The male stereotype makes masculinity not just a fact of biology but something that must be proved and re-proved [1] meaning that hte characteristics attatched to the male gender, violence in particular, are seen as natrual, normal and universal [2] therefore leading to this behavious settling as the norm in today's society. Representations of White Birtish males differ in Shaun Meadows 'This is England' hence convey ever-changing figures of masculinity leading to the question, What is Masculinity? Violence has bveen stigmatised alongside racism with the male gender particularly White British males, however can film convey actual truth on White Brtish males involvement in vioence and racism?
[1] Marc Feiger Fasteau
[2] Jill Nelmes (2003) "An introduction to film studies" pg 265
Wednesday 9 January 2008
Thursday 3 January 2008
Historical text Made in Britain - Alan Clarke
Made in Britian by Alan Clarke is a text that shows truth. This is an example of a British Gritty film which features violence and racism..its like an older version of This is England howveer it focuses on the main protagonist Trevor a 16 year old male. Unlike This is England Made in Britiain shows no female representation, it is purely fixated on Trevor and his life as a skinhead. It also shows the society of the time which can be seen as very racists as even the police and social workers were against blacks and indians. There is absoloutly no control over Trevor which is the same in This is England as Shaun is also uncontrolable...it is however more realistic in Made in Britian as Trevor is 16...and rebelling against a cause which he is aware off..he is constantly against authority figures!!! below is a list of some of the factors which are the same in this is england
-Skinehads-neo-nazism
-delinquency
-swearing..smoking..drug abuse
-violence
-racism
-male patriarchy
-black charaters who are blamed
-no adult control over children
-subculture of skinheads---bald...dr.martens...
-unemployment
-proud to be British
Mde in Britian relates more to the society and how they reacted to the skinheads...were as This is England focused on individuals and how they were affected by racism.
Made in Britian shows how much society has changed since 1982 wen the film was realsed...although this is england was set in the 1980's....made in britain shows realism. the grittyness of Britain is shown throughout the film..it also only portrays working class peoples lives. as they were the ones involved in crime violence and racism!!!
-Skinehads-neo-nazism
-delinquency
-swearing..smoking..drug abuse
-violence
-racism
-male patriarchy
-black charaters who are blamed
-no adult control over children
-subculture of skinheads---bald...dr.martens...
-unemployment
-proud to be British
Mde in Britian relates more to the society and how they reacted to the skinheads...were as This is England focused on individuals and how they were affected by racism.
Made in Britian shows how much society has changed since 1982 wen the film was realsed...although this is england was set in the 1980's....made in britain shows realism. the grittyness of Britain is shown throughout the film..it also only portrays working class peoples lives. as they were the ones involved in crime violence and racism!!!
Detailed essay plan
To what extent can British films, with particaular reference to This Is England, convey actual truth about White British males involvement in violence and racism.
My independant study is focused on the truth of violence and racism. the majority of films which are screened show no essence of truth but are all based on fiction. As the skinheads during the 1980's became more accustomed to white nationalism and neo-nazism violence towards ethnic minorities was widely present. I chose this text as it is different to other texts about racism...(latest film..CRASH..AMERICAN hollywood so its glamourised). The grittyness and realism of the film make it so much more effective. The text is powerful in portraying the zeitgiest of the time were attitudes towards racism were encouraged. Later British films focus on violence more than raicsm as it is no longer acceptable!!
Truth+Violence
Skinheads originated in the 1960's were they shared dress codes and love for reggae music, this era showed little history of violence but instead both sets of communities lived in peace and accepted each other...also as the areas in which they lived were poor they had no other escapism but music. However, in the 1980's, with Thatcher in power, the rise of unemployment in the nothern areas, and the rise in enthinic migrants arriving in the UK...the white population (males) needed someone to blame for the fact that they could no longer provide for thier families...whislt ethnic minorties were living in "luxury". This lead to extreme violence and racism...white nationalsm and neo-nazism...violent skinheads.
