key scenes for analysis

1. Sucker Punch "Samurai scene" & Sket "Bus fight scene"

2. Sket "Shop robberey scene" & Sucker Punch "Stolen items scenes" (Lighter, knife, map, key etc)

3.Sucker Punch "War graound scene" & Sket "Rave scene"

4. Sket "Kays sister scene" & Sucker punch Dressing room scene"

5.Sucker Punch "Highroller scene" & Sket "Ending scene"

Textual analysis for "Sucker Punch" and "Sket"

From watching both "Sket" and "Sucker Punch", i can gauge some similarities between the ways that women are represented throughout both films, but the purpose for the way they are represented are different. I believe that women in "Sucker Punch" are made to appear masculine for the purpose of visual style, and to make the film more entertaining, although some times contradicting itself with more feminine aspects. Were as "Sket" represents its women as masculine for the purpose of story and character arcs. The films both manage to pull off the masculinising of their female characters by using "Mes En Scene" (specifically the costumes) and cinematography, especially via the method of male gaze.

In the first hyperreality scene scene in sucker "Sucker Punch" were "Baby doll" is put into a oriental japan, and she is forced into a battle against three samurai mechs, it is the first example of visual effects to create a felling of masculinity. This is done by making "Baby doll" appear to have super human strength. Also she wields a samurai sword whilst fighting the mechs, the samurai sword can be seen as a phallic object which is a form of empowerment as well as the guns she uses, also phallic. Although the use of mes en scene and editing have been used to make "Baby doll" appear strong and more masculine, the cinematography still views her through the "male gaze", including allot of low angle shots of her backside, up skirt shots and the camera following her "form". Zack Snyder's use of costume in "Sucker Punch" contradicts their built up masculinity along with the cinematography. This is probably so they can "appear" manly (with their strength) but look feminine to be a more interesting viewing (via costume). However, the scene in "Sket" were Danielle and her crew beat up to guys who are hassling Kay, their masculinity is shown mainly trough the violence they deal out apon the two guys and the way they are dressed wit slick back hair and hoodies. The masculinisaton of the female characters in "Sket" is necessary for the story and how they are suppose to be represented, were as in "Sucker Punch" its purely to make it more interesting.

Not long after Kay meets Danielle and her crew she is put into a initiation to join Danielle's gang, this consists of Kay having to steal money from a near by store. Now, the act of thievery is not usually associated with female characters in movies (especially mainstream films) so having Kay have to steal at this point in the movie starts of the progressive masculinisation of Kay throughout the film, seeing as up to this point she is still seen as quite feminine. Also with the theme of theft is all the "Stolen item scenes" in "Sucker Punch". In this movie, "Baby doll" has to go into this hyperreality state (were most of the masculinisation of the women is shown in this film) whilst a item is stolen in order for them to escape the asylum. Now not only is the theory of theft being more of a masculine scenario still in play here, but also deception. Now the contradiction here is that in order to steal the items "Baby doll" must deceive the target with her dancing to distract them for the theft to be pulled off. So while a masculine act is being committed, a female act has to be done. This isn't the same for "Sket", its a matter of brute force, with no female deception involved.

In all the "Sucker Punch" hyperreality scenes, there is always conflict and violence. Acts of violence are a extremely masculine and are the main way throughout the whole of  "Sucker Punch". But they are completely irrelevant as the story could progress exactly the same, and are deffinetly only used for entertainment purpose. But, never the less, I'm going to compare the "Dragon scene" as it best supports my case. "Baby doll" "Rocket" and "Sweet pea" are seen in this scene fighting waves of orcs in a castle keep, they all use guns to fight which are again phallic objects, and show power and dominance. After fighting all these enemy's, "Baby doll" eventually fights a dragon, after a brief fight she stabs it in the head with her sword. This can be seen as a very masculine action as not only is the sword a phallic object but the final blow is a stab to the head, or penetration, again a masculine or phallic action. There are two main violent scenes in "Sket" but the best example is the last scene at a rave were Kay is Finlay going to get her revenge on the man who killed her sister. She plans to do so in a similar way to the "Dragon kill" from the other "Sucker Punch", as she plans to stab him with a flip knife. Again its a act of penetration and the flip knife is a phallic object. Both these scenes are representing the women as having a object of empowerment to make them appear masculine.

