Explore the representation of women in action films and how they are

shown to act the opposite to what they would in reality due to their
behaviour.
In my hypothesis, I am focusing on how females are represented in action and
adventure films. I will be exploring the alteration in which the role of gender has
been presented, referring to historical, cultural and social issues. I will be
analysing the use of props and the personality of characters in Journey to the
Centre of the Earth (2008), Fast and Furious 6 (2013), Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
and The Mummy Returns (2001). Analysing the personality of the characters will
show how they portray that role and will allow me to identify stereotypes of the
women showing them unstereotypically.
The representation of women in the films I have chosen to study, show them as
been g non- stereotypical and shown to have the same mentality and behave like
the males in the films. The way the female characters will be shown as
unstereotypically is through the use of cinematography such as their costumes
and props and the mise-en-scene from the camera angles. The cinematography
shows how one of the females dresses compared to the other character. The
mise-en-scene examines the unstereotypically behaviour of the women
throughout the films as the shots that are used closely focuses on the positioning
of the characters body language, also giving the audience more of an idea of
what the character will be like. However, in the films I have chosen to analyse,
the females show the same characteristics and with that they are able to
perform a convincing role of tough, brave women and who do not show fear
towards the tasks ahead of them. Males in movies are
normally shown as the brave and dangerous individuals
that take on difficult tasks as they are typically shown in
reality. This is shown as the woman in Journey to the
Centre of the Earth (2008), Anita Briems character
Hannah Asgeirsson is adventurous and does not show
fright when getting involved in dirty activities and being
practical. For example, during the tunnel scene, Hannah
Asgeirsson managed to work the kart and guide herself,
Trevor Anderson played by Brendan Fraser and Sean
Anderson who was played by Josh Hutcherson out into a
safer part of the cave. This shows Hannah to not fit a
typical stereotype towards women as this shows strength
and tactical behaviour.

In Fast and Furious 6 (2013), the

Toretto and Riley are adventurous
enjoy the adrenaline rush. This is due to
they also show how determined they
boss, by the crew being
down their
example of
Rodriguezs
raced against
the opening

women Letty Ortiz, Mia

characters that are shown to
them being street racers,
are to support their
reassembled to take
mercenaries. An
this is when Michelle
character Letty Ortiz
a male street racer in
scene.

Bridge to
Terabithia (2007)
represents the teenage girls as being creative and
imaginative as she creates an imaginary world to escape her
reality along with her friend. Anna Sophia Robb uses her
imagination and creativity during a scene when her and best
friend Jesse Aarons was in the forest decorating their tree
house with paints and drawings of the creatures that they
imagine to feature in their own artistic land.

The woman in The Mummy: Returns (2001) Evelyn OConnell

is represented as courageous as they are prepared to battle
against a mummified body that has awoken and begins his
campaign of rage and terror. Rachel Weiszs character
Evelyn was courageous when she was preparing the battle
of the mummy. Also along with Meela who is played by
Patricia Velasquez. Evelyn OConnell is represented as being
wise.

Journey to the centre of the Earth (2008) is an American science, adventure,

fantasy film released on July 11th 2008, with the duration of 93 minutes. In the
film, Hannah Asgeirsson is shown they have a brave, quick thinking, well
respected and physically strong personality. This is useful for the tasks
throughout the film as her job in the film is a mountain guide. Trevor Anderson
and his nephew Sean Anderson show to respect Hannah when she uses her
navigation skills to guide them all to a safer part inside the mountain cave. They
also show appreciation for her skills when she saves both of their lives on more
than one occasion in the film, also allowing them to realise they need her and
can trust her. Hannah Asgeirsson uses her navigation skills many times during

the film to ensure everyone is safe. This occupation allows her to take
charge because she is the only one that knows where to go and
what to avoid.
During the underground scene of Journey to the Centre of the Earth
(2008) Anitas character shows to use
her initiative and common sense again using the
kart to get out to the other side of the tunnel. She pushes the lever down to start
the kart and proceeds doing this
action until the end. This movement
emphasises her physical ability when moving heavy objects and it shows that
she is the strongest one
as she is the only one
that pushes the kart down the
railings. Another scene that
represents Hannah Asgeirsson as
being a tough character is when
she is ahead of the two ales
directing them to the bottom.
This shows her as not being a
stereotypical female due to her
behaviour and enthusiasm
towards the adventure ahead.
This is also shown due to the
cinematography as her costume consists of a helmet with a built in torch, which
gives the impression to the audience that she is wiser and prepared for the
adventure. This activity also tested her strength as she is the only one holding
the rope around her waist guiding Trevor and Sean down the hole. Also that she
is able to hold the weight of two males alone, showing her being physically
strong. The costume she is wearing is a belt which is carrying a torch and other
equipment she may need.
However, Hannah shows her
femininity when their journey
through the tunnel comes to an
end and they all find
themselves between walls
engraved with crystals and
diamonds. This instantly interests her as
women
stereotypically adore diamonds
and crystals and because she
knows the value of which they
are. Anita Briems character
shows great strength throughout the film as she carries out majority of the
masculine tasks and completes them successfully.

