Window Shopping Cinema and the Postmodern [Click on the paper ball]
[Photo Credit]
Being a Woman of the Male Gaze -Chelsey
Chelsey's presentation focused on the increase of visual culture in the 19th century. Media is saturated with visual content and typically focuses on women and their bodies. Women's bodies are most commonly used to sell products and entice audiences. Chelsy played the Sut Jhally video we watch first semester on music videos. The video captures how women are objectified through over sexulization and the fragmentation of women's body parts. Chelsey also explained some of the negative consequences of 'the male gaze'. She noted that not only is it dehumanizing, but it creates unrealistic beauty standards that are nearly impossible for women to live up to. With unattainable standards, women are made to feel insecure and indulge in consumerism as means to console themselves.
Disney Princess - Maria
Maria was the first presentation of the year. She gave a brief but insightful synopsis of previous and current Disney princesses. She connected the major similarities between these women and showed how all the traditional figures were depicted in the domestic realm. How these princesses were dependent on a male figure to save them and provide them with a 'happily ever after'. She also spoke about the change in representation during the emergence of second and third wave feminism.The creation of later princesses like Mulan, provided a more positive representation for women. Mulan was a warrior and did not rely on her appearance to attain power and respect. Unfortunately she only achieved all these things by posing as a male.
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