How do historical contexts affect and influence representations? Make reference to the theatrical poster to Hotel Transylvania: Transformia (2021) and the Kiss Of The Vampire (1963) poster you have studied in class
Knee Jerk Reaction
Historical contexts influence representations and meanings significantly. Key historical factors that influence the representation of gender include greater equality between the sexes, and representations have therefore become significantly more complex
Plan
Bright vs dark
Binary opposition
Sexualised
Colourful
Women and men
Fun
Goofy vs serious
Dramatic and relaxed
Antagonization
Male dominance
Fear
Juxtaposition
Audience age
Stereotypes
Subversive
Modern
Hegemonically attractive vs TV ugly
Content
- Women are sexualised though the MES of their dresses, presenting them both vulnerable, submissive, and also a spectacle for heterosexual make audiences
- However, in HT, the sole female character is represented somewhat conservatively through MES, and is in no way sexualised, which challenges Van Zoonen's assertion that women are presented as spectacle. Her facial expression is smug, which is an atypical and complicated representation of women, and suggests autonomy
- However, HT still demonstrates a majority male cast, and the sole female character is presented as hegemonically attractive.
- In KOTV, there is clear hierarchy presented between men and women, with men clearly in a position of dominance over women. This is constructed through the MES of......
- However in HT, through the positioning of the characters, we see that men and women are somewhat more equal. For example, the sole female character is positioned at top left at right, which suggests she is hierarchically more powerful than other male characters, and just as important as the male protagonist
- Differences in target audiences: KOTV adult male, HT younger female target audience