Further to stereotypes, the dance styles seen in Save The Last Dance portray traditional gender norms which are prescribed within society. The idea of masculinity, where males must possess qualities traditionally associated with men, such as being dominant, competitive, strong and aggressive, compared to the passionate and beautiful physicality for female dancers is very prominent within the two different dance styles in the film (Ravaldi). Hip-hop which is the main style of dance in the film, is characterized as hyper masculine, defined by the exaggeration of male stereotypical behaviour (). This is evident as we see many of the male characters at STEPPS who womanize and exhibit consistent aggression or self-proclaimed invulnerability. The choreography consists of …show more content…
slouching, body pop, dougie, grinding and pop, lock and drop it (). Any girls who are seen dancing hip-hop in the film are wearing tight, revealing clothing with dance moves emphasizing the movement of their hips and butt (Adler, 2001). Ballet on the other hand is also known to be a highly gender-codified sport, which performs femininity.
This feminine sport requires the perfect body type, needing flexibility and grace to achieve the grand jete, firebird leap, pas de chat and tour jete(). Males who dance ballet are often challenged and questioned on their sexuality and masculinity because of this "female" world. A study revealed that male ballet dancers often experienced themes of homophobic stereotypes, narrow definitions of masculinity, heterosexist justifications for participating and an absence of a male role in their life (Haltom). A study also analyzing parental versus non parental views on gender stereotypic activities found that it is more acceptable for girls to take on a boys role than a boy portraying a girls role (Killen). This may be why Sara had begun dancing ballet in the first place. These studies also back up the fact that we do not see any males dancing ballet in the film, but it is okay for Sara to dance both ballet and hip-hop. This is very evident as Derek is exposed to Sara's ballet, but never once tries to attempt any of the steps, thus reinforcing the gender norm that ballet can only be danced by
females. In the film, How She Move, the protagonist Ryanna (or Raya) returns back home to her crime-infested neighbourhood in Toronto from private school following the death of her sister. In hope of continuing her education, Ryanna searches for a step-dancing crew when she learns there is a competition with a top prize of $50,000. In hopes of winning and securing the funds needed to pay for medical school, she goes to see her good friend Bishop to earn a spot in his crew.
Strictly Ballroom, with a ballroom and romance plot is more difficult to project the male stereotype. However even in this difficulty area, it manages to still capture the following masculine traits – mateship, trivialised larrikinism, physical apperarance, durnkenness, determination to win the ballroom dancing championship using new steps –the macho Spanish pasodoble.
Jensen, Jill Nunes. "Transcending Gender in Ballet’s LINES." When Men Dance: Choreographing Masculinities Across Borders (2009): 118.
The movie, Save the Last Dance, goes along with all of our discussions and conversations about the visual difference between the black and white cultures and the stereotyping that Hollywood does of the two cultures. The movie shows the difference in the two cultures, according to Hollywood.you have your typical white middle-class suburban girl (Sarah) and your typical low-class black boy (Derrick).
Gender dictates various components of American life: political quarrels, typical company employee hierarchies, social norms, the list continues. This year’s presidential election proves this statement to be true; as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump bump heads against notions of foreign policy and tax reform, American voters have divided themselves into a category of either for or against women’s equality. Trump’s recent rape allegations has portrayed him as sexist, allowing Clinton to make arguments against him and advocate for women’s rights. Besides politics, gender guides child development, teaching children what “roles” both men and women must play in order to be deemed acceptable. This is why the term “CEO”
Belonging to the world of ballroom dancing involves conforming to the use of extravagantly coloured cloths that is worn. Throughout the film different characters present the viewers with the extremity of their costumes even off the dance floor. Scott dances by himself in simple black trousers and a white shirt, which is a distinct contrast. Similarly Doug hasting is also always in standard clothing throughout the movie. While we never view Doug dancing for an audience, outside of the dream sequence, he is dressed in plain and tired outfits. Both Doug and Scott dance without the costumes tell the audience that they belong not to the society which has become “Ballroom Dancing” but to the idea that dance is ones ability to be themselves.
Grease, one of the most well known ‘coming of age’ movies, a movie about a new girl who moves to a new country, falls in love with a boy and makes new friends who empower her to embrace her true self and become who she really is. No. Grease is a movie that teaches young girls that it’s okay to change who you are just to grasp the attention of the boy you like, and that you must not be a prude. A movie that is full of sexual innuendos all to make the good girl look bad and have amazing stories to tell friends. That is the real storyline of Grease and how it explains the stereotypes given to teenagers.
The film being analysed is the Breakfast Club, directed by John Hughes. Trapped in Saturday detention are 5 stereotyped teens. Claire, the princess, Andrew, the jock, John, the criminal, Brian, the brain, and Allison, the basket case. At 7 am, they had nothing to say, but by 4 pm; they had uncovered everything to each other. The students bond together when faced with the their principal, and realise that they have more in common than they think, including a hatred for adult society. They begin to see each other as equal people and even though they were stereotyped they would always be The Breakfast Club. The Breakfast Club highlights a variety of pressures that are placed upon teenagers through out high school. One of the most challenging aspects of screenwriting is creating characters that an audience can identify with, relate to, and be entertained by.
