America: The Final Girl

The myth of the Terrorist correlates to the myth of the Final Girl.  The social identities of gender roles and sexuality are used in the construction of these myths.  The social facets that comprise the terrorist replicate those of the killer, while the United States embodies the facets found in the Final Girl.

              The terrorists are in short murderers.  They have killed innocent people, Americans or not, many lives were lost.  The slasher does not care who he has killed or how many.  He does what he believes is necessary.  This is what the terrorists have done. To envision the terrorist as the slasher, comparable qualities must be shown.  George Bush’s speech and Dick Cheney’s interview with Tim Russet use specific words and phrases to illustrate the comparison.  The word perverted struck out.  It is not a word commonly used without being associated to a sexual predator.  The words sexual and pervert go hand in hand.  This connection signifies the relationship between the terrorist and the killer.  The killer is sexually estranged.  The reason for this sexual queerness is usually attributed to the slasher’s past.  The link between terrorist and slasher strengthens with the mention of Osama bin Laden’s obscure upbringing.  Bin Laden’s cloudy past provides the United States with a reason on why someone would want to do something so horrible.  The most frightening aspect of the terrorist stems from the unknown.  Like the slasher, the ideologies and twisted logic behind their acts is unknown to America.  Just like the slasher, who's concealed face gives off the feeling of unease, so does the unknown terrorists. As Al Qaeda receives the role of the killer, the United States embodies the Final Girl.

The victimization of the Final Girl permits her to later become masculinized in her defeat of the slasher.  The articles labels the United States are the suffering victim.  The Final Girl does not go through the film unscathed.  She is battered, bruised and covered in gore.  But just in the end she will rise and take down the killer.  The last scenes of the movie the Final Girl just barely hangs on, but her spirit to live carries her through to the end.   Just like the Final Girl, the United States will not give up the fight.  George Bush and Dick Cheney describe the United States as courageous, brave, and strong.  Cheney comments that the United States will rise up, and attack with “full wrath”.  With this resolve to fight the United States and the Final Girl both are determined to watch the demise of the killer.  The final blow masculinizes the Final Girl and feminizes the slasher. 

The Final Girl’s masculinization parallels the United States plan to combat the terrorists.  The United States will go from a grieving and distraught nation, to an aggressive, combative and forceful one.  George Bush states “our grief has turned to anger, and anger to resolution.”  The United States plans to use “every tool of intelligence.”  The ambiguous gender of the Final Girl, with her intuitive intellect and independence has been reflected in America.

Sole Survivor: Final Girl

Sole Survivor: The Final Girl

The image of the Final Girl is a substantial role in “slasher” films.  In A Nightmare on Elm Street the character Nancy Thompson fulfills this role.  Nancy satisfies a numerous of the “Final Girl” qualities.  She is smart, inquisitive, and independent.  Nancy is also virginal despite the fact that she has a boyfriend.  These are main traits found in the final girl.  She must be smart and inquisitive in order to be the last survivor.  Her independency makes her a survivor, for she learns that she can only rely on herself.  The last trait harbors the potential for sexual development.  She is sexually unavailable or uninterested.  The ambiguous sexuality nature of the final girl permits her growth and ultimate masculinization of herself and feminization of the slasher.  

The final girl’s abstinence permits her to live.  Why is Nancy not the first character killed instead of Tina?  The myth of the final girl points to the unauthorized sex between Tina and her boyfriend Rod as a reason.  Nancy and her boyfriend sleep over Tina’s house to keep her company while her mother is away.  Tina and Rod go upstairs to have sex and Tina is shortly killed afterwards.   The act of sex equates to death in slasher films.  Sex alone will not save the Final Girl however.

The final girl counts on her resourcefulness to save herself. In Carol Clover’s Men, Women and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film she states that with the growth of slasher films, the Final Girl progresses from passive to active defense.  “It is no surprise that the films following Halloween present Final Girls who not only fight back but do so with ferocity and even kill the killer on their own, without help from the outside” (Clover).   In A Nightmare on Elm Street, nobody will believe Nancy about Freddy Krueger’s nightmare killings.  She is forced to stop him herself.   After watching each of her friends and her boyfriend die one by one, Nancy realizes that she is the next victim.  In her sleep she lures him out of dream land to an assortment of booby traps lined up for Freddy in reality.  This initiative is the first part of Nancy’s survival.  Freddy appears to be unstoppable getting past the traps and murdering Nancy’s mother.   Nancy undermines him in the final scenes of the film.  She uses his own weapon against him, the weapon that nightmares are based on: fear.  Nancy exclaims to Freddy that she no longer fears him and he is nothing.  With that final blow Nancy has defeated the slasher.  Nancy comes into her masculinity as Freddy is feminized.

