Coming Of Age Road Movie

American Honey 

Often, when I see a new film getting released I make myself a promise to see it; however I sometimes never keep that promise. Most often, it is the film’s narrative that attracts me the most, I simply watch the trailer and I instantly feel the urge to watch the film. This time it was different. I recall seeing the poster for American Honey on the last page of the Empire magazine. The poster itself reflected something that I admire, the free America that simply makes me ‘feel’. My love for America began a long time ago; the American Dream is what we ought to live up to. My love for all things Americana, stems from my love and admiration for the late James Dean and David Lynch. For me personally, Lynch manages to capture Americana in a haunting, but yet, beautiful nightmarish world. Perhaps, the representation of America is a representation of my true self. The American blue sky, the flag, and of course, ‘American Honey’ waving her hands in the air while driving in a stolen convertible, simply sells the film to me. I did not have to watch the trailer, to know that the film is a must watch, but the trailer certainly convinced me even more, and I simply needed to see the movie as soon as possible. Many American films, attract their audience through a utopian representation of itself, however even America itself, mocks the idealisation of their culture, take American Beauty as an example, the white fences, luscious red roses and the cereal box family... well it does not turn out to be so pretty in the end. The trailer was an indicator, which showed me that this film focuses heavily on authenticity, there is no idealisation involved, it is simply a raw tale of a group of young people. Arguably, many would say, that after all, the film is not so raw and authentic as we see famous faces such as Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keough, but apart from those two, the whole cast is as authentic and somewhat unprofessional as can be. The trailer of the film gave me a taste of what I will be able to experience and feel watching this beautifully made film. The music lulled me into the story, it may not be something we all like and listen to, but is in fact something we all know, and something that fits the narrative perfectly. Since I have watched the film, I have had Raury’s ‘God’s Whisper’ playing on repeat, the song makes me feel a form of longing, sadness, but yet hope, overall this is exactly how the film made me feel as a whole.

For me personally, American Honey is a bitter-sweet tale, a road movie and a coming of age film. The main themes in the film, reflect real life problems such as poverty, domestic abuse and neglect, drug abuse, the reality of responsibility and becoming an adult, and of course, love. Is America Honey a love story, yes to a certain extent, perhaps the narrative explores love more realistically than any rom-com was ever able to. The film offers the audience an insight into the lives of young people, people like you and me, who are lost, who get by day by day, people who have dreams and an urge to achieve the ‘American Dream’ after all. Not only does the film carry an important message about society, it is in fact a well crafted piece of cinema. I was not surprised to see that, majority of the film was filmed using hand held camera, which adds to the authentic feel of the film. The use of cinematography is certainly creative and captures the rawness of the actors performances. Despite the visualisation of the characters, the lack of makeup and heavy focus on the authentic representation of road life (little value placed on personal hygiene) the colour palette is rather fresh, often films colours are enhanced post filming as this alters the mood of the overall film, however, this is not the case in American Honey, as the visual aspects such as the colour palette of the film, seems to be left untouched for the films benefit.

The film certainly suited my tastes, however prior to watching the film, I was somewhat put off by the film’s duration, I must admit that because of my analytical nature, it is rather difficult for me to stay focussed and interested for more than two hours. However, by no means what so ever,  did I find myself being bored watching American Honey. The narrative of the film is unconventional to some extent. A linear narrative, most often follows the structure of the beginning, inciting incident, and the climax of the film most likely leads to a happy ending. However, American Honey does not consist a major inciting incident that drives the plot, the story simply unfolds day by day (just like the lives of the characters); each day brings something new to the lives of the character and to the overall narrative. 

To no one’s surprise, I was captured by the film due to Shia LaBeouf. I admire him as a performer. Shia beholds a great talent, he is a confident and versatile actor. Apart from The Transformers franchise (lets ALL forget that those films were ever made) I have not been disappointed by a performance by Shia LaBeouf. Shia is an outstanding actor, but I cannot forget to mention how handsome he is, there is nothing ordinary about Shia; he is different and unique. For me, he was the perfect choice for this role, he himself is cocky just like his character, and just like Jake, he seduces our main protagonist Star, as well as the audience. Shia beholds a bad boy persona, and that definitely comes in handy when creating and developing such character like Jake. Also, Sasha Lane was a perfect choice for the film and she perfectly fits the role of Star. Star is rather enigmatic, she is distant and troubled, and Star is simply someone that many of us can relate to, she has suffered in life, but yet finds comfort and peace in the little joys in life. Only a personal that has came to know sadness, can really feel the happiness of the moment, and this is exactly what Star represents, when she sings, when she smiles she is like a ray of sunshine that penetrates through our skin. 

