What do we discover about the representation of women from the 1978 film Grease?

Recap What is ideolo!"?

What has ideolo!" !ot to do with the media? #ll media te$ts contain ideolo!ies that audiences either accept% ne!otiate or re&ect'

What do we discover about the representation of women from the 1978 film !rease"#

What ideolo!ies (ideas) do people have about societ"?

Ideas about gender/women ... Ideas about patriotism/war Ideologies about welfare/poverty

*deolo!ies are not static' +he" chan!e over time'

In what ways have ideologies about women changed since the 19$%s and today& 'udging by these media te(ts"

Grease , set in the 19-.s

What was the dominant ideolo!" about women in the 19-.s?

/ein! a woman in the 19-.s

Women in the 19-.s were repressed and controlled in man" wa"s' 0ociet" placed hi!h importance and man" e$pectations on behaviour at home as well as in public' Women were supposed to carr" out certain roles% such as a carin! mother% a hardwor1in! housewife% and an obedient wife' +he perfect mother was supposed to sta" home and nurture children' # hardwor1in! housewife was e$pected to have dinner on the table precisel" at the moment her husband arrived home from wor1' # wife was a 2!ood2 wife onl" if she carried out her man3s ever" order and a!reed with him on ever"thin!' *t would not be acceptable for a woman of the 19-.s to be stron! and self confident' 0he would not be e$pected to or have an opinion' 0chool and education would onl" be to teach "oun! women the basics and prepare them for a life of domestic wor1' /" the 194.s% millions of women in the 50# were on pills to cope with depression and an$iet"' 6ife devoted to !ettin! married to the perfect man and bein! the perfect housewife was drivin! women mad with boredom and an$iet"' +he challen!e of a career% education% independent travel and e$citement was% it seemed% onl" for men e$cept for a ver" brave or (ver" few) luc1" women' # 19-.3s #merican 7i!h 0chool 7ome 8conomics te$tboo1 for school!irls had a chapter called 27ow to be a Good Wife'2 /ut b" the 194.s and 197.s attitudes were slowl" chan!in!' Women (and some men) be!an to tal1 about and demand womens liberation and e9ual ri!hts' :ore and more women could be seen in the media but not &ust because the" were prett" or as se$ ob&ects% or as obedient !ood !irls waitin! to !et married and loo1 after their husband' :ore and more women were seen to be independent% confident and comfortable with not havin! to depend on men for their happiness'

Grease is a musical' :usicals are often about teena!e love% hopes and dreams;
+he narrative arc of musicals isnt usuall" about the fi!ht between !ood and evil (as in the superhero !enre)' *nstead% our heroes have to overcome the obstacles standin! in the wa" to the fulfilment of their dreams' What are the obstacles in the wa" of our teena!e heroes in Greece?

)andy

Ri<<o

=renchie

Writin! a response to the 9uestion

0uccess criteria
/asic , 6evel 1 0ound , 6evel > Good , 6evel ? 8$cellent , 6evel @

e$planation of how the film represents women

+he more media terminolo!" "ou use accuratel" the hi!her "our level' *deolo!" Aourne" But 8dit +ransformation Representation Carrative 0tereot"pe Bostume :a1eDup /od" lan!ua!e 0e$ ob&ectEob&ectification

)andy and gender binary oppositions * the good student / the virginal# angel the rebel/ the slut#

6oo1 at me% *m 0andra Fee

6oo1 at me% *3m 0andra Fee 6ous" with vir!init" Won3t !o to bed 3til *3m le!all" wed * can3tG *3m 0andra Fee Watch itH 7e" *3m Foris Fa" * was not brou!ht up that wa" Won3t come across% 8ven Roc1 7udson lost 7is heart to Foris Fa" * don3t drin1 (no) Ir swear (no) * don3t rat m" hair (eew) * !et ill from one ci!arette (cou!h% cou!h% cou!h) Jeep "our filth" paws Iff m" sil1" draws Would "ou pull that crap with #nnette? #s for "ou +ro" Fonahue% * 1now what "ou wanna do Kou !ot "our crust *3m no ob&ect of lust *3m &ust plain 0andra Fee 8lvis% 8lvis% let me beH Jeep that pelvis far from meH Aust 1eep "our cool Cow "our startin! to drool 7e" =on!ool% *3m 0andra FeeH 0and" #re "ou ma1in! fun of me Ri<? Ri<<o 0ome people are so touch"H

