Challenging Misogyny on and off the Pitch: Analysis of Selected Sports Movies

Purpose: The present study is an attempt to analyze selected sports movies with reference to discrimination and misogyny against sportswomen. The aim is to explore how Indian sportswomen face misogyny and discrimination in sport institutions and society at large. Approach/Methodology/Design: The study is based on thematic analysis to destabilize the notion that sports are the sole realm of men alone. Feminist film theory is also used in the analysis of the movies. Two movies were selected; Chak de! India (2007) and Dil bole Hadippa! (2009). Findings: The results of the analysis indicate that these movies despite having their own drawbacks exhort that society cannot deny women equal rights of participation and opportunity in sports. Both of the movies project their protagonists struggling to achieve success in sports. It is revealed that despite the progress that has been achieved in sports, misogyny is deep-rooted in sport institutions. Practical Implications: The paper throws light on various types of barriers, socio-cultural, biological and psychological, which women players have to cross, in addition to dealing with a bizarre and weird kind of treatment which their male counterparts do not normally confront. It depicts how family pressures and restrictions, cultural inhibitions, lack of support and biased attitude of society can ultimately thwart the ambitions of women players. Originality/value: The paper suggests that sports can be used as an effective tool for women empowerment. As part of the feminist inquiry, the attempt here is to expose the inequalities and discrimination against sportswomen.

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Analysis of Memory, Gender, and Identity in Psychological Thrillers with Specific Reference to Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound and James Mangold’s Identity

Middle Eastern Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences ◽

10.47631/mejress.v1i2.9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Merin Susan John

Keyword(s):

Thematic Analysis ◽

Social Issues ◽

Film Theory ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Female Characters ◽

Feminist Film Theory ◽

Feminist Film ◽

The Mind ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Identity Issue

Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the portrayal and presentation of memory, gender, and identity in selected psychological thrillers. Approach/Methodology/Design: The selected films are Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound and James Mangold’s Identity. For the analysis of these films, the researcher employs both narrative and structural approaches; thematic analysis, psychoanalysis, and also feminist film theory. Findings: The results of the analysis show that apart from building suspense and mysteries with the identity issue, these thrillers question the stereotypes and inequality in society through the female characters for the consumerist audience. Hence, these films attempt to break the chains of legitimated stereotypes in the society which create binaries in the lives of people. Practical Implications: The portrayal of illness in psychological thrillers has attracted a lot more audience to seats. Dissociative elements such as memory and identity of the mind perhaps have permeated the film-going experience. The paper showcases these aspects in the selected films. Originality/value: The picturization of the fading identity and the double personality of the characters are central to the interior experience. The capturing of Amnesia and its related themes of memory, identity, and distributed consciousness are common materials in recent films because they can stretch to basic humanistic concerns and contemporary psycho-social issues.

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