Fast and Furious 6 (2013) is the sixth instalment in the Fast and Furious franchise
directed by Justin Lin, with the duration of 130
minutes. In Fast and Furious 6 (2013) Letty Ortiz,
Mia Toretto and Riley are represented as
physically strong, committed, independent and
supportive people as well as concerned partners of
the males. In reality, females showing
their concerns are typical things for women
as they appear to be more emotional and
affectionate people, rather than males. Letty
Ortiz is shown to be highly skilled in
mechanics and a talented street racer.
The occupation of being a mechanic is
typically a males job, so this gives Letty a masculine approach. She is
supportive and shows her concerns towards her partner when Vin Diesels
character Dominic Toretto participates in a carjacking scheme. This represents
her as being a stereotypical woman as she is publicised to be a loyal person
showing she cares. Letty is also shown to be a touch woman throughout the film
when she fights with
riley in the subway in
order to protect the
business she is part of.
Normally fighting is a
predicament males get
themselves into,
however, In Fast and
Furious 6 (2013), it was
an unstereotypically thing for
females to do.

Michelle Toretto is represented as supportive

and brave towards her family
when she frees her brother
Dominic Toretto from arrest and
becomes deeply involved with her brothers
criminal lifestyle, in order to help support her
family and to provide for their life.
Mia Torettos character played by
Jordana Brewster character is also
known as being a quick thinking, proficient driver and deceiving when it comes
to the challenges she faces during the film. In reality, they are shown as the
deceiving and proficient drivers. This is due to men typically not caring about the
law and not being sympathetic people and women stereotypically being the
opposite. This represents Mia Toretto as being a female who is typically
concerned about their loved ones. She also supports her loved one in a situation
that could end negatively. Mia Toretto is represented as a proficient driver as she
was brought up with her father and brother being race car drivers who also
shared a good understanding of cars. This makes her brave because the position
she has taken on as becoming a street racer requires speedy driving. This is also
very risky as if an accident occurred, her life could potentially end. This is
unstereotypically of a woman as women as seen to be the safer drivers in reality.
Throughout the film she is shown to take part in the carjacking scenes, however,
she knows to be more feminine when she ensures her family and friends did not
get arrested or hurt during the process. This represents Jordana Brewster as a
classic woman due to her emotional attachment she has towards the ones close
to her. Jordana Brewsters character role of Mia Toretto is showed as being nonstereotypical due to her behaviour and knowledge and passion for cars as cars
are more of a masculine topic. However, in the film she also shows herself to be
a worried partner of Brian OConner when she fears he will be killed and also
admits to her brother Dominic Toretto that she is scared the quiet may not be for
Brian. This also shows how she is a classic female because she is concerned and
supportive.
Gina Caranos character Riley Hicks in Fast and Furious 6 (2013) is a
henchwomen and a good supporter or villain partner. Riley Hicks is shown to be a
good supporter as she knows she is working for the enemy of the street racers.
She is shown to be brave, misleading, sly and confident and a traitor of being a
bid bad, double agent and evil cop type of villain. Riley was shown to be
misleading when she was sharing information o Own Shaw (her partner) about
the plans of Dominic Torettos crew. Ginas character also seemed to have high
fighting skills, firearm skills and speed. These powers and skills made Rileys
personality come across as very cunning and wise as she acknowledged she was
not doing right.
Bridge of Terabithia (2007) is an American Fantasy adventure family drama film
directed by Gabor Csupo, running on 96 minutes. Anna Sophia Robbs character
Leslie Burke is represented as creative, imaginative, athletic, quick thinking,
talkative, open- minded and openly social with people and a tomboy. Leslie Burke

