My Proposal

Title: Are women in action movies represented as empowered female role models or as sex objects?

Hypothesis: Women in action movies are starting to be portrayed as independent, in control and empowered role models but to an extent. Women in action movies are still however being represented as passive sex objects.

Outline of ideas
I’m looking and researching into see if women are just used as sex objects in action movies and to what extent a women can be an empowered female role models, without having to dress half naked and serving the purpose of just entertaining men. I will be looking at various different action movies where the female is the protagonist or not and see to what point females are represented as strong independent role modles.

Theories/Theorists
Theorist I will be looking into are ones such as Laura Mulvey also narrative theories which look at female destiny in movies and others which will relate to my study.


Migrain Analysis of “Wanted” trailer

Media Language- -medium shot of Wesley (James McAvoy) wearing what looks like average work uniform, then suddenly from no where Fox (Angelina Jolie) saves him from being shot dead- this shows the women is the hero instead of the man, it connotes women are more stronger.
- Fox in the drivers seat driving Wesley, and driving very fast & dangerous- Connotes again women are in control
- Fox teaching Wesley how to shoot- shows women are wiser and have more knowledge
- However the end shot is of Wesley holding a gun- connote the man will still always really be in control.
- Voice over is a male voice connoting men are more dominant

Institution- Directed by- Timur Bekmanbetov
- Distributed by Universal Pictures released in 2008
- Produced by; Marc Platt, Jason Netter & Jim Lemly

Genre- Action/Thriller,
Conventions- Fast cars & trains, shootings in shops & open spaces, explosions, train wreckages ect…

Representation- Women- are being represented as empowered role models, in control of situations, wise and strong. However women are still shown to be beneath men as in the end it’s a man who comes out to be stronger, and women can’t be in the movie solely for their brains, there has to be a passionate scene which connotes their only good for one thing really.

Audience- Both female & male aged between 16-35
- People who are looking for escapism or to gain a relationship with the characters

Ideology- Men will always be 1 step higher then women, and in the end men are the stronger sexes.

Narrative- Todrov’s theory is used as Wesley looks as if he’s in the equilibrium stage of his life until Fox comes & creates disequilibrium in his life, then he has to find a new equilibrium and resolve the problem he’s faced with.