name five romantic comedies that you have seen
2. In these films have you felt that the women were representing female stereotypes? (e.g, cooking, cleaning, shopping, appearance, dependence on men, need for child etc)
3. If any films stuck to these stereotypes, how many topics of the below do you believe it is a result of? (Tick one or all of the points)
• Assumptions with target audience
• Popularity and common element of most romantic comedies
• Realism being portrayed
• Ideologies over women – assumed by directors or film makers
• Character building (needed for narrative)
4. Do you believe female leads are seen as icons or people to look up to in romantic comedies? Why?
5. In a recent survey 2/3 of females aged 17 to 45 said that The Devil Wears Prada is a film that represents empowerment in the female lead. Do you agree with this? Why?
6. A quote from a BBC Article called: Romancing the Box Office about romantic comedies from past to present, the writer speaks about the success of Bridget Jones’ Diary –
“Taking £41.6m in the UK alone, Bridget Jones' Diary had another element crucial to the success of the romantic comedy - a leading character with whom the audience could closely identify.
Thousands of thirty-something women sat down with friends and a glass of wine to watch a thirty-something woman discuss her love life over a glass of wine with friends.”
Do you agree that the success of the film could be due to the female lead’s character? Why?
7. This extract is from a Guardian Article called: Where have all the good women gone?, again talking about Romantic Comedies. The writer concludes her piece by speaking about the group of 17 year old girls she went to the cinema with to see Confessions of a Shopaholic and mentions Diane Purkiss, a professor at Oxford who is passionate about the lack of female respect in romantic comedies nowadays.
“The group write off many of today's rom-coms as predictable, cliched and exaggerated, but they're not too bothered. They prefer horror films. I ask whether there are any female characters that have particularly captured their imagination, and while rom-coms come up short, Bronté finally plumps for Angelina Jolie's character in the thriller Mr and Mrs Smith – an assassin on a mission to kill her own husband. When I relay this to Diane Purkiss, she sounds distinctly relieved. "I'll sleep better tonight," she says. "That just shows that no matter how powerful the cultural forces raining down on you are, you can always find a role model somewhere."
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ReplyDeleteBridget Jones Notting Hill Love Actually Prada Annie Hall
ReplyDelete2 Yes in almost all women are portrayed as helpless and desiring the attention of men
3 All but not character building women should not be learning behaviour from a film
4 Yes I do take Sex and the City this is how "modern women" are supposed to be this I feel is to the detriment of normal women. Again we are in the relm of conformity its the same in magazines why should women strive to loo like **** whoever it may be
5 I am not sure it does its about women in a female environment namley fashion.
6 Yes I think it is down to the lead as women are often portrayed as uptight and serious so its good to see a "slacker" female in the same mold as the frequent Seth Rogen male characters or any Jason Smith males. Whilst I did not really enjoy the film she was a decent character but representative of real women I ddont think so
7 I agree this is also demonstrated by BJones. I am not sure they become role models more of an acceptable form of breaking the conventions of typical female behaviour
I would strongly appreciate your completion of the questionnaire below as the information will help me towards my A2 Media Exam.
ReplyDelete1. Name five romantic comedies that you have seen
Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Yes Man,Love actually, The Prince and Me, Bridget Jones.
2. In these films have you felt that the women were representing female stereotypes? (e.g, cooking, cleaning, shopping, appearance, dependence on men, need for child etc)Well within my five chosen Rom com's the representation varies a little, The women seem to be stuck between two men, they seem to try to hard to impress men, common scenes of Women becoming upset by men, but then eventually giving in.. soo quite weak willed,they seem quite clusmy(esp bridget jones).
3. If any films stuck to these stereotypes, how many topics of the below do you believe it is a result of? (Tick one or all of the points)
• Assumptions with target audience
• Popularity and common element of most romantic comedies
• Realism being portrayed
• Ideologies over women – assumed by directors or film makers
• Character building (needed for narrative)
I think all, i think that for character building needed for the narrative to keep these rom coms refreshed, though it might influence some women to act in a particular way, or reckonise particular elements maybe within themsevles.
4. Do you believe female leads are seen as icons or people to look up to in romantic comedies? Why? I dont think they are seen as icons, i think women realise how unlikely these sort of situations come across in real life. But i think women wish to have that kind of experience to feel speical, or have that kind of bond with that one particular person. its more what they want from men, than women peronsally.