The feminization of Freddy occurs through Nancy’s “ability to adapt to the new: to negotiate change” according to Final Girls: Terrible Youth: Transgression in 1980s Slasher Horror.  Nancy changes her current perception on reality.  As the only character to believe in Freddy’s supernatural ability, she becomes the sole survivor. 

The blurred lines of sexuality in slasher films create a perverted perception on which characters possess what sexual roles.  Through the myth of the Final Girl the viewer goes through the process of the characters obtaining their sexuality.  Cheering her own, whether they are male or female.

Goonies and Stereotypes

The 1980’s movie The Goonies presents itself as a cultural artifact in today’s pop culture.  If you have not seen The Goonies then you missed out on a great film.  The movie features a gang of friends, “the Goonies”, looking for long lost treasure.

                The movie creates a certain "Asian" stereotype supported by the character Richard Wang, played by actor Jonathan Ke Quan.  Richard is the only Asian in the film.  Aside from being the only Asian he is also the only “non-white” character, bringing emphasis to his diversity among the other kids.

                Specific stereotypes circulate around those who appear Asian.  These traits often include being extremely smart, nerdiness, cleverness, cunning, sly, slightly odd or out of place, strict parents, socially awkward, asexual (males) and speaking broken or heavily accented English.

                In The Goonies Richard Wang embodies many of these assumed traits.   Before Richard gets a chance develop as a character the audience learns of his nickname.  Richard “Data” Wang.  The nickname “Data” primes the viewers to think of math and science related subjects.  Richard can be envisioned as the human calculator.   The assumption that the sole Asian character is smart has already been planted.  Playing into the genius role even more, “Data” invents numerous gadgets and contraptions that allow the Goonies to navigate their way out of sticky situations.  The collection of devices includes “pinchers of peril”, “punch out”, “octo-blaster”, “slick shoes” and “bully blinders”.   All of these gizmos are hidden underneath the long trench coat Richard wears throughout the movie.  The stealthily concealed gadgets give “Data” the cunningness that many Asian characters are expected to portray.  “Data’s” slyness comes in handy, abrupting the villains going after the Goonies never know what’s going to abrupt them next.  The audience cannot predict when “Data” will come in with the clutch to help out his friends.  Michael Omi would support these scenes with the statement that “Asians are seen as sneaky and cunning.” 

 

                Omi’s quote “Asians are usually cast as the role of sidekick or kung fu master” depicts Richard.  His inventions are a way for him to be the sidekick, helping out the leaders when they run into trouble.  They also label him as role of a type of kung fu master.  Richards’s role in the film involves mostly his inventions and how the bog down the bad guys in the nick of time.  This mimics the kung fu master defeating the criminals.

                A second stereotype supported by the character “Data” comprises of the broken and heavily accented English.  “Data” English contains a heavy accent and the words are broken up.  His sentences do not flow the way the other character’s do.  Richard’s friends even have a difficult time understanding what he is trying to say.  Richard must repeat what he is attempting to express numerous times before one of the friends finally grasps it.  This is considered humorous especially in the scenes when “Data” tries to warn the gang that the villains are coming.  The stereotype of the poor English encourages laughter at those trying to learn the English language.

                “Asians are seen as asexual” cast the final stereotype represented through Richard.  Richard is the only boy in the film who does not express at least a little interest in the older girls.  The other guys flirt and show off trying to impress the ladies while Richard is too into his gadgets to pay the girls any attention.  The “white” boys repetitively attempt to romantically interest the girls even after constant denial.

                The stereotype of the Asian male becomes apparent in many cultural artifacts.  The portrayal created must be looked at carefully, as with all racial stereotypes.

Au Naturel

Au naturel, a cliché said quite frequently.  To be “natural” is something that people strive for in many aspects of their life.  Act natural, look natural, and eat natural food are just a few examples.  In “all natural” pop chips the motto is “Think popped! Never fried. Never baked.”  Pop Chips is broadcasting its naturally good flavor that is produced in a healthier way. 

 

Featured in the ad is pop start Katy Perry.  Katy Perry is known as a model who promotes being you.  She is a model especially to those who are afraid to be different.  Katy encourages her fans to be who they want to be, to not hold back, to be bold and have fun, all while staying true to yourself.  She is also known for her D size boobs, which according to her are all natural as well.

In the Pop Chips ad, Katy is holding two bags of the chips over each of her breasts.  Her usually protuberant cleavage is completely concealed in a conservative dress.  This is down playing her boobs and playing up the bag of chips which are “taking the place” of her boobs.  The chips are replacing Katy’s breasts because the marketers are displaying that there product is natural just like Katy.

