MIGRAIN

Media Language
Use of black and white, different shots throughout, black outs-creating enigmas, its fast paced, uses her sword to show how much power she has, use of chapters, dramatic music used.

Institutions
The institutions for 'Kill Bill Volume Two' is Miramax Institutions. They are a very well known instituions and have produced many successful films such as 'Chiago' and 'Pulp Fiction'.

Genre
The genre for Kill Bill is action. It can also be classified into to many other genre's, drama, and thriller. However, its not your average action film as you would stereotypically expect a male to be killing and avenging people, but its a woman instead. The audience are in shock and thrown of balance as they are watching something that they did not expect, as it not very often they see a woman in control, there are some films where a women has more control over men, for instance 'Charlies Angles'.

Representation
In the text Uma Thurman is represented as powerful, dominant and in control. Men are shown to have less control compared to other actions films where u would expect to see the man as the main character. However, even though the main character is white we also have ethnic minorities represented as well. Vivica A. Fox ‘Vernita Green’ a black woman is represented as powerful and superior. Women are represented with much more power and independence today, they prove that woman can just as much can do the same as men.

Audience
The main target audience for this text would be the middle class, ages 18-27. Males and females would be the target to this text. It is targeted at males because of the genre, action. Also, because of the main character Uma Thurman, as they feel attracted to her. However, females also feel they can relate to main character as she is a female who has more power then men: they feel they are just as good as men and have the same control.

Values and Ideology
Actions films are usually a male based film however Uma Thurman breaks the action ideology, as women have the upper hand and represented as strong and more control. She sends a positive message across proving that women are just as better as men and there is less of the patricharcal society. However, even though Uma Thurman shows a independent strong female, she is directed by a male director Quentin Tarantino. It is likely that male directors portray women characters different from how women directors portray women characters, simply because it’s harder for them to relate to the characters.

Narrative
The narrative has chapters which are spread in a two part series, Kill Bill volume One and Kill Bill Volume Two. Kill Bill is divided into ten chapters, five chapters per volume. As is common in Tarantino films, they are not arranged in chronological order.

The Bride" (Uma Thurman) was the deadliest assassin of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, until the day she decided to leave the business, and assume a new identity and get married. But it was on the day of her marriage that her old "friends" - O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), Budd (Michael Madsen), and Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah), and her boss, Bill (David Carradine) - find her and assassinate the entire ceremony while Bill shoots her in the head, putting her in a coma. After four years, the Bride awakens from her coma and starts her revenge.

10 more key words

Art House - A cinematic production generated by aesthetic and cultural production values rather than commercial consideration.

I wasn't too sure whether i could clearify Kill Bill in the art house genre, but it does have some aspects of a art house film.

Binary Opposition - A term used by Claude Levi-Strauss as part of his agrument that narrative are structured around oppositional elements in human culture, for example, good and evil, life and death, night and day, raw and cooked.

Normally, the dominant character in a action movie tends to be a male, and women tend to be passive and damsel in distress. However, in Kill Bill Uma Thurman is the dominant and main character, as you would expect the hero to be a man instead of a woman.

Feminism - Political movement to advance the status of women by challenging values, social constructions and socioeconomic practices which disadvantage women and favour men.

Kill Bill deals with feminism as women are shown as independent and with a higher status which is what feminst want to achieve: equal rights for women.

Male Gaze - The term used by Laura Mulvey in her essay 'Visual Pleasures and Narrative Cinema' (1975) to describe what she saw as the male point of view adopted by the cinema for the benefit of an assumed male audience.

Males find Uma Thurman attractive and would gaze upon her, as they may find watching a smart, attractive and desirable women in control appealing.

Hero - The principal male or female protagonist in any narrative, with whom the audience identifies and who exhibits moral virtues in line with dominant ideology.

The hero is an very important topic in Kill Bill as you tend to find men to be the hero/protagonist, however in Kill Bill its a women and the wudience are thrown off balance and shocked to see a women in power and a hero.

Subversive - Undermining of dominant idoelogy and values.

Kill Bill is challenging stereotype of men being dominant and in control, as Uma Thurman is dominant throughtout the film, as she takes her revenge.

Symbol - A sign that bears no obvious visual relation to what it represents.

In Kill Bill Uma Thurman uses a sword to show how powerful and controlling she is.

Miramax - A film corporation founded by Harvey and Bob Weinstein in 1979, under the ownership of Wlat Disney Studio Entertainment from 1993.

