Criticial Investigation Draft 1

“They should have never given us uniforms if they didn’t want us to be an army.” - The Handmaid's Tale[1]

To what extent do media products such as "The Handmaid's Tale" reflect modern feminism today?

In today's society, the word feminism has lost its meaning. By definition, feminism is the equality between both sexes which has yet not been achieved fully in the world. The feminist movement arguably started with the Suffragettes who fought for women to have the right to vote, which they succeeded to do in 1918. Since then, the concept of feminism has continued to grow yet uses of “popular feminism”[2] has resulted in people avoiding its actual purpose and viewing feminism as inadequate. Despite, the gradual change that we have had in the last 20 years, most media products still offer too many objectified or sexualised gender stereotypes which influence the mentality of our society. In Hulu's successful adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale (2017), based on the novel by Margaret Atwood women are presented as sex objects in an unconventional way through how they are not sexualised visually by the way they are forced to dress but mentally and physically through how they are controlled into; a mundane cycle of torture of knowing "a women's place"[3]. Moss herself has described the series as being set in a “totalitarian, right wing regime.”[4] Feminist texts such as this one has been argued even by Atwood herself that this series is more relevant in a world of Trump today. Equally, recent incidents in Hollywood such as Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment allegations which have been addressed through social media platforms such as twitter with hash tags like #metoo resurface the issue of women’s safety at work. Even though the gender gap between males and females has declined there are still organisations and campaigns that continue to battle for the equality of women's rights. With the rise of celebrities getting involved with these campaigns such as Emma Watson who is not only an influential activist but also an UN Women ambassador who speaks out publicly on negative stereotypes in film and everyday life which highlight that the gap is still an issue in society. Most recently, the campaign #Timesup has hit social media drawing our attention to everyday sexism in the work force. Nevertheless, The Handmaid’s Tale is only a recent example of what feminism looks like today. Films such as The Passion of Joan Of Arc (1928) where the audience are reminded of the harsh reality of how women were and in some cases still are marginalised for their actions even when having contributed to a good cause still suffer the consequences. Disney has also had an intake on feminism with the classical Mulan (1998) which explores women taking on masculine roles and how “Mulan strayed from the status quo for women, and she saved China while doing it.”[5] This positive ending arguable foregrounds the development of society through time. This essay will explore the negative gender stereotypes  portrayed in this series and how through the eyes’ of feminism is able to make a statement about society today with the changes it may face in the future due to current events.

The Handmaid’s Tale both alters and conforms to conventional representations of women throughout the series. Flash backs in this scene are used effectively in the sense that the contrast between past and present highlight the wrongness of this new society. Not only through the drastic situation difference but also the framing. In the present the handmaid’s are usually in the corners and sides of the shot and are looked down upon the use of high angle shots to visually reinforce the marginalisation the face. As opposed to the past where the protagonist takes the centre of the frame allowing the audience to understand the changes these characters have faced on a visceral level. In one of the first flashback scenes (the protest scene) we see both women and men have a voice in protesting against the authorities emphasising the monumental change of society before and after the occupation of Gilead. The beginning of the clip shows the empowerment of a community with both men and women protesting with each other against the authorities who were all men which reflects the society we know as an audience thus reinforcing feminism today. From a feminist perspective this would be the authorities mirroring the patriarchy in society that they argue we still live in. The transition of close ups that pan cross each individual similarly, highlights the contrast between equals in past and those inferior in the present. However, this clip, in particular, is significant as it represents the pivotal point in which the protagonist Offred realises that  democracy no longer exists forcing the audience to feel as sense of fear for not only her character but those around her. “... was asleep before, and that’s how I let it happen, when they slaughtered congress we didn’t wake up, When they blamed terrorists and suspended the constitution we didn’t wake up them either"[6]  .The harsh lighting reflects the hostile environment reinforced by the contrast between calm and composed opposed to violence and frustration of the people which is imitated through the lighting and cinematography. Similarly, this technique of camera movement allows the audience to live vicariously and feel part of the uprising resonating with recent events like the women’s march which resulted in women all around the world to protest for women’s rights some even replicating The Handmaid’s Tale dressing in handmaid’s uniform. Thus, giving the audience the unsettling feeling of possibly occurring. An example being that “activists based in Warsaw donned the red robes and white bonnets seen in the dystopian US series centred on the removal of women's rights.”[7] Interestingly, the sound of the civilians being drowned out as the scene continues creates it to being all the more powerful. Simply, through how it silences “the people” portraying how civilians are quite literally being dismissed and conditioned into a dictatorship. Although, this points reflects back to when women were free and choice to protest, the scene cuts back to Offred’s current state where she is drawn back to reality by the bell that holds significance as it symbolises her lack of freedom and the brutal life she is being forced to live. The close up used is extremely intimate thus creating a claustrophobic atmosphere with the camera purely focusing on the detail of her face giving the audience the sense of actually be part of her thoughts and experiencing emotions with the character. These close up shots are not only used in this scene but through the whole series to reinforce the oppression of women and how they are confined in Gilead just as they are confined in the frame.

