1. How is Paikea a female counter-stereotype? Use the “female gaze” theory to describe how the film and the character fit this model of the female perspective and female “voice”. Use the web link provided in Week 11 module on the Female Gaze (the Rubaiyat Hossain article, “Female Directors, Female gaze”).
The typical stereotype about females would be that they are weak, they do
not have much choice about their lives and they struggle with what men want
them to be and do while being silent. This stereotype seems to push women behind
the scenes of the male dominated world, which represented Paikea’s grandmother,
an older female. However, Paikea’s character is portrayed totally in the opposite
direction of the female stereotype because she is strong and brave with strong determination,
and she stands up for herself against patriarchy and she chose in her life what
she wanted without being defeated by traditional society. She never gave up
what she wanted even though she was not allowed by her grandfather (Koro) or
the standards of the tradition made by a patriarchal society. The most important
part of her role as a woman is that she became the leader of the traditional
tribe where people believe a leader should be a man. This shows that Paikea is
a female counter-stereotype, because a female in the typical stereotype never
can be a leader. Also, this movie fits
the model of the female perspective and voice because it is made by a woman,
from a woman’s point of view. Unlike many movies made by men, Paikea is not portrayed
as a female sexual object which men want to see. As Rubaiyat Hossain (2011)
states, women see the world that has been controlled by men with a different
way, with a different “episteme” due to having different lives in comparison to
a man’s. That is why women have a different view of “one single object, or
truth, or reality” (para.4). Because a woman made this movie, this movie could
show how the main character (Paikea) struggled with patriarchy and became a
hero without making her a sexual object. Besides, seeing the difference of
characters between grandmother and Paikea, it would be effective to show a
reality of female lives and how different and strong Paikea is in the men
dominated world. Moreover, Paikea is
also portrayed as an authentic female character. She struggles and tries to get
what she wants in the society where men are dominant and women are seen with less
respect. This is the same life women in the real world are going through. Therefore,
Whale Rider portrays women as authentic characters and tells the story from the
female side.
2. How is Whale Rider a statement of
empowerment for women and girls? How does Paikea challenge gendered
expectations? Use scenes/characterization/dialogue from the film to give
examples.
“Whale
Rider” is a statement of empowerment for women and girls by showing the
audience the courage to fight for the skills and position no matter what the
gender and environment is. It is
important to acknowledge and accept a certain person especially if he or she is
competent and willing to do the job even though it would break a time-honored
custom. Judging someone based on their
gender and age is not right, because each individual has certain abilities or
talents, and everyone is a human being. There
is no difference for man or woman and everyone should have the same right. Some
people are capable of doing some things that other people might not be able to
perform. Based in the movie, their tradition which is the Maori, believes that
there is no use for a girl and for that reason; Paikea’s grandfather did not
allow her to be the leader until she proved to him that she can do it even if
she’s a girl. She continues to fight to
prove her love and dedication to be a leader.
For example, although she was not allowed to learn the warrior technique
by Koro (grandfather), she never gave up learning it by asking her uncle to
teach her. In the movie “Whale Rider” the main character Paikea Apirana
challenged gender expectations by facing the test, problems with no fear to
whatever the consequences will be; In fact, she took a risk when she rode on
top of the whale and said “I wasn't scared to die”. When Paikea was on top of
the whale, she turned to Koro and said “It’s ok”. This not only is her way of speaking about
her safety to Koro, but it was her way of showing Koro that it is ok that he
was wrong and that she forgives him. This shows a high level spirituality on
Paikea’s part which ultimately affirms her as a true leader regardless of her
being a woman. Paikea showed no resentment. Also, she remarkably explodes the
ideology of sexual division and philosophic tradition (patriarchy). Although
the traditional Philosophy says, women cannot be in the same place as men
(higher place) because women are emotional and irrational, Paikea shows in the
movie that is not true by her speech. She mentioned the following lines …
“If
the knowledge is given to everyone, we can have lots of leaders. And soon, everyone will be strong... not just
the ones that have been chosen. Because sometimes, even if you're the leader
and you need to be strong… you can get tired. Like our ancestor, Paikea, when
he was lost at sea...and he couldn't find the land, and he probably wanted to
die. But he knew the ancient ones were there for him...so he called out to them
to lift him up and give him strength.” (“Whale”, n.d.).
This shows
that despite Paikea being a young girl, she has rational thought and embodies
the characteristics of being a leader not only by doing it by herself but also
with the help of people or else. For example, finally she could make Koro accept
her as a leader because the whale showed him. At the end of the movie, many whales
were beached, that was a kind of warning and sign for Koro. At last, after one
of the whales heard Paikea’s voice and moved and went back to the ocean with
her. This seems that God approved Paikea to become a leader and showed Koro and
people in the tribe that she could be a leader. As Hossain’s statement (2011), women
need a God’s help to figure for making female subjectivity perfectly when she
is to achieve her female subjectivity. Divinity is necessary for women to
become free, independent and monarch in order to protect them from destruction
(para.28). Throughout the movie, the character
of Paikea encourages all females that if they keep on fighting for what they
want, they can get it someday even though it is a taboo in the society.
3. How is Whale Rider an example of
“counter-cinema” and the “female gaze”? Use the 1990’s Lecture notes in Week 11
Module to help with this answer and the “Hollywood” article by Kord and Krimmer
in the course package.
Whale Rider is an example of “counter-cinema” because it is opposite
from the Hollywood films. According to the article “Hollywood” (2005), Hollywood
films try not to provide an accurate picture of society and specific political
issues in order to get large audiences. Because of the profit objective,
Hollywood films became to have “negotiated reader (accept a part of whatever
ideology is and adapt it to their own situation)” which means they have the “mixed
messages (contradictory messages)” in films. On the other hand, Whale Rider illuminates
the story about a traditional old society (patriarchy) accurately and showing
its political issue (only a man can be a leader), and also it has a straight
forward message that women can defeat sexual division. Moreover, while Hollywood
films do not represent real issues women are facing today, Whale Rider depicts an
authentic issue that women have oppression in the male dominated world.
Furthermore, in Hollywood films, “heroines are designed to appeal to both the
stay-at-home mom and the high-powered female executive, to the traditionalist
and feminist alike” (Kord & Krimmer, 2005, pg.4). However, in Whale Rider,
the heroine is portrayed a girl who achieved the respect and the position of a
leader after fighting with her strength and indomitability. These reasons show
how Whale Rider is defined as a “counter-cinema”. Society as a whole would feel
great benefits from having more “counter-cinema” movies like Whale Rider which
have authentic feelings from authentic portrayals of real life, not the gender-
biased fantasy films that propels the cycle of stereotyping and oppression.
References
Caro, N. (Director). (2002). Whale Rider [Motion Picture]. New Zealand:
South Pacific
Pictures
Hollywood in the 90’s. (2012). Lecture notes in Week 11 Module of Women
in film
Hossain, R. (2011, May). Female directors, female gaze: The search for
female
subjectivity in film.Forum: A monthly publication of
daily star. 05(5),
Retrieved November 3, 2012, from http://www.thedailystar.net/forum
/2011/May/female.htm
Kord, S., & Krimmer, E. (2005). Hollywood. Hollywood Divas, Indie Queens,
& TV Heroines, 1-13. from the course package of Women in film
Whale Rider Script: Dialogue Transcript. (n.d.). Drew's Script-O-Rama.
Retrieved
November 15, 2012, from
http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts
/w/whale-rider-script-transcript-keisha.html
No comments:
Post a Comment