Analysis Of 'Clueless'

726 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Female gender stereotypes in media

Women’s genres are a popular category of television or film. Women’s centered genres are seemingly popular among women. This genre portrays women’s issue that the female audience can relate to issues include motherhood, men, and romance. These films typically contain emotional scenes and may be released on or around Valentines day. Women 's genres usually revolve around a female main character. These films appeal to women for a multitude of reasons. We may relate to a character, aspire to be or look like a character or simply find visual pleasure in watching these characters. Clueless is a 1995 romantic comedy featuring a melodrama genre. Cher, the main character comes from a wealthy family, her mother passed away while her strict father …show more content…

Additionally, she attempts to stop the love affair between Tai and Travis, an outcast. Cher tries to set up Elton and Tai this ultimately backfires because Elton is interested in Cher. Ultimately, Tai’s popularity grows and transcends past Cher’s. Additionally, Tai expresses her interest in Josh, this astonishes Cher and she suggests that Josh is too much of a “school nerd” for Tai. Ultimately, Cher has an epiphany and comes to the realization that she dismissed the idea of Josh and Tai dating because she has feelings for Josh. However, Josh is unattainable because Cher believes he and Tai have a connection. Ultimately, Josh and Cher reveal their feelings for one another and begin …show more content…

Josh. After Tai’s transformation, she begins to fall for Josh this creates envy because Cher believes Tai and Josh may have a connection. Individuals watching clueless view the characters as subjects, unconsciously the audience may sexually desire these “subjects”. Additionally, Mulvey illustrates that film signifies a sealed, private world. Moreover, the spectator is subdued resulting in a release onto the film. Furthermore, the viewer identifies with the protagonist, Cher. Additionally, individuals find pleasure in watching the characters because the spectator begins to recognize themselves within the character. Kuhn emphasizes that woman’s picture the storyline is consistently determined by the ‘enigma-retardation-resolution structure’. In Kuhn’s article she details how to understand women who enjoy women’s genres. Moreover, Cher is the ideal of social and gender norms. Cher is a straight woman interested in the opposite sex which is an example of a gender and social norm. Another signifier of gender norms is Cher’s long, blonde hair. Additionally, Cher is emotional which is projected throughout the film. Society considers gender norms for a woman to be passive, flirtatious, and innocent Cher is the

Show More
Related

  • What Points was Amy Heckerling Trying to Make when She Transformed Emma into Clueless

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    The montage shows Cher and friends, laughing, relaxing, shopping, partying and generally living a better standard of life than a typical teenager. Within the first 2 minutes of the movie, we are shown Cher’s opulent house, her own jeep and a huge wardrobe. The theme is confirmed in the first paragraph of Austen’s novel as it states, ‘Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.’ The quotation helps us to see the similarities of fortune between the two main characters.... ... middle of paper ...

    Read More

  • Vertigo and Citizen Kane Are Products of their Mysogenistic Generation

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today’s culture sees a gap between the male and female gender. This is evident in everything from the films we watch, music we listen to, and even in our everyday lives. Historically, this issue has seen an even larger gap, and can be observed in the films that were made during that time. Vertigo and Citizen Kane both show the objectification of women by controlling them, writing them in supportive roles, and placing their value in the way that they look.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Elizabeth Alsop's Article: Why TV Needs 'Weak' Female Characters

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    While some other shows attempt to present flawed female characters, they fail in making the viewer sympathize and understand them. Instead, the viewer sees these characters as “unlikeable” and often the women end up at the receiving end of a joke and then serve no further purpose. Alsop argues that newer television shows such as Transparent, Fleabag, and Girls have characters with multiple flaws, some that may even seem irredeemable, but the characters do not let those flaws define them. This causes the viewer to empathize with the characters on a deeper level. What the author of the article may not know is that of those three shows mentioned, the writing, directing, and producing credits go mostly, if not exclusively, to women. Perhaps this is the difference that makes these television shows stand out in today’s feminist dialogue and allows the viewer to empathize with the characters rather than judge

    Read More

  • Emma And Clueless

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many novels are turned into movies, and they often times share the same name. However, some producers break this trend because Emma “was the basis for the plot” of the popular film “Clueless” (ASU’S JANE AUSTEN EXPERT). The 1990’s production brings a modern and inviting twist on one of Jane Austen’s best works. Both “Clueless” and Emma are centered around an affluent young woman who “make[s] the match” between acquaintances and beloved friends (J. Austen 38). In both the novel and the movie, the girls find themselves in unfavorable situations as a result of their involvement in other people’s business. Emma Woodhouse is not only known for her outspoken personality, but also she draws people’s attention when she walks into a room simply by her air. This is not to say that her wealth also allows her to spend money on extraordinary apparel. A short article in Vogue references this phenomenon: “Dreamy… Emma Woodhouses let their party shoes peek out flirtatiously” (“twinkle toes”). As a journalist, this allusion is subtle, yet fully addresses the fact that women need confidence to be different, but also they need to be willing to live on the edge from time to time. During one of the many balls Emma attends, she decides to dance with a close family friend, but she is careful not to “make it all improper” (J.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Social Division In Clueless

