Representation - Kiss Of The Vampire Textual Analysis Flashcards
The KOV film poster successfully contruct various representations of what?
Gender - conveying both positive and negative ideologies of masculinity and femininity.
How is the out-dated stereotype of women constructed in the poster?
Via technical codes such as the long shot, the older stereotype of the female victim is shown to be passive and weak and alludes to the classic female character
archetype ‘Damsel in distress’.
How are women sexualized in the KOV poster?
Via visual codes such as clothing, both women wear pale dresses made of light materials. These dress codes serve to reinforce their femininity by highlighting the curves of their bodies and revealing the flesh of their upper chest and neck and arms.
How is traditional masculinity and pratriarchy reinforced via the character of the vampire?
The gesture code of the woman on the left is that of the stereotypical passive victim of the ‘monster’. The ‘monsters’ power is highlighted by the fact that he’s holding her by just one arm.
What does ‘Androgyny’ mean?
The combination of masculine and feminine characteristics. Gender ambiguity may be found in fashion, gender identity, sexual identity, or sexual lifestyle.
Why could we argue that the female vampire is androgynous?
She seems to contradict the more traditional representation of femininity, and instead displays a more dominant and powerful representation of femininity.
Via visual codes such as gesture, she is baring her teeth and her arm raised almost fist-like as she’s being bitten by the bat. This conveys a sense of aggression and dominance as she doesn’t seem like she is surprised or affected by the bat whatsoever.
The grasp she has on the submissive male victim represents her in a non-stereotypically dominant way as she is seen to be in control and have the power, and therefore offers a more positive construction of femininity in the media.
How does the gesture of the male vampire subvert typical masculine representation?
The vampire is framed uncharacteristically fearful in his gesture codes with his arm thrown across his body in a defensive gesture, perhaps protecting himself from the female vampire.
How does the text convey ‘values’ occurring in the 1960’s?
Women were now perceived as more contributable to society, and were more valued in the work place (equality).
How does the text convey ‘attitudes’ occurring in the 1960’s?
The attitudes of gender hierarchy was drastically changing, although this was a positive shift, men became resistant to this change and sexism towards women was not completely erased from society.
How does the text convey ‘beliefs’ occurring in the 1960’s?
Feminists beliefs were to establish and achieve equal political (vote), economic (salary), cultural (equality) , personal (freedom) and social (going out and meeting friends) rights for women.
