Gender representation in contemporary superhero films

Gender representation in contemporary superhero snapsRESEARCH objectGender representation in contemporary superhero filmsResearch QuestionHow sexual practice representation is visualised in the contemporary inquire superhero films?Overview of the StudyThis project allow be evaluating how gender representation visualised in 21st snow Marvel superhero films. This search will concentrate on utilize Marvels The Avenger (dir. Josh Whedon, 2012) which is the assemblage of all contemporary Marvels superhero made after Ironman since 2008. Thompson (1999) and Bordwell (2006) both argued that Hollywood films often emphasize on character traits. coetaneous Hollywood filmmaking tends to draw on certain gender representational pattern of superhero is first and foremost a man. Therefore textual compend will be used to analyze how maleness and femininity values argon constructed among the main characters in the film.Aim ObjectivesThe aim of this paper is to evaluate how gender repre sentation portrayed in 21st century Marvel superhero films.The objective of this topic is to analyze how masculinity and femininity values are constructed among the main characters in 21st century Marvel superhero films.Literature ReviewIn the past seven years, majority number of blockbuster superhero action stake films such as Batman, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spiderman, Hellboy 1 and 2, Hulk, Ironman, and a host of other men have flown, stomped, fallen, and swung across screens in these Hollywood blockbusters (Stabile, 2009). In fact, Gray Kaklamanidou (2011) describes superhero as someone usually possesses a combination of mental and physical strength more than ordinary human being that fight against evil who will succeeds against all odds. These superhero characters are basically adapted from preposterous books. The characters in the film are presented in stereotypical manner such as either present male heroes and female damsels such as window glass Returns (2006), the Spide r-Man films (2002, 2004, 2007) or else allow for a few female superheroes as part of a male-run-crime-fighting collective, as in X-Men Films (2000, 2003, 2006), and the Fantastic Four franchise (2005, 2007).Gallagher (2006) described masculinity as a product in our culture the action film has historically been a male genre, dealing with stories of male heroism and women as peripheral princesses. However these attributes and behaviors tend to shift over time and are constantly under negotiation in the film. Furthermore as Benshoff Griffin (2009) argued that although there are slight variations can be found in countless Hollywood films, the way of cinematically telling stories is basically the same today as it was in the 1930s. innocent Hollywood style is always formulated to spoon-feed story information to the spectator, thus keeping everything clearly understood by the audience. For instance, Thompson (1999) and Bordwell (2006) both argued that Hollywood films often emphasize on c haracter traits. Contemporary Hollywood filmmaking tends to draw on certain gender representational pattern of superhero is first and foremost a man. Besides, the superhero is an the Statesn creation, innate(p) on the eve of World War II (Gray Kaklamanidou, 2011). Therefore the role of superhero is always associated with typical masculinity traits art object the characters in superhero film are portrayed in stereotypical manners.Interestingly, over the past few decades, various male-dominated Hollywood genres have been adapted for female leads. Benshoff Griffin (2009) explained that the science fiction action-adventure film has as well as produced some strong female leads, compete most notably by Sigourney Weaver in the Alien Films (1979, 1986, 1992, 1997) as well as Jovovichs Alice in the Resident Evil film franchise (2002, 2004, 2007) has become the most financially successful female action character of the era. However, mainstream Hollywood entertainment still negotiates gen der in ways that uphold and maintain patriarchal privilege (Cohan Hark, 1993). The nostalgic Hollywood blockbuster formula, with its stalwart male heroes, continues to drive the industry. Another way of looking for at the gender representation in superhero film is that, Hollywood filmmaking tends to exploit sexy male bodies in action while female action adventure heroes with objectified sex appeal. As Benshoff Griffin (2009) argued that although more and more women are entering the Hollywood industry, the sexual objectification of female bodies tends to surround on the female lead while men tend to dominate the main role in superhero film.MethodologyGiven the exploratory nature of this study is to evaluate gender representation portrayed in 21st century Marvel superhero films it is proposed qualitative research method of textual abstract will be used to analyse the text in contemporary Marvels superhero films. Textual analysis in fact is research method of trying to learn someth ing about people by examining the content, structure, and functions of the messages contained in texts (Frey et al., 1999). In other words, textual analysis may use to describe and interpret the characteristics such as behavioral patterns, values and attitudes of a recorded or visual message.Marvels The Avenger (dir. Josh Whedon, 2012) will be selected to evaluate how masculinity and femininity values are constructed among the main characters. In fact, Marvels The Avenger is the assemblage of all contemporary Marvels superhero made after Ironman since 2008 (Marvel, 2012). This film basically consists of four main characters of Marvels superhero that are Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk and Thor. Furthermore, the film also features with other existing S.H.I.E.L.D agent Hawkeye and shockingwidow. Likewise, analyzing the text in the Marvels The Avenger provides the researcher the opportunities to study a few series of contemporary superhero film simultaneously.Indeed, textual analy sis consists of both strengths and weaknesses in analysing the gender representation in the film. According to Larsen (1991), textual analysis is able to bring out whole range of possible meaning in the film content. It is also a preferred method for identifying such potential meaning and a powerful tool for researchers who seek to produce theoretically valid interpretations of the targeted text. However, textual analysis required an extremely close reading on the specific text (Frey et al., 1999). It is time consuming and has high maintenance need which the researcher is requires to set up the rules, such as coding.In fact, content analysis according to Weare Lin (2000) is able to determine the presence written and spoken communication or concepts within texts. However, it is obtrusive and a purely descriptive method which it unable(p) to reveal underlying motives for the observed pattern (what but not why). Therefore as the objective of this study is to analyse the gender repre sentation and characters role played in the contemporary Marvels superhero films, the purpose of using textual analysis in this study is thus able to provide in-depth understanding on the text.Marvels The AvengerIn fact, Marvels The Avengers is a 2012 American Hollywood film produced by Marvel studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. In fact, it is featuring with iconic Marvel super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. Marvels The Avenger has been ranked as the third highest grossing film in worldwide. However it is interesting that 7 out of 8 leading are male while the only female lead is Scarlett Johansson who plays the role as Black Widow.Marvel Studios has released nine films since 2008 within the Marvel Cinematic Universe Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Iron Man 2 (2010), Thor (2011), Captain America The First Avenger (2011), Marvels The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), Thor The Dark World ( 2013) and Captain America The Winter Soldier (2014) (Marvel, 2014).Significant of studySuperhero film is comparatively one of the latest development trends in Hollywood film (Gray Kaklamanidou, 2011). However, there has been no much academic research made on superhero movie. It is believe that the increase number of these films requires an in-depth academic study on the concept of superhero in this globalized society that is emphasize on gender equality. As Ryan Kellner (1990) argued that the representation of certain characters can break towards explaining the political social landscape the current time. It would be interesting to find out how men and women in these movies are represented how different characters are portrayed, using typically feminine and masculine traits. Therefore this study will contribute to the future research and literature related to gender in action and superhero film.Timeline of researchConclusionThis project will be evaluating how gender representatio n portrayed in 21st century Marvel superhero films by using Marvels The Avenger. Textual analysis is because it able to provide in-depth understanding and analysis on the gender representation and characters role played in the film. While the number of superhero is increase, this study serves as a fundamental literature thus able contributes to the future research on gender in action and superhero film.Bibliography ReferencesBENSHOFF, H. M, GRIFFIN, S. 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