CMED4003- Starting point

As a starting point I thought is was beneficial to get feedback on my last assignment before progressing with my current one. Feedback I got includes more research on artists and poets who use a similar approach I did with my work, finding the relationship between visuals and words and continuing to question and develop all aspect's of my idea.

Texts and books I can look at in relation to my idea include; metaphors we live by- Lakoff and Johnson, The creative critic. Writing as/about practice, Practice as research- Estelle Barrett and Barbora Bolt, Lysistrata by Aristophanes.

I will use this as a way to shape the beginning of this project as well as finding potential case studies that I can use to help gain more understanding and to use as inspiration for the continuation of my practical work.

Potential case study:

After getting feedback I decided to try and find some case studies and ideas to continue with for this project. To do this I started looking at films that highlight female domesticated roles. A strong example I found was the film Don't Worry Darling staring Harry styles and Florence Pugh.

Don't worry darling is a film that reinforces my ideas about the pressure’s society places on women. The film utilizes the concept of stereotypical roles for both men and women. The film demonstrates how men are unhappy if they are not the breadwinners (this is demonstrated by the main character Jack) and how the male gaze can believe that women are unhappy if they take on this role. With the film being directed by a woman it shows women in a new perspective, despite it highlighting societal expectations and pressures women are put under for example domesticated stereotypes, it shows that this is something that not all women want which is reinforced by two characters wanting to leave the made-up town “Victory”.

Despite my focus being on women I feel the pressures put onto men to think that they have to be a breadwinner and the man of the house are also demonstrated through this film as the character Jack felt he had no other option because he wasn’t able to provide for his loved one. He had to submerge himself into the fantasy that stereotypes create but then shows that he agrees with them and believes that’s how it should be as he sees those roles as a refuge in comparison to realty.

The fantasy world “Victory” is set in the 50’s in comparison to the real world being set in the modern times of today. This demonstrates how the stereotypes are outdated and how the modern world has progressed however there are still those sexist stereotypes ingrained into society that make those question themselves and their role within society and their life.

I found the film fascinating in both approach and storyline and found it brought significant attention to the problems these societal pressures can create. I think this film is a perfect example to use for a semiotic analysis and to reinforce my ideas surrounding the problems of stereotypes specifically involving domesticated female roles.