UK PUBLIC NOT SPLIT OVER TRANS ISSUES

While the Boris Johnson government continues to use dig whistle, culture wars politics imported from Trumpian USA, not least targeting trans rights, it seems the UK public is actually not that split on the issue. Guardian.

Punk women rejected male gaze

https://www.image.ie/style/punk-princesses-time-to-celebrate-436767

High heels in the workplace

A study shows women are perceived as less professional if they don't wear these torture devices ... but less competent if they do ... Guardian.

Teen drama female stars podcast hits expose 99s noughties issues

 Guardian.

MADONNA Instagram nipple protest

Guardian: On Thursday, the singer criticised Instagram for taking down photographs in which her nipple was exposed, telling her 17 million followers she was grateful she maintained her sanity “through four decades of censorship … sexism … ageism and misogyny”.

Re-sharing the images, this time with emojis covering her nipple, Madonna explained the original posts had been taken down by Instagram, saying it was “astounding” that women could show any part of their body except their nipples.

“I’m reposting photographs Instagram took down without warning or notification,” she said. “The reason they gave my management that does not handle my account was that a small portion of my nipple was exposed.”

She added: “It is still astounding to me that we live in a culture that allows every inch of a woman’s body to be shown except a nipple. As if that is the only part of a woman’s anatomy that could be sexualized. The nipple that nourishes the baby!

“Can’t a man’s nipple be experienced as erotic??!! And what about a woman’s ass which is never censored anywhere.

“Giving thanks that I have managed to maintain my sanity through four decades of censorship … sexism … ageism and misogyny.”

Instagram’s guidelines ban “photos, videos and some digitally created content that show sexual intercourse, genitals and closeups of fully nude buttocks”. The company says this “also includes some photos of female nipples”, though photos of mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding are allowed.

For years, artists and activists have put pressure on Facebook and Instagram to treat female and male nipples equally. The #Freethenipple campaign has since 2012 challenged the general convention of allowing men to appear topless in public while considering it sexual or indecent for women to do the same.

Various high-profile women including Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Scout Willis and Cara Delevingne have publicly supported the movement.

Last year, Instagram was forced to update its nudity policy after it was accused of censoring and silencing the plus-size model Nyome Nicholas-Williams.

A wave of content creators then said the platform was repeatedly discriminating against black people, plus-size users and other marginalised communities by deleting their photos or failing to promote them in the same way it did for its white, straight-sized users.

Female roles mean criminals male role models says Tory MP

Guardian.

ASA ban 1st ad for gender stereotyping

First ads banned for contravening UK gender stereotyping rules https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/aug/14/first-ads-banned-for-contravening-gender-stereotyping-rules?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

Outpouring shuts down sexist beer branding

Camra calls time on sexist names at Great British beer festival https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/aug/07/camra-calls-time-on-sexist-names-at-great-british-beer-festival?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

Agents of SHIELD clip

From S02 E18

Here's a starter to get you going with analysis; you can use the additional screenshots (or your own) to continue analysing the use of media language (how meaning has been created) in this scene, referencing sound, editing, camera, miss-en-scene...



OPENING SHOT

There are mixed messages from the framing, soundtrack and mise-en-scene here. The framing carries connotations of a peephole, a classic horror or voyeurism signifier (seen in Hitchcock's 1960 classic Psycho for example). The single long drawn out non-diegetic keyboard note is a classic horror technique, seeking to manipulate the audience into unconsciously holding their breath (physiological reaction has a psychological impact), again signifying and creating tension or unease. These signifiers are juxtaposed with the two shot, which might connote a bond, perhaps romantic, between the two seated, and the wood cabin could be 'read' (using Stuart Hall's term) as relaxed and romantic, and the body language could also be read as friendly and relaxed. The voyeuristic framing and shadow suggest otherwise though, and, despite the relaxing diegetic ambient sound of birds cheeping, the large room and high windows could be read as ominous, making the characters vulnerable. The wooden furniture actually makes the setting quite dark, and the surrounding trees we can make out through the windows (whether a studio projection or location shoot) denotes an isolated setting. That this tension is part of the complex preferred reading is arguably anchored through the use of a high angle through the 'peephole' style framing - and we will discuss the device of the game, and the table dividing them, later.