American Honey explores important issues of adolescent culture, and the film manages to capture the reality of adolescent sexuality and exploration. Not only do the characters experiment with recreational drugs, they also experiment with their bodies. From the beginning of the film, it is clear to see that there is sexual tension, desire and lust between Jake and Star; it is just a matter of time before they take their romance further. It is possible to argue, that the living conditions and poor social status of Star (and the majority of the characters) has almost forced her to grow up too soon; there is a sense of stolen youth.  However, on the other hand, Star and Jake both still carry childish immaturity within them. Their relationship is heated, impulsive, powerful, but yet, somewhat carries danger. Perhaps, this is how young relationships should be represented; films often offer their audience a fairytale outlook on love, however, young love is far from fairytales, it is irresponsible, irrational but full of lust and passion. The ending of the film is rather ambiguous, there are many questions left unanswered. However, real life does not have a Hollywood happy ending, therefore, by concluding the film in such an ambiguous way, the director stayed faithful to the authentic portrayal of life. It feels as if the director was just ending a chapter of Star’s life, the chapter that we as an audience, had the privilege of witnessing, therefore there should not be an obvious ending, the film ends, but Star’s story lives on, as she embarks on yet, another journey. For me the ending emanated beauty and radiated hope, perhaps Star has finally found a place where she belongs.

American Honey takes its audience on a journey of discovery. The characters (and most arguably, all youths) are impulsive and unpredictable, therefore, the film manages to capture the audience’s attention all the way through the film. Unconsciously, we as an audience, become friends with the gang, we are in the van with them when they go on road trips, when they try to make money, and most importantly, when they have fun; and in result we find ourselves singing along to the songs playing in the background, we feel an urge to dance with them near the camp fire. Although, films which focus on reality are important in the sense that they have a major ability to tackle rather important issues, even ‘true to life’ films can provoke a sense of escapism within its audiences. American Honey certainly does not aim to sugar-coat American youth culture, but yet, we find ourselves being absorbed by the narrative; and in result we picture ourselves driving in the van along with the characters, who by now, have become ‘our’ friends. Running away, feeling free and having the ‘anything is possible’ outlook on life, is a fantasy of mine and certainly of many others. This is exactly why I love the art of filmmaking, as film is the medium which allows us to escape, run away and experience new things without leaving the comfort of our homes. As a society we have been programmed to live vicariously. American Honey should be considered as an important film, not only form a sociological perspective, but due to the artistic abilities visualised throughout the film. All films have a message, but some are harder to read, as the films use metaphors and symbolism , American Honey is pure, it simply reflects life like a mirror. I highly recommend the film. American Honey is innovative, fresh and heartfelt. Is it a film we watch on a Friday night, I would not imagine so. However, American Honey is a film we watch and which swallows us whole into a new world, where we have a chance to have a feeling of belonging, acceptance and freedom. Whether you will like the film or not, the film will linger, long after the ending credits roll, you will find yourself still thinking about it.

Anna Gaszkowska

The Greatness Of The Master Of Suspense

 My Journey With Hitchcock

I came to know Hitchcock, or as many call him ‘the master of suspense’ as an adolescent. My father, who is a massive fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and who has such respect for the art of film, has always guided me when it came to exploring the world of cinema. From a young age, I was taught to place great value on the ‘classics’. Of course, as you may imagine, even though I was always quirky and curious, by no means was I really interested in Hitchcock, yes I may have had a particular liking for films that may have been a little dated, especially for a person of such a young age, but Hitchcock never seemed to interest me enough then. When I heard ‘Hitchcock’ being mentioned, I automatically pictured my father, or even my grandfather watching an overdramatic, almost soap opera performance presented in the films, but I was wrong, oh how wrong was I. Even form an early age, I always felt like I was different, I felt the desire to never conform, to rebel against the mainstream, and this resulted in me branding Hitchcock as ‘old fashioned’, too ‘classy’ for my liking. For me personally, liking Hitchcock was too mainstream. I simply thought that people claimed to like him simply because it was perceived as ‘cool’. Often films, as well as music gain popularity, or even achieve a cult status, simply because it’s ‘cool’ to like them. However, I misjudged the concept of Hitchcock’s films; I was too quick to judge. Many things are labelled as ‘great’ only because people want to fit into a subculture, and admiring such thing allows people to do just that, on the other hand it is important to acknowledge that works of art, as those of Hitchcock, are labelled as great, simply because they are in fact pure greatness. Not only did Hitchcock’s work take me on an explorative journey of the art of filmmaking, it allowed me to explore myself and who I have become over the years.

As my interest and urge to explore and analyse the enigmatic world of cinema grew, the spectrum of the films I chose to watch also flourished. The Birds, was the first Hitchcock film that I had the pleasure of watching. Of course, it was all thanks to my father. For him The Birds was a horror, but for me ... Well I did not expect a films of such a decade to scare me, I mean ‘we’ have CGI, professional make up and all the ingredients to make a ‘scary film’. Through exploring the world of Hitchcock, I have learnt many, many things, however, the first thing that I learnt was that no CGI, or extreme make up beholds the power, or has the ability to impact the audience like psychology. Yes, Hitchcock was not only a master of suspense, he was the master of the cognitive processes of his audience, he knew that to really impact his audience he must create a film that not only stimulates them visually, but penetrates them internally, tucking and dwelling all their biggest fears, desires and even hidden fetishes.