5. In a recent survey 2/3 of females aged 17 to 45 said that The Devil Wears Prada is a film that represents empowerment in the female lead. Do you agree with this? Why?
I haven't seen Devil wears Prada, but by the look of trailers the use of mise en scene represent strenght within a female work place, though it shows negative sides of working for a women.
6. A quote from a BBC Article called: Romancing the Box Office about romantic comedies from past to present, the writer speaks about the success of Bridget Jones’ Diary –
“Taking £41.6m in the UK alone, Bridget Jones' Diary had another element crucial to the success of the romantic comedy - a leading character with whom the audience could closely identify.
Thousands of thirty-something women sat down with friends and a glass of wine to watch a thirty-something woman discuss her love life over a glass of wine with friends.”
Do you agree that the success of the film could be due to the female lead’s character? Why?
I think to a certain amount yes, because we haven't seen this particular character in film before which gives the audience something new to see, and because she represents a more "today" Character women her age can relate to particular experiences, and feel not alone, and know they're are women other than the ones who are stick think and get everything they want.
7. This extract is from a Guardian Article called: Where have all the good women gone?, again talking about Romantic Comedies. The writer concludes her piece by speaking about the group of 17 year old girls she went to the cinema with to see Confessions of a Shopaholic and mentions Diane Purkiss, a professor at Oxford who is passionate about the lack of female respect in romantic comedies nowadays.
“The group write off many of today's rom-coms as predictable, cliched and exaggerated, but they're not too bothered. They prefer horror films. I ask whether there are any female characters that have particularly captured their imagination, and while rom-coms come up short, Bronté finally plumps for Angelina Jolie's character in the thriller Mr and Mrs Smith – an assassin on a mission to kill her own husband. When I relay this to Diane Purkiss, she sounds distinctly relieved. "I'll sleep better tonight," she says. "That just shows that no matter how powerful the cultural forces raining down on you are, you can always find a role model somewhere."
I think women represented in rom coms to be a little predictable, but these are because of the conventions used within film, Angelina Represents within her films normally a strong female character i.e. Tomb Raider, Mr& Mrs Smith etc so it gives change for audiences to ideal her instead of women in rom coms, because she has multiable features which makes her look appealing to young women than women who depend on men.
Hope thats okay.... (:
1. Name five romantic comedies that you have seen
ReplyDeleteForgetting Sarah Marshall, Love Actually, Bridget Jones, Never Been Kissed and How to loose a guy in ten days.
2. In these films have you felt that the women were representing female stereotypes? (e.g, cooking, cleaning, shopping, appearance, dependence on men, need for child etc)
Yes as i think that all of the women are shown to be in need of male attention and at some stage appear vulnerable.
3. If any films stuck to these stereotypes, how many topics of the below do you believe it is a result of? (Tick one or all of the points)
• Assumptions with target audience
• Popularity and common element of most romantic comedies
• Ideologies over women – assumed by directors or film makers
• Character building (needed for narrative)
4. Do you believe female leads are seen as icons or people to look up to in romantic comedies? Why?
No. I think that as an audience we realise that the situations being depicted are highly unlikely to arise as a real life situation. Yet the attention and sex appeal that the lead women often have is something that all women find desirable.
5. In a recent survey 2/3 of females aged 17 to 45 said that The Devil Wears Prada is a film that represents empowerment in the female lead. Do you agree with this? Why?
Yes and no. I do because by the end of the film she is alot more confident, succesful and independant. However this is mainly down to the fact that she has conformed to the norms of her working enviroment which implys to the audience that your appearence will affect the how successful you are.
6. A quote from a BBC Article called: Romancing the Box Office about romantic comedies from past to present, the writer speaks about the success of Bridget Jones’ Diary –
“Taking £41.6m in the UK alone, Bridget Jones' Diary had another element crucial to the success of the romantic comedy - a leading character with whom the audience could closely identify.
Thousands of thirty-something women sat down with friends and a glass of wine to watch a thirty-something woman discuss her love life over a glass of wine with friends.”
Do you agree that the success of the film could be due to the female lead’s character? Why?
Yes i would agree because in Bridget Jones she is shown to have the same insecurities as a normal women. Most rom coms and Hollywood films nowadays use slim women for lead roles that appear to have non of the body issues or inscurities of everyday women. Therefore by making Bridget 'normal' the audience is more likely to be able to relate to her.
