Under The Skin Ideology Flashcards
What interpretations can be made from the title ‘Under The Skin’?
The title can refer to:
* Flesh and blood – to be human, the biological
* The vulnerability of skin as a protective layer
* The disfigured man – seeing past the external
* Objectification of women
* The harvesting process she is undertaking
* The effect of the film itself
What does an Ideological Approach in film analysis allow us to do?
It allows us to examine a film from one particular perspective at a time, asking what the film seems to say about various aspects such as gender, ethnicity, race, class, sexuality, age, politics, and society
What is the Male Gaze Theory?
The Male Gaze Theory, proposed by Laura Mulvey, suggests that cinema is viewed from a heterosexual male perspective, where women are seen as passive objects for the active Male Gaze
What are the implications of the Male Gaze in cinema?
It positions women as eroticized figures and suggests that cinema, at its core, is a masculine medium controlled by a masculine audience
What does Barbara Creed’s Monstrous Feminine Theory suggest?
Creed suggests that women in horror cinema are represented not only as sexualized victims but also as monsters, using Freudian Psychoanalytical Theory to frame women in seven different monstrous roles
List the seven types of Monstrous Feminine in Cinema according to Barbara Creed.
- The Archaic Mother
- The Monstrous Womb
- The Possessed Woman
- Castrating Mother
- The Vampire (Vagina Dentata)
- The Witch
- Femme Castratrice
How does the film ‘Under The Skin’ relate to the concept of vulnerability?
The film suggests that to be human is to be vulnerable, and this is reflected in the increasing vulnerability of the female character
What characterizes the journey of the female in ‘Under The Skin’?
She is called The Female, adopts a female appearance given by a patriarchal figure, and exhibits masculine characteristics such as dominance and emotional coldness
What does the scene with the crying baby in ‘Under The Skin’ signify?
It raises questions about maternal instinct and its awakening in the female character
Is ‘Under The Skin’ considered a Trans allegory?
Yes, it can be read as a Trans allegory, where the character exists on a sliding scale of gender and struggles with the identity assigned to her
What is Umberto Eco’s Aberrant Response Theory?
Eco suggested that audiences today interpret texts in diverse ways, leading to Aberrant Responses, as opposed to pre-industrial cultures where interpretations were more uniform
What are the three possible responses to a text according to Stuart Hall’s Encoding and Decoding Theory?
- Preferred Response
- Oppositional Response
- Negotiated Response
What does the term ‘Binary Opposites’ refer to in the context of film analysis?
It refers to the idea that films often explore transitions between conflicting ideas or themes, such as discovery and change
What does the gender ideological approach suggest about ‘Under The Skin’?
It suggests that the film explores how women are objectified, controlled, and destroyed by the Patriarchy, and engages with the Male Gaze and Monstrous Femininity
What is the significance of the final sequence in ‘Under The Skin’?
The final sequence can be analyzed through various frameworks to reveal deeper meanings about vulnerability, the journey of the female character, and the implications of gender dynamics
Fill in the blank: The Monstrous Feminine theory suggests that women in horror are represented as _______.
[sexualized victims and monsters]
True or False: The Male Gaze Theory endorses the objectification of women in cinema.
False
What does the film ‘Under The Skin’ critique regarding gender?
It critiques the objectification and control of women by patriarchal structures
How is the character’s journey in ‘Under The Skin’ characterized in relation to gender?
Her journey reflects both vulnerability and the pressures of conforming to masculine ideals
What concept suggests an awakening of maternal instinct in film?
Awakening of maternal instinct
This concept can be interpreted in various ways within the context of film analysis.
What must a film student do when analyzing themes and ideas?
Argue convincingly and have technical evidence
It’s important to go beyond simply pointing out themes.
What is essential to identify in a film’s analysis beyond themes?
Ideology
Understanding what the film is saying about the themes and ideas is crucial.
Under the Skin communicates ideas about gender through what framework?
Broad gender framework
This framework helps to analyze gender representations in the film.
What term describes the concept of a sexually threatening woman with the ability to castrate?
Monstrous feminine
This concept highlights the threatening nature of female sexuality.
What does the term ‘vagina dentata’ signify in film analysis?
Duplicitous nature of woman
It suggests that women can ensnare their victims by promising paradise.
What supernatural power does the female represent in ‘The Witch’?
Threatening supernatural power
This power poses a challenge to men and the patriarchy.
What are Femme Castrice characters capable of?
Ability to castrate
These characters can castrate either literally or symbolically.
What does it mean for a female character to ‘return the gaze’?
Possessing power to confront and challenge male perspectives
This concept is significant in feminist film theory.
In which sequences of Under the Skin is the concept of Femme Castrice explored?
Void Sequences, POV Montage Sequences, Opening Scene
Specific scenes illustrate the power dynamics at play.
What specific cinematic element is highlighted in the Opening Scene of Under the Skin?
Extreme Close-Up (ECU) of the eye
This detail emphasizes the theme of perception and gaze.
