Pull My Daisy is a short film made in 1959 directed by Robert Frank identifying several issues during the Beat Generation, this is the main focal point of this film to rely on a stereotype factor. The first thing I noticed invoking the aspect of gender is that women played role of "house wife" and had almost little to no dialogue, the whole short films dialogue was the males. The couple times it appeared the females were speaking there no audio which I'm assuming was intentional.
The man have the view that women are really only good for one thing, sadly. Never once talking about the women in a positive light but instead how good they look in a "tight dress". Obviously something like dinner is a must for the husband and children. When the son comes out for breakfast it seemed like he is rubbing off from his father adamant about what he wants. He is expectant that he should be served no questions asked
All the men are focused on is their guy time drinking beer and chain smoking cigarettes like they are going out of style, well their lungs are as well as themselves once they perish. Though they don't imagine what life would be like if their significant others came to the realization they are better then what they are putting themselves through, thought I have tried with previous other films I can not put myself in the shoes of one from this time era, it is un-relatable to today.
I do think that this film could be relatable today in many ways such as desiring to be grow up as well as staying young, questioning religion, and the way women are cast into stereotypical roles. Women are still seen as the food preparers, house cleaners, children rearers and bosses of their husbands. That is the way "The Wife" is seen in this film, so I do think that this film can relate in that way, as well as many others.
ReplyDeleteI did notice that the women in this film are offered little to no dialogue, even in the form of conduit voice-over narration. However, I do disagree that this film is "unrelatable to today." On the contrary, I find that many of the gender stereotypes that this film attempted to perpetuate are equally as concrete in contemporary society (see also: the "get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich" trend). Your post lacks a fleshed-out scene analysis as well; if added, it could improve and solidify your argument tenfold.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot more that can be brought to this analysis. It tends to focus on the obvious. Why do you think the women are silent? This seems very short too. Maybe spend more time on the ideas of gender roles instead of stating some facts. I see gender her as a clash against the ideas of the new beat generation. For a generation of people trying to move forward, to break free of a rigorous past they seem set on enforcing it when it comes to gender. Also where do art and gender intersect. This leaves so much to be desired.
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