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Dionne is driving and Cher and Murray are passengers, Heckling uses close up camera angles to display the distress of the three while Dionne drives terribly, swerving in and out of lanes. Tai also comments on Cher that she's “just a virgin who can’t drive”, illustrating how the stereotypes of women have confined them into categories. Furthermore, the superficiality of women especially through clothing is depicted through Cher when she is mugged and values her Alaïa dress over her life. A high angle shot is used to enhance the mise en scene of the clown, illustrating that Cher is the fool. Women are also known to excessively shop, which Cher is displayed to use as an alleviation of stress. This is demonstrated through the use of internal dialogue through voice over specifically in the scene where Cher is reflecting on her past mistakes, “that Josh and Tai thing was wiggin’ me more than anything…ooh! I wonder if they have those in my size!” expressing her inner thoughts when she is conflicted and easily distracted by things such as shopping. Despite this, Heckerling conveys that Cher has a good heart and the potential to help others like a majority of women through volunteering to encourage donations for her teacher’s charity and assisting Tai in transforming her to fit in. The role of

    Read More

  • The Sex of Things: Gender and Consumption in Historical Perspective

    2462 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...en women and melodrama by consideration of statistical data on the female audience, as well as discursive contributions from popular media.

    Read More

  • Women in Film as Portrayed in the Movie, Double Indemnity

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    Women and Film.

    Read More

  • Minimizing Pedagogically Induced Disabilities In Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

    1888 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...cher, and in his students as learners, can have a tremendous impact on each student that comes his way, regardless of where she comes from.

    Read More

  • A Few Good Men Film Analysis

    1361 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gender and the portrayal of gender roles in a film is an intriguing topic. It is interesting to uncover the way women have been idealized in our films, which mirrors the sentiments of the society of that period in time. Consequently, the thesis of this essay is a feminist approach that seeks to compare and contrast the gender roles of two films. The selected films are A few Good Men and Some Like it Hot.

    Read More

  • Film Bodies: Genre, Gender and Excess

    2633 Words  | 6 Pages

    Film scholar and gender theorist Linda Williams begins her article “Film Bodies: Genre, Gender and Excess,” with an anecdote about a dispute between herself and her son, regarding what is considered “gross,” (727) in films. It is this anecdote that invites her readers to understand the motivations and implications of films that fall under the category of “body” genre, namely, horror films, melodramas, (henceforth referred to as “weepies”) and pornography. Williams explains that, in regards to excess, the constant attempts at “determining where to draw the line,” (727) has inspired her and other theorists alike to question the inspirations, motivations, and implications of these “body genre” films. After her own research and consideration, Williams explains that she believes there is “value in thinking about the form, function, and system of seemingly gratuitous excesses in these three genres,” (728) and she will attempt to prove that these films are excessive on purpose, in order to inspire a collective physical effect on the audience that cannot be experienced when watching other genres.

    Read More

  • Essay On Klute By Laura Mullvey

    1316 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, Mulvey states that, “Traditionally, the woman displayed has functioned on two levels: as erotic object for the characters within the screen story, and as erotic object for the spectator within the auditorium, with a shifting tension between the looks on either side of the screen.” (Mulvey 40). A woman’s role in the narrative is bound to her sexuality or the way she

    Read More

  • The Role of Women in Screwball Comedy Films

    4993 Words  | 10 Pages

    Led by Laura Mulvey, feminist film critics have discussed the difficulty presented to female spectators by the controlling male gaze and narrative generally found in mainstream film, creating for female spectators a position that forces them into limited choices: "bisexual" identification with active male characters; identification with the passive, often victimized, female characters; or on occasion, identification with a "masculinized" active female character, who is generally punished for her unhealthy behavior. Before discussing recent improvements, it is important to note that a group of Classic Hollywood films regularly offered female spectators positive, female characters who were active in controlling narrative, gazing and desiring: the screwball comedy.

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Opening Sequence of Clueless

    789 Words  | 2 Pages

    and can only improve. Clueless is not my type of film and from what I

    Read More

  • The Impact Of Sexualization And Objectification Of Women In Society

    1471 Words  | 3 Pages

    Also, the film revealed women empowerment and how superior they can be compared to men. While demonstrating sexual objectification, empowerment, there was also sexual exploitation of the women, shown through the film. Throughout this essay, gender based issues that were associated with the film character will be demonstrated while connecting to the real world and popular culture.

    Read More

  • Feminism and the Movie Industry

    1785 Words  | 4 Pages

    Feminism is a movement that supports women equality within society. In relation to film, feminism is what pushes the equal representation of females in mainstream films. Laura Mulvey is a feminist theorist that is famous for touching on this particular issue of how men and women are represented in movies. Through her studies, she discovered that many films were portraying men and women very differently from reality. She came up with a theory that best described why there is such as huge misrepresentation of the social status quos of male and female characters. She believed that mainstream film is used to maintain the status quo and prevent the realization of gender equality. This is why films are continuously following the old tradition that males are dominant and females are submissive. This is the ideology that is always present when we watch a movie. This is evident in the films from the past but also currently. It is as if the film industry is still catering to the male viewers of each generation in the same way. Laura Mulvey points out that women are constantly being seen as sexual objects, whether it is the outfits they wear or do not wear or the way they behave, or secondary characters with no symbolic cause. She states that, “in traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote it-be-looked-at-ness.”(Mulvey pg. 715). Thus, women are nevertheless displayed as nothing more than passive objects for the viewing pleasure of the audience. Mulvey also points out through her research that in every mainstream movie, there is ...

    Read More

More about Analysis Of 'Clueless'

Open Document