My father may have guided me and put me on the ‘right’ path, but it was my school Film teacher who injected me with true admiration for Hitchcock. It is thanks to the amazing man that my school teacher is, that I am who I am today. He inspired me, taught me to always ask questions, always dig deeper and deeper, to dissect the film and to analyse. Therefore, due to the respect I had, and have for my teacher, I trusted him and began my own journey with Hitchcock. The Birds shocked me, I was wrong, I misjudged the ‘old fashioned’ films, it was at this point in my journey with film, that I realised to never judge a film prior to watching it. You will not be surprised to hear, that Psycho was the second film that I chose to see. Psycho is a true masterpiece, not only due to its cult status, but the film uses all the tools of the medium to create an atmosphere of tension, suspense, distraught, awe and dread. Psycho is by far the most ‘ahead of its time film’ that I have had the pleasure of seeing so far. I simply could not believe that it was made in the 60s. When it comes to analysing films, the focus lies on my factors. Cinematography, mise en scene, editing, sound and of course the colour palette all play a major role in creating an outstanding visual piece of art. However, to my knowledge, Hitchcock, is the only director who has mastered combining all those factors together to create equilibrium, he has simply mastered the recipe of film form. Hitchcock, claimed that when making a film, the main focus should not only be directed at the visual aspect of the film, he believed that sound beholds a special power, and when the visuals are combined with the sound only then can a film have an effect on the audience. Hitchcock lulls his audience into a world of unknown, where the visuals are accompanied by a lullaby of terror. Through mastering the art of filmmaking, Hitchcock has inspired many directors; in many ways; Hitchcock was a pioneer and a role model. For me, the director who has most profoundly crafted the art of combining visuals with sound is Lynch. There is no doubt, Lynch will always be my favourite filmmaker, my role model and often, my biggest inspiration. In many aspects, Lynch has chosen to follow Hitchcock’s footsteps in filmmaking, digging deep into our sub-consciousness; a film is only ever a masterpiece when the visuals leave,but the music still plays and stays deep within us, and this is exactly what Hitchcock and Lynch have managed to create through their works.

Vertigo, of course, is one of Hitchcock’s most famous films. Vertigo has been regarded as the best film of the century with Citizen Kane falling at second place. For me, Vertigo is Hitchcock’s most self exploratory film that he has made. Vertigo is not only a psychological analysis of society, the era and cognition of humans; it is in fact a reflection of its master. The film has divided opinions, during its initial release, the film was misunderstood, and only a few decades later the film was renewed and gained the respect that it deserves. There is simply so much I could write about each one of the films, Hitchcock was not only a demanding director among his colleagues, he is demanding of his audience too. Hitchcock was a gift to the film world, not only to the filmmakers, but to people like me, the misunderstood, always wanting to know more critics and analysts. A Hitchcock film is not only to be watched, but to be understood.

The most recent Hitchcock film that I had the pleasure of watching was Rear Window. On many occasions, Rear Window was recommended to me by friends, my teacher, and of course my father. I got hold of the film a while ago, but I simply never felt in the mood to watch it. Well the time finally came, and I decided to watch the film without giving it much thought. Without even mentioning Hitchcock’s name, he is present through his stars (Jimmy Stewart, Grace Kelly). The first thought that I had, during the beginning credits, was how comforting it was to see Stewart, in yet another Hitchcock film. If you have seen a number of Hitchcock’s films, you will know that as a director, he was loyal to his stars; therefore seeing Stewart, once again, in a leading role is somewhat reassuring and almost safe, as the audience can form expectations. There is no doubt that Hitchcock was a connoisseur of beauty. Stewart is always ever so dashing and handsome, certainly visually pleasing to the audience, and of course, Hitchcock’s famous ‘icy blondes’ that steal all the focus and gaze. What is interesting and important to point out, is the fact that Hitchcock has managed to create numerous outstanding pieces of work, using less than two locations in many of his films, and Rear Window is an example of just that. As expected, the film starts of slow, the audience enter the world and familiarise themselves with its environment. Instantly, the audience are placed in the position of the voyeurs. Hitchcock is known for his voyeuristic tendencies, however by far, Rear Window is the film that is most predominately driven by voyeurism. At first, the audience may feel uncomfortable being placed in such position, I certainly did. It almost feels forbidden and wrong to be observing people in such position, but yet, there is something appealing and tempting in doing so. Hitchcock was a master of the mind, as he knew quite well that humans and their emotions are often contradictory, often we feel drawn to something, but at the same time we feel a sense of repulsion in the form of cognitive dissonance. Hitchcock was certainly not afraid of exploring the real human nature, our hidden desires and urges, because let’s face it, a few will admit it, but we as a species find pleasure in being the onlooker, we are aroused by the forbidden, and Hitchcock cleverly manipulates his audience using those hidden drives.The narrative of the film develops slowly, however there are many indicators of what to expect. Stewart is stranded at home in his wheelchair with a broken leg, out of boredom he enters the private world of his many neighbours, who as the film develops, all have a story to tell. Once again, the audience are offered to see the world through the male protagonist’s perspective. Not only is Stewart stuck at home, as an audience we are stuck there with him and that is in some way annoying, there is a whole world out there ready to be explored, but we are only able to see it through a window. Like any Hitchcock film, there is tension, there is frustration and an urge to ’help’ and this exactly was Hitchcock wants from his audience; only through those feelings the audience truly enter the world of the unknown. 

