I recently saw an article and brilliant video compilation of some of these famous "damsel in distress" movie moments. I loved the author's description of the video: "This new supercut features a whole lot of dudes pretty angry that some other dudes have stolen 'their' ladies."
The sad thing is that after watching this, there were about ten other examples I thought of that weren't even included in this video. It's utterly ridiculous. This portrayal of women is clearly outdated, yet it continues on in today's film industry because a) Hollywood is nostalgic and b) we continue to mindlessly consume the product.
I agree completely, but I think it depends a lot on the genre. That mashup of women in distress comprised mostly of action/adventure done in the typical Hollywood fashion. There are films like August: Osage County, which portrayed the women characters as very independent, down-to-earth, and vulnerable not in the "damsel in distress way" but in the way which ALL human beings are vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about that we do continue to consume what Hollywood puts out. And why? Because secretly that is what all of us expect of the movies and Hollywood, is a damsel in distress and a man to help or save her. This might seem like a unoriginal idea or against feminism but, yet this is how we still view women as a damsel in distress. This damsel in distress does need a man to take care of her. But granted the man needs her just as much in his life to help take care of kids and do stuff a man isn't genetically made up that way like a woman. Just as a woman isn't genetically made like a man to be strong and be able to protect his woman or love of his life. So as much as it is a cliche, it is also true and something i don't ever think will change. But who knows really how things will go or continue to go in the future.
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