7. This extract is from a Guardian Article called: Where have all the good women gone?, again talking about Romantic Comedies. The writer concludes her piece by speaking about the group of 17 year old girls she went to the cinema with to see Confessions of a Shopaholic and mentions Diane Purkiss, a professor at Oxford who is passionate about the lack of female respect in romantic comedies nowadays.
“The group write off many of today's rom-coms as predictable, cliched and exaggerated, but they're not too bothered. They prefer horror films. I ask whether there are any female characters that have particularly captured their imagination, and while rom-coms come up short, Bronté finally plumps for Angelina Jolie's character in the thriller Mr and Mrs Smith – an assassin on a mission to kill her own husband. When I relay this to Diane Purkiss, she sounds distinctly relieved. "I'll sleep better tonight," she says. "That just shows that no matter how powerful the cultural forces raining down on you are, you can always find a role model somewhere."
1. Name five romantic comedies that you have seen
ReplyDeleteBrideget Jones Diary, The Devil Wears Prada, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Bride Wars and Notting Hill.
2. In these films have you felt that the women were representing female stereotypes? (e.g, cooking, cleaning, shopping, appearance, dependence on men, need for child etc)
in each film the main female charecters possessed certain stereotypes such as in Bride Wars all the girls cared about was having the perfect wedding. but again in the films they all possessed qualities that could be thought as empowering, such as, in The Deevil Wears Prada she chases her dream of a high power career.
3. If any films stuck to these stereotypes, how many topics of the below do you believe it is a result of? (Tick one or all of the points)
• Assumptions with target audience
Yes
• Popularity and common element of most romantic comedies
Yes
• Realism being portrayed
Yes
• Ideologies over women – assumed by directors or film makers
No
• Character building (needed for narrative)
No
4. Do you believe female leads are seen as icons or people to look up to in romantic comedies? Why?
Can be, bridget jones and devil wears prada i would say could be icons, but not in the other films because they are more sterotypical and less empowering.
5. In a recent survey 2/3 of females aged 17 to 45 said that The Devil Wears Prada is a film that represents empowerment in the female lead. Do you agree with this? Why?
yes i do agree with this, but she does give up her career in the fashion industry in fear that she will never find love, slightly contradicting her empowerment and independency.
6. A quote from a BBC Article called: Romancing the Box Office about romantic comedies from past to present, the writer speaks about the success of Bridget Jones’ Diary –
“Taking £41.6m in the UK alone, Bridget Jones' Diary had another element crucial to the success of the romantic comedy - a leading character with whom the audience could closely identify.
Thousands of thirty-something women sat down with friends and a glass of wine to watch a thirty-something woman discuss her love life over a glass of wine with friends.”
Do you agree that the success of the film could be due to the female lead’s character? Why?
i believe that part of the success was because the charecter was so identifiable and many could identify and emphathise easily with the charecter. Because perhaps this is reflective of independent women in their 30s who are looking for love?!
7. This extract is from a Guardian Article called: Where have all the good women gone?, again talking about Romantic Comedies. The writer concludes her piece by speaking about the group of 17 year old girls she went to the cinema with to see Confessions of a Shopaholic and mentions Diane Purkiss, a professor at Oxford who is passionate about the lack of female respect in romantic comedies nowadays.
“The group write off many of today's rom-coms as predictable, cliched and exaggerated, but they're not too bothered. They prefer horror films. I ask whether there are any female characters that have particularly captured their imagination, and while rom-coms come up short, Bronté finally plumps for Angelina Jolie's character in the thriller Mr and Mrs Smith – an assassin on a mission to kill her own husband. When I relay this to Diane Purkiss, she sounds distinctly relieved. "I'll sleep better tonight," she says. "That just shows that no matter how powerful the cultural forces raining down on you are, you can always find a role model somewhere."
1. Name five romantic comedies that you have seen
ReplyDeleteForgetting Sarah Marshall, 10 Things I Hate About You, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, The Sweetest Thing, The Holiday
2. In these films have you felt that the women were representing female stereotypes? (e.g, cooking, cleaning, shopping, appearance, dependence on men, need for child etc)
In the majority of the films the woman seem to be independant such as 10 Things I Hate About You where she isn't even intrested in men at first and not really feminine compared to The
Sweetest Thing when all three characters are really girly and like to shop and have a good time.
