interesting links :)

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UOGBTFFxOpY

I like this clip from Billy Elliot as it portrays the young boys anger and frustration that he expresses through dance, using it as a distraction from his difficult family life. The act of dance itself is contrasted with the aggression and anger of his family and therefore the dance is full of emotion and feelings.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YasOxgGDjco&feature=related

(Start at 02.50 minutes) I think this part of the interview with Jamie Bell is interesting as it gives the audience an insight into the actors own experiences as a child male ballet dancer and how this is reflected in the film.

http://www.genders.org/g37/g37_weber.html

This site comments on the similarities in Billy Elliot and The Full Monty, and the apparent meanings of dance and homosexuality in the films.

http://hereticalsex.blogspot.com/2006/06/billy-elliot.html

I just thought that this site had an interesting explanation on the issues raised in Billy Elliot.

http://www.filmreference.com/Films-Mi-My/My-Beautiful-Laundrette.html

I think that that piece of text on the interview by Daniel Williams is really interesting and offers a different approach to the aspects concerned throughout the film.


Its really difficult finding anything decent written about either The Full Monty or My Beautiful Launderette so any helpful links would be much appreciated :) x x

evaluation of my presentation

After delivering my PowerPoint presentation to the rest of the class and retrieving feedback, i now know how i will forward my research in order for me to complete my project and support my hypothesis. I need to research and find specific sites that comment on the issue i am dealing with and also certain scenes from the films that i think are appropriate in portraying how masculinity is shown in the 1980's. I am going to set up a focus group of men who grew up in the 1980's to compare their own experience with what is represented through film. I will set up a list of questions that i will ask the men to answer once they have watched my selected clips from the three focus films. I will also ask them to discuss their views and opinions of the issues raised in the films and whether they believe they are a true representation on what masculinity is.

my hypothesis

A close study of the social and political commentary offered by British films representing transgressive ideologies of masculinity.

The films i have chosen to look at are:

Billy Elliot - The representation of a young boy in the 1980's showing an interest in ballet is hugely controversial and poses questions about the stereotypes of masculinity and homosexuality. Billy is on a difficult and exciting journey throughout the film as he discovers what really makes him happy and helps him deal with the problematic issues in his life.

The Full Monty - There is an idea of role reversal as a group of young men take on the challenge of stripping for an audience, seen usually as a female activity. This film deals with sterotypical male qualities and how the guidelines that society enforce can be broken. It also looks at insecurites and body confidence among the male population.

My Beautiful Launderette - This film focuses on the ambitions and self discovery of a young asian man, living in a racist community. The expectations that people have of him are very conventional and he rebels against these to create the life that he desires.