Our lives can easily, and are, affected by our gender. Kevin Lee addresses gender in Academy nominated films in this article. Consequently being female or male dictates the role you receive and how often you may appear on screen. For example, "male stars are typically the protagonists in action or goal-oriented narratives that require the viewer to follow the story through the lead’s experiences. Female stars are more typically cast in melodramas that require the lead to serve as a hub connecting different characters and subplots." This correlation should be reflected on how it may affect our daily lives and perception of gender roles in society.
"This year’s lead actors average 85 minutes on screen, but lead actresses average only 57 minutes." These are all lead actors yet the difference on screen based on gender is staggering. One theory proposed by the film scholar Laura Mulvey is that “in a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female, with the male gaze dominating the dynamic." A dominant female presence in films is vital. Yet most films fail the Bechdel Test or the Mo Movie Measure which is a type of litmus test to assess the presence of women in movies.
Given the widespread viewing, and effects, of the entertainment industry, and all that it entails beyond simple screen time, these facts support a reality that we as a society should be beyond, or at least changing at this time. Instead, we continue to see these trends, with little change. With all the progress we are making today, why are we stuck here?
Kevin B. Lee. (February 27, 2014), The Gender Gap in Screen Time. Retrieved from http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/movies/awardsseason/cinemetrics-extracts-statistical-data-from-movies.html?hpw&rref=arts&_r=1&referrer=
I don't think this is true with all productions, more and more Young Adult movies (i.e. Divergent, Mocking jay, etc.) have more female-centralized roles. In many T.V. shows such as How to Get Away With Murder also have a female as a central role. I think that there is a shift from Male to Female more and more. However, the film industry still has a long way to go, after all, how can Hollywood centralize a female character if society is still discriminatory?
ReplyDeleteThere is a definite and clear gender (and race but that's a totally different, equally deep discussion) bias in the film industry. Not only are females given smaller roles, but the roles they get are generally subservient to the male characters' causes.
ReplyDeleteAnd even if the female is a strong lead, there will generally not be a second strong female in the film, especially one who discusses anything other than the men in both women's lives (i.e. the film will not pass the Bechdel test). This is a clear reflection of how women are still viewed in society, but this does not have to be so. The industry can inspire this change in society instead of being a reflection of it.