Hitchcock’s films are visually stimulating and pleasing, however, only through the subtexts of the narrative are the audience ever able to truly absorb and understand them fully. All Hitchcock films can be (and most certainly should be) psychoanalysed, his films are a feast to the hungry minds. Rear Window, provoked me to analyse the symbolism and the reflection of life convey through the film. At first glance, the film is a powerful mystery, of course there is murder involved, although all the way throughout the film there are doubts creeping upon the protagonists, as well as the audience. So what was Hitchcock trying to represent? At first glance there is nothing unnerving about the environment, a typical neighbourhood that combines the beautiful ‘girl next door’, the lonely woman, the quirky couple, everything that we, as an audience, could expect from such a place. However, only when we take a closer look, we begin to see those people for who they really are...  This raises the question, whether people are innately good, or in fact rotten to their core. Hitchcock was not a simple man, he was a provocateur, although his films follow a linear narrative, they are by no means simple, as to truly understand his work, one must take apart the layers of his films.

I have yet to be disappointed by a Hitchcock film, yes I certainly liked some more than others, however Hitchcock greatness is consistent in his filmmaking. Throughout the years, many controversies arouse regarding Hitchcock, he certainly was an eccentric man. However, despite the rumours and controversies, he was one of a kind, and his masterpieces deserve admiration and praises. I will certainly be seeing more of his films, but even without seeing them all, I can see why we should all admire him. Hitchcock may have had a particular liking for murder and mysteries, however I am sure that you will all find something that you will like among his films, as no Hitchcock film, is ever the same.

Anna Gaszkowska

Fifty Shades Of Misogyny, Chauvinism, And Exploitation

With the upcoming release of the prequel, Fifty Shades Darker, I have decided to re- watch Fifty Shades of Grey. I must admit, before I begin my article, the release of Fifty Shades of Grey was something I was simply living for during that time. I was a teenager (not that long ago, however with age comes knowledge, a lot of it, as you’re about to find out) when I read the first book. It felt like the world (especially the online world) exploded when the book was published. Was I excited to read the book? I was ecstatic. I must say, that when I was younger, I did not enjoy reading much (a lot has changed since then) and to show you how thrilled I was to enter the world of the ‘fucked up romance’, I will admit that the book took me under two days to read, yes, I read it nonstop. I was amazed, pumped and intrigued. The obvious happened, I purchased the two remaining books and I was swallowed whole by them. I remember sitting in that cinema room, on edge, while the opening credits rolled. Finally, something I visualised, or even fantasised about was coming to life. Did I like the film, well the answer is quite obvious; although I must admit I immediately thought Dornan’s acting was weak, blunt and ... Yes, of course Jamie Dornan is ever so handsome (fits my type p-e-r-f-e-c-t-l-y), but after all, even then, I saw films for more than a visual stimuli (I couldn’t help but let the inner film critic within me shine). Dornan has proven the audiences that he is a talented actor, with the help of The Fall, a highly critically acclaimed BBC Drama. I was frustrated at the critics, I myself saw flaws within the film, yes, but I was simply being biased and I was lacking objectivity. I fell so deep into the ‘trap’ I visited the cinema twice; which I must tell you that during the second screening, there were eight people in the room including me, and my then boyfriend and two people left. However, even now, would I say the film was bad enough to simply walk out of; well that is not a straight forward answer. Will Dornan regret staring in 50 Shades of Grey? Is Doran cursed by the Pattinson/Twilight curse? There is no doubt that Pattinson's performance, and the overall character development within the Twilight franchise was out of line. Pattinson, desperately tries to prove the audience (and himself) that he is more than a blood sucking bore, in fact I find Pattinson to be a genuinely talented actor with an artistic soul. Pattison’s talent shone through in Remember Me, and award winning Rover.

As a young woman, I felt empowered by the film, I saw it as a salute to equality and empowerment of women; because the film, and the novel portrays women as having a sexuality, the right to orgasm for God sake! Well, I was COMPLETELY wrong as it turns out. The contrast between my initial emotional response to the film, and my response to the film now, is monumental. This time around I found myself almost screaming at the screen, this time I was not in awe from the ever so charming, mysterious Mr Grey; I was simply in awe due to the societal structure that we all live in today. 