The framing also reflects that not only the handmaids are victimised by the system shown through the character of Serena Joy who even though is seen to be a villain is perhaps marginalised just as the handmaid’s and marthas’. Her character is significant through how she represents the epitome of how women in power are reduced to nothing. Through the means of flashback we are given a deeper understanding of how Serena Joy was a huge contributing factor to the society of Gilead and how as this group progressively gains complete power we follow how she is diminished to property. Women are objectifies through the use of colour where they are categories and reduced to that function. The red uniforms which are given to handmaids’ conventionally evokes ideas of temptation and sin reflecting to overarching connotation of complete sacrifice which is what the handmaid’s epitomise. The handmaid’s stand out immensely when in contrast with the grey and gloomy world of Gilead. Colour functions are used to categories women in groups marginalise and divide women not only from men but from each other but also women are separated from one another. Depending on the colour a woman wears they are accordingly reduced to that function and made inferior to the men. For example where men where a universal colour- black women are objectified through three different colours. The commander’s wives wear turquoise which is has religion associations of compassion and perhaps represents Mary. As opposed to the handmaid’s who wear red to signify fertility and cycle yet; religiously red has connotations of sin and temptation. Finally, marthas’ are of less value than any other women. They wear grey which is meant to make them blend in the background underling their insignificance in this society.

Since the election in America not only feminist but people all around the world have shared some concerns with Trump and what they see happening in the future. The Handmaid’s Tale has given campaigns the opportunity to draw attention to unspoken issues and make a statement about these issues in order for change. Planned Parenthood am organisation which help women with abortion, is just one example of the protests in America where women dress in the iconic clothing of a handmaid taken from both the novel and series “as symbols of a repressive patriarchy, the crimson robes and caps — handmade, repurposed or ordered online — have become an emblem of women’s solidarity and collaboration on rights issues.”[8] These protests have infiltrated not only ordinary women but also those in the public eye who have the opportunity to draw our attention to these issues through the means of politics. Hillary Clinton has references the series in her speeches to illustrate the “threat to women’s rights today in our real world”[9]  initiating more conversation around women’s rights and whether they are considered by those in power in today’s world of Trump.

Social media such as YouTube has given film companies like Funny or Die a platform for creating videos incorporating footage of both Donald and Melania Trump into clips of the series. Even though these videos are taken out of context to fit the narrative, I contemplate whether people are able to see the possibility of this becoming a reality in today’s society thus the media attention the series has received. Similarly, twitter campaigns such as #metoo has given women in all industries the platform to open up about sexual harassment experiences in the work force which initially was a response to the Weinstein scandal in 2017. Most recently, the #Timesup campaign has expanded immensely through all platforms. Successful celebrities both male and female, having shared #whywewearblacktoday and reinforcing this when most celebrities at the golden globes wore black to bring to light justice for the victims. The Handmaid’s Tale has been a huge part of this campaign with winning awards at the Golden Globes and constantly drawing our attention to women’s issues.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Where most see the #metoo campaign as a progressive step towards preventing sexual harassment in the work place the on-going debate on whether it has been magnified by the media. Feminist Germaine Greer has taken a critical view on the movement suggesting “the movement paints women as passive victims”[10]. This equates to all the attention surrounding how issues of women facing discrimination in today’s society.