Ri<<os son!
+here are worse thin!s * could do% +han !o with a bo" or two' 8ven thou!h the nei!hbourhood thin1s *3m trash"% #nd no !ood% * suppose it could be true% /ut there are worse thin!s * could do' * could flirt with all the !u"s% 0mile at them and bat m" e"es' Lress a!ainst them when we dance% :a1e them thin1 the" stand a chance% +hen refuse to see it throu!h' +hat3s a thin! *3d never do' * could sta" home ever" ni!ht% Wait around for :r'Ri!ht' +a1e cold showers ever" da"% #nd throw m" life awa"% In a dream that won3t come true' * could hurt someone li1e me% Iut of spite or &ealous"' * dont steal and * dont lie% /ut * can feel and * can cr"' # fact *3ll bet "ou never 1new' /ut to cr" in front of "ou%

+eauty )chool ,ropout

Kour stor" sad to tell% # teena!e ne3er do well% :ost mi$ed up nonDdelin9uent on the bloc1H Kour future3s so unclear now% What3s left of "our career now? Ban3t even !et a trade in on "our smileH #n!els (6a lalala lalala lalala''') /eaut" school dropout% Co !raduation da" for "ou' /eaut" school dropout% :issed "our midterms and flun1ed shampooH Well at least "ou could have ta1en time% to wash and clean "our clothes up% #fter spendin! all that dou!h to have the doctor fi$ "our nose upH /ab" !et movin! (/ab" !et movin)% Wh" 1eep "our feeble hopes alive? What are "ou provin! (What are "ou provin)? Kou3ve !ot the dream but not the drive' *f "ou !o for "our diploma% "ou could &oin a steno pool' +urn in "our teasin comb and !o bac1 to hi!h schoolH /eaut" school dropout (/eaut" school dropout)% *t3s about time "ou 1new the score' Well the" couldn3t teach "ou an"thin!% Kou thin1 "ou3re such a loo1er% /ut no customer would !o to "ou unless she was a hoo1erH /ab" don3t sweat it (Fon3t sweat it)% Kou3re not cut out to hold a &ob' /etter for!et it (=or!et it)% Who wants their hair done b" a slob? Cow "our ban!s are curled% "our lashes whirled% but still the world is cruel' Wipe off that an!el face and !o bac1 to hi!h schoolH /ab" don3t blow it% Fon3t put m" !ood advice to shame' /ab" "ou 1now it% 8ven Fear #bb"3d sa" the sameH Cow *3ve called the shot% !et off the bloc1% * reall" !otta fl"H Gotta be !oin! to that% malt shop% in the s1"H (/eaut" school dropout) Go bac1 to hi!h school

-i..o#s song
+here are worse thin!s * could do% +han !o with a bo" or two' 8ven thou!h the nei!hbourhood thin1s *3m trash"% #nd no !ood% * suppose it could be true% /ut there are worse thin!s * could do' * could flirt with all the !u"s% 0mile at them and bat m" e"es' Lress a!ainst them when we dance% :a1e them thin1 the" stand a chance% +hen refuse to see it throu!h' +hat3s a thin! *3d never do' * could sta" home ever" ni!ht% Wait around for :r'Ri!ht' +a1e cold showers ever" da"% #nd throw m" life awa"% In a dream that won3t come true' * could hurt someone li1e me% Iut of spite or &ealous"' * dont steal and * dont lie% /ut * can feel and * can cr"' # fact *3ll bet "ou never 1new' /ut to cr" in front of "ou%