I had almost always avoided branding myself, or categorising my beliefs, perhaps it’s time to admit, deep down I was simply scared to openly say, I am in fact, a feminist. The misconception of feminism within our society is simply daunting. If a woman admits that ‘she believes in equality’ which is what feminism is, although yes there are many categories of feminism that are perhaps more extreme and radical in their beliefs, then she is stigmatized and label as ‘crazy’. It is time to acknowledge that feminism is not a pity parade, equality is a human right, more importantly it’s about respect (which the films heavily lacks, however I will soon explain this point), it is rather absurd having people thinking that all feminists are Valerie Solanas. I have indeed read her Manifesto titled SCUM, I enjoyed the book. It is absurd at times, humorous, but very eye-opening. Anyway, to have people brand all feminist as ‘men hating’ lesbian extremists is like saying all religious people are potential terrorist, which is pathetic and simply wrong.

So, I put the film on, ready to see Mr Grey flex his muscles, take control, help Ana become a ‘real’ woman and so on. I laugh to myself, as I now remember how the film is at no level, a parallel reflection of real life (well

 perhaps not many films are). From the first scene Ana is portrayed as a lamb. She carries her innocence gracefully. The contrast between herself, and her fellow roommate, Kate (who I must point out represent the new era of women, to an extent) is prominent. Just by looking at Kate’s character, the audience are able to tell she would, at no point, put up with ‘Mr Grey’s shit’. Although, when I first entered the world of Fifty Shades of Grey, I wanted to emphasise with Ana (she’s so pure, quirky an after all we have similar names). Although not so prominent in the film, the novel portrays Kate as a distinctive character, who speaks too much, gets wound up in people's business and is despised by Grey; this is due to the fact that Kate represents the group of women, who are not easily controlled and manipulated, as those women are the biggest threat to men like Grey and their heavy use of power. However, Kate is the only character, which to an extent, portrays the rise of the ‘new woman’. Kate is well taken care of, she does not care, or acknowledge much judgement, and she enjoys life living by her own rules. In contrast to Ana, She is not a virgin; her overall person emanates her wild side and carefree mindset. And Yes, Kate is not a damsel in distress, but despite sleeping with a guy she just met at a party (which is Grey’s adopted brother) she manages to form a well functioning, abuse free relationship with him, I mean come on guys, who would have thought that someone as ‘bad’ and ‘sexually deviant’ as Kate, would ever be considered as a potential girlfriend, then wife and mother as it turned out. It is no news that within society and film, women such as Kate are demonised (Kate is the ultimate Femme Fatale). Even Ana’s fall into Grey’s office is symbolic, she is a damsel in distress, she is a victim, vulnerable and in need of saving. It is indeed ironic, as Ana can be considered to be almost childlike; she is what psychologists call a blank slate/ tabula rasa. Ana is a perfect material for a potential submissive and victim, and without any experience and much knowledge when it come to relationships, Grey can easily program her and lead her into falsely believing that Grey will offer her the ultimate happiness.

Grey proudly welcomes Ana into his world of pleasure and pain, leaving Ana bemused and asking for the purpose of the whole act. Ana is asked to surrender her power and control, offer her body and soul. What does she get in return, well the answer is rather simple, she is ‘ honoured’ to get Mr Grey, Grey shows his devotion to Ana by informing her, he will only be hers during their agreement, like this is some sort of luxury or a privilege. Our society is shaped in such a way that monogamy is perceived as a luxury, something rather exclusive, and something to be deeply grateful for.

I want to establish that I am by no means trying to have a ‘hateful rampage’, but it is in my nature to analyse (as you all know) and compare and contrast film-life on a sociological spectrum. Yes, the audience are well aware, that the main theme in the franchise and the adaption is BDSM, therefore there must be control involved, however, in this article I want to establish the misconception and misrepresentation of relationships, sex and romance. So, Mr Grey... At first glance this guy is a control freak (there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, I like men who take control, who know where they stand, who are aware of their status and role). Many of you, at this point, may think that I am taking this film too literally and too seriously, but isn’t this the whole point of film? Films, and especially directors, are very powerful, due to the medium of filmmaking being such an influential tool. Psychologists, argue that people are shaped and programmed unconsciously and learn vicariously, meaning that we learn and experience life through others.Therefore, the portrayal of society within films can influence how, we, individually, and society is in fact shaped. Yes, of course we go to the cinema to relax, socialize and films have the ability to take our mind away from the monotony of our daily lives, we enter a whole new world of unknown, however the audiences are not fully aware how the messages transmitted and ‘ injected’ into them can influence their behaviour and alert their mindsets. Therefore, shouldn’t the directors think more carefully about what they are portraying to a potential young audience of women, who are lost within today’s social norms? The misrepresentation of gender, sexuality, and simply sex within such films does not only affect women, it also affects men. The audiences are presented with two distinctive categories ‘a damsel in distress’ and the ‘knight in shining armour’, therefore if you do not fall under those two categories then what ... Well, according to the film, if you are not a pure virgin then ‘you are not the one he’s been waiting for’ . No girls, Mr Grey would not say ‘Where have you been all my life’ to you, if you are not untouched and pure, and of course, you would not be able to tell him, that you have been ‘waiting for him’ all your life... Men are taught to prove and establish their masculinity through control, abuse and toughness. Well yes, us girls like the bad boy type, there is no denying that, but when I admit to being attracted to the bad boy persona, what I have in mind is the immortal James Dean, whom oozes coolness, mystique and sexiness, not a man who uses mind games and misogyny to lure me into his trap, so thanks Mr Grey, but it’s a no from me.

