Violent Female Action Characters in Bonds Films - Essay Example

Violent Female Action Characters in Bonds Films Introduction Media is a tool that communicates to a mass audience. Although, the images may not be real and the information is most of the times a creation of the writers who develop content for the media; yet these images eventually start to define the roles in the lives of the audiences. It is these images and the strong communication that with the passage of time becomes common sense despite the fact that in the factual world they may not hold any significant value. This construction of reality has so much of an impact upon the audiences that they start to take it as the reality of life and live in accord to it. In accord to this it is not incorrect in highlighting that the roles in the society such as of a father, mother, sister, brother, women, and men are also defined by the images presented by the media making it the ground reality with the passage of time[Sut10]. However, constructionists highlight that race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and social class has no meaning to the individual until the media gives it a meaning. Therefore, watching films is a process that involves immense interpretation and it is through the films and that individuals perceive what it takes to be a man, woman, gay lesbian, black, white, Asian, Latino, middle class or working class. Thus, the images reinforce the roles of the individuals to such an extent that the reality and the constructed reality infuses with one another to form the factual living standards [Sut10]. The paper that follows has used authentic articles, websites, and journal articles as its building blocks to present the argument based on the topic gender representations in the James bond movies. It presents a detailed and well-rendered sketch depicting a comparative analysis of the characters. Gender Representation One of the major reasons for analyzing the content was the emergences of the modern women’s movement that began in 1950s. In the 1960s, the content of media was paid much greater attention in terms what did it offer to its audience to view. It is imperative to highlight here that Stern mentioned that the early researchers of feminist were more interested in surfacing the portrayal of women in media in the western culture. James bond, a fictional novel based film made its way in to the media in the 1950s during the sociopolitical awareness. The movie portrayed high-tech equipment; alcoholic beverages, a demonic villain, and a superfluity of attractive women were the building blocks of the James Bond movie. Moreover, it depicts the character of James Bond as the epitome of masculinity. However, females are used as a tool to keep the movie famous among the audience. Every Bond movie heavily relies upon the portrayal of attractive females who are an integral part of the story line. Every Bond movie has a multiple female’s characters who try to distract, lure, and assist Bond in the mission. Nevertheless, the character of the women are portrayed as possessing an adventurous nature, cunning attributes, and has a significant potential for romantic relationship with Bond. Moreover, the female characters name is as much provocative as the character itself[Ren10]. In accord with the observation of d’Abo and Cork, there were Bond movies without a demonic villain and innovative gadgets, but a Bond film was never made without a Bond girl. Hence, most of the attention paid by the media was upon the Bond girl rather the entire movie. The portrayal of women in the Bond movies has attracted the attention of the scholars to point out that the element of sexuality is prominent in the Bond movies depicting a Bond girl as symbol of sex. A study of 20 James Bond films examined the portrayal of 195 female characters the major findings revealed that the element of greater sexuality has done a significant harm to the females over a period. Nevertheless, across the Bond movies the portrayal of women has been similar. Bond movies present the element of sexual activity in accord with race, attractiveness, size of the role, and aggressive behaviors towards bond. This element has been noted and highly by the media as the as well as the scholars and is part of the sex role literature [Neu10]. It is essential to mention here that bond movies generally promote sexuality either between bond and the girl or the girl is depicted a lesbian or a homosexual who is not only involved with James Bond, but is also interested in women. The Bond films in the initial productions also depicted a competent and brutal efficiency around women, who realize their feminine side after they surrender to the charms of Bond. The most apparent and intriguing element in the Bond movies are depicted in the shifting of roles of women after the women’s movement. After the movement, the character of bond matured to a man where he was more of a woman’s man. Nevertheless, Bond films remained sexy but with more subtlety and exaggerated gender polarities muted a number of previous portrayals of women as well as Bond to soften. Moreover, the depiction of women in recent Bond films switched from being untrustworthy to sex friends; where Bond is friendly and sensitive to his female counterparts[Com05]. Although there are theories that provide critique to the content of the James bond series, however, limited-effects theory suggests that that media plays an insignificant role in shaping the roles of gender along with the general views and believes. Hence, in accord to the theory it is inappropriate to believe that the content of the movies or media plays any role in shaping the gender roles[Bar11]. Content Analysis Goldfinger is a novel-based film holding the same name, written by Ian Fleming. Goldfinger is the third film based upon the James Bond series. The movie made its breath taking entry in to the cinematic world, won the hearts of its audience, and is considered one of the iconic movies. The character of James Bond is seen wearing sophisticated clothes such as tie and coats; emphasizing upon the classier side of England. It will not be wrong in saying that the movie through the character of James Bond depicts the upper class with the aid of clothing and the sets used in the movie[Bri10]. Nevertheless, most of the Bond series depict women as a symbol of sex and more or less facing the masculine side of Mr. Bond in the movie. Therefore, it can be said that the sharp edges to the