Across the top of the advertisement is the slogan “Nothing fake about ‘em.”  This can be related to both the chips and Katy’s body.  Under the eye-catching slogan is a quote from Katy: “I’m not into phonies.  Good thing there’s nothing fake or phony in Pop Chips.  They only taste like they’re bad for you.”  Her quote insinuates that she feels like she is doing something naughty even though she is not.  This goes right along with Katy’s persona.  She has kissed a girl and she liked it, even though she is heterosexual.  Katy has tip-toed the boundary of what is appropriate for a girl to do.  Compared to current rappers, Katy Perry’s song lyrics are innocuous but she is a hot topic in the media while the lyrics in rap songs not given a second glance.  Aside from her lyrics, Katy’s outlandish costumes are always something of discussion.  On various occasions she has donned blue hair and crystal eyelashes.  Her music video performances showcase her female assets quite often, for example shooting both whipped cream and fireworks out of her breasts. Katy’s spunky personality and boldness (which is only rivaled by the color of her lipstick) is what makes Katy, Katy.

   According to Holly Devour in Gender Blending woman are expected to look aesthetically pleasing, Katy is usually smiling and not portrayed as serious or stern.  Katy shows “greater exposure if the bare skin, and an emphasis on sexual characteristics.” She plays up her femininity by flaunting cleavage and wearing extreme pinup shorts.  However Katy does not hold back on masculine traits.  She is bold and outspoken.  Katy contradicts the feminine dress with her masculine confidence and speech patterns. Katy Perry is the perfect example of blurring gender lines.   Katy tells her fans to stand up for themselves, that they are fireworks and to show the world what they are worth.  This is not the submissiveness and passivity that women are expected to portray.  Katy Perry is a model with desirable confidence.  That confidence gives her the ability to be herself, to act natural.  Like the Pop Chips, Katy is a natural at being her natural self. 

Diamonds are Forever

Advertisements are produced to not only market a specific product but to also see the “lifestyles” that are associated with the merchandise.  A prime example of selling the lifestyle is the advertisements for Kay Jewelers.

Kay Jewelers sells diamond jewelry, but it is not only the diamond that is desired.  The greater overarching desire presented is the perfect romance that comes with the purchase of a Kay diamond.  The desire of an epic romance fits Jack Solomon’s description of “living the fantasy”.  The commercial starts out with a seemingly happy good looking couple, but there is the underlying sense that something is amiss.  And what is missing? Not real feelings, values and commitment but a Kay diamond.  The cheesy husband pulls out the box of jewelry to his utterly surprised wife who cannot believe “he went to Kay’s.”  The body language is key in this commercial.  Their bodies are angled toward each other and the couple is so enveloped within their romance that they don’t look anywhere else but each other’s eyes.  That is the ultimate fantasy to be desired here, to be so enthralled by love that nothing else in the world is relevant.  The so in love couple does not even “notice” the camera. 

Kay’s slogan is “every kiss begins with Kay”.  The messaged broadcasted with the advertisement and slogan seems to be when you are that wrapped up in your romance there are no real problems and if something goes wrong it can always be smoothed over by a nice diamond.  If you give your significant other a piece of Kay jewelry your life will fall into place and you will forever be happily in love, no real worked involved just the purchase of a diamond.  In real life a substantial relationship is certainly not founded on jewelry.  A real relationship requires a lot of work.  Real life problems are seldom resolved with a diamond.  But according to Kay’s, buying their engagement ring will seal the deal to the perfect marriage.  The Kay diamond is not just for the young couple ready to move forward with their relationship but it is also for the already established family, or it can be used to reignite the spark in any relationship.  Receiving a Kay diamond will strengthen any bond. 

Unlike the majority of advertisements Kay does not delve too deeply into sexual desires, it stays away from smutty themes and sticks to the perfectly polished couple that will grow into the white picket fence American family.  The intimately embracing couple keeps their clothes on and keeps their passionate kiss PG rated.  It can be inferred that the couple will have a fantastic night but nothing in the commercial directly says that.  The clean feel good vibe goes along with the idea of the polished upper middle class American.  This product is classy but for a variety of couples.  The diamond is the most extravagant item featured in the commercial, everything else is in the upper middle class range, which makes the product look more available to the average person.    

Going along with the clean Kay vibe is the idea of the conservative American family that is featured in some of the commercials.  In the mother day commercial the perfect kids help dad get mom the perfect diamond.  This theme goes along with what Jack Solomon calls populism.  All Americans want the golden family.  To look as if you have the white picket family is to “belong” in what all Americans are expected to have.

Kay Jewelry is promoting their diamonds with the fantasies that many people desire.  Who doesn’t want a successful relationship with the person that you love?  But receiving a Kay diamond does not mean you receive the perfect relationship.  Relationships are things that require work and are not always happiness and sunshine.  So beware consumers, purchasing the product does mean that you automatically receive the lifestyle marketed with it.