Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Previous Critical Investigations Feedback

http://jaleesadenton-mest4.blogspot.com/- Jaleesa

In relation to the essay, this person managed to get an A grade, as they demonstrated knowledge and understanding of media concepts such as representation; 'A constructionist view of representation which “suggests that our knowledge of the world is constructed by media representations”[3] By doing this, the person has also managed to state a debate, giving different opinions.

As well as this , this person has managed to undertake and apply relevant research, such as theories and research, for example 'The concept of stereotypes has been developed by Stuart Hall, whereby he stated that “ethnic minorities are continually misrepresented by racial (and racist) stereotypes.”[4] “Media stereotyping occurs when the roles and behaviour on personal characteristics of a particular group are portrayed in a limited fashion.”[5] By also supporting research with theorists, the essay is more developed and concise, as the hypothesis is supported by theorists such as Stuart Hall, therefore contextual research is adapted and supported by quotes.

In accordance, the essay is worthy of an A grade, as they have mentioned examples in the media, as well as their two texts in order to address thier points, for example 'Dev Alahan is an Asian corner-shop owner in the British soap-opera “Coronation Street” (ITV). “Coronation Street” has been accused of using this stereotypical image in order to represent all Asians as it may be believed that all corner-shops are owned by this ethnic group'. Similarly, the essay is of a high standard, as figures are given to support the hypothesis, 'With over 2000 employees at the BBC, only 11.5% of them are from ethnic minorities. This reflects what is shown on-screen as some soap-operas either do not have ethnic characters or have only just started showcasing them'. In this way, the essay is worthy of an A grade, as research is derived from sources and is balanced, with figures and quotes by theorists, books revolving around race and representations of ethnic minorities and people working in the media is also given.

http://filmauthorship.blogspot.com/ - Jatinder

In my opinion, this essay is worthy of an A grade, as this candidate has managed to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts such as stereotypes and roles of women. In conjunction to the essay, the person has referenced to texts where women are represented in different ways, for example "Scream" (1997), Sydney, the protagonist, has sex but does not die. This clearly shows that society has become more progressive and as a result stereotypes have changed. By giving historical examples, the person has looked into the context of women in films and showing how their roles have changed- from vulnerable to more active.

As well as this, the person has managed to demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research, for example the candidate has referenced to theorists such as Laura Mulvey and the male gaze; looking at how audiences such as men look towards women in films and the different stereotypes of women. Yet, the person has also put forward a straightforward argument, looking at the fact that stereotypes have not changed, e.g 'women are still objectified with The Sun's "page 3 girl", clearly proving Mulvey's ideas that they are there "to-be-looked-at". Some stereotypes will always remain as the media will inject hegemonic attitudes of women being sub-ordinate to men'. Therefore, the person has looked at the fact that women are objectified across different platforms such as print on Page 3 in the Sun, where women are objects for the male gaze.

On the whole, this essay is of an A grade standard, as the candidate has referred to contextual research and has given examples to different texts by Tarantino and other texts, where the roles of women have been changed or have remained the same. Whats more, the candidate has also cited theories and theorists such as Laura Mulvey, who looks at the male gaze, therefore the essay is well rounded, though more quotes have been referenced in order to back up some of the points made.

http://avneet-med6.blogspot.com/- Avneet

This specific essay is of an A grade standard, as the candidate has referenced some examples such as Sarah Connor in ‘The Terminator’ in 1984 and Angelina Jolie in ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ alongside her main text Wanted (2008)which backs up her hypothesis on whether women in action movies are represented as empowered female role models or as sex objects? By doing this, she looks at the changing role of women in action movies, with the few references to historical examples in order to justify some points. Notably, she has focused in some degree of detail on her main text, paying attention to the concepts of the action genre and the director of the film 'Wanted', for example the conventions of the genre include 'fast cars, explosions, and guns clearly connote action; whereas an ordinary guy turning into the number one assassin clearly conveys fantasy. Though, she also refers to the director's decisions and role reversals, offering alternative representations of women in action films , for example Bekmambetov reverses Propp’s narrative theory[7] of the hero rescuing the ‘damsel in distress’, as Fox rescues the male character (Wesley) in the opening of the movie.

Interestingly, she also refers to theorists such as Freud and the connotations of weapons , as seen in the essay, 'The Freudian theory suggests “men unconsciously see women as castrated and this causes them to feel anxiety which is why fetishization objects are used in order to reduce anxiety.”[10] As well as this, she refers to phallic symbols and their importance to females in action films, with examples from texts shown to back up her point, as evident in the essay, "....need for a phallic symbol, usually a gun, which is also typical iconography for action genre. One examples is “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider”, the leading female, Lara (played by Angelina Jolie) must sleep with a knife. The knife can be seen as a phallic symbol, put there by the male director to stop “castration anxiety”[11] in order to stop losing “power or control”[12]

What's more, the essay also gives different views on the representation of women, with some references to different genres such as science fiction, and how women are alternatively represented as being brave and active, ‘Alien’ was one of the first action movies to have an active empowered female lead role, which was played by Sigourney Weaver (Ripley) who is a “resourceful, self-reliant, hard-assed, feminist action heroine”[23]. Crucially, the essay cites quotations from theorists such as Miles in this case, who looks at action films depicting women, for example Miles (1975) found “action adventure shows only 15% of the leading characters were women”[20] This all changed when “the second wave [of] feminism”[21] took place and there was a “presence in society for equality”[22]

On the whole, the essay is extensively resourced and well supported, with theories and quotes from theorists mentioned and linked to her points. In addition, she has referred to context; where women were presented both positively and negatively, as emphasised in 'Alien'. As well as this, she has also paid attention to concepts such as connotations and symbols in action films.

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