kiss of the vampire context Flashcards
sexual liberation
- The 1960s is often seen as the start of women’s sexual liberation, - introduction of the contraceptive pill in 1960.
- More women entering the paid workforce and sixties feminists were campaigning for equal pay, an end to sexual harassment and more equality between men and women in wider society. In America, equal pay legislation was passed in 1963.
masculinity contexts
- ‘Older’ stereotypes of women as passive victims of men and more modern ‘male fears’ of women challenging male dominance, encoded in this film poster.
- reflects males’ concerns that role of women was changing significantly, this could be a threat to status quo of male dominated world.
- The vampire seems uncharacteristically fearful in his gesture codes, perhaps protecting himself from the female vampire.
femininity context
- pale dresses + light materials, dress codes reinforce femininity highlighting their bodies and revealing flesh.
- Gesture code of the woman on the left is stereotypical passive victim of the ‘monster’, his power highlighted.
- The second woman’s gesture codes, more aggressive, submissive pose of her male ‘victim’ represent her in a non-stereotypically dominant way.
Van Zoonen’s feminist theory
by assuming this ‘co-antagonist’ role, the female vampire is perhaps contributing to social change by representing women in non-traditional roles (Van Zoonen, 1989) though the passive female victim does reinforce these.
Stuart Hall’s theory of representation
the images of a castle, bats, the vampire’s cape and dripping blood form part of the “shared conceptual road map” that give
meaning to the “world” of the poster. The audience is actively encouraged to decode this familiar generic iconography.
David Gauntlet’s theory of identity
perhaps the female vampire acts as a role model for women struggling against male oppression or desperate to be seen as the equals of men,
whatever the narrative or environment