THE 2ND, PANNING SHOT
Rather than cut from the opening long two shot to a tighter two shot to reinforce any signification of a bond between the two we get a panning shot instead, which seems to signify the distance or difference between the two rather than closeness or similarity, although the dialogue, through most of this scene, and the exposition it provides, presents a very different reading, or polysemy. As is made clearer through aspects of mise-en-scene discussed below, the show's very title denotes these two as probable agents, so we should expect a degree of sustained narrative enigma (Barthes' term to describe how withholding anchorage is used to intrigue and draw in an audience). It is notable that we do not see the man in this pan, just his arm as he plays a move, but we do get a medium shot of the young woman, suggesting that she is a more important character or protagonist than him. She seems likeliest through this combination of framing and editing to be the Proppian archetype of the hero, whose 'journey' we will follow (Campbell's monomyth), though the producers have avoided any clumsy anchorage of a binary opposition. There are signifiers of this, but they are relatively subtle!

The backgammon set is a clever device to connote the competition or even battle between these two; despite the appearance of bonding and dialogue to support this, the editing and framing throughout this scene, which mostly relies on shot reverse shot with medium shots or medium close-ups (avoiding two shots) connotes a sophisticated battle between the two. A Ludo set or some other more childish game would not have carried such connotations, but backgammon is a sophisticated game more likely to be played by intelligent adults.

So...take up the analysis from here. I have provided screenshots in narrative order below, but that does not mean you have to analyse these in narrative order - you may wish to consider editing across several scenes, then sound (etc) for example.

Several more shot reverse shot, then, with the male saying "you're about a million miles away" we get a two shot:

Representation: mix of normative and counter typical elements for woman? Conventional male - designer stubble significant? Jumper? Short hair? Tight MCU when he says "dinner with my parents can stress me out too", denoting young starting point of target audience? [uses and gratifications: identify with, aspirational]

Two shot returns with "I'm sure he was going to have some twisted surprise" (dialogue suggesting a foreshadowing? setting up narrative enigma if we think so)

Sad music flares up: "he doesn't exactly belong here" says man ... but emotion is not his... Consider his framing and compare with woman's: light v dark?

Unbuttoned top...

Woman: "its nice having someone normal to talk to"; man laughs; then this:

Visual pun: "you hit me!" then cut to boxing - consider framing of blond woman...

Several tightly framed shots then...

Intriguing representation issues - do compare their outfits for one ...

Verisimilitude? Clearer costume shot. Uses and gratifications in less muscular woman winning? "Its not like I can benchpress a small hatchback" ... stereotyping...?

Costume design + representation issues clearer now?

There's quite a lot going on here...

Wow, makeup perfect...

Music building tension...

Dialogue and music designed to work with cut to new scene. Consider verisimilitude (genre signifiers?) and miss-en-scene generally; a binary pair (e.g. look carefully at hair - small details...)? Is there a masculine role here?

...

Summer 2010 Primeval clip and A essay

In the following exemplar essay (an actual student's exam essay) you can read the examiner's report and go through a response which got 48/50 to see how this question can be tackled to a high level.

   G322 June 2010 98 marks by hgaldinoshea

ADVERTISING Gillette toxic masculinity cuts deep

Gillette #MeToo ad on 'toxic masculinity' cuts deep with men's rights activists https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/15/gillette-metoo-ad-on-toxic-masculinity-cuts-deep-with-mens-rights-activists?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

BODY IMAGE male gaze turns inwards

Like women, men are now suffering in their pursuit of the ‘perfect’ body https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/11/men-suffer-as-much-as-women-in-their-pursuit-of-the-perfect-body?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

ASA love island hater

Breast enlargement ads shown during Love Island banned by ASA https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2018/oct/17/breast-enlargement-ads-shown-during-love-island-banned-by-asa?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

PUBLIC OPINION social values shift radically

Survey finds UK is abandoning traditional views of gender roles https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jul/10/survey-finds-uk-is-abandoning-traditional-views-of-gender-roles?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Blogger

Agent Carter practice clip

...

...

ASA bans sexist stereotypes

Quite a remarkable idea - which could have a considerable impact, with ads a major element in the socialisation of most of us.

There is always a free speech objection though, and the issue of how this might limit humour.

Standards body unveils plan to crack down on sexist advertisements.

