Feminist Theorists - Analysis of Midge, Madeleine and Judy (Femininity)

Past Exam question to consider this lesson:

The representation of women in Vertigo demonstrates how far this is a film by a man for men.’ How far do you agree?

Key Terms: 
Patriarchy
Voyeurism
Male Gaze
Misogynistic

Starter: Define the above terms

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“…cinematic codes create a gaze, a world, and an object, thereby producing an illusion cut to the measure of desire.” –Laura Mulvey, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema

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“The “cool blonde” and her role in Hitchcock’s films point to a recurrent (and some would say misogynistic) pattern in the treatment of his heroines. Consistently, one of these women is reduced to a dishevelled, panic stricken mess, or reveals some unexpected depth of sexual ardor. Hitchcock liked to quote nineteenth century French playwright Victorien Sardou’s advice, “Torture the women!” though he added “The trouble today is we don’t torture the women enough”

-The Women of Hitchcock – E.Wennerberg (2003)

Task 1::

Do you agree with this quote? Do you think Hitchcock's portrayal of women is misogynistic? 
Use the handout provided to make notes.

Consider:
Is Judy a sympathetic character?

Does Hitchcock’s obsessive camera make Novak impossible to see in a negative light simply?

She is an accomplice to murder and she has been lying to Scottie the whole time.

Why do we feel sympathetic to Judy?

What if the roles were gender swapped?

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Patriarchal Systems

When a woman's role is to make her man's life as happy as possible; while female feelings and desires are not as important in comparison...

-Judy

If, if I let you change it, will that do it? If I do what you tell me, will you love me?

-Scottie

"It can't matter to you!"

Could it be argued Judy's dialogue diminishes the role of women, and increases their reliance of men for self-esteem?
Discuss

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Freedom and Power - The themes of freedom and power can be related to patriarchal ideology.

Hitchcock underlines Patriarchal ideology through the Carlotta backstory. There are three instances in which the concept of freedom and power are mentioned.

All the times are when they're done by male characters. Talking about the role of men in society.

-Gavin Elster
"The things that spell San Francisco to me are disappearing fast ... I should have liked to have lived here then; color, excitement, power, freedom."

-Pop Leibel

She came from somewhere small to the south of the city. Some say from a mission settlement. Young, yes, very young. And she was found dancing and singing in cabaret by that man. And he took her and built for her the great house in the Western Addition. And, uh, there was, there was a child, yes, that's it, a child, a child. I cannot tell you exactly how much time passed or how much happiness there was, but then he threw her away. He had no other children. His wife had no children. So, he kept the child and threw her away. You know, a man could do that in those days. They had the power and the freedom.

-Scottie
I made it. I made it. So this is where it happened. The two of you hid back there and waited for it to clear, and then you sneaked down and drove into town, is that it? And then, you were his girl, huh? Well, what happened to ya? What happened to ya? Did he ditch ya? Oh Judy, with all of his wife's money and all that freedom and that power and he ditched you. What a shame! But he knew he was safe. He knew you couldn't talk. Did he give you anything?

- Judy
"I was safe when you found me. There was nothing that you could prove. When I saw you again, I couldn't run away. I loved you so. I walked into danger, let you change me because I loved you and I wanted you. Oh, Scottie, oh Scottie please. You love me. Please keep me safe, please..."

Could it be argued that Hitchcock is using the repetition of freedom and power in such as way making a point to say that society that Scotty and Elster live in that there is a possibility that men have all the power and freedom, and women do not?

Midge makes herself into a painting. She painted her own portrait but also the way she sits, the camera work makes her appear identical to the painting.
Madeline is visually connected the the painting of Carlotta in the museum.

Hitchcock uses his film techniques to objectify Judy/Madeline and other women

This encourages the idea of Voyeurism throughout the film

Here she is framed by the columns and framed by a man watching her

Here Hitchcock is using visual elements, props and settings to make female characters literally objects, thing to be looked at. Painting itself.

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The Male Gaze
Laura Mulvey (1975)
Is a feminist theory as a feature of gender power asymmetry in film.

Mulvey stated that women were objectified in film because heterosexual men were in control of the camera. Hollywood films played to the models of voyeurism
It occurs when the camera puts the audience into the perspective of a heterosexual man. (For example, it may linger over the curves of a woman's body)

The woman is usually displayed on two different levels: 
As an erotic object for both the characters within the film, as well as for the spectator who is watching the film. The man emerges as the dominant power within the created film fantasy. The woman is passive to the active gaze from the man. This adds an element of 'patriarchal' order.

Mulvey argues that, in mainstream cinema, the male gaze typically takes precedence over the female gaze, reflecting an underlying power asymmetry.
Therefore, as Scottie sees Judy/Madeline as an object, we too are meant to see Judy/Madeline as an object.

Male Domination
The sequence Scottie changes Judy into Madeline is an example of Male Domination.

Hitchcock shows us Judy in parts and sequences it off until she is no longer Judy anymore
If we look at the sequence in the salon where Judy is getting her Madeline make-over. Hitchcock uses a lot of close-up shots.
Do you think this has been done intentionally to make it appear that Judy (and by extension all women) is seen by the audience as the subject of men's desires - both sexual and controlled?

So, is Vertigo misogynistic? 

Task 2: Work in groups to plan an essay response for the exam question;

The representation of women in Vertigo demonstrates how far this is a film by a man for men.’ How far do you agree?

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Patriarchy
a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.

Voyeurism
the practice of gaining sexual pleasure from watching others when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity.

Male Gaze The male gaze is the way in which the visual arts and literature depict the world and women from a masculine point of view, presenting women as objects of male pleasure. The phrase male gaze was coined by feminist film critic Laura Mulvey in 1975.

Misogynistic
strongly prejudiced against women.