Here the Britishness of the text brings realism, and truth to racism and violence. It shows how impressionable White British males were with no control over the growth of ethnic minorities in th UK. The text shows that in this era violence and racism became acceptable to males and ethnic minorities began to accept the day to day violence. Here the text shows how youths were involved into the violence and that violence and racism was being reinforced to the younger lot to ensure that it would carry on as a trend in future years. The male protagonist only aged 12 is going through issues of growing up and comes across skinheads. Through his child eyes ALL skinheads are seen to be fun, adventurous and loving people, this however does not represent skinheads as a whole as he soon falls into a crowd of violent and racist skinheads. The transition of his character shows how the power of British males had spread...grown men were involving children in life threatening behaviour. This reflets the society of the time and also the social class of the characters. The text is there to show audiences what life used to be like in England, through the grittyness England is potrayed as a devilish place to live in... working class people are potrayed as violent and racist people...this stereotype is still alive today. (A+G+H+S+E)
Masculinity
Masculinity is a major part in this film as in order to be accepted in this era people had to fulfil their given roles in society...women were homemakers and men were therefore breadwinners...not being able to provide for your family meant that you were failing...male pride IMPORTANT...men were being challenged by both minorities who were initially taking all the jobsd but also women who in this film were shown to be working. This contrasts with the few women figures which are shown in this is england...the female characters show no strength what so ever...Shaun's mother...no control over her 12 year old son...shown to be weak. Smell shown as a sex object is about 18 and is there for Shaun's pleasure (a 12 year old) Lol only female character that has a bit of control..however it is only in the case of love. The little use of women in this text reinforce the ideas that violence...skinheads and racism were only asociated with men at the time....these issues did not concern women...this is shown through no presense of women during and violence or racsim in the tetx. This again would reinforce the ideologies of women that were present in the 1980's...to the audience things have changed with masculinity...the new man has arrived and other texts show that women are in control and associated with violence...kill bill!!! racism however seems to be a topic which has dissapeared in todays film as it is no longer commonly associated with todays wolrd...the audience are therefore shocked by the text as it is based on violence towards non-white-british people. Men have always been associated with violence it is in there nature to act violently if they feel threatened by anything this is shown throughout the film...wenever a male character feels threatened violence is used...as a tool to feel back into control. (I+A+WC+R)
British factors
As the film is set in the nothern areas of Britain, representation is held of working class people. The majority of areas that are used are very grey...which represents England as a whole. They are shown to be low class...gritty back streets kinda thing...which portray the living conditions of England in the 1980's very well!!! These factors also tie in with the cry for help through violence...British men were ineed of help, there was no work = no money!! the violence and racism was an attack against the little supposrt they had from the government...upper class people are not shown bcuz they were not affected by low employment rates etc...life for British white men was unacceptable as all "thier jobs" has been "taken" by minorities..and as noone else was goin to help them they had to help themselves by becoming racist...this links with masculinity and pride...they had to concor somethin in order to feel good about themselves as they has nothin else. this sums up British factors as this kind of representation is common in todays films such as Bullet boy...very british gritty violent...and then kidulthood...male pride and representation of characters to be low class. Working class audiences are able to relate to the strive of stayin alive. This film is not for escapism but like the majority of British films This is England is telling a story about facts...the past actual events....this makes the film British. (A+G+R+WC)
This is England- issues and debates.
Racism shown in the text focuses on those who moved in during the 1980's which only really related to blacks and indians...nowadyas people have knowledge that not all indians are "paki's" and people ahve become much more acceptable to intergrating and mixing communitites. people are no longer segregated from people or knowledge...so racism like that does not exist in todyas society...it exists but not to the extent were it was present everywhere...more than indians racism has turned towards blacks against whites!!
Women in todays films which represent todays societies are shown to be more in control and active rather than passive which is shown in this is engand. women have roles which can sometimes be bigger than the male roles...this was not seen in the 1980's therefore it was not shown in this is england as althought it was made in 2007 it reflected the 1908's. this shows that roles in society have changed a large amount...both men and women have changed as roles that were linked with each gender then do not necassarily link today...NEW MAN...the new man is sensitive and caring and takes on roles that women were previously linked with...this shows that with the new man violence and racism had no link with the males pride and ego but instead being sensitive and caring bring happiness.
Crazes- such as happy slaps have hit the news as the youths of today have become much more violent...they have become more impressionable and relate to films and music as thier lifestyles, this has reinforced violence which can be seen in various films and music videos mainly MTV. ASBO'S...it has become the norm to act violently against those who are weak...bullying has become wide spread and it is seeen as "not cool" not to be a bully...in order to be accepteed as a popular child you have to prove yourself by creating a name and status which is usually reached through violence.
Books and links I will use....
The Cinema Book -
Subcultures - Dick Hebdige
Media Gender and Identity - David Gauntlett
A man's world? Changing Men's Practices in a Globalized world - Michael Kimmel
Mods and Rockers
Other texts
Historical Made in Britain
Green Street
Football Factory
My independant study is focused on the truth of violence and racism. the majority of films which are screened show no essence of truth but are all based on fiction. As the skinheads during the 1980's became more accustomed to white nationalism and neo-nazism violence towards ethnic minorities was widely present. I chose this text as it is different to other texts about racism...(latest film..CRASH..AMERICAN hollywood so its glamourised). The grittyness and realism of the film make it so much more effective. The text is powerful in portraying the zeitgiest of the time were attitudes towards racism were encouraged. Later British films focus on violence more than raicsm as it is no longer acceptable!!
Truth+Violence
Skinheads originated in the 1960's were they shared dress codes and love for reggae music, this era showed little history of violence but instead both sets of communities lived in peace and accepted each other...also as the areas in which they lived were poor they had no other escapism but music. However, in the 1980's, with Thatcher in power, the rise of unemployment in the nothern areas, and the rise in enthinic migrants arriving in the UK...the white population (males) needed someone to blame for the fact that they could no longer provide for thier families...whislt ethnic minorties were living in "luxury". This lead to extreme violence and racism...white nationalsm and neo-nazism...violent skinheads.
