kiss of the vampire representation Flashcards
how are negative stereotypical representations of women as weak and vulnerable created?
costume- revealing, tight silk dresses- reinforce their femininity by highlighting the curves of their bodies and revealing the flesh of their upper chests and arms.
body language of the woman on the left is that of the stereotypical passive victim of the ‘monster’- damsel in distress
how are women presented in a non stereotypically dominant way ?
female vamps has more aggressive body language and power connoted through the submissive pose of her male ‘victim’- could reflect shift in gender roles and expectations in 1960s
how do the representations reflect society in the 1960s?
reflects the males concerns that the role of women was changing significantly and this could be a threat to the status quo of a male dominated world.
how is a complex gender representation of males created by the male vamp?
powerful and strong- carrying woman- teeth and red costume make him seem more intimidating and aggressive
defensive body language and uncharacteristically wide eyed portray fear and vulnerability -may be afraid of the female vamp- male castratin anxiety
how does the male victim subvert stereotypical representations?
on his knees with his head back and throat exposed- seems vulnerable and has submitted to power fo female vamp- semi conscious state- shift in gender roles in 1960s
how does the sexualisation of the female characters reflect society in the 1960s?
more women seen in the media in the 1960s- a time of sexual liberation which meant women were less seen as wives and mothers and as a result were more objectified and sexualised
how does the poster both subvert and conform to Van Zoonens feminist theory?
by assuming this ‘co-antagonist’ role, the female vampire is perhaps contributing to social change by representing women in non- traditional roles
the passive female victim does however reinforce the stereotypes of women as weak and vulnerable
how does Gauntlett’s theory of identity apply to this poster?
female vampire acts as a role model for women struggling against male oppression or desperate to be seen as the equals of men as she shows dominance and control of the male victim
how does Stuart Hall’s theory of representation apply to the poster?
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.
