The Role (and Roles) of Women in Film
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Monika Bartyzel has an excellent and insightful essay on Movies.com called Girls on Film: Why Supporting Female Characters Matter.
Funny men like Seth Rogen and Jason Segal act as the everyman with a witty sarcastic edge, and since men dominate cinematic comedy, this relatability is front-and-center. But these are male-dominated characteristics that have no realistic female balance or counterpoint. They can offer relatable aspects, but not a comedic mirror for the female audience – women relating women. Since men almost universally take the lead in any comedic film that doesn’t start with “rom,” women must turn to the supporting roles – roles which are not only secondary characterizations, but also clichéd whirlwinds that have little resemblance to reality.
She used twitter to invite comments and heard back from women who were also concerned about the portrayal of female characters:
Most complaints centered on one of the most prevalent characterizations – the shrew – the woman who acts as the anti-fun counterpoint to the fun-loving man, who, as smart as she may be, cannot lighten up, who has no sense of humor and takes the fun away, and sometimes needs the man to teach her to lighten up and live. Other irksome qualities included women with a lack of friends, women as either asexual or ridiculously sexual, clingy partners, unreasonable man-haters, catfighters, superficial characters, bossy beasts, hormonal time bombs, and lest we forget – jealous, green-eyed monsters who will not allow men to interact with any woman who is not a blood relative.
Stereotypes in the movies is out of control, that is why I like independent movies. But there are a couple of movies that I watched with my high school and grade school daughters that I thought showed that females don’t need rescuing. First one is a cartoon MULAN. From what I understand the story of MULAN “the woman who saved China” is taught in school in China. That impresses me when a culture can celebrate a hero that is a woman. The next movie that I thought broke down the stereotype of woman not being strong was WHALE RIDER. Here is a young girl who breaks down all the patriarchal rules that this New Zealand Tribe has set in place. These two movies are great for young women to watch and realize that they don’t need to follow the movies formula to what women should be.
-Dwight
Two of my favorites, Dwight! Every family should watch them both. And next year’s Pixar movie is their first with a female lead. It’s called “Brave” and I am really looking forward to it. Thanks so much.