Gender & Cinema

A set of flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on gender and cinema, focusing on representation, hegemonic masculinity, femininity, queer representations, and intersectionality.

What does cinema do with regard to gender roles?

Cinema shapes and normalizes gender roles, with representation that is never neutral.

What is the Male Gaze according to Laura Mulvey?

The Male Gaze aligns the camera with the heterosexual male perspective, presenting women as objects of visual pleasure and men as active bearers of the look.

What is an example of the Male Gaze in 'Rear Window'?

In 'Rear Window', the male gaze serves as the engine of the narrative, with female bodies observed within frames.

How does 'Vertigo' illustrate the Male Gaze?

In 'Vertigo', Scottie follows Madeleine based solely on her appearance, embodying an act of watching rather than a relationship.

What does the Madonna-Whore binary refer to?

The Madonna-Whore binary punishes active women and categorizes femininity into two opposing archetypes.

What is the significance of the Femme Fatale in cinema?

The Femme Fatale is portrayed as a mysterious, seductive woman who leads her lovers into danger, often resulting in death and crime.

What thematic elements are present in 'Black Swan'?

'Black Swan' represents monstrous femininity leading to self-destruction, discipline, and pain inherent in the quest for perfection.

What does 'Thelma & Louise' signify in terms of femininity?

'Thelma & Louise' illustrates freedom through rebellion against patriarchal order and emphasizes female solidarity.

What myth does 'Gone Girl' critique?

'Gone Girl' critiques the 'cool girl' myth, revealing the expectations on women to conform to male desire, often resulting in manipulation and violence.

What is hegemonic masculinity?

Hegemonic masculinity refers to the dominant form of masculinity, characterized by power, control, and emotional inhibition, while excluding other forms.

How is masculinity represented in 'Rambo'?

In 'Rambo', masculinity is depicted through an overly muscular body that legitimizes violence and problem resolution through physical strength.

What does 'Fight Club' say about modern masculinity?

'Fight Club' explores the crisis of masculinity and suggests that violence serves as a way to reclaim lost identity and meaning in a capitalist society.

What kind of masculinity is portrayed in 'Call Me By Your Name'?

'Call Me By Your Name' portrays sensitive and romantic masculinity, where emotional openness is appreciated and not associated with shame.

What does 'Moonlight' depict about black masculinity?

'Moonlight' represents quiet and emotional black masculinity and challenges aggressive stereotypes by focusing on emotional experiences.

What does queer representation in cinema address?

Queer representation questions norms and fixed identities, addressing tokenism, tragedy narratives, and the importance of who tells the story.

How is trans identity presented in 'Boys Don’t Cry'?

'Boys Don’t Cry' frames trans identity through violence and victimhood, reinforcing tragedy narratives associated with trans experiences.

What is the significance of 'The Danish Girl'?

'The Danish Girl' is shaped by a cisgender gaze, presenting trans identity through aestheticization rather than lived complexity.

What is unique about 'Portrait of a Lady on Fire'?

'Portrait of a Lady on Fire' constructs queer femininity through mutual looking, promoting an egalitarian visual relationship based on consent.

How does 'Paris Is Burning' contribute to queer representation?

'Paris Is Burning' offers a platform for queer self-representation, allowing marginalized LGBTQ+ communities to narrate their own identities.

What does intersectionality in cinema examine?

Intersectionality examines the interplay of gender, race, class, and sexuality, highlighting whose gender stories are missing in mainstream cinema.

What does 'Roma' highlight about femininity and labor?

'Roma' centers on an Indigenous domestic worker's gendered experiences shaped by class, ethnicity, and social marginalization.

What themes are explored in 'The Color Purple'?

'The Color Purple' depicts Black femininity at the intersection of race, poverty, and gendered violence, emphasizing survival and solidarity.

What does 'Persepolis' reveal about women's bodies?

'Persepolis' shows female bodies as sites of political regulation and resistance under ideological control in post-revolutionary Iran.

What does the conclusion pose regarding visibility in cinema?

The conclusion raises the question of whether visibility truly equates to empowerment.