need your help! how does keira knightley affect you?

[mediamiser]

Hi there

I'm an A level Media student who's studying the module "Women in Film" and keira Knightley is my main piece.

I was wondering if any of you could help me out with my coursework by posting answers to a few questions on how women are affected by the portrayal of women in films and also how keira is represented in her films and what effect you think she has on others.



Any reference to Keira in these questions in fine and even if you only want to pick out one or two questions from these to answer, even for that i would be very grateful.



1. Do you think women have been given more power in life in reflection to the way women are portrayed in films?

2. Do you think films have had an influence on gender stereotyping?

3. Do you think Keira being represented the way she is influences the way teenage girls see themselves and who/ how they aspire to be?

4. Do you think there is a generated perfect female stereotype (both in personality or physically) from films?

5. How do you think the role of women have changed over time (with reference to that of women in films)?

6. Is the issue of gender equality still relevant in films today?



help me people I’m relying on you!

Thank you so much

Amy

[Moor Larkin]

1 - Keira made he name playing centre-forward

2 - Keira was a successful female footballer, who turned professional

3 - Keira made girls feel they could be successful professional footballers

4 - Keira was tall, lithe, fit and sassy

5 - Keira now staggers about in silly dresses and even sillier shoes

6 - Keira portrays shallow silly women who live through their men



She has become a superstar......



Isn't showbiz grand!

[Steve Crook]

Amy,

Do you only want answers from women? The questions seem geared that way



Steve

[Steve Crook]

1 - Keira made he name playing centre-forward

The only thing I've ever seen her in is Bend it Like Beckham



Steve

[MB]

What do you think? That is what they want to know. It might be interesting trying to find out.

[DB7]

What do you think?

You kick it off Amy and we'll join.

[batman]

Used to be cute .... is now too skinny.

[MB]

I just wanted to say, I hope I didn't sound harsh last night. I really only wanted Amy to calm down and give this some thought. But I didn't put it very well. I know how difficult it can be when you are faced with a set of questions that seem unfathomable.



It served me well to tackle a scary subject it by reading up and developing a hypothesis before asking other people what they thought. You are then in a better position to know if they are talking cobblers or not.



Amy, the subject you have chosen is fascinating and I think Keira Knightly is a good choice. She has become the most prolific British actress of the moment. She has also, by accident or design, played a number of roles which tackle these very issues. (It would be interesting to find out her views - I know there was an article in the Guardian just over a week ago in 'Weekend' on Saturday which might be helpful and you can then easily reference. Which, as you know, given the current concerns and severity of punishment concerning plagarism in further education - will need to be carefully credited as is every point that isn't your own newly worded and considered opinion.)



Personally, I think Keira Knightley has excelled because she has an honest integrity and deep enthusiasm in everything that she takes on. She has also chosen to seek out interesting UK based projects rather than fleeing to Hollywood. All of this makes her a good role model, in my opinion.



I think it is great that Amy has found this place and wants to talk about it and it might help her. I hope she does stay.



But, I would suggest and possibly she is already doing this:



That she finds articles, books on the subject - sources that can be verified.



That she formulates a hypothesis (her own theory ) and then asks us what we think.



I'm not quite sure where these bullet points have come from..but each of these is the title of one essay and could stand some quite indepth research.



For example:



5. How do you think the role of women have changed over time (with reference to that of women in films)?



Could be from a number of different angles: The status of actresses? The women who worked 'behind the scenes' or the characters being portrayed?

Have they specifically mentioned what they are looking for?



If you chose the characters being portrayed, to include your interest area, it could read:



How do you think the changing role of women over time has (the subject being 'role' which is singular) been portrayed with reference to the work of Keira Knightley. (I struggle with singular and plural too - it's difficult and I sometimes get it wrong.)



You could then compare and contrast using, perhaps, The Duchess, The Edge of Love and Bend it like Beckham. Three different eras - where there is a strong focus on how the conventions of the time affect the protagonists life in relation to them being female.



Just a thought - not trying to be patronising or..anything.!Good luck with it!

