Critical Investigation: Essay Plan

To what extent do films such as the 'The Hunger Games' film series prove that gender stereotypes are being increasingly subverted in the film industry?

Introduction (200 words)

• "A fighter, a killer, a survivor, she fights boys, and even rescues boys."-https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/aug/12/why-hunger-games-killer-katniss-is-a-great-female-role-model
• "Do images of self-sufficient girls signal feminist progress in terms of gender stereotypes?" - 'Hunting Girls', Kelly Oliver, 2016

Section 1 (250 words)

Historical Text 1 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

• This section will address an example of a film that explicitly reinforces gender stereotypes, male and female.
• "Snow White gives the message to young girls that your duties are cleaning and enjoying it, taking care of others, and waiting for a prince to save you." https://disneyanalysis.weebly.com/female-stereotypes.html
• "The gender roles in the movie are rather black and white. A woman is considered to be a homemaker, naive, and lacking in common sense."-https://punkbulletwomenstudies.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs/
• "They do not cook, clean, take care of each other or themselves. They go to work and take advantage of Snow White’s ability to appear to be a homemaker."-https://punkbulletwomenstudies.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs/
• "Children learn that there are certain ways in which men and women should behave in order to fit into their roles in society. -"https://punkbulletwomenstudies.wordpress.com/2012/09/14/snow-white-and-the-seven-dwarfs

Section 2 (450 words)

Primary Text - 'The Hunger Games' series (2012-2015)

• In this section's opening paragraph I aim to focus on just how strongly the character of Katniss subverts the female stereotypes which have generally been reinforced in society for centuries.
• This will precede my textual analysis which focuses on the representation of both males and females in a particular scene in the last film in the series, and I'll also try and include examples of potential uses and gratifications (particularly in regards to female characters) that come out of seeing female characters portrayed in such a contrasted yet empowering way.
• "Women and girl hunters account for the growth of hunting sports" - The Economist 2006; FoxNews.com 2013; 'Hunting Girls', Kelly Oliver, 2016
• "Our prepubescent protagonist, a tough no nonsense teenager, is more comfortable wearing hunting clothes and boots than a prom dress and heels." - 'Hunting Girls', Kelly Oliver, 2016
• "Their own status as prey is camouflaged by their position as predators in relation to the animals upon which they prey." - 'Hunting Girls', Kelly Oliver, 2016

Section 3 (200 words)

Secondary Text - Billy Elliot (2000)

• In this section I'll discuss how male stereotypes have also started to be increasingly subverted in Hollywood.
• "We constructed a masculine identity that served the industrial revolution well." 
• "As Billy’s father simply puts it ‘lads do football, boxing, or wrestling — not friggin’ ballet!" https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/what-billy-elliot-taught-us-about-british-history/
• "Because ballet is seen as a feminine pursuit, men who dance run the risk of being labelled feminine, girly or homosexual."http://theconversation.com/time-for-a-step-change-in-how-we-view-men-on-the-dancefloor-22755
• "The Royal Ballet has succumbed to the Billy Elliot effect. For the first time in its 76-year history, the establishment that spawned such stars as Dame Margot Fonteyn and Darcey Bussell has accepted more boys than girls." http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1390792/More-boys-than-girls-join-the-Royal-Ballet.html

Section 4 (200 words)

Historical Text 2 - Calamity Jane (1953)

• This section essentially challenges the popular belief that Katniss was one of Hollywood's first big feminist icons.
• My textual analysis of this film will focus on how the eponymous character fights the post-war female expectations.  
• "Women were now expected to stay at home and take care of the kids while the husband went to work to financially support the family." -http://social.rollins.edu/wpsites/thirdsight/2013/04/13/gender-roles-in-a-post-war-america/
• "Furthermore, the 1950s are often identified as the pinnacle of gender inequality."http://social.rollins.edu/wpsites/thirdsight/2013/04/13/gender-roles-in-a-post-war-america/