Now, I am the first to say that things like the media do not have COMPLETE influence over our sexist society. However, popular culture can either act as a barometer or a compass in illustrating the social subconscious style attitudes about how to play out gender.
Now, I love movies. I love good movies, I love lame movies, I love funny and sad and sweet and scary movies. I just love watching a movies. And for the most part I grit my teeth and just bear it when there is out and out sexism in a movie. But after the past two movies I just saw…I don’t know how much more I can take!!
The first was 27 Dresses. I had been wanting to see it for awhile because, James Marsten is…well…HAWT. And it looked funny. The end. Now, your every-day run of the mill so-called “chick-flick” is generally rife with gender stereotypes and one-dimensional story telling. But, since I like the corny situational humor and diluted love stories, I give many a chance. One of my favorite movies, for example, is How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. Love it. But back to 27 Dresses. Now, I find Kathrine Hiegl a likable actress, despite being placed in shitty movies such as Knocked Up. To be quite honest, I expected decent things from this movie. Oh, how naive I was.
Aren't worn-out stereotypes hilarious?
27 Dresses takes the old adage, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” and fucks it over another 26 times. Poor Hiegl’s character is a wishy-washy, backbone-less goody goody who bends over backwards to please those around her, but is so clearly unhappy. Yet what would make her happy? Oh that’s right–her own stint into matrimonial imprisonment. Charming, right? To be honest, this movie was so unremarkably bad, I don’t have that much to rant about. Basically, its touting the only way a woman can truly find happiness is to not only GET MARRIED, but throw a lavish, pricey wedding as well. It was like a 2-hour, David’s Bridal commerical. Yes, that pandering and that boring.
Spy Barbie Says: "Using your brains is hard! I'd rather use my ass!"
The real disappointment was actually in Get Smart, which David and I saw Wednesday night. It’s no secret, but I love both Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell very much. And I have a weakness for spy movies, and David loves the old TV shows, so Get Smart it was…. Well, what started out as predictable quickly spiraled into a disaster. Hathaway as Agent 99 starts out a complete badass. I was even willing to forgive the slinky suit and high heels in lieu of her total kick-ass-ery. That quickly went to shit, however. From the scene where she rips off the bottom half of her dress to more “easily” slide through a laser maze (showing off her flexible, “accidental” sex position prowess in the process) to the 9 little incidents she has to be rescued from, after meeting Maxwell Smart and falling prey to his bumbling charms (in about 1/2 a scene) she is reduced to an ineffective, inept weakling. Oh, and is offended when her ex-boyfriend tells her she’s not feminine. And uses her sexuality a number of times to manipulate the enemy. Plus, had to get plastic surgery (off scene, before the timeline in the movie) and is…like…totally sad not because of her lost identity, but because her other face was just soooo hawt.
BAH. Being a spy would be totally cool. But why why why why why WHY can’t women be effective? Or why does “love” suddenly make them regress into damsels in distress? And why, for fucks sake, do we have to wear slitted dresses and heels? Cuz that’s sooo functional.
To be fair, the movie was entertaining. But it really made me fume when the not-so-subtle message was (and always has been) “look ladies: no matter how smart, how talented, how funny or charming or successful at your job, you will end up being reduced to your parts. Get used to it.”
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July 21, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Yeah, what she said… « Ms. Ann Drist’s Blog
[...] Okay, okay, if you really want to know what she was talking about in that marvelous post, check out Dirty Rotten Feminist blog here. [...]
July 24, 2008 at 2:01 am
jodi
welcome to henderson, n.c. I just moved here a year ago. So far the best place to hang out and meet cool people that i know of is common grounds on dabney . I’m an artist and have meet several cool women there . check it out!! have a good day. montreal is a great place. been there many times . jodi
August 1, 2008 at 6:29 pm
d00d
Because of the extraordinary circumstances of 27 Dresses, I for one cannot take Hiegl’s character as any representation of or role model for women. This particular character loves planning and attending weddings so much that she goes to two at once. Since she was like, 10 or so, she’s been helping out a weddings. Her view of helping other people achieve happiness is to make their wedding day special, so in her mind wedding = happiness, so it’s only logical that she would get married herself at the end.
I cannot say I know or have heard of anyone so obsessed with weddings before in my life, and I hope I never meet such a woman. You may find characters like the best friend (who was basically portrayed as a slut, to my dismay), but no one like Hiegl’s character, so she cannot even come close to representing women in general.
As to Get Smart, you are completely correct. That last scene, with Hathaway’s character sporting Hilton-like attire complete with mini dog made me want to hurl.
September 24, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Jessica
A woman who wears makeup, a killer dress, and high heels on occasion isn’t necessarily less of a feminist for doing so. It’s the intent that matters. If a woman makes herself up because she feels as though she must, due to society’s pressure on women to be attractive, then she is generally acting out of insecurity and lacks agency– she’s virtually a slave to those who dictate norms of her environment (she’s a fashion victim, basically). However, I know many women who enjoy their own sexuality for its own sake- they’ll don a hot (not necessarily slutty) pair of shoes and a well-tailored dress or skirt suit because they know it looks great on them and they enjoy looking great. They’re not always seeking the approval of men- they don’t dress up just because men find it hot. These women are just not afraid to let their outer appearance reflect the confident, ambitious, sexy woman that’s on the inside.
I remember being 13 years old and feeling as though I HAD to wear all the trendiest clothes or I’d be looked down upon. I wanted to buy certain things because other people had deemed them desirable or cool. As I’ve gotten older, I no longer buy into such fashion victim mentality- it doesn’t matter what’s traditionally sexy or “in”- I simply wear clothes that fit ME, that are consistent with my style and personality, whether or not they are trendy. Believe it or not, it took me a long time to reach this point, so I can see what you mean about some girls dressing provatively to please others. As I’ve grown into womanhood, I personally enjoy looking my best- I love wearing heels because they shape my legs and improve my walk and I feel fabulous in them. Ditto for nice jeans, dresses, etc. Is that a little vain? Sure, but it doesn’t make oppressed or a sell-out. “sexy” clothes are not entirely nonfunctional either, as different occasions call for different types of clothing (you wouldn’t go ballroom dancing in running shoes)…besides, if I enjoy something for my own sake, then that is enough. It’s really no different than enjoying chocolate or sex or something else. As a woman yourself, I’m sure you love wearing what makes you look and feel your best, too, and that is a very good thing. Anyway, I just wanted to say don’t knock high heels or sexy dresses! Sometimes they are just fabulous.
September 24, 2008 at 9:33 pm
goingtomontreal
Jessica- My problem isn’t with wearing so-called “slutty” outfits or clothes that might be deemed as such. My problem is the pattern in movies to continually put women in skimpy outfits so they can be looked at. The choice of directors, writers, casting, and stylists to put Anne Hathaway in a slitted dress does not speak to her autonomy (or lack there of) but rather the problem in popular culture that time and again sexualizes and objectifies women.