Miramax are the institution thet helped create Kill Bill, as Kill Bill does have a art house feel, as it does use some of the conventions of a arti house film, such as flashbacks, non linear narrative, etc...

Non-Linear narrative - A aequential narrative which doesnt have a striaght beginning, a middle and an end, its interupted with flashbacks, etc...

Tarantino uses a non-linear narrative in Kill Bill, as we see a continuous flashback within both Volume One and Two.

Patriarchy - Male domination of the political, cultural and socioeconmic system.

Kill Bill challenges the patriarchy society, as a male is not the protagonist/dominant character in Kill Bill, and this also occurs in many other films such as' Charlies Angels'

extra research sites i found

WEBSITES

http://www.premiere.com/article.asp?section_id=5&article_id=1813
Women in Hollywood

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/site/incinemas/review.asp?FID=10077
Film review on Hero, which shows female characters being strong and fitting in typical roles and some not so typical

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_Film_of_the_week/0,4267,1059290,00.html
Kill Bill Film Review by peter Bradshaw

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,4267,1200653,00.html
Kill Bill VOL 2

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2152/mulvey.htm
Laura Mulvey’s approach of the feminist theory

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/k/kill_bill1.html
Kill Bill Vol 1 Film Review by James Berardinelli

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/k/kill_bill2.html
Kill Bill Vol 2 Film review by James Bernardinelli

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/10/06/kill_bill_volume1_2003_review.shtml
kill bill vol 1 film review by Stella papamicheal

3 more research points

-me and vivek are going to to swap books that we have taken out from the liabary, with each other and find relevant key points from each others books, to include in our independent studies

-we are also going to carryout more internet research on female representation and try finding key therist on this topic

- we will also be aiming to go through each others blogs, to find deliciouse links , rextual analysis, key words etc.

research

what i found out book research.

http://www.premiere.com/article.asp?section_id=5&article_id=1813
Women in Hollywood

http://www.empireonline.co.uk/site/incinemas/review.asp?FID=10077
Film review on Hero, which shows female characters being strong and fitting in typical roles and some not so typical

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_Film_of_the_week/0,4267,1059290,00.html
Kill Bill Film Review by peter Bradshaw

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,4267,1200653,00.html
Kill Bill VOL 2

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/2152/mulvey.htm
Laura Mulvey’s approach of the feminist theory

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/k/kill_bill1.html
Kill Bill Vol 1 Film Review by James Berardinelli

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/k/kill_bill2.html
Kill Bill Vol 2 Film review by James Bernardinelli

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/10/06/kill_bill_volume1_2003_review.shtml
kill bill vol 1 film review by Stella papamicheal

book research

Author: Nick Lacey
Title: Image And Representation - key concepts in media studies
Publisher: Palgrave

Author: Steve Neale
Title: Genre and Hollwood
Publisher: Routledge

Author: Tim O'Sullivan & Yvonne Jewkens
Title: The Media Studies Reader
Publisher: Arnold

Author: Mandy Ross
Title: the Changing Role Of Women
Publisher: Heinemann Library


Author: Kevin Williams
Title: Understanding Media Studies
Publisher: Edward Arnold


Author: Gill Branston and Roy Stafford
Title: The Media Student's Book

Author: Buckland, Warren
Title: Teach Yourself Film Studies
Publisher: Hodder Headline Plc

keywords x10

Audience Flow- This is the extension of an audience. eg clustering similar programmes together.
This can be used for my independat study as the director has put chapters together effectively for the audience yo flow throygh.

Binary Opposition- This is the term used by Claude Levi-Strauss that structures aroubd oppositional elements. e.g-Good and Evil, Life and Death.
For my independant study i can show the opposition between The Bride and Bill.

Connotation- This shows the meaning of an image and what is behind it.
In Kill Bill i could use Uma Thurmans Sword as this has meanings of power and authority.

Feminism- This is a political movement to advance the status of females in todays society.
Kill Bill can show how females have adapted.

Hypothesis- A theory or supposition of the possible pattern of causes and effects.
Can see contemporary representations of females can bee seen in Kill Bill.

Intertextuality- consists of deliberately including reference to one text in the narrative of another.
I can refer this to my study as I can make many references to westerns, gangsters, and Japanese samurai films.

Male Gaze- Laura Mulvey used this term in her essay ‘visual pleasures’ and Narrative, to describe what she saw as the male point of view adopted by the camera.

Miramax- Film Corporation founded by Harvey and bob Weinstein.
Can relate to Kill Bill as they produce it.

