Representation and New Media

1. David Blakesely talks about identification as a desire to find a relationship between ourselves and icons, images, ideas etc. He says when "pushed to its extreme, we desire to become the other, to inhabit that psychological and physical space, to take ownership of some kind, to walk in someone else’s shoes for awhile” (Blakesley, p.117), meaning that when we watch films, we long to relate and be like characters in movies, even if only temporarily. This can lead to us feeling like the characters are real, and somehow connected with us. Are there some movies or television shows that you've seen where you've experienced this feeling for yourself? If so, what movies and what characters?

2. Since we do desire to relate and identify with characters in films, this obviously leads to generalizations and stereotypes that are generated out of constant messages that label men and women into certain roles. When tied into the concept of gaze by Mulvey, we understand that "in their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed...the woman is the image, and the man is the bearer of the look" (Blakesley, p. 121). How does this affect our understanding of the world around us, and is there a way to escape these gender stereotypes, especially those of women, when movies keep coming out that confirm them? What movies have you seen that either confirm, contradict, or redefine gaze?

3. Heung talks about internalized colonization, and it is defined as "the process by which stereotypes infiltrate and transform the consciousness of Asian women, with dire results for how the same women view and experience themselves" (Heung, p.84). An effect of colonialism, internalized colonization not only shapes how Asian women are understood by people of other races, it also affects how they perceive themselves. The article talks about how female Asian filmwriters struggle to deconstruct these stereotypes. What movies have you seen that took part in internalized colonization? Did you realize it at the time? What made it clear to you that a stereotype was being created, and did it shape your view of Asian women? If not, how did you avoid it?