The petticoat scene in Girls in Uniform becomes a pivotal point in the relationship between Manuela and Fraulein von Bernburg. It creates an arguably significant shift in their prior relationship, whilst also being a main cause for Manuela’s dilemma in the second half of the film.
Fraulein von Bernburg serves as an admirable figure in the boarding school, who many students are smitten by including Manuela. The action of giving Manuela a petticoat serves as an indicator to the audience that Fraulein von Bernburg reciprocates a level of affection towards Manuela. The petticoat itself is an undergarment, which creates this connotation of intimacy and sensuality. Due to this perceived intimacy the object has been described by Zimnik as ‘a fetishistic token.’ The petticoat’s fetishistic characteristics can be seen through Manuela’s admiration for Fraulein von Bernburg, as Bernburg becomes both an object of affection and to some extent a Maternal figure for Manuela. On an external level the petticoat appears to be a motherly gift that a mother would give to her daughter, yet this becomes distorted as Manuela holds a deeper affection for Bernburg, therefore distorting the act and making it become fetishized. In the scene where Manuela professes her love
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Manuela’s feeling of exclusivity has always been present throughout the film, one
When the narrator first compares her Barbies, she thinks that she needs perfect and new Barbies to fit in with everybody else. The narrator does understand that her family does not have money, but she simply works around it. Although, she wants more Barbies it was unlikely for them to get them. The narrator says, “Because we don’t have money for a stupid-looking boy doll when we’d both rather ask for a new Barbie outfit next christmas. (14-15)” The narrator has to make do with what she has. She can not have a boy Barbie because it is not in her parents budget. This affects her and it makes her lose confidence in herself because she does not have what everybody else has. After the narrator receives her partially messed up Barbies, she says, “And if the prettiest doll, Barbie’s MOD’ern cousin Francie with real eyelashes, eyelash brush included, has a left that that’s melted a little-so? If you dress her in her new ‘Prom Pinks’ outfit, satin splendor with matching coat, gold belt, clutch, and hair bow included, so long as you don’t lift her dress, right?-who’s to know. (16)” Even though the Barbie has a melted left foot, the narrator moves past this. She will just cover it up with a dress. The narrator wanted new and perfect Barbie’s in the beginning, but she realized that these Barbie’s are not everything and she can make them her own. She is not defined by her Barbies. Sandra Cisneros used symbolism and characterization to describe how the narrator had a hard time coming into her own identity and finding
...e can, however, signal her virginal status by dressing in a way that represents its equivalent: as a southern belle. In addition to her low-cut blue dress, with its feminine, puffed sleeves, Arvay wears a floppy-brimmed “leghorn-intention” (straw hat), decorated with a “big pink rose” (suggestive of reproduction). Most tellingly, we are told that she is wearing a corset that is “laced very tight” – so tight that she cannot eat her dinner. Corsets hold in the flesh and nip in the waistline to an attractively small diameter. By narrowing the waist, they emphasize the swellings of the hips and breasts, a contrast intended to stimulate sexual arousal. Thus Arvay’s wedding/reception attire emphasizes her fragility and innocence while highlighting her desirability. The clothing signs her as an object for consumption, rather than celebrates her as a beautiful companion.
“From Lieutenant Nun,” a memoir written by doña Catalina de Erauso, tells an intriguing story of a young Spanish female and her advantageous journey through Spain and the New World. Her family intends for her to become a nun but, that is not the life she seeks for herself. Therefore, she breaks away from the convent in hopes of finding somewhere to make her fortune by passing as a male. Catalina’s story is noteworthy because it gives readers another perspective of exploration focusing on self-discovery during the seventeenth century emphasizing how passing as a male is the only thing that secured her ability to explore. In the memoir, Catalina repeatedly reminisces about clothing and, whether she consciously or unconsciously does so, she allows the reader to see that this is an important aspect of her exploration. Throughout Catalina’s journey, clothing plays an increasingly important role not only in her travels but, also her personal life because it symbolized ones status, role, gender and privileges.