3. If any films stuck to these stereotypes, how many topics of the below do you believe it is a result of? (Tick one or all of the points)
• Assumptions with target audience
• Popularity and common element of most romantic comedies
Yes
• Realism being portrayed
• Ideologies over women – assumed by directors or film makers
• Character building (needed for narrative)
Yes
4. Do you believe female leads are seen as icons or people to look up to in romantic comedies? Why?
No I dont think the woman are seen as icons, more of a relisation that the storys told never happen in reality.
5. In a recent survey 2/3 of females aged 17 to 45 said that The Devil Wears Prada is a film that represents empowerment in the female lead. Do you agree with this? Why?
Yes and no as at the end of the film she is alot more confident and stands up for herself by leaving but I can't really remember the film as I saw it along time ago.
6. A quote from a BBC Article called: Romancing the Box Office about romantic comedies from past to present, the writer speaks about the success of Bridget Jones’ Diary –
“Taking £41.6m in the UK alone, Bridget Jones' Diary had another element crucial to the success of the romantic comedy - a leading character with whom the audience could closely identify.
Thousands of thirty-something women sat down with friends and a glass of wine to watch a thirty-something woman discuss her love life over a glass of wine with friends.”
Do you agree that the success of the film could be due to the female lead’s character? Why?
Yes because alot of woman can relate to her need to find love. She is also concerned with her weight and figure like alot of us girls are so when you watch her its almost like watching yourself, you feel her embarrassment and all the other emotions she goes through.
7. This extract is from a Guardian Article called: Where have all the good women gone?, again talking about Romantic Comedies. The writer concludes her piece by speaking about the group of 17 year old girls she went to the cinema with to see Confessions of a Shopaholic and mentions Diane Purkiss, a professor at Oxford who is passionate about the lack of female respect in romantic comedies nowadays.
“The group write off many of today's rom-coms as predictable, cliched and exaggerated, but they're not too bothered. They prefer horror films. I ask whether there are any female characters that have particularly captured their imagination, and while rom-coms come up short, Bronté finally plumps for Angelina Jolie's character in the thriller Mr and Mrs Smith – an assassin on a mission to kill her own husband. When I relay this to Diane Purkiss, she sounds distinctly relieved. "I'll sleep better tonight," she says. "That just shows that no matter how powerful the cultural forces raining down on you are, you can always find a role model somewhere."
1. bridget jones, the holiday, what women want, shallow hal, notting hill
ReplyDelete2.bridget jones- yes because she worries about wieght and love but no because she smokes and drinks so much.
the holiday- yes but one of the women is rich and successful
what women want- yes because of what they want from men
shallow hal- what he sees them as ar steroytpyed as beautiful
along came polly- yes
3. • Assumptions with target audience
• Popularity and common element of most romantic comedies
• Ideologies over women – assumed by directors or film makers
4. i think they are not really seen as aspirational icons or people to look up to but most women can relate to at least some aspects of these stereotypes.
5. yes because miranda is an empowered woman and is the boss and andy is trying to get herself a good career but no because all the characters are obsessed with girly things and become mean to reach the top.
6. yes because so many women can relate to it without it being a typical stereotype.
1. Bridget Jones, The holiday, Along came Polly, Just married, Shallow Hal
ReplyDelete2. Yes a majority of them. The women are seen as feminine and 'girly' wanting a loving relationship yet in the holiday Cameron Diaz is seen as a hard working successful woman and Bridget Jones smokes, swears and drinks yet she still worries about her appearance and men.
3. If any films stuck to these stereotypes, how many topics of the below do you believe it is a result of? (Tick one or all of the points)
• Assumptions with target audience
Yes
• Popularity and common element of most romantic comedies
Yes
• Realism being portrayed
Yes
• Ideologies over women – assumed by directors or film makers
Yes
• Character building (needed for narrative)
No
4. I think the way the women are represented reflect typical women today which people can connnect with and understand making it humorous therefore I don't think they would see them as role models.
5.Yes I agree because Miranda is seen as bossy, strict and in charge. Andrea takes over the other girl's job and becomes a hard working successful independent woman.
6. Yes because it refelcts women as they really are. Viewers can identify with the character making it humurous as it is as though they are laughing at themselves