The movie “Save The Last Dance” directed by Thomas Carter, is a story about a white female named Sara, who moved to south Chicago to live with her dad after her mom had died in a tragic car accident during Sara’s audition for Julliard, school of dance. Sara doesn’t get accepted into Julliard and starts school in south Chicago which is located on the rougher side of town. At this new school, Sara meets Chenille and Chenille’s brother Derek, who are both African-American. Chenille and Derek take Sara to a club which is completely out of her element because this club centers their dancing around hip hop and Sara only has experience in ballet and contemporary dance. Derek agrees to give Sara lessons on how to dance hip-hop. While teaching her
In the movie Billy Elliot, Billy challenges society’s beliefs based on sex during his time, as he rebels against male stereotypes and follows his passion for dance, without he’s fathers consent. Billy faces many obstacles throughout this movie, including when Billy tries to show his father that he can dance, but his dad takes it sensitively and shuts him off. Throughout the movie, She’s The Man, Viola fights against societies expectations again and fills in for her brother, who ditches school randomly to travel for a couple of weeks, to play soccer despite her mothers’ thoughts. The issues of stereotypes that will be explored throughout this essay are, the specific cultures and social situations which create strict stereotypes, the power of the family towards the individuals’ actions and also the marginalisation of those who rebel. The first issue that will be introduced are the specific situations that separate society and create stereo types.
In the film Mean Girls, teenager Cady Heron was home-schooled in Africa by her zoologist parents. When her family moves to the U.S., Cady finally gets a taste of public school and learns a vital lesson about the cruelty involved in the tightly knit cliques of high school. She eventually finds herself being drug into a group of “the worst people you will ever meet”, The Plastics; and soon realizes how they came to get their name.
The theatre is full of young men and women. The gas lanterns dimly light the room and the silhouette of a figure can be seen in the shadows of the stage. As she emerges, she is like a dream: a tall, elegant body with a form fitting bodice and tutu. She is entrancing on her tiny pointe shoes as she floats across the stage. Love and passion fill the air as she moves in such a way that is almost magical. The Romantic Ballet Period introduced the aspects of theme, costume, and new technique to the dance world and its influences are still seen in contemporary works in ballet.
Billy pushes the gender norms as he is a young 11 year old boy, who’s father, brother and community believe that men should be masculine and women feminine. Nevertheless Billy falls in love with dance and ballet; which is typically seen as a feminine sport, despite being pushed into typically masculine sports such as boxing. Billy's passion and ambition to resist the gender norms are seen more so in todays time, thus proving the significance, strength and sheer dedication it took this young boy to continue to fight for what he wanted and to break stigmas during the 80’s; in a time filled with narrow-mindedness and unacceptance to not being able to purse what you wish regardless of stereotypes and stigmas.
Moreover, the attire ballerina’ must wear adds to the “skinny” issue. Because of the tight clothing, it can expose the dancer to any imperfect areas of their body, evoking girls to stress and encourage them to achieve a small figure. Seeing others thinner than she, could also prompt a dancer to lose a few pounds to look as tiny as the other girls in the room. As each one does this, the room of dancers becomes very small. Anorexia seems like the best way to become the smallest dancer in the class. Similarly, when practicing, ballet dancers often have to work with a male partner. Together, they will work as one and have to execute moves gracefully and flawlessly. A dancer has to be conscious that a man has to be able to carry her for extended lifts and holds. Knowing she can dance better with a smaller weight, persuades a dancer that she must stay thin at all costs. Not only does a ballet performer have to worry about her weight when she has a partner, but it also influence her movement
I watched the film Grease which was directed by Randal Kleiser. This film took place at Rydell high which was full ot, fun, crazy students. In the beginning, Sandy Dumbrowski the new girl in school, arrives to school. She explains how over the summer she and and a boy named Danny Zuko had a brief love affair. But it turns out he is a leader of the greaser gang called the T-Birds. Sandy tells her new classmates about Danny how sweet he was and how was different but she doesn’t know that he lies and make stories up about their relationship. From watching the show, you can tell that the kids at Rydell High have to deal with many issues. Some of the issues would be having relationship issues, teen pregnancy, high school drop outs, and friendship.
He expressed music with dance. He changes the neo-classical technique by clean up, sped up and sharpened up the movements. His method developed the Ballet, his method was to focus on very quick movements coupled with a more open use of the upper. “In my ballets, a woman is first. Men are consorts. God made men to sing the praises of women. They are not equal to men: They are better.” (George Balanchine). Behind the scenes, men remained in charge, determining the choreography, the casting, the selection and instruction of the dancers. Male dancer used as a “tool” to help female dancer balance, spin, and be