TITLE: The Defamiliarization of Gender Paradigms in the Films of Kathryn Bigelow
ROLE: Writer
MEDIA: Research Paper
SOFTWARE: Microsoft Word
CLASS: Writing and Research
INSTRUCTOR: Joshua Waggoner
TERM: SPRING 2019
DESCRIPTION: For decades, the film genre has been mostly male dominated with the roles of women typically being typecast and relegated to supporting or background characters. However, starting in the early ‘80s, director Kathryn Bigelow set out to bring a spotlight to the genre conventions of female characters. This paper discusses the voice of films such as Blue Steel and how it alters the format of typical cop movies as well as slasher films through the method of gender politics. Or how a film like Point Break examines masculinity and the effects of particularly “macho” relationships such as the almost homoerotic relationship between Johnny Utah and Bodhi. Through her auteur voice and cinematic touch, Bigelow breaks genre barriers and shows audiences the true nature of gender politics, all while rejecting the title of “female director.”