+he times are chan!in! D the womens liberation movement in the 197.s
*n 194?% /ett" =riedan3s boo1 The Feminine Mystique spo1e for millions of women who were discontented and unhapp" at bein! forced into bein! housewives after school and colle!e' *n the boo1% =riedan e$plored the roots of the chan!e in women3s roles from essential wor1force durin! World War ** to homebound housewife and mother after the war% and assessed the forces that drove this chan!e in perception of women3s roles' *n the 194.s and 197.s it became common for people to tal1 about and discuss womens liberation and feminism' :ore and more women would be seen in the media demandin! that the" were not to be seen as se$ ob&ects% that the" should not have to !et mens permission to do thin!s an"more% that the" could ta1e control of their bodies' +he wa" women were represented in the media was loo1ed at more criticall"' Lrotests were held at events such as the :iss World competition' #t this time% women that did have &obs were not usuall" paid the same for doin! the same wor1 as a man' Women be!an to or!anise stri1es and protests at this unfair treatment% most famousl" in the late 194.s at =ords Fa!enham in 8sse$% the stor" of which was made into a film in >.1.' *f "ou supported womens ri!hts "ou became 1nown as a member of the feminist movement' =eminists wanted to challen!e what the" called male power and brin! about a new societ" of e9ualit" between the se$es% where both were !iven e9ual respect and freedom'

+he rise of womens ri!hts and feminism in the 197.s

Foes Grease represent the dominant !ender ideolo!ies of the 19-.s or the new ideas about !ender !rowin! in the 197.s?

*s the wa" women are represented in Grease a reflection of the times the film was set , the 19-.s;

Ir when it was released% the 197.s?

Je" media terms , ideolo!"

8ver"one has opinions and ideas about societ" , ever"one has an opinion on what should be done to ma1e societ" wor1 better' +hese ideas are called ideolo!ies' +he media has a lot of power because it can influence our ideas about thin!s% without us even realisin! it' What ideas do "ou have about societ"? What is "our ideolo!"?

Aan

+he main ideolo!" in societ"

We tal1 about left win! or liberal ideolo!" and conservative or ri!htDwin! ideolo!"' Cewspapers are well 1nown for bein! biased' The Sun and the Daily Mail are famous for bein! ri!ht win! or conservative' +he Daily Mirror and The Guardian are famous for bein! more left win! or liberal'

8ver" film we watch also contains ideolo!"

0ome films are ver" patriotic for their countr"' +he heroes in some films are alwa"s the soldiers that 1ill the enem"' +his usuall" means the film is ri!ht win! or conservative' What do "ou thin1 a left win! or liberal film about war mi!ht focus on more% instead?

or'''

What ideolo!" is the media pourin! into "our headH?

/re you right wing or left wing" 0onservative or liberal" 1ets do a test and find out2

What is "our ideolo!"?

MLoor people are la<" scroun!ers' +he" should !et a &ob and not be allowed free benefitsEhandouts from the !overnmentHN
#!ree stron!l" 1 Fisa!ree stron!l" 1.

Ir do "ou thin1;
MLoor people have fallen on hard times' :" parents ta$es should be used to !ive them a helpin! hand and support' *t can happen to an"bod"HN
1 D0tron!l" disa!ree , its not m" problem 0tron!l" a!ree D 1.

Women should sta" at home% loo1 after the children% not have a career , that is for the man
0tron!l" a!ree , 1

0tron!l" disa!ree , 1.

Women are at least e9ual to men , in some thin!s even betterH

)trongly disagree * women are by nature inferior to men * 1

)trongly agree * I believe in e3ual rights for all * 1%

*m ver" patriotic' * alwa"s support m" countr" no matter what

0tron!l" a!ree , 1 0tron!l" disa!ree , war is always stupidH 1.

0ome races are inferior to other races

0tron!l" a!ree , 1 0tron!l" disa!ree D1.

 #ttitudes to patriotism and war #ttitudes to se$ism and womens ri!hts #ttitudes to welfare and povert" +hese are all 1e" ideolo!ical attitudes or beliefs' #dd up "our scores' 7i!her the score , the more liberal "ou are 6ower the score , the more ri!ht win! or conservative "ou areH

+"pical liberalsH

What ideolo!ical values does the film Grease present?

With a close focus on how women are represented

=eminism O +he :ale Ga<e

6aura :ulve"

*ntroduction
6aura :ulve" , :ale Ga<e Influenced by Freud & Jacques Lucan, Mulvey sees the re resentation of !oman in film & literature "and therefore society in #eneral$ as bein# dominated by a male oint of vie!% &er belief is that the !orld is a atriarchy and that men have the 'active( roles and !oman ' assive( To loo) is seen as active

+raditionall"
:en pla" active roles which drive the narrative Women pla" passive roles and are seen as erotic ob&ects which slow the narrative :en far outnumber women =emale roles are sidelined 6ead roles for women scarce

