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The aim of presentation is to familiarize the class with the filmmaker, chosen films, and the analytical framework being developed. This allows for constructive engagement with queries and feedback. Presentation should be concise, taking no more than ten minutes for a comprehensive experience.
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Here is my thesis:
The film-making style that Greta Gerwig employs is assertive, especially films like Barbie and Little Women. She employs a distinctive directional style, which allows her to share narratives. These narratives are used alongside nonlinear storytelling to deliver the message to her audience. However, this is only evident in Little Women since Barbie employs a distinctive pictorial style. Also, emphasizing character development instead of the pictorial aesthetics of the films, Gerwig is able to achieve the emotional goals of the films. By carrying out an in-depth analysis of the above-mentioned films, the thesis strives to expound on how Gerwig depicts power dynamics, identity, and gender. There are societal constraints in the 19th century that restricted women from exercising autonomy and becoming creative in a patriarchal society. Through character development (Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth), Gerwig is able to look into the diverse aspects of womanhood while challenging the traditionally assumed gender roles. In Barbie, Gerwig explores identity, gender, and power dynamics considering the cultural significance and iconic status that Barbie has as a brand. Therefore, Gerwig looks into the modern issues surrounding standards of beauty, women empowerment, and femininity.
Here is my Proposal:
Women Filmmaker Proposal
Abstract
I aim to do a deep analysis of the films made by Greta Gerwig, focusing on her 2023
film Barbie alongside her famous 2019 work Little Women. Through comparative analysis, I
will dive into their treatment of relationships with family and the social environment, and how
the women in the films see themselves and what they believe in as the story unfolds. Through
these discussions, I want to dig into the complexities of womanhood and how society’s
expectations influence who we are as individuals. Through this case study, the contributions of
women filmmakers to cinema and the significance of their work within academic discourse will
be highlighted. Furthermore, this essay explores the portrayal of women in Greta Gerwig’s
Barbie (2023) and Little Women (2019) films and the influential role of female directors in
reshaping cultural narratives and challenging the dominant ideologies. Meanwhile, I will explore
Greta Gerwig’s unique filmmaking style and how it influences broader conversations about the
impact of women directors on cinema and the significance of gender in our society. This will
lead to the understanding of the significance of women in filmmaking and their significance
within academic discourse, leading to a broader understanding of gender representation in film
and society. This analysis involves closely studying Gerwig’s films in relation to feminist theory
and cultural analysis.
My preliminary thesis is: The film-making style that Greta Gerwig employs is assertive, especially films like Barbie and Little Women. She employs a distinctive directional style, which allows her to share narratives. These narratives are used alongside nonlinear storytelling to deliver the message to her audience. However, this is only evident in Little Women since Barbie employs a distinctive pictorial style. Also, emphasizing character development instead of the pictorial aesthetics of the films, Gerwig is able to achieve the emotional goals of the films. By carrying out an in-depth analysis of the above-mentioned films, the thesis strives to expound on how Gerwig depicts power dynamics, identity, and gender. There are societal constraints in the 19th century that restricted women from exercising autonomy and becoming creative in a patriarchal society. Through character development (Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth), Gerwig is able to look into the diverse aspects of womanhood while challenging the traditionally assumed gender roles. In Barbie, Gerwig explores identity, gender, and power dynamics considering the cultural significance and iconic status that Barbie has as a brand. Therefore, Gerwig looks into the modern issues surrounding standards of beauty, women empowerment, and femininity.
Annotation
In Lori Marso’s article “Feeling Like a Barbie: On Greta Gerwig and Chantal Akerman,”
the author explains how an object like Barbie and a film can be interconnected and, in particular,
compares the artificiality of Barbie dolls with the aesthetics of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie released in
2023. It explores how both elements can produce different reactions from the audiences and
critics. The author argues that the film “Barbie: and the Barbie doll are connected cultural
objects, whereby Gerwig’s film highlights the artificiality in Barbie, the evaluation of the role of
Gerwig’s cinematic influences in her work, and compares the work of Gerwig with Chantal
Akerman, demonstrating the opposition of shallow feelings and hidden, often unpleasant
emotions both in the Barbie culture and in Gerwig’s film. Marso explores Gerwig’s cinematic
impact and compares her depiction of the hidden emotions with the shallow emotions in
Akerman’s exploration, which shows the difference between the two works. I will use this
analysis to contextualize Gerwig’s exploration of “Barbie” and compare it to her other works
within a more comprehensive backdrop of films directed by women.
Marso, L. (2023, August 16). Feeling like a Barbie: On Greta Gerwig and Chantal Akerman. Los
Angeles Review of Books.
gerwig-and-chantal-akerman/?mc_cid=8fc932dd69&mc_eid=7150e931ff