Even though this series debatably promotes feminism through how the protagonist represents resistance, in an interview with Riz Ahmed and Elisabeth Moss they both talk about the challenges they faced individually and their opinions on how their recent work converge on a deeper level. Moss talks more about how this is more about survival “it’s a human story, because women’s rights are human rights”[11] rather than a feminist one. Drawing our attention to how feminism as a whole has evolved from when it was first introduced in British society through the Suffragette movement in the 1900s. Interestingly, Moss talks about how in order for these characters to survive “they have to adapt to their prisons because they have to”[12] which highlights how some feminists would argue women are treated in today’s society- having to adapt in order to survive and be restrained through female stereotypes and discrimination that continues to exist in our society.  Moss argues that “It is impossible to convey the lived reality of what is essentially gender apartheid”[13] essentially reinforcing her belief that now, with recent events of sexual harassment allegations we are no longer moving forward but are not beginning to fall back into the once patriarchal society. Nonetheless, feminists continue to argue that we continue to live in this male dominated society where women are objectified and may perhaps reach the extreme point of the world Atwood created where women have undeniably no rights. Similarly Moss, did argue that “the handmaid’s tale has become a meme in US politics”[14] reinforcing all the more its significance attaching politics with “meme” makes this debate on Trump’s value on women and how he has the power to improve and progress women’s position in society. As

 “One woman’s dystopia is another woman’s reality.”[15] Ahmed also makes the valid point of how “in different circumstances we can be anyone”[16] and how “situation breeds character”[17] which sums up the narrative of the series with how even though before Gilead Offred was a strong and independent women we see how throughout the series she progressively becomes mentally resilient in order to survive and escape her captivity.

Nevertheless, the argument that The Handmaid’s Tale is feminist has raised questions and some seem to dismiss this view and argue against this. “Mako Mori test notes, the question of whether a film is feminist cannot be determined solely based on whether the characters are.” For example, some critics have argued that although Sandra Bullock’s Ryan Stone, the central character in Gravity, is a feminist creation (to define her by a romantic relationship and have her be rescued at the end)”[18]. This makes us as an audience question whether all media products with female protagonists promote feminism or whether they are just a prop for the narrative.

This series is not the only media product to be seen as feminist product. 1928s The Passion of Joan of Arc follows the trial of Joan a young fighter who is put on trial by men where she defends her actions for defining their authority. This incredibly intense viewing the audience experience and silence throughout most of the film in truth aids to the aggressive and brutal end of the protagonist. Similarly, as in The Handmaid’s Tale the high angle shots undertake the oppression she is facing for being a women visible making her major and inferior to the others who are men. “You claim that I am sent by the Devil. It's not true. To make me suffer, the Devil has sent you... and you... and you... and you.”[19] Throughout the film visuals of Joan crying, getting her hair chopped off, wearing a straw crown and her will being broken down before death reinforcing the patriarchy and misogyny in the “world of man”. Mulvy’s concept of the male gaze[20] could be use to explain how although this is used not to necessarily sexualise Joan but all the chain of events seem to be seen through the eye of men who essentially have the final say even for a woman who fought for their freedom. This once again mirroring the world of Gilead when women are judged and criminalised in the eyes of men and are made to answer to their god.  Through most of the scenes being shot intense extreme close up focusing on the anguish and pain expressed on Joan but also the audience feel a sense of injustice and no closure other than the fact that Joan represents the feminism that was too modern for her time. Similarly, in All About Eve in the 1950s , another interesting film in terms of its overlook on feminist characters. “Funny business, a woman's career - the things you drop on your way up the ladder so you can move faster. You forget you'll need them again when you get back to being a woman. That's one career all females have in common, whether we like it or not: being a woman. Sooner or later, we've got to work at it, no matter how many other careers we've had or wanted.”[21] Interestingly, highlights women’s position in society during the 1950s an era where women conventionally where seen as housewives.

Overall, we can see that feminism plays a vital part in The Handmaid’s Tale seeing as in the progressive industry “television is experiencing something of a feminist revolution.”[22] In the light of both arguments I agree that there is a sense of feminism represented in the series which will have an impact on our society as it has resurfaced the issues women face in today’s modern society “There is a wall of silence against women and violence, and every time a women speaks out it breaks a crack in the wall.”[23] With the continuous rise of women speaking out on their past experiences and protesting on the future of women’s rights it brings our attention to Atwoods message through the voice of Offred “I believe in the resistance as I believe there can be no light without shadow; or rather, no shadow unless there is also light.” Essentially leaving the audience with the sense of hope that with all wicked and corrupt there is also the light after.