0tereot"pes
/imbo =emales ph"sical attractions such as fi!ure and breasts to overpower the male 8as" 7ouse wife :other *ntelli!ent "et willin! to settle down

:ale Ga<e
+wo distinct modes of the male !a<e of this era vo"euristic and fetishistic :ulve" ar!ued that women where !iven two characters t"pes D se$uall" active female O powerless female =ilms presented ima!es of women that were produced simpl" for the !ratification of male viewers Parious studies in the 197.s found men to be the dominant characters and decision ma1ers in film and +P production

*mportance?
Where women had important roles the" were far more li1el" to be shown as; D fri!htened D in need of protection and direction D offerin! support to the male lead character(s) D not independent or self driven D !enerall" wea1er D still ob&ectified se$uall" *+omen, in any fully human form, have almost com letely been left out of film,%- 6 :ulve"

=i!htin! /ac1
Riple"s role is reflective of feminist ideolo!"' +hrou!hout the #lien series% we see her character !row% chan!e% develop and mature to meet and tac1le each situation placed before her' Bhallen!es cultural norms 6t 8llen Riple" introduced viewers to their first selfD reliant and successful scienceDfiction heroine Riple" encounters difficult situations which challen!e her femininit" 0till shown as se$ual ob&ect to both audience and characters

0he has to fi!ht a!ainst the

patriarchal ideolo!" of the Bompan"% different 1inds of male fi!ures and of course% a!ainst the #lien Fistinctive references to !ender roles% especiall" to women3s status

Bhan!es in societ"
#s women3s roles chan!e so does media representation' 0till ob&ectified but also li1el" to be; Bareer driven *ntelli!ent Bonfident 8mpowered #ble (violent) Remember chan!es ma" be made c"nicall" and in order to ma1e mone" rather than chan!e ideolo!ies 7ow man" female action stars who are not attractive?

# +erminators =eminist +imeline

+1 , 0arah Bonnor is h"sterical% screamin!% in need of rescue +> , 0tron!% empowered% able to hold her own a!ainst #rnie +? , We have female terminator +Q (uses femininit" to advanta!e) +erminator 0arah Bonnor chronicles , save the world

# :odern Representation?

 5ma +hurman represented as powerful and dominant and independent 0word stands in for and castrates phallus #dopts male characteristics of a!!ression Cot masculinised "et in masculine roles 5se of low an!les% and a masculine performance

 Bonforms to :ulve"s theor" D &ob of see1in! reven!e famil" is !iven to the female character thus conformin! to stereot"pes where women are seen to be possessed with famil" and emotional +i!ht outfit allows ob&ectification Po"euristic pleasures b" watchin! +hurman on her 1illin! rampa!e Remember male directorEindustr" ma" still mean male ideolo!ies

Ither 8$amples;'
Ps Ps

8vidence of the female !a<e?

:iso!"n"
What is it? ;'

+P Frama 8$ample
Gene Hunt (+P Fetective from 6ife on :ars% set in 197.s /ritain) tal1in! about politics
3+78R8 W*66 C8P8R /8 # WI:#C LR*:8 :*C*0+8R #0 6ICG #0 * 7#P8 # 7I68 5L :K #RR8'3

:iso!"n"
7ow would "ou define the term miso!"n" based on what "ou have &ust seen? Ban "ou thin1 of an" other e$amples of miso!"n" that "ou ma" have seen in an" media te$t or simpl" e$perienced in ever"da" life? :iso!"n" , the contempt or hatred of women and !irls

7EW #ctivit"
Read the Guardian article from >1 :a" >.1. =arewell to #shes to #shes and Gene 7unt% the lovable se$ist% racist% macho homophobe Fefine the characteristicsEelements that "ou thin1 "ou would be loo1in! for in a media te$t which demonstrates miso!"nistic behaviourE attitudes' Watch the first episode of series one of #shes to #shes (>..8% Judos Lroductions) and find e$amples from the te$t of miso!"nistic attitudes O behaviour b" referrin! to e$amples from the miseDenDscene (actions O dialo!ue% settin!% props costumeEma1eD up% li!htin!% camera an!les O framin!)' :a1e a table in "our blo!s now to ta1e notes under these headin!s' http EEwww'"outube'comEwatch?vSlT>-R#+5s5KOfeatureSrelated