The Representation of Women in Comparison to 'The Cabin in the Woods.'

1.       What were Jeremy Tunstall’s 4 characters roles women and do they apply to The Cabin in the Woods.

The four roles which were suggested by Jeremy Tunstall in his book ‘The Media in Britian’ were: Domestic, sexual, consumer and marital. These role apply to cabin in the woods to a certain extend. The stereotypical roles suggested by Tunstall of women, can be applied to the female characters early on in the film. The character ‘Jules’ has been shaped towards the sexual character role due to her behaviour in the cabin, for example her provocative dancing, as well as her revealing clothing. The protagonist character ‘Dana’ could be classed as the domestic character role because of her need to attempt to look after her friends, and her caring personality. I wouldn’t classify any of the female characters from the film to be within the consumer or the martial roles.

2.        How is Dana typical of Clover’s ‘Final Girl’ theory?

Dana is typical of the final girl roles established by Carol Clover because she follows certain conventions. Firstly she is androgynous through aspects including her name, as well her clothing, which opposes her friend Jules, who dresses extremely feminine. She is also stereotypical due to the fact she is the most virginal female character within the film. It is conventional for the final girl in horror film to survive if she is purer than the other characters. Another one of her characteristic which makes her typical of the final girl theory, is that she is intellectual, which we can tell from the opening scene of the film; where Dana tries to pack her text books with her for the road trip. An important element of Dana’s character that makes her typical, is her behaviour. Whereas when the character Jules is attacked, she is screams and is powerless; Dana fights back as much as possible against the evil. This is shown in scene where her and Holden are in the ‘black room’ when she kills the zombie who is attacking him. This would been seen as a masculine act, as well as perceiving her to be the hero of the film by saving him.

3.       Jules undergoes mental and physical transformations during the film, what are they and how do they cause her to become a horror archetype?

The main physical transformation that Jules undergoes during the film is the change of her hair colour. In the first scene of the film we learn that she has very recently dyed her hair blonde. This is symbolic due to the idea that it adds to her overall persona of being a provocative, female. This is a representation of her being a ‘dumb blonde’ which we later find out in the film means that she has to die first.  She also has a mental change that we know happened because of the chemicals that the organiser had put into her hair dye. This causes her to act abnormally in an erotic was, in order to make her more fit the horror archetype of a sexualised teen. For example when she is erotically dancing by the fireplace in front of the rest of the group, as well as her kissing the dead animal hanging on the wall.

 

4.       Is Mulvey’s Male Gaze theory exemplified in the film and if so how?

Mulvey’s theory is when the camera makes some seen as objects. There are specific points in the film that agree that the male gaze theory is exemplified. The first is when Jules is dancing by the fireplace. She is placed in the middle third of the frame, therefore making her the focus point of the audience. As well as this the shot is film in a POV shot, as if we are looking at her through the eyes of one of the others in the group sitting on the sofa. This signifies that the point of this shot is for a male audience benefit by objectifying her.  Another point where the Male gaze theory is exemplified is when the group dare Jules to kiss the Moose hanging from the wall. This shot is filmed through a POV shot, which again indicates that the shot was constructed for the male audience as Jules becomes objectified.

5.       In the film we, as an audience, are made to be voyeurs; when does this happen and why is it important in regards to representation of character?

There are certain points in the film we, as an audience are made to be voyeurs. One of which is when the group first arrive at the cabin and Dana and Holden swap rooms, and Hold gets changed. At this point Dana covers up the see-through mirror.  This is important to her character because as she is represented as pure, it indicates that she respect for him even though this is a clear voyeuristic scene in the film. Another point in this film that we are made to be voyeurs is when Jules and Curt are in the woods together, as we see them without them knowing or their consent. This is important to her character because is tells us that Jules isn't a conservative because of her nudity in the open space; adding to her stereotype of being a sexualised female.

6.        Summarise (briefly) the way women are represented in "The Cabin in the Woods". Are they objectified and there to provide satisfaction for heterosexual males and/or do they fulfil another role/purpose?

One the one hand women in ‘the Cabin in the Woods’ are objectified and provide male satisfaction. This is shown in scenes such as when Jules and Curt are in the woods, and they are engaging in sexual activity. This is clearly an indication of the male gaze theory because she is being objectified to benefit the male audience.  However on the other hand the women in the film have other roles. This is proven at the start of the film when Jules, Dana and Curt are all in the bedroom and they all are talking about text books, and college. This connotes the idea that they are scholars and is a representation of women in the film being intelligent. Another character that proves that women have another role is that in the underground office, the main boss is a female character, proving that women can have power over men.