The texts by Laura Mulvey and Angela Mc Robbie reveal some
important light about how women stereotypes take place in cinema and media in
general. Both referred to the objectification of women and in one case the idea
of phallocentrism and scopophilia. On the other side how post-feminism may have
a backlash on its own idea. The film Mean Girls is a good exponent of how
popular culture is touching these ideas and at the same time using comedy to
entertain and maybe backlash what post feminism is implying. The examples of
Cady, Ms. Norbury and many others are interesting role models that show the
role of woman nowadays.
In the example
of Cady, thus we realize how a home-school girl changes due to this new
reality, which is attend to high school for the first time. Cady recognizes different groups
and tendencies, how girls behave in another different and somehow similar
jungle that she used to lived in back in Africa. She makes friends and has a crush on Aaron Samuels
ex-boyfriend of her new “friend” Regina and popular boy. She starts by
approaching him by a process of castrating herself as described in the Laura
Mulvey text. She lower her grades in Math and look for a way to have Aaron as a
tutor, also she changes her clothe to a more provocative style so she can be in
“control” of the situation also as Mulvey describes a socophilia or becoming an object to be look at as
an spectator.
Even though as the post feminist opinion this change that
Cady is having in the film is a critique to the plastics and a mockery to
actually make a big joke to Regina. Cady changes her attitude, and the point of
becoming a plastic to make fun of ,
goes to come to a be one. So the joke is on her more than in the
plastics. Even though the joke is in place, they are both Cady and the plastic
serving to a higher patriarchal world in which being attractive and accepted is
more important than anything else. Just like the advertisement of Claudia Shiffer
taking put her clothe and making a statement that even though that is a sexist
ad, and that feminism is being taken into account, just to make clear that
feminist ideas are no longer necessaries because she is in “control.” The
result is still a similar to a pointless sexist ad.
Another interesting point is the case of Ms. Norbury, the
other new role of woman that represents the post feminism backlash. A divorced
and professional woman with no children who tries to help Cady to be the best
in her math class. Ms. Norbury represented by Tina Fey screenplay writer and a
big expository in media of feminism and post feminism. She represents the fears
and consequences of being an independent, and more intellectual woman, just
like the example of Bridget Jones’ Diary
the film both characters are in their mid thirties still with an unresolved
lives. Both even though with an
apparent good ending, still in the patriarchal world. These characters presents
themselves bitter and problematic, on one side they aim good goals, on the
other they are unhappy. The portrayal of a successful woman influencing Cady
would destroy the whole film, although if she would have turn herself to her
mother, a professional educated woman with an stable family, things would have
turn differently.
Finally the others extremes of portraying and mocking of
feminism is the roll of Janis, a manly and not so visually appealing woman that
look for justice against Regina. Janis is the stereotypical feminist: possibly
lesbian, bitter, and opinionated. Mrs. George is another extreme of post
feminist ideals; she is a “cool mom” with extremely liberal ideals. She has no responsibilities in teaching
values to her daughters, probably a consequence of a suppress teenage life with
a more conservative ideals. Last, the little daughter of Mrs. George that is
watching and learning how to be sexy and provocative since her early stage of
life.
In conclusion, Mean Girls touches each one of the pointed
main topics on the texts. The whole idea of the portrayal of woman in media is
a complex issue. Debates and discussions about it are essential to shape the identity
on this genre. Either the Mulvey and Mc Robbie text explained how this
portrayal changes over time, with a similar façade, but with different meaning.
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