Post Feminism- a perspective, which takes the achievements of feminism for granted, and views it ineffectively in identifying the current position of women.
Uma Thurman can be seen to achieve her main targets in the movies and have a lot of power and authority for such a female.

Sadism- this shows the audience having pleasure at watching other people’s pain.
I can relate this to Kill Bill as Uma Thurman uses her strength to kill many of her opposition and the audience are watching it and enjoying the pain of seeing other people suffer.

Self evaluation

Attainment-c-i given myself this garde for attainment because i believe i have done satisfactory level of work.

Effort-2 i beleive i have pruduced a fair level of qulity work.i have done all homework and i am up to date with all my work.

Punctuality-2 - i attned all lessons on time.

Submission and quality of homework-3- i produce satisfactory level of homework.
Ability to work independently-2- i have done adequate anaylisis on my blog.

Quality of writing-3- i try to pruduce a high level of writing but sometimes my work is rushed and therefore not done to a satisfactory level.

Organisation of Media folder-2- i have all my past notes in my folder and can easily accesses my pst work.

Oral contributions in class-3- i participate in some disucions in lesson to put my input whereever i can.

Standard of Module 5 blog-2- the blog is uptodate and has an adequate level of work to begin my coureswork.

Standard of Module 6 blog-2- the blog has some relatevely detailed information.

Kill Bill Textual Analysis

The text I am going to analyse is a film clip from Kill Bill Vol 2. The scene involves two women having a brutal fight using swords. The setting of the scene is in a outdoor area in the winter time, this can be identified by the snow on the floor.
In the scene both women are shown wearing tight clothing which emphasises the appeal of the film to men, this can also support an the male gaze is required to make the film appeal to men audience. The lighting used in the clip is low-key lighting, the use of this style of lighting may have been used to dramatise the atmosphere, as the scene is somewhat tense. Both women in the scene are equipped with swords, which makes the women look more dominant and powerful figure in the scene. The scene also challenges stereotypes as in the scene one of the female has blonde hair that are stereotyped as unintelligent females but in this scene she is far from it as she is shown as a strong female figure.
The women in the scene are shown fighting viscously constantly through out the scene, which shows that the women are embedded with male characteristics, which can argue that women have adapted a male characteristic to be shown powerful.
The genre of the film is an action fantasy as many fighting parts are dramatised. This genre can be identified as the scene is of two woman fighting which connotes the fast pace connotation of the film. Woman in the scene are represented as dominant powerful figures this can be supported due to the use of props such as swords.
The institution of kill bill is Miramax, which is a large film producer in Hollywood. From the institution we can identify the film is a mainstream high budget film.

Links

super slick power chicks - This can be used in my study as it shows the diffrence in represetations of women in certain partsof the media includeing films.

Carlies Angel studu on women representation - this will relate to my study as this website is blog of a study of womens represention in films which is very identical to my study. I can identfy many key aspects to study and include in my study.

Representation of women - this will relate to my study as this website is a website on womens represention in films which is very identical to my study. I can identfy many other films relating to my study.

Bad Girls - this will relate to my study as this website is blog of a study of womens represention in films which is very identical to my study. I can identfy many key aspects to study and include in my study.

Kill Biil Blog - this will be relevent for my study as it contains the same film text in the blog, therefore i can use some film information from this blog.

Kill Bill Blog2 - this will be relevent for my study as it contains the same film text in the blog, therefore i can use some film information from this blog.

Laura Mulveys Male Gaze - this site is on the theory of laura mulveys male gaze which i will be relating to my study.

Female representation-kill bill - this will be relevent for my study as it contains the same film text in the blog, therefore i can use some film information from this blog.

Sex and the city- the blog shows the sterotypical view of women

womens syerotypical representaion - the blog shows the view representation of younger women in films.

