Feminist Theory - Liesbet Van Zoonen!

Feminist Theory: Gender is constructed heavily from media and that its meaning vary depending on the cultural/historical context.

An excerpt from The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

A) This extract mostly goes against Van Zoonen’s theory about the male gaze, objectification, and patriarchy in media. Her theory says that women in media are often shown as passive objects for men to look at, while men are active and powerful. In The Silence of the Lambs, the woman, Clarice, is the leading protagonist and leads the story, so she’s the one in control. The camera moves with her, not at her. She is often depicted in male-dominated fields and is not shown in any sexualized manners. This challenges Van Zoonen’s theory because Clarice is not framed as a sexual object, instead she is presented as capable and professional.

B) In this title sequence, it both reinforces the idea of the female body as spectacle, and acknowledges the potential power of the female objectification (the female spectator). First, acknowledges that men around her notice her, and she becomes the center of attention. For example, in the elevator scene, Clarice is surrounded by tall men in uniform, reinforcing her as a visual aspect, and we can feel her being stare at. On the contrary, the film gives her power over that objectification since we see the story from her point of view. She also remains calm, and strong despite the stares, which grants her power. 

C) The men in the elevator represent traditional masculinity (They are tall, uniform, and silent). Their physical power and lack of emotional expression match Van Zoonen’s idea that media portrays men as strong and powerful. But at the same time, they say nothing, while Clarice has a purpose. This reverses the usual dynamic as she’s the one with action while the men stand there and look. 

D) Clarice is shown as active, while the men around her are mostly passive. In the beginning training scenes, she is running through the forest, climbing ropes, and pushing herself. The camera moves with her and shows her determination and skill. On the other hand, as mentioned before, the men in the elevator and around the buildings mostly stand still and stare at her. Ther gazes make her visible, but they don’t do any of the activeness. This switch is important because it breaks the traditional gender pattern in films where the men are active while the women are passive. 

E) The extract is a subversive female representation. Evem though Clarice is almost constantly watched by men, the film lets the audience see through her perspective and understand her point of view. She is never sexualized and is depicted as professional, calm and serious. This subverts the “male gaze,” since she is the one doing the actions, analyzing, and surviving, and not just there to be stared at. This turns her into an active subject rather than a passive object, which makes her a subversive and powerful female representation.