Monday, December 11, 2017

The Smurfette principle

Myah Hasbany
1st period
12/11/17 

 While many sexual predators have been removed from the film industry, there is still a huge problem with casting women. Katha Pollitt created the "Smurfette Principle" in 1991, which describes the theme of many shows and movies having a single woman in a group of men. This theme has been featured in The Muppets, Winnie the Pooh and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to name a few.
 “The message is clear,” she wrote, “... boys are central, girls peripheral.” Several movies are guilty of it this year, including Wonder Woman. When she starts fighting, she is in the "world of men" and the situation is exactly the same in Justice League. In the movie It, the sole female character is surrounded by boys who constantly lust over her. In Stranger Things Eleven is exactly the same, and is quickly replaced by max who was the object of male desire again. 
   The Smurfette Principle happens again and again in the central themes in so many shows, and I don't understand how it isn't talked about more often. Despite all the changes in the film industry recently, I don't think people understand the extent that women are sexualized in film.  (and everywhere)



https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/dec/11/smurfette-principle-why-cant-hollywood-accept-gender-equality

1 comment:

  1. The ratio between more male centered movies versus female is insane. The film industry has gotten off too easily from sexualizing women and the fact that a movie that is supposed to promote female power like Wonder Woman hardly has women in it besides the opening scenes in her home is eye opening.

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