Keywords

Academy awards-
aware presented yearly, to actors and films by the academy of motion picture arts and science.
Relates to kill bill becuase kill bill has achieved Acdemy Awards.
Censorship-
Is the controlling of media text usedby people to show objects they required by the producers.
Relates to my coureswork because Kill Bill uses censorship on scene with too much flood wear the scene is altered to black and white due to the showing of too much blood.
Blockbuster-
A blockbster is a high budget Hollywood film. Blockbusters combine Known stars and celebrities with fast paste ction films.
Relates to my case study as Kill Bill was an Blockbuster.
Dominant ideology-
Is the belief system that serves the interest of the dominant ruling elite within a society.
Relates to my study as Kill Bill is based on a feminist ideology.
Male Gaze-
Term used by Laura Mulvey in her 'visualpleasure and narrative cinema'(1975), Described as the male point of veiw adapted by the camera.
Relates to my study as Uma Thurman wheres tight clothing in Kill Bill.
Post Feminism-
Postmodern perspective which takes the achieved of feminism and of more dominant female roles.
Relates to my study as Uma Thurman is shown in many scenes of the film fighting men and winning.
Soft focus-
in images, in the use of special lense or filter to create Hazy Light around the subject.
Relates to my study as kill bill uses soft focus when the film uses flash backs.
Sterotypes-
is the use of specific idelogogies to jugde a person.
Relates to mu study as kill bill challenges surtain sterotypes of females and Blonde women.
SubGenre-
Is a film genre that exists within a large Genre, usally makes the film contain more than one film genre.
Fantasy-
A film genre based around Fantasy's. An exaduration of reality.
Relates to my study as Kill Bill has some fantisised scenes when useing fight scenes.

Text analysis on kill bill

in this film scene we can see how women in the clip are represented. It can be identified that both women are shown as powerful fighters in the clip as both women are accsesorised with weapons and look like they are in fight. the visousness in the clip shows how the woman poses a masculine fighting charectoristic which was not so popular in early days of cinema tv.Anaylise scene from kill

Trailer

Kill BIll VOL2

MIGRAIN

M-Both films use tight clothing on main female characters.Both movies use fast paste sound as there are many fighting scences. bothe moovies are very fast paste there more to keep momentam the films tend to use many fast paste cut shots.

I-
Kill Bill-Miramax Films
Catwoman- Warner Brothers

G-

Both movies have a similar genre as bothe charectors in the movie use a basic story line. The genre can be seen as a Action/thriller/fantasy between both movies as there is a sense of these in both texts.

R-

Both females are represented as heroes fighting against a villain following Propp’s theory.

In both movies men and women are the villains- challenging stereotypes.

A-

The target audince in both the movies is an similar age range with just a younger target market for catwomen. Kil Bill tends to appeall to a more mature age grouph as it has a coplicated story line.

I-

Both films follow a
Non Patriarchal,Feminist values, Capitalist- Kill Bill- Villain is wealthy Ideolgy.

N-
Kill Bill and Catwan Follow Todrovs Narrative structure

Independent study proposal

The chosen title four my independent study is ‘To what extent have women’s roles changed in films, paying particular reference to Kill Bill Vol2 (2004) and catwoman (2004)??’ I believe this question will be ideal to study as I find the topic very interesting and believe this question can be researched very well and studies effectively as this is a famous topic in which I can use many theories and comparison to answer the question effectively.

The text I have chosen to base my question is on to famous Hollywood blockbusters ‘Catwomen’ released in august 2004 and ‘Kill Bill Volume 2’ released 2004. I have chosen these particular texts as they relate to my question and can be identified to the issues that I will be dealing with in my question. I have also chosen these particular movies as I have watched these movies before and therefore can identify key points effectively as well as watching the movies again during my study.

In my hypothesis I believe the study will leave me to a well-assessed two-sided argument of the question, which will show that women are progressing in films in present future. I also believe that I can use the key concepts very effectively in my study as the question can easily be related to theorist’s narrative genre etc.

I will also answer my question by using many internet resources available to research theorist such as Laura Mulvey and study the male gaze theory in depth to use in my study.

new title

To what extent have women’s roles changed in films, paying particular refernce to Kill Bill Vol 2(2004) and catwomen(2004)?

Research- How are Women Represented in the Action Movie Genre? Empowered Female Role Models or Highly Sexualised Chicks with Guns?

Introduction This essay will be looking at the representation of women in action films, a typically male dominated genre. The main focus will be Angelina Jolie's portrayal of Lara Croft in the 2001 film, Tomb Raider' and the 2003 sequel Tomb Raider II: The Cradle of Life'. The essay will also make reference to Resident Evil' (2002), Resident Evil: Apocalypse' (2004) and Terminator III: The Rise of the Machines' (2003), along with other action movie texts. The essay will be written from a feminist point of view and make reference to Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze' (scopophilia).
What is Feminism? Feminism is the fight for equality for women, and has been a recognised philosophy for the last thirty years. Since the 70's there have been phenomenal changes in the roles of women in Western society. However there is still a lot to be done before the representation of women is completely accurate. The representation of women across all media tends to focus on the following: beauty, size/physique, sexuality, emotional (as opposed to intellectual) dealings and relationships (as opposed to independence/freedom). Laura Mulvey, regarded as one of the most prominent feminist film critics, is famously quoted as saying "narrative fiction film created images of women used for the gratification of men".