Like in the Berlin- Corner Schonhauser the parents aren’t really approving the kid’s behavior and the way they dress, and in The Rabbit is Me, we can see how Marie’s aunt is surprised that she knows about safe sex and everything.
There, the inmates attended an art class, and created these red plastic flowers, found in Poblet’s art-piece, out of recycled materials. It is known that one is very limited supplies in prison, so Poblet was moved by just how creative the women there were. The inmates were affected in Simplemente Bellas, as Poblet found inspiration in these women. They were her motif in Simplemente Bellas, because they showed such creativity. This is what makes her work so much more appealing to the eye. Simplemente Bellas caught my interest over all the other art pieces throughout the museum. Poblet was moved by the hard-work these women put into producing those red plastic flowers. Poblet uses symbolism here, as the female inmates represent the many flowers in Poblet’s work, while the flowers symbolize beauty, as well as identity and freedom. This was the theme, or idea, that she was trying to portray to her viewers. The face of the women in the art-piece is said to depict one of the inmates Poblet had met during her visit. This gave me a better understanding about Mabel Poblet as a person as well as an artist. She saw those women as more than just captive inmates. If someone can see beyond another’s flaws and mistakes, they must be a very kind-hearted person. It is considered a baroque, as it is an art piece that appeals to our emotions. Understanding the muse behind Simplemente Bellas, has led me to love this work of art even more. It also caused me to be interested to learn more about Mabel Poblet Pujols as an
The unveiling of a piece of artwork symbolises the gradual revelation of the girl’s feelings. At the beginning of the text she seems to have no emotions, “Live. Survive. They’re the same thing” and “she thought the thoughts of a machine.” She is portrayed as robot-like and is not in possession of feelings or vulnerability. However, over the course of the story, she progressively gives in to her overwhelming, pressing emotions. “She took off her watch and bikini and lay in the sun” and “She ran naked down to the water.” This can be perceived as the beginning of the exposing of her emotion; her nakedness introduces a sense of vulnerability, a quality not associated with machines. In addition, the leaving behind of her watch reinforces the idea of the deterioration of her ‘robotness’. The watch is a symbol of time and regulation, the girl choosing to abandon it, represents her no longer needing to rely on regulation and control. By the end of the story, her true emotions had surfaced, “No, you old bitch” and “She cut through the water and filled up cold with anger”. She is no longer machine–like and automatic. This final display of emotion is represented through the uncovering of the artwork. The man whom is uncovering the piece symbolises the mother. It essentially was the girl’s mother who filled her daughter’s head with her “stupid, recurring statements” and as a result, emotion. Furthermore, the exposure of her emotions coinciding with her death implies that, although emotions are stereotyped as something beautiful to share, her emotions were engulfing and devastating. In conclusion, the disintegrating of her ‘robot-like’ armor is represented through the uncovering of a piece of artwork.
. her narrow silk suit with hamburgers and french fries printed on it will glisten in the brilliant air . . .” (13-15). The majestic image of the girl illustrates the mother’s pride in her daughter’s confidence during the predominantly male party. As a result of the girl’s poised demeanor, the mother is likely to be pleased with her daughter’s ability to uphold the expectations of an adult. Rather than feeling apprehensive and uneasy about a party favoring one gender, the girl overlooks this distinction and carries herself admiringly. In addition to developing an adult-like composure, the girl also experiences an awakening of her sexuality. Her seductive feelings and allurement toward the boys is becoming more conscious in her thoughts. Emerging from the pool, the water from the girl’s body is described to “sparkle and fall to the power of a thousand . . .” (22). The girl is beginning to understand sexual attraction and her appeal to the opposite sex. The mental image of prestige that is suggested by her newfound “power” heavily contradicts the representation of innocence and naivety of what was once the girl. The girl is no longer oblivious to sexual desires and hesitant of change. Instead, she carries around her femininity and allurement as a badge of