Advertisements that perpetuate sexist stereotypes, from men bungling housework to girls being less academic than boys, will be banned under rules being proposed by the industry watchdog.The crackdown by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) will toughen rules on ads that are deemed to present activities as only appropriate for one gender or another, or that mock those who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles.It will also toughen rules on ads that “body shame” young women after an outcry over Protein World’s controversial “Beach body ready” campaign, which was not banned despite a petition with 70,000 signatures claiming that its depiction of a bikini-clad model in an ad for a weight-loss product was socially irresponsible.The ASA’s proposals, outlined in a report conducted with research firm GfK, are part of an effort to address the portrayal of women in ads in particular.The project, which the watchdog considers the most comprehensive review of gender stereotyping anywhere in the world, follows a major crackdown on “airbrushing”, which has seen major beauty ads featuring stars such as Cara Delevingne, Natalie Portman, and Julia Roberts banned. It has also banned ads featuring “unhealthily thin” models.Its proposals will also clarify the existing code relating to ads that objectify or inappropriately sexualise women and girls.“Our review shows that specific forms of gender stereotypes in ads can contribute to harm for adults and children,” said Ella Smillie, lead author of the report.“Such portrayal scan limit how people see themselves, how others see them, and limit the life decisions they take. Tougher standards in the areas we’ve identified will address harms and ensure that modern society is better represented.”

Young female action characters given little or no dialogue

Audiences, especially young, female viewers, deserve to see pre-teen heroines who are as complex as the countless boys we see in movies and TV shows every year. There are so few female characters, particular kids and teens, who are allowed to be strong and smart and determined — why should the ones we have only be defined by their physical prowess, when they have the potential for so much more? Seeing these girls be as badass in action scenes as boys have for years is great, no question, but we shouldn't have to settle for just that. [Bustle]

Wonder Woman is being widely treated as heralding a breakthrough on the glass ceiling females face in the action genre (I'm not so sure - the costume ...), with a number of other high profile roles building on this narrative.

Rachel Simon, writing for Bustle, argues that these roles remain limited and limiting in what they say about equality - fundamentally, these female roles are near-mute, the characters are given very limited voice, sticking with traditional sexist roles:

The quietness of these girls doesn't detract from the power of their actions, but, as Yoshida pointed out, it is frustrating; their lack of communication takes away from their complexities as characters, and as such, they become completely defined by their bold, often violent behaviors, rather than simply enhanced by them. Yes, it's progressive and important to see young girls kicking butt on-screen, but if they can't speak for themselves or have fully-developed personalities like their male counterparts, then something's clearly wrong. And it's even more damaging when, like in Planet of the Apes, the tiny heroine is one of the only female characters to appear on-screen at all; dozens of male characters get to speak freely, but the only girl featured at all doesn't get to say a single word.

https://www.bustle.com/p/the-problem-with-all-the-badass-little-girls-taking-over-hollywood-movies-69726

Ad industry's history on gender

... neuroscientists have found that soft drinks still work like illicit drugs, as does fat, salt, and sugar on our brains – but strangely, so do the images we “consume.” Are you sure that you are motivated by your own, sovereign mind or are other forces at play?
This massive industry manufactures societal problems such as sexism, gender, race, and age division, depression, etc. by using subtle (and not so subtle) programming that is plugged directly into the brains of millions of people across the globe.
It isn’t just women who are degraded with print and media advertisements. Men are relegated to a certain patriarchal, hyper-macho role relegating them to caveman status.

A strongly opinionated article with some frank language, this Waking Times feature provides multiple examples of the extreme (but persistent which is really the point) sexism of the ad industry, including this...

EMMA WATSON post-feminist pose?

“They were saying that I couldn’t be a feminist and ... and have boobs.”

This is a classic feminist v post-feminist conundrum: 'Emma Watson 'stunned' by criticism that Vanity Fair cover is not feminist' - does Watson's sexualised pose make her a (willing) victim of the misogynistic media and its continuing privileging of the male gaze ... or simply assert Watson's self-confidence and desire for sexual expression?

FILM big row over Barbie movie casting

The Barbie doll is an icon of feminist struggle - an actual woman with the Barbie shape wouldn't be able to walk with the crippling back pain she'd suffer. Makers Mattel finally updated the doll with some new body shapes and skin colours recently, but now its an actress who's facing heat - for being too fat for the role in a live-action barbie movie ... and she's come out fighting.
Amy Schumer says trolls' backlash over Barbie casting shows she’s right for role.