The whole story of "Sket" is driven by Kay wanting to get revenge on the guy who killed her sister. I saw this as either a "Women power" revenge or a "Family" revenge, because in "Sucker Punch" there is a somewhat similar scene were not only is "Sweet pea's" sister killed but also "Amber" and "Blondie". I drew a comparison of revenge, with it being quite a dark scenario i saw it as quite masculine but also as its a form of empowerment and drive. Also i saw a feminine aspect of emotion as when the deaths happen in both films, the protagonists seem to break down, i saw this as a overflow of emotion which is usually associated with women. Also the sudden surplus of violence afterwards that both characters dish out may be like a over compensation for the emotions and trauma that they both went through. Obviously in "Sket" the death in necessary but in "Sucker Punch" they aren't. Its at this point i noticed a pattern occur to do with how unnecessary most aspects of "Sucker Punch" are and how its more for entertainment.

Finally, in both films at the very end, both Kay and "Baby doll" become dependent on men again after all that happened. "Baby doll" ends up in the home of the highroller and after trying to escape him throughout the whole film, she decides to just give herself up and becomes dependent on him. Similarly in "Sket", Kay ends up back under the guise of her farther after Danielle is hospitalised. So after the protagonists are made to have the same power as men at the end of the two films, they have it all taken away and are back under a mans control. I noticed how both films finally end up contradicting themselves by doing this as it was all about man-like power being given to women, only to have it stricken away again. I thought that it was metaphoracal way of saying that "No matter what women do they will always end up under the rule of a man", which is true in this case. These particular scenes seem to show women as subserviant, asthough they are free to dream but they cant escape.

The representation of masculinity in the women of "Sket" and "Sucker Punch" is used for different purpose. In Sucker Punch the women are masculines for visual purposes, as you are meant to feel as if the women are being empowered so that they can conquer all the obstacles that they have to face. This can only be acquired by the characters becoming more masculine, but they are not necessarily for example Gun fights, sword play etc. "Sket" shares a similar concept of women having to be more like men to survive, but it is more for the actual narrative. All the fighting in "Sket" is necessary as the women are supposed to be shown as more powerful than men, but "Sucker Punch" rather than representing the masculinity of women it predominately uses visual style to create a spectacle. Also the films contradict themselves by having women appear masculine, to then either use the "male gaze" or take away all their power completely with no regards for what they have been through prior.

The representation on masculinisation of women in Sucker Punch and SKET.

Thesis
From watching both "Sket" and "Sucker Punch", i can gauge some similarities between the ways that women are represented throughout both films, but the purpose for the way they are represented are different. I believe that women in "Sucker Punch" are made to appear masculine for the purpose of visual style, and to make the film more entertaining, although some times contradicting itself with more feminine aspects. Were as "Sket" represents its women as masculine for the purpose of story and character arcs.

Points
1
Macro: Representation

Example: (Sucker Punch samurai scene)

Analysis: This scene is a good example of my point, as the fight scene is compiled of special effects and sword play to make the character "Baby doll" seem more masculine, but does still slip in some "up-skirt" shots.

Synthesis: comparing this to the bus fight scene from "Sket"; the scene does the complete opposite, it masculineises women to make their characters aggressive for a narrative purpose unlike "Sucker Punch".

2
Macro: Representation

Example: (Shop robbery scene)

Analysis: This scene shows Kay comiting a crime, a deed that is not usually assosiated with women, women are "normaly" looked apon as quite regal and should not be commiting crimes, a man would be.

Synthisis: Comparing this with the dragon scene from "Sucker Punch"; it shows "Baby doll" killing a drogon with a samurai sword, again is not a womenly thing to be doing, in a fairy tale-esk setting, usually it is men who are the ones slaying dragons in castle keeps.

3
Macro: Representaion

Example: (Highroller scene)

Analysis: Its at this point in the movie that "Baby doll" has lost all masculinity and is now dependent and under the guise of the high roller.

