The Cabin In The Woods

 

The Cabin In The Woods

1. What were Jeremy Tunstall's 4 character roles for women and do they apply to The Cabin in the Woods?

Tunstalls looked at a range of research that was carried out on gender representation in the media. He found that the media emphasised women’s Domestic, Consumer, Sexual and marital activities. In ‘The Cabin In The Woods’ Tunstalls findings to apply, as Dana is consumer throughout, fighting the zombies and evil things. Also Jules is seen as the sex objective, for example when dancing in front of the fireplace.

2. How is Dana typical of Clover's 'Final Girl' theory?

Clover argued that the final girl fought back, This is apparent in ‘the Cabin In The Woods’ with Dana as throughout the film she is seen as the different one who unlike her ‘blonde bimbo’ friend is intelligent. Also Towards the end of the film when fighting the evil things with Marty is taking front position against protecting herself and friend. However although she has the choice to be the final girl she decides to die with her friend.

3. Jules undergoes mental and physical transformations during the film, what are they and how do they causes her to become a horror archetype?

Towards the beginning of the film we are immediately told that she has dyed her hair from brown to blonde already showing her transformation early on. Also as Curt and Jules retire to the woods and the sex scene begins Jules is transformed mentally as the fake shining light and air that is made for her to breath induces her to have sex.

4. Is Mulvey's Male Gaze theory exemplified in the film and if so, how? Think about framing, camera angles and POV shots.

 

The male gaze theory is exemplified in the film; it is shown through Jules’s actions. The mid shot of Jules dancing showing only her bottom half shows that she is a sex symbol. Also the POV shot were Dana is getting undressed in front of what she thinks is a mirror when really Holden can see through the other side. The male gaze is shown here but only for a short while through the POV shot.

5. In the film we, as an audience, are made to be voyeurs; when does this happen and why is it important in regards to representation of character?

During the film when the 5 friends are by the lake in the swimwear, the girls representation of character is purely to be desired by men. However men are also shown topless in this scene which is represented as ‘eye candy’ for the female audience.

6. (Briefly) summarise the way women are represented in The Cabin in the Woods. Are they objectified and there to provide satisfaction for heterosexual males and/or do they fulfil another role/purpose?
 

Throughout ‘The Cabin In The Woods’ the female characters are objectified as sex symbols for the men watching the film, actions during the film such as dancing suggestively provokes men and implies that they are they for only one reason, to entertain the men. However Dana plays the protagonist in the film and is left to fight and make important decisions, whilst also being a female this shows a contradicting part in the film.