Here the Britishness of the text brings realism, and truth to racism and violence. It shows how impressionable White British males were with no control over the growth of ethnic minorities in th UK. The text shows that in this era violence and racism became acceptable to males and ethnic minorities began to accept the day to day violence. Here the text shows how youths were involved into the violence and that violence and racism was being reinforced to the younger lot to ensure that it would carry on as a trend in future years. The male protagonist only aged 12 is going through issues of growing up and comes across skinheads. Through his child eyes ALL skinheads are seen to be fun, adventurous and loving people, this however does not represent skinheads as a whole as he soon falls into a crowd of violent and racist skinheads. The transition of his character shows how the power of British males had spread...grown men were involving children in life threatening behaviour. This reflets the society of the time and also the social class of the characters. The text is there to show audiences what life used to be like in England, through the grittyness England is potrayed as a devilish place to live in... working class people are potrayed as violent and racist people...this stereotype is still alive today. (A+G+H+S+E)
Masculinity
Masculinity is a major part in this film as in order to be accepted in this era people had to fulfil their given roles in society...women were homemakers and men were therefore breadwinners...not being able to provide for your family meant that you were failing...male pride IMPORTANT...men were being challenged by both minorities who were initially taking all the jobsd but also women who in this film were shown to be working. This contrasts with the few women figures which are shown in this is england...the female characters show no strength what so ever...Shaun's mother...no control over her 12 year old son...shown to be weak. Smell shown as a sex object is about 18 and is there for Shaun's pleasure (a 12 year old) Lol only female character that has a bit of control..however it is only in the case of love. The little use of women in this text reinforce the ideas that violence...skinheads and racism were only asociated with men at the time....these issues did not concern women...this is shown through no presense of women during and violence or racsim in the tetx. This again would reinforce the ideologies of women that were present in the 1980's...to the audience things have changed with masculinity...the new man has arrived and other texts show that women are in control and associated with violence...kill bill!!! racism however seems to be a topic which has dissapeared in todays film as it is no longer commonly associated with todays wolrd...the audience are therefore shocked by the text as it is based on violence towards non-white-british people. Men have always been associated with violence it is in there nature to act violently if they feel threatened by anything this is shown throughout the film...wenever a male character feels threatened violence is used...as a tool to feel back into control. (I+A+WC+R)
British factors
As the film is set in the nothern areas of Britain, representation is held of working class people. The majority of areas that are used are very grey...which represents England as a whole. They are shown to be low class...gritty back streets kinda thing...which portray the living conditions of England in the 1980's very well!!! These factors also tie in with the cry for help through violence...British men were ineed of help, there was no work = no money!! the violence and racism was an attack against the little supposrt they had from the government...upper class people are not shown bcuz they were not affected by low employment rates etc...life for British white men was unacceptable as all "thier jobs" has been "taken" by minorities..and as noone else was goin to help them they had to help themselves by becoming racist...this links with masculinity and pride...they had to concor somethin in order to feel good about themselves as they has nothin else. this sums up British factors as this kind of representation is common in todays films such as Bullet boy...very british gritty violent...and then kidulthood...male pride and representation of characters to be low class. Working class audiences are able to relate to the strive of stayin alive. This film is not for escapism but like the majority of British films This is England is telling a story about facts...the past actual events....this makes the film British. (A+G+R+WC)
This is England- issues and debates.
Racism shown in the text focuses on those who moved in during the 1980's which only really related to blacks and indians...nowadyas people have knowledge that not all indians are "paki's" and people ahve become much more acceptable to intergrating and mixing communitites. people are no longer segregated from people or knowledge...so racism like that does not exist in todyas society...it exists but not to the extent were it was present everywhere...more than indians racism has turned towards blacks against whites!!
Women in todays films which represent todays societies are shown to be more in control and active rather than passive which is shown in this is engand. women have roles which can sometimes be bigger than the male roles...this was not seen in the 1980's therefore it was not shown in this is england as althought it was made in 2007 it reflected the 1908's. this shows that roles in society have changed a large amount...both men and women have changed as roles that were linked with each gender then do not necassarily link today...NEW MAN...the new man is sensitive and caring and takes on roles that women were previously linked with...this shows that with the new man violence and racism had no link with the males pride and ego but instead being sensitive and caring bring happiness.
Crazes- such as happy slaps have hit the news as the youths of today have become much more violent...they have become more impressionable and relate to films and music as thier lifestyles, this has reinforced violence which can be seen in various films and music videos mainly MTV. ASBO'S...it has become the norm to act violently against those who are weak...bullying has become wide spread and it is seeen as "not cool" not to be a bully...in order to be accepteed as a popular child you have to prove yourself by creating a name and status which is usually reached through violence.
Books and links I will use....
The Cinema Book -
Subcultures - Dick Hebdige
Media Gender and Identity - David Gauntlett
A man's world? Changing Men's Practices in a Globalized world - Michael Kimmel
Mods and Rockers
Other texts
Historical Made in Britain
Green Street
Football Factory
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