Synthisis: A somewhat simaler asspect apppers at the end of "Sket" were Kay has lost Danielle and is now relient on her father, this is a good comparison as the masculinity built on these characters through out the movie is turnt straight back again, abd they are now dependent on male characters instead.


Conclusion
The representation of masculinity in the women of "Sket" and "Sucker Punch" is used for different purpose. In Sucker Punch the women are masculinised for visual purposes, as you are ment to feel as if the women are being empowered so that they can conquer all the obstacles that they have to face. This can only be acquired by the characters becoming more masculine, but they are not necessarily for example Gun fights, sword play etc. "Sket" shares a similar concept of women having to be more like men to survive, but it is more for the actual narrative. All the fighting in "Sket" is necessary as the women are supposed to be shown as more powerful than men, but "Sucker Punch" rather than representing the masculinity of women it predominately uses visual style to create a spectacle.

female identity




national identity


male identity

Hypothesis

How is the masculinisation of women represented in the films "SKET" and "SuckerPunch"?

The masculinisation of women is represented in both sucker punch and sket by the extreme violence and use of weaponry by the women.  

end of module essay

V for vendetta is a dystopian representation of London in the alt 21^st centaury. The film conveys the themes of dictatorships, revolution, religious hypocrisy and judgement through the means of the characters progression, their relationships between each other and events which they carryout in the film, which potentially can take away or get back their freedom.

The theme of dictatorships or “post-colonialism” is conveyed in the scene were chancellor Sutlar is portrayed somewhat similar to Hitler at a rally, with his powerful speeches and his own parties symbol which looks somewhat like a swastika. A lot of low angle shots are also used on Sutlar to show dominance over everyone around him. This theme in the film of dictatorship is a warning that a similar situation to Hitler and his domination over Germany can happen to other countries, like how

The theme of revolution is shown via the scene near the end of the film wear the military is called open to stop the uprising of the public when they’ve all left their homes dressed in V’s outfits so they may witness the fall of parliament. The bird’s eye view shot of all the people gathering in he centre of London shows the public wearing black cloaks envelop the city showing that they have control over it now and the government can’t stop them. This theme is a celebration of rising up from a oppressed and controlling lifestyle and doing what is right to gain your freedom.

Another theme is religious hypocrisy, which is when a religious figure goes against their own belief for their own gratification. This is shown in the scene of the film were the priest believes Evey is a minor and tries to molest her which is obviously a violation of his religion; he also curses a extreme amount. This theme shows that even religious figures cant be trusted by the public as they willingly go against their own belief system.

Yet another theme in the film is judgment, there is two recognisable examples of judgement in the movie. The first is the fact that throughout the film, any one that goes against the policy of the “Norsefire” party is judged by them and intern punished for there “crime”. These crimes could literally be your sexuality, religion or being out late. The other example is V, he judges and seeks revenge on those who wronged him in his “past life”. This is a message that shows no one can escape their past and a warning that there are in fact some fascist governments out there that would do things like this to their public.

Conclusively, the film is a warning to the audience that their government could soon do something similar to this, trapping their own people and making them live by a fascist agenda and no one having their own identity or individuality, in the fear that it might get themselves killed. OR even religions becoming corrupt meaning that all religious people losing faith in the one thing that they use to make their lives better, because all their religious figures are as corrupt as the governments that enslaved them. 

Notes
Macro
-narrative
-style
-genre
-representation

"tools"
-sound
-mise-en-scene
-editing
-cinematography

Planet of the apes (finale scene)
-the guy breaks down and becomes emotional, as apposed to the women which you would expect from her
-foreshadowing ("YOU BLEW IT UP!)
-apocalyptic style message
-chuck looks weak (literally brought to his knees)
-scfi/ post apocalyptic

moving shots (cinematography)
-whip pan:quick panning motion
-tracking shot: follows the action through a space
-tilt: stays static and pans either vertically or horizontally
-pans: reveal previously un-seeable space
steadycam shot: a shot taken from a camera attached to the cameraman via a harness

Comparative analysis of “V for Vendetta” and “Children of Men”-Film Studies.

