Primary research
Answers
Audience member 1
General Questions
Women now often have lead roles instead of assistants and housewives. Real life is reflected in television so it shows that women are becoming a lot more dominant in today’s society.
Because women are taking more control over their own destiny and forging their own way in work.
Yes, “All creatures great and small” and “The chase”. In “All creatures great and small” the female roles were that of receptionists and cleaners. Whereas in the recent series, “The Chase” many of the female roles were actually vets.
New modern role, it gives you something to live up to.
Texts and Questions
Mistresses
1. Masculine, clean, plain and stylish.
2. Appropriate for my idea of a lesbian partner.
3. Fun, provocative, individual.
4. Quirky, cheeky, doesn’t care what other people think.
5. Yes.
6. Because Alex and Jess generally feel something for each other.
The Street
1. Self centred, unfeeling.
2. Because I believe she escaped too quickly out of a relationship she could have worked at.
3. Run down, doesn’t make any effort.
4. Spur of the moment because she is shifting the blame.
5. Well, she is still in shock.
6. For the husband, because he will blame himself. He is being wronged by his wife because she is having an affair.
Audience member 2
General Questions
The woman would be in a passive role, often seen in the kitchen, in the bedroom and bringing up the children. Today, they have more careers of their own, breadwinners of the family and more independent.
To keep up with modern day life, they have to represent real life. Now they are out there earning for themselves.
Stereotypical, because it is homely and comforting.
Texts and Questions
Mistresses
Simple, modern, casual.
Calm, happy with the way she is. The clothes reflect this.
Very individual, one side of her hair is longer then the other. Quirky, individual, sexy.
She doesn’t care about anybodies feelings, if she wants it she will get it.
No
She is being disloyal.
The Street
Don’t like her.
She is being unkind to her husband and children. She is putting the child’s happiness at risk.
Common, doesn’t make an effort. Represents the fact that she is bored with her marriage, she wants to move on, this leads to an affair.
Spur of the moment.
She doesn’t want to panic the child. She may feel a bit guilty.
The husband. He will blame himself, and she is being unfaithful and making him feel guilty.
Monday, 12 May 2008
Texts and Questions
Mistresses
Clip: Episode 2, Time 14.10.
Describe the dress style of the character Alex.
How do you feel her dress and her all round appearance relates to her character?
Describe the character Jess, her style, including hairstyle, and dress etc
What do the expressions on her face, her stance, and her gestures suggest about her personality?
Even though these two characters are flirting with one another, whilst one of the characters partners are close by, do you still like the characters played in this scene?
If so why?
Behind the scenes
Do you agree with what Shelley Conn says, if so why?
The Street
In this episode, the actress Jane Horrocks is having an affair, due to not getting any happiness from her husband. What is your attitude to her?
Why is your attitude towards her like that?
What representation do you get from the dress that Jane is wearing?
Series one, episode 1, time, 12.26
Do you feel that the use of this quote represents the strength of character or do you feel, because of the situation that she is in, that she says this on the spur of the moment?
How do you feel she handles the situation?
Who do you feel sorry for most in this scene?
Why?
Quote from Jane Horrocks
Time: 16.30
What do you think this quote tells us about how women are represented in today’s society?
What do you think this quote tells us about how men are represented in today’s society?
Mistresses
Clip: Episode 2, Time 14.10.
Describe the dress style of the character Alex.
How do you feel her dress and her all round appearance relates to her character?
Describe the character Jess, her style, including hairstyle, and dress etc
What do the expressions on her face, her stance, and her gestures suggest about her personality?
Even though these two characters are flirting with one another, whilst one of the characters partners are close by, do you still like the characters played in this scene?
If so why?
Behind the scenes
Do you agree with what Shelley Conn says, if so why?
The Street
In this episode, the actress Jane Horrocks is having an affair, due to not getting any happiness from her husband. What is your attitude to her?
Why is your attitude towards her like that?
What representation do you get from the dress that Jane is wearing?
Series one, episode 1, time, 12.26
Do you feel that the use of this quote represents the strength of character or do you feel, because of the situation that she is in, that she says this on the spur of the moment?
How do you feel she handles the situation?
Who do you feel sorry for most in this scene?
Why?
Quote from Jane Horrocks
Time: 16.30
What do you think this quote tells us about how women are represented in today’s society?
What do you think this quote tells us about how men are represented in today’s society?
General Questionnaire
Female representation in TV dramas
1) What are the obvious comparisons from today’s representation of females in TV drama’s, to say 30 years ago?
2) Why do you feel these changes in representation are occurring in television dramas?
3) Do some of today’s dramas have an element of stereotypical female roles? Compare two dramas, one from 30 years ago and one today, that have a stereotypical look on female characters and a changing look on female characters. Give the two examples.
4) Which do you prefer, stereotypical representations or changing representation of female characters and why?
Female representation in TV dramas
1) What are the obvious comparisons from today’s representation of females in TV drama’s, to say 30 years ago?
2) Why do you feel these changes in representation are occurring in television dramas?
3) Do some of today’s dramas have an element of stereotypical female roles? Compare two dramas, one from 30 years ago and one today, that have a stereotypical look on female characters and a changing look on female characters. Give the two examples.
4) Which do you prefer, stereotypical representations or changing representation of female characters and why?
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Primary Research
Analyse some good extracts from Mistresses, The Street etc. Write your analysis down - explore how the females are NOT just expressions of stereotypes of femininity, and perhaps also how in some ways they still are?
Then get an audience of fans (or individual fans) and explore with them what they like about these reps, and also whether THEY see them as examples of changing/challenging reps of females. "Do you like this because it is different to how women are normally portrayed?" sort of questions....
Then get an audience of fans (or individual fans) and explore with them what they like about these reps, and also whether THEY see them as examples of changing/challenging reps of females. "Do you like this because it is different to how women are normally portrayed?" sort of questions....
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
What to do
To boil it down to the very basic skeleton:
1. Read about reps of gender (Gauntlett etc).
2. Analyse texts where women depart from stereotypical gender roles (and perhaps the extent to which these stereotypical roles are changing across the media).
3. Explore the responses of real women audiences to these representations. You could select a range of clips, show them to a group of women, and then discuss with them their responses to the clips.
1. Read about reps of gender (Gauntlett etc).
2. Analyse texts where women depart from stereotypical gender roles (and perhaps the extent to which these stereotypical roles are changing across the media).
3. Explore the responses of real women audiences to these representations. You could select a range of clips, show them to a group of women, and then discuss with them their responses to the clips.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
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