Working title
To what extent do films such as The Hunger Games
reflect the recent growth in female protagonists in Hollywood films?
Angle
What impact does having female protagonists
influence an audience?
Hypothesis
There are
now more female protagonists in major Hollywood films.
Linked production piece
A trailer of an action or a horror movie.
MIGRAIN
Representation-
·
In the hunger games the
protagonist is a female and is represented to be strong, tough and independent.
·
The subject is being represented
in this way to empower women
Language and forms-
·
The main images shown are with
the protagonist holding a weapon or fighting
·
The iconography is the bow and
arrow she has
·
The connotative meaning is that
she can survive and is strong on her own, she is a fighter
·
The denotative meaning is that
she is a hunter
Narrative-
·
The narrative shows the supporting role is a male
has more of the feminine qualities as he is not a fighter as much as the
protagonist and he shows emotions of love and care.
Genre-
·
The genre is action/drama/fantasy
Audience-
·
The demographics of the audience would be 12-30
year olds
·
Psychographics- A,B,C1 and C2
·
Audience pleasures would link to uses and
gratifications; personal identity/relationship
SHEP
Social- How female
protagonists are impacted by actresses such as Jennifer Lawrence.
Historical- Marilyn Monroe and
Lauren Bacall were inspirations to women.
Economical- One of the highest
grossing films was The Hunger Games and so was the Wizard of Oz (1939)
Political-Debates about why
females that are taking over lead roles in films are a good thing for the
younger generation.
Issues/Debates
· ·
Representation and stereotyping- representation of
females in movies (sex objects).
·
Media effects- Changing media (modernism)
·
News values- the prominence a news story is given
by media outlets, big movies get a lot of media attention (Hunger Games)
·
Media technology and the digital revolution-changing
technology in the 21st century- how people are starting to go along
with females taking over lead roles.
Theories
· ·
Semiotics- study of sign processes, signs and
symbols or signification and communication.
·
Structuralism and post structuralism- a method of
interpretation and analysis of aspects of human cognition, behaviour, culture
and experience.
·
Marxism and Hegemony- Communism and leadership or
dominance of one over others.
·
Postmodernism and its critiques- How times haves
changed where women are seen to be more equal.
·
Gender and ethnicity- White females are normally
the protagonists in films. Some sidekicks however tend to be of a different
ethnicity.
·
Liberal pluralism- rights and equality of
individuals
·
Audience theories- Uses and gratifications-
personal identity/escapism/personal relationship
·
Genre theories- Action/drama; females in action
films
·
Contemporary media landscape- the view on media is
changing as more females are involved in productions.
Research plan (media texts, academic texts and
websites)
Media texts
Hunger
Games, Gravity, SALT, Tomb Raider… Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall (Wizard of Oz)
– historical investigation.
Other media texts
SALT, Gravity,
TV documentaries
The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins
Wicked By Gregory Maguire
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo By Stieg Larsson
Internet Links
Newspaper website-
Relevant articles-