However, as times have changed so have women's roles in society, and accordingly their representation in the media.
Changes in Female Representation Media images still portray women as sex objects; as independent (but still sexy) career women; as doting mothers obsessed with food and clean football shorts. Women are still portrayed as objects to lust after; they are often the focus of the male gaze' ("Visual Pleasures and Narrative Cinema" Laura Mulvey), with camera effects, mise en scene and use of sound to accentuate their appearance. But the definition of attractiveness has changed. Images of women as dizzy blondes or mothers/nurturers have been replaced by a new breed. 50 years ago most males wanted a subservient doormat for a wife (which may explain the lack of empowered female characters; as opposed to damsels in distress/ femme fatales in older movies). Now men are looking for intelligent, confident, empowered, "ass-kicking babes", who manage to look perfect even after fifteen minute fights with chainsaw wielding robots/ flesh-eating zombies/ indestructible cyborgs.
Representation The changes in representation of women can be seen in the Terminator' trilogy. In Terminator I' Sarah Connor, the main female protagonist is portrayed as hysterical, screaming and in need of rescue. Terminator II' shows her as a strong, empowered female able to hold her own. The two main female characters in Terminator III' are Kate Brewster, another damsel in distress and the TX, a deadly but sexy killing machine who uses her sexuality as a weapon (e.g. inflating breasts to avert trouble from police). Both of the two cyborgs in Terminator', the Terminator himself (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and the female Terminator, the TX, are robots supposedly with no human feelings. However, the Terminator appears to have human characteristics, almost showing compassion and empathy, while the TX is portrayed as a bloodthirsty, evil, invincible killing machine.
by Charlotte Starlett

female representation

the representation of women in filmed in is all based upon the interpretation of the director's view within the ideology of the narrative of the film by which they have created the film around the institution that best suits there script. They are in a majority of cases in contemporary film portrayed as strong figures who assists in the narrative and reinforces the plot in order to reach and optimum climax in a film. This can be achieved as Laura Mulvey points out by taking advantage of the femininity of the female body and manipulating the sexual figure in order to gain an erotic aspect to the film and producing a male view on the film. The representation of women in films tend to be in some films for the use of comedy stereotypical and sexist, this is very evidence in such films as Austin Powers, in which Austin merely sees women as objects for his desire and pleasure and of course them being from the 60's and it being a time of sexual liberation especially for women accept it. This is shown by the statement "You're an object Baby" as it is degrading to a woman's independence and paints as a possession of a man, this is one of Austin's regularly used phases in all the Austin Powers movies. This is one of the very few movies of contemporary times that have been so sexist towards women in such a way and been successful in its promotion and showings.

gender roles in Contemporary films

The representations of women in film. In contemporary film women's roles in films have varied quiet considerably between genres, geographical placement, and between period settings. These factors contribute to the different representations of women's roles in the film they are present in. These roles are diverse going from the traditional maternal role to that of manipulative murderer. In contemporary media these roles are given higher status, in the pass the highest a female role could be at most was a side-kick or a co-star, they were given the title leading lady if they were at there best and yet they would always be second best. However, in present times in more contemporary times women's roles have been the highlight of the movie being the leading actor. Women's roles in movies can be of almost equal to the male roles and the co-stars are not given the majority of the acclaims just because they are male. Therefore, in recent films, female roles have comes to include the traditional household/ motherly role. Yet this is mainly in contemporary films about periods in the past, in the modernistic films out at the moment women's roles in the films were more dominant and masculine and all the while maintaining there feminine qualities that have always been represented in films. The genre can affect the role of the female character as for example in film noir there is always a femme fatal get in a science fiction there maybe no femme fatal iconology get there maybe a sci-fi connection to a femme fatal yet the genre of it alters it completely. This can be seen in the modern film "Kill Bill" where the lead was an aggressive, strong and powerful character and yet this aggression and revenge was steaming from the lose of her child thus the feminine mother aspect can be seen clearly in comparison to a film from the 1980's such as "Little Shop of Horrors" in which the leading lady was a weak, feminine women who had a strong sense of her sexuality and how to manipulate it in order for her to gain the one thing she wanted and her mother taught her to want, a good husband so she could be a mother and a wife. Even from these two examples we can see that there is great diversity within the representation of differing people in film.