Bibliography

Atwood, M. (1985). The Handmaid's Tale.

Bulter, J. (1990). Gender Troubles.

Chaudhuri, S. (2006). Feminist Film Theorists . Abingdon: Routledge.

Colbert, T. L. (2017, April 21). Elisabeth Moss Describes A 'Fictional' Totalitarian, Right-Wing Regime. Retrieved Nov 13, 2017, from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEOdicifuqM

Dan. (2018, 1 22). Germaine Greer - a true feminist. Retrieved 1 23, 2018, from Twitter: https://twitter.com/AntiFeministDan/status/955709870698827777

Das, V. (2015, September 17). The Problem With Popular Feminism That’s Making Many People Shy Away From The Word. Retrieved 11 4, 2017, from Youth Ki Awaaz: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2015/09/academic-feminism-vs-popular-feminism/

DERR, H. L. (2013, Nov 13). What Really Makes a film feminist . Retrieved Oct 2, 2017, from The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/11/what-really-makes-a-film-feminist/281402/

Dreyer, C. T. (Director). (1928). The Passion of Joan of Arc [Motion Picture].

Garrett, R. (2007). Postmodern chick flicks- The retire of the women's film.

Gauntlett, D. (2002). Media, Gender and Identity An Introduction.

Glosswitch. (2018, 1 23). The idea that we should discount Germaine Greer's work because of her comments on #MeToo isn't just wrong – it's sexist. Retrieved 1 23, 2018, from Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/germaine-greer-metoo-harvey-weinstein-spread-legs-reject-feminism-a8174211.html#gallery

Hall, S. E. (2013). Representation London:SAGE.

Harms, J. F. (2016, March 14). Mulan Is Disney's Feminist Princess. Retrieved 12 7, 2017, from Odyssey: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/mulan-feminist-disney-princess

Hauser, C. (2017, June 30). A Handmaid’s Tale of Protest. Retrieved Nov 17, 2017, from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/30/us/handmaids-protests-abortion.html

Jethro, N. (2017, May 3). Hillary Clinton uses 'The Handmaid's Tale' to point out what's happening to women's rights. Retrieved August 10, 2017, from Business Insider UK: http://uk.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-the-handmaids-tale-womens-rights-2017-5

Liesbet van, Z. (1994). Feminist Media Studies.

Lotz, A. (2006). Redesigning Women: Televison after the newtwork era.

Mankiewicz, J. L. (Director). (1950). All Bout Eve [Motion Picture].

Morano, R. (Director). (2017). The Handmaid's Tale [Motion Picture].

Schreiber, M. (2014). American postfeminists cinema women, romance and contemporary culture. Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press.

Stolworthy, J. (2017, July 7). Donald Trump in Poland: Women stage Handmaid's Tale protest against 'sexist' US President's visit. Retrieved December 10, 2017, from Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/the-handmaids-tale-poland-donald-trump-visit-hulu-speech-a7828206.html#gallery

Variety. (2017, June 2). Actors on Actors: Riz Ahmed and Elisabeth Moss. Retrieved Dec 20, 2017, from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7pvQZbwWoY&t=99s

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[1] (Atwood, 1985)

[2] (Das, 2015)

[3] (Morano, 2017)

[4] (Colbert, 2017)

[5] (Harms, 2016)

[6] (Atwood, 1985)p

[7] (Stolworthy, 2017)

[8] (Hauser, 2017)

[9] (Jethro, 2017)

[10] (Dan, 2018)

[11] (Variety, 2017)

[12] (Variety, 2017)

[13] (Variety, 2017)

[14] (Variety, 2017)

[15] (Variety, 2017)

[16] (Variety, 2017)

[17] (Variety, 2017)

[18] (Variety, 2017)

[19] (Dreyer, 1928)

[20] (Variety, 2017)

[21] (Mankiewicz, 1950)

[22] (DERR, 2013)

[23] (Atwood, 1985)