Ridley Scott
My topic dealt with Ridley Scott’s films he’s directed focusing on minorities in the films Alien, G.I. Jane and American Gangster. Throughout his work there are patterns of traditional and modern roles for how women and people of color are portrayed. The male gaze is seen in all three of these movies, and it focuses on the female body being objectified by the viewer or another male character...
Scott also uses the camera and lighting to really emphasize the femininity or masculinity of each role. For example Demi Moore is shot with softer light and has more of a glow to her face with bubbles everywhere in the bathtub scene with her boyfriend, but when she is in the middle of combat the camera quickens and uses harsh lighting to emphasize her masculinity and battle wounds. Scott’s work also has the stereotypical female roles in his films, which is seen in American Gangster, and the lead female role is beautiful, feminine and passive. Again, in G.I. Jane the lead female role is really perceived as an outcast, who is masculine and aggressive, two characteristics that really go against the traditional characteristics of female roles.
You can also see patterns throughout Scott’s films dealing with the minority race. Many people have small, insignificant roles, or their role has been negatively portrayed by focusing on their lower social class and their involvement in sex, drugs or violence.
SOURCES
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