Representations of Gender in “Singing during the Rain”
Representations of Gender in “Singing during the Rain”
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Being a mainstream Hollywood film produced in 1927 it’s not completely stunning that “Singing during the Rain” represents Women of all ages in a stereotypically patriarchal way. Nonetheless since this movie is meant to get a just entertaining musical, the ways that the feminine figures are offered as traditional woman tropes is more refined. Lina Lamont, the Hollywood starlet, is really a fame-hungry, vapid actress willing to do something to climb the ladder to good results; Kathy Selden, the aspiring actress, may be the witty enjoy desire who worries the protagonist, but who's in the end a damsel in distress.
Lina and Kathy could possibly be considered as opposing ideals, equally representing a distinct sort of lady. Lina represents a vulgar, provocatively dressed female who is loud and strongly opinionated. Kathy is more conservative, tranquil, but witty and intelligent, having a awesome voice and agreeable disposition. It is obvious by the portrayals of these woman people who the desirable, effectively-thought of character is (Kathy). And through this distinction we get a really obvious interpretation with the movie’s ideals toward Gals. Mainly because Lina will be the antagonist, it is clear that the producers of “Singing during the Rain” imagine Kathy’s feminine features are desired.
The reason I might argue the producing for these female figures is patriarchal is due to the agency of both of these characters. Lina, the obviously disliked character, seriously evolves all over the film and toward the tip acts on her individual agency and difficulties the producer, director, Don and Cozmo. Kathy Conversely–the specified really like curiosity–hardly ever definitely acts on her personal company, creating her a flat, slight character. Through the Motion picture, all of her choices are made for her or motivated by Don, and he or she winds up remaining a damsel in distress who Practically falls target into the “evil” manipulations of Lina. When Lina threatens to destroy Kathy’s job and possibilities at success, Don ways Read more in and tries to acquire Charge of the situation. Below we see Kathy as somebody in need of enable, and On this instance it is a gentleman, her adore curiosity, who actions in that can help her–ergo, a damsel in distress. Immediately after upsetting Kathy from the pursuit to expose Lina, Don wins her again by using a tune toward the top of the movie.
The point that this film’s beliefs are primarily patriarchal is, all over again, not shocking because of the time frame, but it is vital to note how the narrative is built for a representation of Hollywood’s beliefs. And due to the fact this movie was generated for the duration of Hollywood’s Golden Age, it’s a secure bet to assume that it is a broadly held notion of that time period, that a more demure, passive and agreeable female should be to be by far the most sought after and cherished. Audiences are thus socialized to simply accept with these beliefs and see a lady like Lina, that's characterized and focalized as “irritating” and “manipulative” and wears far more flashy and sexualized garments, because the lesser girl. And this is not to claim that Lina is not really frustrating or manipulative, however, if a man was playing her part, she would almost certainly be viewed as amusing for her bad voice, or powerful for her manipulation.