showed to be openly social with people on her first day at school as she
unexpectedly volunteered herself to race against the boys in a 100m race and
wins. This makes her very athletic and also seen as a threat at all boys she
contested with. The cinematography shows how she is a tomboy due to the
costume. The clothes she is wearing shows her dressed in trousers and trainers,
whereas the other girls in the film are dressed in dresses or skirts. Anna Sophia
Robbs character is revealed to be creative and imaginative when she and Jesse
Aarons go into the forest together and begin to create their own world. Anna
Sophia Robbs character uses her artistic mind to escape her reality. This is
because she and her friend Jesse Aarons are the outcasts in school and use the
land Terabithia to feel empowerment and in control of something. Her character
is kind and caring, this can be seen in the scene where Jesse Aarons little sister
May-Belle Aarons feels
intimidated by the schools
bully, and helps, defends and
comforts her.
Anna Sophia Robbs plays the
role of Leslie Burke who is
represented
as a non- stereotype of girls in
Bridge to
Terabithia due to her
personality by being different,
which is also why she is an
outcast. Leslie is also shown as a non- stereotype as she is adventurous and
shows a big interest in the forest. Typically girls do not like to get dirty or enter
environments such as a forest. This is what makes her different from the other
girls in school. Also through the costumes that were chosen for this character.
The typical behaviour of a girl does not want to go into the forest, willingly get
dirty and to be careful, whereas Leslies character is the opposite which also
makes her seen as being a tomboy.

The Mummy: Returns (2001), is

an American fantasy adventure film with the duration of 10 minutes, directed by
Stephan Sommers. In the film Rachel Weiszs character Evelyn OConnell is
represented as quiet and self confined as she wanted to commence her careers
to be a librarian, although, throughout the film, her personality changes and
begins to contribute ideas based on how she assumes hey could served when
battling the mummy at the end of the film. She is represented as being
adventurous when she is on a quest to defeat the mummy with her husband Rick
OConnell and the rest. Rachel Weiszs character does not act like women her
age in
reality. For
example, it
is
expected for a
woman
to have a
job, but
it is not
expected
for a
woman to
battle
against
mummies.

Evelyn OConnell is shown to have a courageous, brave mentality that enjoys the
adrenaline rush. This can be told by the way she acts in the film by her
behaviour. The behaviour of Rick OConnells wife is determined to take part in
the battle and is showed to fear only death. Patricia Velasquez plays Meela (also
known as Anck Su Namun) in The Mummy: Returns (2001) has an essential,
strong leading role and has the characteristics of a killer partially due to her wide
collection of weapons. This represents both females Evelyn and Meela as being

dangerous, as they are both carrying weapons. They do not present themselves
as being typical woman due to the costumes they are wearing as it shows they
are clearly prepared for dangerous activity.

The

representation of women in the films I have analysed shows how gender

discrimination has provided women with stronger roles to perform in films and
with inferior representation. Although female objectification still occurs in some
genres or films, female representation is highly respected in films, as gender
roles are practically equal. The theorist that best supports the non- stereotype of
women is Laura Mulvey. She inaugurated the intersection of film theory,
psychoanalysis and feminism. Laura argues that in order for women to be equally
represented in the workplace, women must portray themselves as men are:
slacking sexual objectification.
All the women that I have analysed in this hypothesis are all attractive and seem
to be surrounded by men when taking part in dangerous activities that are going
on. All the women in the films all show how strong they are physically,
committed and are all supported by Laura Mulvey (1991). This theorist explores
the way in which women in films are presented in a particular Male gaze way
through the lens of the male characters in the films. In the films I have chosen,
the women dress appropriately and dress according to the events that are taking
place. For example, in Fast and Furious 6, the women throughout the film are
dressed comfortably and casually to suit the kind of work they will be doing.
Laura identifies three looks or perspectives that occur in film which,
she argues serve to sexually objectifying women.
The first look is the perspective of the males character on screen
and how he perceives the female character. The second look is the
perspective of the spectator as they see the female character on

screen. The third look joins both of the first two looks together; it is
the male audience members perspective of the male character in the
film. Laura Mulvey also asserts that the dominance men embody is only
because women exist, as without a woman, a man and his supremacy
as the controller of visual pleasure are insignificant. It is the presence
of the female that defines the patriarchal order of society as well as the
male psychology of thought.
The representation of women has changed in contract to how women are
presented in other films. Women in other films are more time seen like how they
are in reality. Although males are knows as being dominant and superior in
present day films, women are more than capable to carry out similar actions and
tasks. The social and political impacts are those women are being given different
roles to play in different genres and there has been a large transformation of
female representation in films. In some films and in reality, the males are shown
as being in control, strong and carry out dangerous tasks, however, in these
films, the females take on more of that role to show that they are capable of
doing the same things that men can do, whether they are more successful or less
successful;.
Overall, the films I have chosen to study present women as being strong willed
and are shown to be able to do the same activities as men. The women in all four
films are sown to act the opposite of what they would in reality. They are
represented as strong, independent women that can save more than one life.
This was done in the films as they put their own life at risk and managed to
survive.

Word count 2,947

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