Fifty Shades of Grey, is categorized as a slightly unconventional romance, with sexual submissions, however I can tell you that liking, or experiencing the hierarchy of control and power when it comes to sex, strays far from passive aggressive, controlling, psychologically abusive relations. The problem that I personally have with this film, and many of this kind, is the dynamic portrayed between men and women. In media studies of society, sociologists propose many theories regarding how the media’s portrayal of life effects the viewers, one of the most well known theories is the hyperdermic syringe model, which propose, that the viewers of the media are simply injected with messages that flow straight through their bodies (minds in particular) alerting and changing their perception of the ‘real’ world’. Therefore, if we accept this proposed model of media reception then there is clearly a major problem regarding such issues. Like many, I have been a victim of the societal norms, values and gender roles. I was made to believe that it is okay for him to have ‘full’ control over your whole life, he can tell you how much you should weigh, whether or not you should wear makeup, how to act, what to do and not do, the list is endless. Of course, this works both ways as I am not outing men to be the predators, as many men experience many types of abuse within relationships. Why should we let the patriarchal society control us, why should we let the author of the franchise,  and the director of the film make us believe that it is OKAY for someone to cry and be emotionally and physical hurt, when they are in a relationship of any form. Grey brings Ana down to tears when he physically uses his power as a dominant, and where many would say it’s simply BDSM, I will tell you that it is not. Grey himself, tells Anna early on in the film, BDSM is not pain but pleasure, so WHY are his actions portraying something opposite to his claim; the abuse is interpret as a distinctive sex act when it shouldn’t be classed as such. There should not be any stigma surrounding any sort of sexual acts, because sex and the preferences is diverse, however, the film, is by no means what so ever, normalising and decreasing the stigma surrounding BDSM; it is in fact scaring people away from it, it is simply showing it as a soul destroying experience, when in fact it is not I would believe. The film romanticises abuse. I am not talking about the physical acts of BDSM; I am talking about domestic abuse. Instead of excusing Grey’s behaviour, the audiences should acknowledge, that he is in fact, an abuser. 

I am not blaming Fifty Shades of Grey or even Twilight (which it was originally based on) for the mindset I had when I was beginning my adult life, but I cannot ignore the fact that those sweet teenage films, such as Twilight, followed by the ‘raunchy’ Fifty Shades of Grey, shaped me in a way that was self destroying. The franchise has a ‘happy ending’; everything turns out just fine... Mr Grey, with the help of the ever so lovely and caring Ana, faces his demons and becomes a better man ...hooray... Yes, that is rather nice, hopeful I should say, however, all the suffering of Ana is simply ignored. She sacrifices her life to save him. Love is sacrifice, I am a strong believer of that, BUT love is most importantly about mutual respect. Despite Ana being an educated, well spoken woman, her self-worth and value is placed in the hands of Grey. The film unconsciously injects the audience with the false ideologies, women are taught to place a major value on finding love, as the biggest life goal and ambition, is to get the man. Ana is passive, but the author of the book manipulates the reader by portraying her as ‘hard to persuade’, not accepting Grey’s agreement and adding her touch to it. Although Ana expresses her feelings and views, she gets abused and comes back to her abuser (no, crying is not part of any sexual play). It is Grey that holds the power, and guides Ana on a lead like a dog.  It is time society realises, that young people, are injected with false misrepresentations, that shape their futures. The film, leads young people into believing, that people who are psychologically and emotionally damaged like Grey, have a reason and an excuse to abuse others and take their anger out on their partners. BDSM cannot be used to disguise the aggressive nature of the abusers. BDSM and any sexual act, is about mutual respect and mutual pleasure, not fear that devours Ana. 

At first I thought I was simply angry, however I now realise, I am sad and frustrated to see the beauty and art of filmmaking, being used to brainwash people. Banksy, who is regarded as a revolutionists by many argues that, ‘’Film is incredibly democratic and accessible, it’s probably the best option if you actually want to change the world, not just re-decorate it’’. Banksy supports my argument, that film, is the most powerful medium that society has to offer, so we ought to use it bring about change and improvement.