[sippog]

I'm sorry but the success of Keira Knightley is unfathomable to me. There are so many more characterful, vibrant and interesting British actresses of the same age out there that the ascent of a mildly engaging "starlet" to the kind of roles she's been given frankly puzzles me. Why it happened is probably more interesting than the subject herself. Is it because we're drawn now to unthreatening, rather blank personalities for our leading ladies?



Of course that's my opinion. But then opinions are what you're going to get here. I'd like to be more helpful about the questions posed but they'd only really arouse my interest and engage my brain if we could leave behind the fixation on Ms. Knightley. Perhaps they really should have been posted up on one of her (I'm sure) many fan-sites.

[Wicked Lady]

I'm sorry but the success of Keira Knightley is unfathomable to me. There are so many more characterful, vibrant and interesting British actresses of the same age out there that the ascent of a mildly engaging "starlet" to the kind of roles she's been given frankly puzzles me. Why it happened is probably more interesting than the subject herself. Is it because we're drawn now to unthreatening, rather blank personalities for our leading ladies?



Of course that's my opinion. But then opinions are what you're going to get here. I'd like to be more helpful about the questions posed but they'd only really arouse my interest and engage my brain if we could leave behind the fixation on Ms. Knightley. Perhaps they really should have been posted up on one of her (I'm sure) many fan-sites.

I have always considered the success of some actors to be down to the fact they are fairly bland - attractive to look at, but not overtly so, competent but not too dazzling. Completely non-threatening. They fill roles nicely until the public gets sick of them and moves onto the next one in line.



Keira is not a feminist icon in cinema - she's flavour of the month and plays spunky characters well, but sooner or later that skeletal frame is going to start creeping the public out. The best thing the poor girl can do for her career is get a cheeseburger into her once in a while.

[julian_craster]

Keira is a pretty girl, but cannot really act....without any serious training, she is unlikely to be the next Dame Judi Dench......

[penfold]

I think she's a very decent actress, with as decent range as the casting directors will allow her at present. I am concerned about her figure - not for herself, I think that's just the way she's built - but for the dangers in young kids not built her way trying to get down to her size.

[MB]

I don't know, I agree with Penfold. in my late teens/early twenties I was ridiculously thin looking back. There is a photograph of me at a children's party that I found recently where I was quite shocked at how thin I looked. But I know I didn't starve myself, I was just busy and active and I did used to 'forget to eat'. Not good - but it may not be 'anorexia'. Anorexia is more complicated than 'just being thin', surely. I'm sure someone within her circle would have picked up on it - no?



She claims she is not anorexic. Even if she was - do we wipe her off the screen? If teenage girls want to be that thin, but are not that way inclined then - yes, they might have a problem. I'm not sure we can 'blame' Keira for it.

[dremble wedge]

I was impressed with her in the last two films I saw her in: Atonement and The Edge of Love.



She is only 23 so there's every chance she'll improve further.



Incidentally an acquaintance of mine reports that she often plays darts in London boozers, an occupation that really should help with weight gain.

[CaptainWaggett]

I thought she was excellent in The Duchess. There can't be many actresses with such a varied range of film work at the age of 23.

[penfold]

I thought she was excellent in The Duchess. There can't be many actresses with such a varied range of film work at the age of 23.

Quite. Those saying she isn't Judi Dench are forgetting Judi Dench wasn't Judi Dench when she was 23. It will be a while until Keira will be cast as Lady Bracknell...until then, let's see how she develops as an actress.

[MB]

I wanted to add, if she did have anorexia, I doubt she could keep up the work as she does.



I've always tried to keep slim and my plumper sister and mother have mocked me in the past - but being slimmer is actually a healthier approach all round.



Even being a stone or two overweight can be detrimental to your health.



Lizx

[Amethyst_Isle]

Quite. Those saying she isn't Judi Dench are forgetting Judi Dench wasn't Judi Dench when she was 23. It will be a while until Keira will be cast as Lady Bracknell...until then, let's see how she develops as an actress.

We do have King Lear to look forward to, confirmed for filming in early 2009, in which she will play Cordelia opposite Sir Anthony Hopkins' Lear, and with Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts as her rival siblings.



Anyone seen The Hole ? great film imo and Keira is great in this.











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