Both “V for Vendetta” and “Children of Men” are dystopian movies were a form of extreme prejudice has taken over England due to chaos arising around the world.  “V for Vendettas” main protagonist, V is seen as a terrorist by the public of London due to the “demolition” of one of the governments buildings, “The Old Baily” and is then on sought after by the executives and leader of a, supposed “God fearing” government, to bring the political activist to grinding halt, all the while V seeks revenge on those who turned him into what he has become. “Children of Mens” main protagonist is a, relatively normal man named Theo living in a world where the entire population of earth has become infertile.  Theo is found by an old political activist he once protested alongside called Julian, who has now become the leader of an association known as the “Fish”. She gives Theo the task of safely transporting a girl named Key (who literally carries the answer to solving the world’s problem) to an association known as “The Human Project”.

A comparison can already be made about the dystopian worlds which the protagonists live in. Both dystopian worlds are based on England being the only surviving country on earth after a form of crisis happens, in these cases, “V for Vendettas” dystopian world came to be due to war and disease, and then Britain quarantining its self. “Children of Mens” dystopian world is created by the world’s population becoming infertile, making each country fall into chaos, apart from England. England decides to cast out any refugees to make sure that the only people receiving any help or benefit of the situation is a true British citizen.

Another comparison which can be drawn from the two movies is that the protagonists are seen by the antagonists or other groups in the films, as terrorists. V is believed to be a terrorist by the leader of “The Party”, Adam Sutler. It is believable as to why he thinks this as V destroyed a building at the start of the movie. Theo is also sought after for being a supposed terrorist, as he worked with a political activists group, “The Fish”, who are also believed by the government to be terrorists.

One last small comparison between the characters and narrative of the two movies is that both male main protagonists have a female companion, of which a relationship is built up around throughout the film. When Eevee meets V, he saves her life from a group of thugs from “The Party” known as “Fingerman”.  She then on only knows him to be some strange man dressed in black wearing a Guy Fawkes mask who saved her life. Their relationship builds over the course of the movie, as V teaches Eevee his way of life and how to live without fear, which soon leads to them falling in love with each other. Theo has two female companions over the course of the movie, Julian and Key. But the character which a relationship is built up around is key’s. Theo first meets Key when he is tasked with the job of delivering her to a group called the “Human Project”, as she is the first person in 18 years that has been pregnant and successfully had a baby, which the group she is a part of, “The Fish”, believe can solve the worlds infertility problem. The relationship between Theo and Key builds up closer to the end of the movie, as all the people who traveled with Theo ends up boiling down to just Key and himself. It’s at this point in the movie were their relationship becomes larger as Theo has to help Key through child birth and get her safely out of Bexhill refugee centre which at the time was going through an uprising

A comparison between the themes of the two movies is that there are forms of extreme prejudice against other ethnicity, religions or even sexual preferences. In “V for Vendetta” there are forms of extreme prejudice against other religions, race and sexual preferences. This is due to the government being “God fearing”, so anything that is anti-Christian will be, as they say in the film, “Black bagged” meaning that people or objects that go against the Christian faith will be taken away or the person will be arrested. In “Children of Men”, the prejudice falls upon refuges. Any illegal immigrants found within Britain are taken away to a sort of refugee shanty town called “Bexhill”. Any refugees found are extremely miss- treated by the soldiers who handle them.

A final comparison that can be made between the two films is that after a great crisis occurring in the world, the government in both films completely breaks down without question. In both dystopian worlds the British government changes entirely, thinking that anyone who is not entirely on their side is their enemy and should be either punished or executed. This is an odd thing to do at a time of crisis because surly making the situation worse with all the prejudice, fear and controversy is just going to make everything worse.

Concluding the comparisons of “V for Vendetta” and “Children of Men”, both protagonists are misconstrued by their government as terrorists, only meaning harm on their country with no good ulterior motive. Who by the end of the movie either make the situation better or completely solve the main problem of the film.

-Adam Lee

      

                                                                                                    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3JMFJot4os