 Many disliked the film and books for the explicit, heavy sexual content and nudity. However, I personally believe that the art of filmmaking has the rights, or is even obliged to include such things in films. I have always been intrigued by the unknown and forbidden; I have always searched for films which approach life with a taboo free mindset, nudity, sex and even violence is normal. The blurring of the lines is what seems to be the main problem regarding such films, as the films portray a misconception, which leads the audiences into believing that what they have witnessed is okay. If a film, follows a narrative packed with exploitation of any kind, it is the film’s responsibility to inform its audience that the exploitation, although portrayed, is not a norm. The audiences do not watch a war film, believing that the attackers were right and there was no wrong doing , therefore why do we allow such films as Fifty Shades of Grey, to establish new norms .What really saddens me the most, is the fact that we watch those films thinking that this is normal... It is time that society teaches young people, that yes, relationships are tough, people will get hurt, however no relationship should ever ask for too much and give so little. I often find myself wondering, how different my experiences would have been, if I was not exposed to things that shaped me in the way they did. I can openly admit, that despite my outspoken personality, I have been used, mistreated and I was pushed into believing that it is a Man’s World, therefore my self-worth lies within the control he has over me. I am a primary example of the injection of media and the effects of it. I was brought up and taught to love, value and respect myself and my beliefs, so how did all of this happen to me I ask myself. Well the answer is clear to me now. It all happens unconsciously. I could talk for hours about the Male Gaze theory, objectifying women, however that is no novelty. Perhaps even I simply accepted it.

The release of the franchise caused a stir, almost a revolution for women; as they believe. It was believed that finally, women’s needs were being catered;  as with the rise of ‘female friendly’ pornography, the book somewhat attempted to normalise sex. Well this is what women and society was lead to believe. When something is branded and aimed ‘exclusively’ to women it can often result and lead to a misconception of women’s needs. Women are no longer perceived as individuals, with various tastes and needs; they are grouped into vanilla soft-core. But hey, we should be happy right, after all, society finally acknowledges that women watch pornography too... Women are forced into passivity, acceptance and being always grateful. There are endless categories within pornography, and the innocent creatures, that women are (or what society makes them to be) only fit into one traditional, the ever so loving and romantic love making. This results in women abstaining from their individual desires. This argument proposes that, we, as women, should be thankful for Fifty Shades of Grey; finally women can be more adventurous. Yes, in fact the film offers something new, but shows the audience that with BDSM and more extreme sexual play, comes a great toll of abuse, black mail and overall control.

Many people, including the critics focus solely on the visual aspects of cinema. Cinematography, Mise en Scene is all essential in making a film into a piece of art or trash, but yet, few realise the immense and wide spreading effect of it. I feel obliged, as someone who has a deep interest in film, and society in general, to analyses the subtexts and messaged conveyed in films. The film is visually pleasing, the soundtrack is surprisingly good. I did not expect a visual, moving piece of art, just a well crafted and adapted film; I feel this is what the film offers, but only visually ignoring the narrative.

When I initially watched the film, I somehow finally felt understood. I felt that the stigma regarding women enjoying, wanting and needing sex was disappearing, as the film’s message, regarding this, somehow suggests that it is okay to be intrigued by sex and desired by men... as long as you are a virgin. Men are excused and demand to be understood, whereas women on the other hand, are obliged to follow strict gender roles. Mr Grey has had a prominent number of previous partners, where as Ana has had none. This sole fact is not to be judge, but the film informs the audience that it is okay for men to have had many sexual encounters, whereas it is preferred for women to be pure. This suggests that perhaps, if Ana had previous sexual encounters prior to Grey, she would have not been the material to love. Does Grey fall in love with Anna simply because she is a virgin, and that is so rare to find apparently, because those devilish women are expressing and embracing their sexuality and their sexual needs...

To conclude my article, I am proudly able to say I am a woman, who finally knows what she wants, needs, and deserves in life. As someone who loves the beauty of film as much as I do and has so much passion for the art of filmmaking, I feel offended seeing this medium being misused for the wrong reasons. Instead, the art of filmmaking should be embraced and praised for the beauty and change it is capable of bringing to the world. Fifty Shades of Grey is not an exception, just an example of the art of film being purely used as a money making tool. Film is not just a business; it is one of the purest art forms to exist. Despite the ideologies the film is trying to transmit, remember that an orgasm is not a privilege, but a right to have.

Anna Gaszkowska

Weirdness, Laughter, Joy & Sorrow The Best Recipe For A Great Friendship

Swiss Army Man

Recently, I had the privilege of watching this magnificently, peculiar film. After reading countless articles and seeing all the hype surrounding this film, I decided to give it a try. I must say, I was rather excited to watch the ‘Best Film of the Year ‘. Although, I must admit, I am not a fan of The Harry Potter sequels, I am definitely a fan of Daniel Radcliff. Often, young actors who have gained popularity through films such as Harry Potter, or even Twilight (and other ‘teen’ movies) are eager to show the audience their individuality, ability to act and ‘nonconformist’ personas, however often this seems fabricated. This is certainly not the case with the talented guy that Radcliff is! Nevertheless, it is rather refreshing to see familiar faces, attracting the audiences to ‘art house’ form of cinema. 

