Sexual Studies in Radways Women, patriarchy, and popular literature - Assignment Example

Sexual Studies in Radway’s Women, patriarchy, and popular literature Question One The book challenges popular cultural myths and stereotypes regarding why romantic novels, often fiction, entice millions of women around the globe. From Radway’s express study, it is evident that a number of readers have expressed dissatisfaction with this genre. They include literary critics, mass culture theorists and feminists. The major complaint, especially among the feminists, is that romance novels propagate a culture of male dominance on women. These novels enforce cultural stereotypes of women accepting repressive ideologies that demean their independence and value. Additional criticism points to the way that romance novels place emphasis on courtship rituals and the power that men yield in heterosexual relationships. Feminist academics have crusaded against romantic novels because of the meek manner that they portray women. Female characters are always portrayed as damsels in distress and in need of rescuing from the male characters. According to Radway, feminists argue that such portrayals damage strides made in socially empowering women as strong and independent. Even when female characters are portrayed as heroines, they are usually not at par with their male counterparts. Heroes are usually more experienced, older and above heroines in the social pecking order. Therefore, even if there are heroines, they are still vulnerable and reliant on heroes. Female characters are also objectified through sexual innuendos and are physically inferior. Additionally, unlike male characters, sex is an integral part in identity formation for female characters (Radway, 1984). Question Two Radway provides a platform to show how romance novels and their characterization of female characters is dynamic. Many romance novels keenly analyze the thought process of the female characters. The structure of the novel relies on explaining the dynamic nature of relationships between men and women. A majority of romance novel plots emphasize on the presence of miscommunication between the hero and heroine. For example, the behavior of the hero, which may be construed as disdain and hostility for the heroine, is usually revealed to be masked feelings of attraction and love. The reinterpretation theme found in romance novels has forced women readers to re-evaluate their heterosexual relationships and reinterpret the actions of their male companions. Question Three A core focus of criticism of feministic film has been on the nature of the members of the female audience, and with regards to the pleasure that they derive from viewing alternative films and mainstream movies. Members of the female audience are positioned as being from an outside position and as experiencing pleasure, which is reliant on a woman being the object of another person’s source of desire. Essentially, false pleasure. Mainstream media offers a chance to analyze and identify the dynamics involved in how women are eroticized in film. The films are alluded to social mirrors since they reflect the way that society views women and their roles in society. In film, women are awarded roles that do not emphasize on the content of their speeches, but rather as sources for pleasure for men to view and ogle at. This encourages the voyeurism view, where female characters are restricted to being objects of erotic fantasy. Question Four Native film makers in Canada are developing their individual social alliances by basing their ideas on their own culture, oppression, stories of mistreatment and oppression in film. The dynamic nature of identity politics on a postmodern level, in many films by native Canadians, indicates that social injustice and oppression experienced due to identifying with native populations, can be combatted through film performance. Film makers are able to combat discrimination in their personal lives through social alliances like performing together. Essentially, supportive social networks are developed between the filmmakers to offer support to not only the filmmakers, but other members of the native population. By advocating for change, through their portrayal of social injustices against the native population in Canada, filmmakers are beginning to influence change in not only the social setting, but in politics through legislature. Films have been instrumental in highlighting the plight of native Canadians and enhancing the creation of local governments, such as the Aborigine governments, that have been established to efficiently govern the natives (Aborigines). Question Five In a film setting, and in terms of the cultural context of the roles played by men and women, a spectator is restricted to only receiving particular meanings that are in line with the prevalent ideology in a film. A spectator is restricted to identifying with narrative meanings, characters and aesthetic codes. Therefore, the spectator receives meaning in a passive mode. On the other hand, a social audience is not restricted to being passively involved in deciphering the meaning, since it’s responsible for producing meaning. A social audience is actively involved in disseminating and deciphering the meaning of ideology. According to feminists, members of the female audience represent spectators because they have been restricted to the role of conforming to the standards set by their male counterparts. If a woman is not the object of erotic fascination and fantasy, then her role is conformed to spectating without voicing her opinion. Men are described as the social audience because they create the rules and are actively involved in disseminating ideological meanings in film performance. Question Six Social stature, class and gender play an integral role in the formation of ideologies regarding a person in America. In America, people from lower social classes have a very difficult time in breaking barriers in political, academic and economic set ups. Class is crucial in determining the opportunities available to a person in America, with emphasis placed on individuals from high class societies. It is common practice for American mothers to sever ties with their children in order to avoid sabotaging their social influence. Race also goes hand in hand with social class. The white population in America is more privileged than the minority population -African Americans and Hispanic for instance. A person’s racial identity, whether perceived or actual, plays a significant role in social relations and kinship. In terms of gender, women are more inclined to maternal sacrifice for the sake of their children’s success. All these factors mix to form the current underlying ideologies regarding personhood in America. Reference List Radway, J. (1984). Reading the romance: Women, patriarchy, and popular literature. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. Read More