Specimen Answer
Compare how gender is represented in one sequence from each of your chosen film. Refer to one character from each film. [20]
This essay will scrutinise the difference ways gender is represented by analysing the main characters RP McMurphy and Scottie in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Vertigo. The scenes that will be explored in this essay are the voting of the baseball game in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and in Vertigo the scene is where Madeleine jumps in to the bay.
In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest RP McMurphy comes into the film as very bright and cheerful character which makes him more vulnerable as Nurse Ratched oppresses him eventually breaking his spirit however he achieves certain goals which are as follows, he gives the men back their masculinity and helps them realise they are being treated unfairly. The representations of RP McMurphy in the voting scene is an angry and annoyed which could be an a normal male trait. Whereas he is metaphorically castrated which makes him weak as she is trying to show her authority which is the same throughout the whole film. In the scene where they vote for the second time McMurphy shows his connection with the men on the ward by the way Cheswick stands up against Nurse Ratched about the baseball game that they both want to watch. The following extract shows this
Cheswick: well i don't think so because we discussed that yesterday and we have a new game today, i think don't we Mac?
This shows the impression that he has made on the other patients on the ward and this is where the whole group votes and Nurse Ratched adjourned the group which then when McMurphy gets Chief's vote she denies him to watch the baseball game.
McMurphy: [When The Chief slowly raises his hand] The Chief voted. Now, will you please turn on the television set?
Nurse Ratched: [she opens the glass panel] Mr. McMurphy, the meeting was adjourned and the vote was closed.
McMurphy: But the vote was 10 to 8. The Chief, he's got his hand up! Look!
Nurse Ratched: No, Mr. McMurphy. When the meeting was adjourned, the vote was 9 to 9.
McMurphy: Aw come on, you're not gonna say that now. You're not gonna say that now. You're gonna pull that hen-house shit now when the vote...the Chief just voted - it was 10 to 8. Now I want that television set turned on, right now![Nurse Ratched slides the glass panel across the front of the Nurse's Station, shutting out his protest.]
The gender represented is shown especially in this extract as challenging the stereotype of a women being the weak and the men being dominant. By Nurse Ratched refusing McMurphy this shows McMurphy as powerless and not dominant and out of control.
In the film Vertigo Scottie in the scene where Madeleine jumps into the bay or as Scottie tells her she fell shows a hidden representation of gender as he is the one saving her from herself and the spirit within her. This shows that Scottie is the dominant male as you stereo-typically think of. Whereas Madeleine is shown as the weak helpless women that needs a man to help her and support her. The extract below shows the her reaction after she wakes up at Scottie's apartment after she had jumped into the bay.
Scottie: You'd better come over here by the fire where it's warm.
Madeleine: What am I doing here? What happened?
Scottie: Well, you fell into San Francisco Bay. I, uh, I tried to dry your hair as best I could. Your things are in the kitchen. They'll be dry in a few minutes. Come on over by the fire.
There is also another extract which show different gender representations as Scottie has become obsessed with changing Judy's appearance and making her look like Madeleine and recreating that image of her on Judy exactly how he wants it. The following extract shows this.
This essay will scrutinise the difference ways gender is represented by analysing the main characters RP McMurphy and Scottie in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and Vertigo. The scenes that will be explored in this essay are the voting of the baseball game in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and in Vertigo the scene is where Madeleine jumps in to the bay.
In One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest RP McMurphy comes into the film as very bright and cheerful character which makes him more vulnerable as Nurse Ratched oppresses him eventually breaking his spirit however he achieves certain goals which are as follows, he gives the men back their masculinity and helps them realise they are being treated unfairly. The representations of RP McMurphy in the voting scene is an angry and annoyed which could be an a normal male trait. Whereas he is metaphorically castrated which makes him weak as she is trying to show her authority which is the same throughout the whole film. In the scene where they vote for the second time McMurphy shows his connection with the men on the ward by the way Cheswick stands up against Nurse Ratched about the baseball game that they both want to watch. The following extract shows this
Cheswick: well i don't think so because we discussed that yesterday and we have a new game today, i think don't we Mac?
This shows the impression that he has made on the other patients on the ward and this is where the whole group votes and Nurse Ratched adjourned the group which then when McMurphy gets Chief's vote she denies him to watch the baseball game.
McMurphy: [When The Chief slowly raises his hand] The Chief voted. Now, will you please turn on the television set?
Nurse Ratched: [she opens the glass panel] Mr. McMurphy, the meeting was adjourned and the vote was closed.
McMurphy: But the vote was 10 to 8. The Chief, he's got his hand up! Look!
Nurse Ratched: No, Mr. McMurphy. When the meeting was adjourned, the vote was 9 to 9.
McMurphy: Aw come on, you're not gonna say that now. You're not gonna say that now. You're gonna pull that hen-house shit now when the vote...the Chief just voted - it was 10 to 8. Now I want that television set turned on, right now![Nurse Ratched slides the glass panel across the front of the Nurse's Station, shutting out his protest.]
The gender represented is shown especially in this extract as challenging the stereotype of a women being the weak and the men being dominant. By Nurse Ratched refusing McMurphy this shows McMurphy as powerless and not dominant and out of control.
In the film Vertigo Scottie in the scene where Madeleine jumps into the bay or as Scottie tells her she fell shows a hidden representation of gender as he is the one saving her from herself and the spirit within her. This shows that Scottie is the dominant male as you stereo-typically think of. Whereas Madeleine is shown as the weak helpless women that needs a man to help her and support her. The extract below shows the her reaction after she wakes up at Scottie's apartment after she had jumped into the bay.
Scottie: You'd better come over here by the fire where it's warm.
Madeleine: What am I doing here? What happened?
Scottie: Well, you fell into San Francisco Bay. I, uh, I tried to dry your hair as best I could. Your things are in the kitchen. They'll be dry in a few minutes. Come on over by the fire.
There is also another extract which show different gender representations as Scottie has become obsessed with changing Judy's appearance and making her look like Madeleine and recreating that image of her on Judy exactly how he wants it. The following extract shows this.
Judy: If I let you change me, will that do it? If I do what you tell me, will you love me?
Scottie: Yes. Yes.
Judy: All right. All right then, I'll do it. I don't care anymore about me.
The gender representations in this is showing her lack of control or power in the relationship and her giving in to him which makes Scottie more powerful as a male. This also suggests that she is giving up what she wants to please him which also shows superiority of the main male character. Showing also agrees with the stereotype that all women want is to make their boyfriends/husbands happy no matter what it costs them personally.
Some good use of quotes, but don't over do these Keighley, a couple of lines at most is usually enough.
ReplyDeleteYou have good arguments and some good examples, you have used examples well to illustrate the points you wish to make but the essay needs a conclusion which summarises the main points you're making and offers a final explanation of how gender is represented.
I'd also like to see you using film language more, this means engaging with how meaning is created, in this case the creation of representations through camerawork, mise-en-scene and sound, for example more detail on the sterility of the hospital in OFOTCN, or the use of the colour green signifying jealousy and thus bringin in a gender power debate in Vertigo.
Not a bad first effort though Keighley, A level essays are a challenge and detail and depth is needed to score highly
I will do better next time and i will also include more film language.
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