 

I honestly think that actors such as Radcliff or even the eccentrics such as Shia LaBeouf are the new ‘hopes’ for cinema. They are young, rebellious with the ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude and this reflects in their work. Is this the Jimmy Dean rebellion, well it’s been over half a century since Jimmy’s ‘time’, but he was the ‘Rebel without a Cause’ and he was the hope at that era, I mean surely we would not see the iconic rebel, that Dean was, farting to swim oceans like a dolphin, that would have been absurd during the 50s (boy imagine that HA!), well its even absurd now right? Well perhaps yes, but that is why we love the art of film. I believe if Jimmy was among ‘our’ young actors today, he would be the one starring alongside Radcliff, LaBeouf  and many, many other ‘curiosities’. Before I watch a film, I often read a little about it, I like to know the plot in order to form some expectations; spoilers do not ruin the fun for me, they make me more eager to watch the film. However, before finally deciding to watch Swiss Army Man, all I knew was: Daniel Radcliff plays a dead body and beholds some rather bizarre abilities. My knowledge about the film was limited. To cut the story short, the film is about a farting dead body... But is it?

There are many ways to interpret the film. It is magnificent, humorous, odd and at times tear jerking. I can see why the opinions regarding this movie are hugely divided. For those who have a particular interest in the indie film-making, odd surrealist stories then this film is the hit. I personally loved the film, although after watching 20 minutes of it my emotions were mixed (Do I really want to spend over an hour of my life watching a guy carrying a dead body through the woods?), but that quickly changed. It is not just a dead body... How ever you want to interpret the film, it teaches us about humanity and life. In my opinion, it’s a beautiful reflection of life; life as a metaphor. As a picture/visual, the film is simply an odd piece; however the subtext of the film holds a deeper meaning. We are taught about the beautiful thing that is called life i.e. the thing we take for granted, and the urge, the uncanny urge to die. To put things simply, the narrative can be described as a walk on a thin line between the joys of life, and the beauty and denial of death. 

For those, who interpret the film simply through the visuals, it’s a well crafted piece of cinema. The colour palette is fresh, cinematography is also elegant, the linear narrative flows, however in order to understand the film, it is important to consider the psychological and emotional part of it. The visuals serve the audience as an aid to understand the wider context of the film. Swiss Army Man is rather demanding as the audience must not only absorb the visuals, but they must also understand the metaphor. For me personally, the film provoked contradictory emotions within me, or may I say I felt the contradictory emotions within and between the characters. Hank, who is our main protagonist here, ran away from life, desperate in despair he ‘learns’ to love life again through teaching ‘life’ to the dead guy. Whereas Manny, who can be described as a having a mind of a child, grows full of enthusiasm learning about this thing called life. The movie beautifully and rather uniquely presents the audience with ‘a body’ experiencing thoughts... He is unable to explain what his body, or rather mind is doing. This scene made me smile to myself, as I myself, often find myself lost in philosophical questions that I ask myself, ‘’Woah how is it possible that we think’’ ‘’Isn’t it strange that we have a little voice inside our heads’’ yeah those sort of questions that keep me up late at night... Anyway, Manny’s childlike interest and energy for life (which he cannot feel or experience, but yet finds beauty in it) motivates and provokes Hank to fight back, fight for his life, happiness and his rights to be unique and most importantly loved. However, even Manny begins to see the ‘ugly’ in life. While learning from Hank and while absorbing his emotions, Manny sees the hurt in Hank, and even Manny feels that he no longer wants to ‘live’. Of course the film reaches the climax, somehow things ‘work out’, well the ending and what leads to it is rather ambiguous. So do not expect an overly ‘jolly’ standard (and cheesy) Hollywood ending. Things fall into place, because this is life. Unfortunately, the world is not filled with rainbows and unicorns, but even through our struggles, misery and discouragement, life is always worth living.

In my opinion, yes this is the ‘Best Film’ of 2016 that I have seen. It serves everything I would expect a movie to serve. There is humour, melancholy, nostalgia, longing, and happiness found in the misery and a strange, but yet beautiful friendship between two peculiar beings. Kwan & Scheiner, who are the directors of this outstanding film, did an excellent job at conveying serious issues through humours and odd mechanisms. For me, this film was rather personal for many reasons, I could say I have been Hank, but I have also been Manny. I avoid being biased, however maybe this film was made exactly for me and others like me out there... I have always claimed that if I could force someone to watch a film, I would most certainly always choose La Haine (Kassovitz, 1995) however, I must add Swiss Army Man to my list also. I can promise you, that you will not be disappointed with the film. 

Anna Gaszkowska