Question 2- How does your media product represent particular social gFroups?

In our thriller we have both heavily conformed and subverted from the stereo-types of both men and women, choosing to portray them in a complex and subjective way to the audience. For example, we have played on the typical archetype and manipulated them in a way that is both similar and new to the audience.

The character of Scarlett is represented to the audience as the typical 1940's upper class woman, who is beautiful, extremely feminine, glamerous, and an object to the male gaze. This idea of the typical upper class 1940's women was extracted from our research into other such film Noirs, such as the 1946 Noir Gilda where the main character is presented as beautiful, desireable and enormously feministic.

We used this idea as a template for our own character, portraying similar characteristics to the audience through her costume, such as by wearing a striking red lace dress, fur coat, and make up to enhance her femininity all of which connote sophistication, and luxuriousness.

However, she seems to rely on her husband for financial support who flourishes her with gifts, such as those we see Scarlett wearing, and therefore presents Scarlett as a woman who has a trapped in limited role within her life, and is seen as merely an object of beauty to a man.This was the real representation of women during the time era in which this was set, as she is seen as merely a housewife of a rich and successful businessman. 

This portrays women as being weak and simplistic, finding pleasure in only materialistic matters in life, appearing perfectly happy as long as they are being spoilt with gifts.



Scarlett at a vulnerability because of her
husband.

Scarlett is also the woman who is the victim of the piece being followed and eventually killed by her husband, presenting women as eventually always the weaker and more vulnerable gender who if want to remain protected, should remain oppressed and subordinate to men.

Scarlett taking an active
role in her fate.

However, Scarlett does not conform to the role of victim, as she possesses several qualities which transform her into the Femme-Fatale, such as her deviant, secretive nature, and her double life as an attempt to escape the oppression and give her power within her situation. Although these divert from the typical stereo-types of women, they do perfectly conform to the Femme-Fatale role featured within so many Film Noir's. By presenting women in this way,it reminds the audience of the human nature that also occurs within women, to become powerful, independent, and rebelling, presenting them as more real meaning that the audience can relate to her as a character, rather than this stereo-typical idea which we are so used to consuming. Scarlett is also seen as the obviously more important character, as the opening slowly introduces this enigmatic, exciting woman whom all shots focus around, and she seems happy and comfortable taking centre stage, taking control of situations, such as taking an active role in deciding her fate by choosing to rebel and break out from what is expected from her and her stereo-type. This highlights her importance, as although Ray is the character who overall seems to be the most powerful, is featured very little in the opening of the thriller, taking time instead to establish Scarlett's character, suggesting that she is the character of main importance.



Ray appearing the loving husband.

Ray however is presented as a stereo-typical male, living in a patriarchal society, asserting his power over his wife, and punishing her when she does not follow his orders. However, we reveal the loving husband that he seems to be at the start of the clip, through the photo whereby the couple embraces, appearing to be happy and in love, resulting in the audience sympathising with Ray, and therefore do not see him as the villain because they understand that the actions of Scarlett are what drove him to committing such an atrocity. This therefore presents him as more human and in one perspective, weak, as he is so drastically affected by the notions of a woman, following her to try to prove to himself that she is the loyal and innocent wife who loves him, implying he truly did love and care about her and hurt her because of pure jealousy and the hurt that she has caused him, subverting from the previous idea that men only objectified women. It is also not stereo-typical as it does not present men to be continuously violent and careless, like shown in so many thriller films whereby they seem driven by an enjoyment for violence, and cause harm purely because of their own selfish power, or money, such as in Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels whereby men are driven by money, to commit what they regard as 'necessary evil.'

Class is another social group which we have consequently represented in our thriller through Scarlett and Ray, in their luxurious life style through the glamorous Mise-en-scene, presenting the white middle upper class as corrupt and immoral.

 This is an idea featured in many Noir films such as Laura a 1944 Noir film presenting the morally corrupt group of higher class society types, proving that lower classes weren't the only ones behind crime, as so commonly stereo-typed, but that the upper class whom many expect better of, are equally (if not more so) dangerous and untrustworthy. It presents class in another light to the audience, suggesting that the material matters are all just a front, to cover the unhappiness and un-fulfilment of many (especially women's) lives at the time.