Thursday 9 November 2017

Gender - GCOP200

Toxic masculinity e.g stereo types associated with males e.g they don't show emotions... depression.

Shakespeare played on gender stereotypes, commonly reversing the roles between male and female. Men played women in theatre as women weren't 'allowed' to be actors, and he 'messed' with the conventions of his time.
Other playwrights and directors have played on this. Julius Ceasar is a play that has almost an all male cast. However, a version was made where there was an all female cast.

Hamlet being played as a women means that the play becomes a story about a 'human', rather than a specific gender, and their typical relationship associations.

There are many fluid ideas of gender.
Males look back, as they are already in a privileged position. There's no need for change, and they prefer how it's always been. Females on the other hand have to look forward, push for change, and try to move forward in history.

Socrates "I know, I know nothing"

The Fantastic Masculinity of Newt Scamander
- Unconventional male hero
- Atypical form of masculinity
- Quiet, confident type of manhood
- Connect with magical creatures
- Socially awkward
- Empathy
- Sensitive masculinity

Due to this alternative representation of a lead role male character, it has received many bad reviews: 'boring', 'ill', 'simple'. Everyone has been conditioned to expect a certain type of masculine performance.

He has a sense of vulnerability, whereas men are expected to be strong (not weak).

In movie posters of the modern day, there has been an increase in strong female characters. However, upon closer inspection, they all have been adorned with powerful weapons, e.g guns, swords, arrows. This demonstrates how even to this day, there is still a struggle to present women as strong individuals, without any need for anything else.

Despite this, there has been a stronger focus on enlightening female characters in texts. Damsels in distress doesn't have to be female, for example in Star Wars, a female rescues a man. There is a Bechdel test, which can be used against different texts to see if:
- There are 2+ named female characters
- They must have a 60+ second conversation
- Conversation must not be just about a man.

Texts that pass this test: Ghostbusters Reboot, Star Wars, Hunger Games, Doctor Who (female doctor).

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