character of Bond has mellowed down in the movie. Furthermore, women were portrayed as dependents on the male counterparts and ones who lacked the art of decision-making; perhaps because they were seen as less mentally competent and intellectual than men were. Moreover, most of the Bond films sketched a picture that made the audience construe that women always required a man to save her from troubles. The women audience did not appreciate such idea. Hence, the series took a turn and the character of Bond was less masculine in comparison with the other Bond movies. However, in order to show that women were now equal to men and could contribute competitively to society the character of M was played in the movie by a woman. The character of M is sketched in the movie as that of a typical bond girl who is not only intelligent but is as capable as making decisions just like a man. Despite the fact that she can give competition to a man she is still respected and accepted for her vibrancy in what she does[Bri10]. The film also covers a deeper aspect of human relations in which women has a very elementary role to portray. Honor Blackman casted as a Bond girl in the movie depicting how a woman can change negativity of the society. Jill Masterson who was casted as another agent woman “Shirley Eaton” also reflected the important role of women in the society. The cops’ appearances of the women restricted the stock maker “Auric Goldfinger” in his ambitions”. This particular role clearly washes the previous portrayal of women as being more of the species who are domesticated in nature and are to take care of more femininely defined tasks [IMD13]. It is important to keep in mind that the movie was released in 1964 when women were encouraged to practice domesticity. They were encouraged to take care of children and be good homemakers. There were no or very few jobs for them and mostly they dedicated their life to house work. It was during this time that the movie presented The Beautiful Bond Women to the audience. Shirley Eaton who portrayed the role of Jill as the Bond girl has a sexual orientation pertaining to lesbianism. Back in the sixties and seventies women were discouraged to openly talk about sex. This kind of an orientation was considered a taboo. Goldfinger brought to screen the secret sexual urges of women in one of the poems by Sylvia Plath called “The Cut” she expresses the bitter feelings about her husband and spoke about his Phyllis as an object she wished was cut. The hatred for husbands is obvious in these poems mainly because they were not allowed to speak their hearts out. Restrictions put by the husbands had created a feeling and attraction for women for the same sex. Though they knew they could not practice lesbianism, they found elements of their wishes portrayed in the movies like the Goldfinger[Ray06]. However, on the contrary a recent James Bond movie Casino Royale depicts Bond as a more street smart hero who relies on his instincts and intellect rather the innovative gadgetry. A male who plays the character of M, leads Bond to the villain of the movie; where Bond’s love deepens for the wife of the villain. Although the film does not depict the sexuality in the scenes, yet the costumes and sensuality used around the Bond girl with the infusion of beauty and brains allures Bond in to a sexual relationship with a female counterpart. They together decide to bring the villain down. The depiction of women as being untrustworthy is wrapped with reason and solid backing of the facts about the villain that shows that a woman is forced to cheat on her husband with another man. Nevertheless, in the climax of the film it is revealed that Lynd the heroine of the movie is not actually cheating her husband but was actually cheating on Bond. Hence, it can be said that the previous movies like GoldFinger depicted women as equal to men and trustworthy in nature; however, in recent Bond film Casino Royale depicts women as wicked creatures who can deceive in order to win. Moreover, women are also showed wicked who can lure a man in to heartbreak and pain[Mar07]. Nevertheless, research suggest that violent female action characters shown in American films are mostly based upon three aspects such as the gender stereo types, demographics, and quantity and type of violence. Findings revealed that 58.6% violent female characters were exerted submissiveness to the male hero, where as 42% were in a romantic relationship with him. Therefore, it was analyzed that such elements were put forth in the movie to secure and reinforce the feminine element. It also helped in debriefing the audience, as women were shown violent as well in the films. Hence, the element of romantic involvement covered the man aspects portrayed by the women[Kat10]. It is essential to high light here that the women continued to secure a stereotypical image in the Bond films whether it was the old version or the recent ones. However, the only element that changed over time in the Bond films was the subtlety of the images and depiction of sexuality along with the portrayal of women as the weak counterpart. The stereotypical image continued to co-exist in the bond films along a violent framework of contemporary American cinema[Kat10]. A perspective taken from a male’s perspective it can also be questionable that males in the contemporary American cinema are depicted as more submissive roles, hence generating and shaping the males with confusion. In accord with the masculine conflict theory, a study was conducted where young males, their fathers, and uncles were interviewed; the study revealed that there was confusion among the younger generation in terms of adopting their roles[Pom10]. Thus, not only the theories of feminism highlight the factor of sexuality but it also the theories of Marxism and social constructivism theory. As per the above literature, it can be analyzed that the media plays a vital role in shaping the social roles and society as a whole. It also has a significant impact upon the gender representation in the society. List of References Sut10: , (Sutherland & Feltey, 2010), Sut10: , (Sutherland & Feltey, 2010), Ren10: , (Rudy et al., 2010; Neuendorf et al., 2010), Neu10: , (Neuendorf et al., 2010), Com05: , (Comentale et al., 2005), Bar11: , (Baran & Davis, 2011), Bri10: , (Bright Lights Film Journal, 2010), IMD13: , (IMDB, 2013), Ray06: , (Raymond), Mar07: , (Martina, 2007), Kat10: , (Gilpatri & katy, 2010), Pom10: , (Pompper, 2010), Read More