Which is caused by the narrator having a male perspective. The narrator does not give the women and credit or redeeming qualities. All the women follow a general stereotype. If they tried to break away from the stereotype, they would me more important and influential characters. Paquette, a chambermaid in the Baron’s castle, is described as “a pretty and obedient brunette” (5). She is identified obedient not because of her job as a chambermaid, but because she is willing to exploit her soul and body to the men around the castle. In regards to the old woman, she doesn’t even have an actual name, which does not matter since is ugly and useless. The old woman has the mindset that she is; an object; a mistake; a disgrace. That her time has passed as a beautiful useful woman. All the rape and abuse has physically affected her and she is out of luck. In fact, she is lucky if men talk to her, or even look at her without
In Act II, after they discover that Martirio has stolen the framed photo of Pepe el Romano from Angustias, Bernarda momentarily loses her resolve, but immediately uses her ‘bastón’ to get it back: “[las chicas] Salen. BERNARDA se sienta desolada. PONCIA está de pie arrimada a los muros. BERNARDA reacciona, da un golpe en el suelo […]” (Lorca 72). Although it should feel normal for Bernarda to be a bit broken-up when life is not going the way she planned, she does not let herself feel emotion. She is also worried what Poncia would think although she has worked for the family for over 30 years. Instead, when she sees Poncia, she once again asserts her dominance with the club. The ‘bastón’ is not only a physical object she can use to carry out her commands, but also a very phallic-shaped entity that represents masculinity and ultimately solidifies her control. As the eldest male of a family generally leads it, Bernarda essentially carries around a physical manifestation of this manhood with her, which permits her definitive power. This prop gives her the means to enact her control and keep up the ‘buena fachada’ she so desperately concerns herself with. Yet, the importance of ‘buena fachada’ is demonstrated even earlier in the play with the descriptions of the first setting in the opening of act 1. Lorca envisions a, “Habitación blanquísima del interior de la casa de BERNARDA. Muros gruesos” (Lorca 4). In fact, each scene opens up with the image of white walls. White walls not only conjure up mental images of sterile and constraining hospitals, but the colour also represents the purity Bernarda desires for her daughters. White is traditionally associated with purity and innocence and the walls help convey this idea to visitors. It is also the colour she intends for Adela to wear at her funeral. In
Adèle Ratignolle uses art to beautify her home. Madame Ratignolle represents the ideal mother-woman (Bloom 119). Her chief concerns and interests are for her husband and children. She was society’s model of a woman’s role. Madame Ratignolle’s purpose for playing the pia...
The young girl sprawls on comfortably as a way of the illustrating her rebellion, as this is not the appropriate position to have one’s portrait taken. Also, the girl seems to be from a well of family since her dress is a fashion-forward, her shawl and bow matches with her socks. Her hair is neatly placed in clean and neat shoes that that seems to be new as they have buckles that sparkle. Conversely, the little girl has insignificant concern for all this primness where her unselfconscious pose presents a novel image regarding childhood (Jones
In the beginning of “Barbie Doll”, pleasurable and unpleasurable imagery is given so that the reader can see the extremes girls go through to be considered perfect.
In today’s world, men and women are perceived equally by the society. In the past, authority and control define men while women are given the characteristic of helplessness. Men are able to get hold of high positions while women usually are subservient to them. In movies, we would usually see women portray roles that are degrading due to the stereotypical notions they associate with this gender group. Moulin Rouge, a movie set during the 1900s narrates the story of a courtesan woman, Satine, as she undergoes hardships to earn money, experiences love but unfortunately, due to her irrational choices, faces tragic consequences at the end. Satine is a symbol of how women are being treated by the society during the era before post-feminism, where men have superiority over women. As the plot develops, Satine transforms from a worthless prostitute to someone who is courageous and willing to face her fears in order to attain her aspirations. Psychoanalyst theory and feminist analysis are apparent throughout the film. The male gaze, fantasy and feminism are three topics that will be covered in depth in this essay through relating it to the movie.
as if it were a woman. "Petticoat" is a representation of Dame Van Winkle. Van Winkle pays no attention to his
Stent, S., 2011, ‘Fetishizing the Feminine: the Surreal Fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli’, Nottingham French Studies, September, 50, 78-87.