lesson 3 - skyfall representation

Representation in Skyfall

WomenMasculinity

Ethnicity‘The Monstrous other’/Disfigurement

Places

Representation of women

How are women represented in Skyfall?

Moneypenny

Has her character evolved since the 1960’s?

Moneypenny in Dr No (1962)

Die Another Day 2002

History:

• Doesn’t participate in missions• More sexually charged• No name (until now)• Small part – romantic tension• Understands Bond• Supporting role

• Samantha Bond (3rd Moneypenny) in Die Another Day

Naomie Harris Skyfall (2012) MoneyPenny

Representations: Bond: “You know… we haven’t been formally introduced.”

Moneypenny: “Oh. Well I’m Eve. Eve Moneypenny”

task

In Skyfall, do you think Moneypenny empowers the representation of women in contemporary society?

In pairs, discuss and write down your thoughts. Please explain your choice.

Aim for a good paragraph.

Moneypenny

At the beginning of the film, Moneypenny (Eve) is Bond’s partner on a mission to recover the stolen hard drive.

M instructs Moneypenny to shoot at Patrice on the train, yet Moneypenny is hesitant and instead hits Bond with her bullet. It could be argued this suggests Moneypenny is an incompetent agent.

Moneypenny only appears a few more times in the film; as a potential seductress for Bond, rather than assisting him with his mission.

At the end of the film, Moneypenny decides to retire as a field agent and instead work for Mallory as his secretary.

Severine

Severine

What are your thoughts on Severine and her representation?

When Bond and Severine meet in the casino, her hands start shaking indicating her fear, suggesting she is vulnerable and in need of help.

Severine was served as an object of sexual gratification for both men, Bond and Silva. Her character reinforces Laura Mulvey’s ‘male gaze’ concept (1975), arguing women are often presented as passive sexualised ‘objects’ for the pleasure of the male gaze.

Debate: Gender powerWhich character is represented as being more

dominant; M or Bond?

Discuss and write down your response. Please explain your choice.

M & BondM may hold the highest position of power as the head of the Foreign Intelligence Wing, but she constantly makes poor decisions that cost numerous people their lives.

For example, Silva holds her responsible for being tortured by the Chinese and plans a cyber attack against her and MI6. M is also forced to go on trial to defend the competency of her programme.

M is asked to retire from her position, being informed she has become too old to handle matters properly. Her position is then filled by a presumably more capable man, Gareth Mallory.

Silva: “You’re smaller than I remembered”

Bond both kidnaps and recues M. This is surprising given M is Bond’s boss and in a superior position of power and authority.

Women

Has the representation of women been empowered?

All three women were shown to be inept at their jobs and ended up dead or in a subservient

position. It seems the women are positioned merely to be decorative foils for Bond’s

masculinity.

Representations: Masculinity

Representations: Masculinity

Homework question:

How is masculinity represented in Skyfall?OR

Has the representation of women been shown in a positive, empowered way?

Mini essay – paragraphs and examples from the film in support.

Due: Wednesday 8th Oct

Representations: The monstrous ‘other’

Ethnicity

• Patrice• Silva• Severine• Moneypenny• Bond/M/Mallory/Q

Britishness“The connection between James Bond and British identity is visually achieved through the alignment of the title character with notable British popular cultural iconography, including images of Big Ben, the Thames, and Whitehall.”Funnell, Lisa (2011) ‘‘I Know Where You Keep Your Gun’’: Daniel Craig as the Bond–Bond Girl Hybrid in Casino Royale. The Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 44, No. 3, p.458

Britishness• Nostalgia• Austerity Britain: ‘Keep calm and carry on’ mentality.

Britishness

• Visit Britain advert

Representations of Londonhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl218z68iC4#t=82

Skyfall London Videoblog

Representations of Shangai

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHhwNUGGlO4 • Skyfall Shanghai Video Blog

Istanbul

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10SLdjx5gkw• Skyfall Istanbul Video Blog