Feminist analysis

1. Feminist analysis
How is gender represented in Jennifer’s body by the use of micro-elements
The theme gender is represented in Jennifer’s body the most. In the film the elements that
consist of it questions the expectations of the audience, however it mostly this is shown
through the conventions of a horror film. The title is explicit itself reviling to the
audience that it is about mostly circle around her, mainly how her physical appearance
and femininity make her an unsuspecting killer who only kills people of the opposite sex
for revenge peruses. Jenifer’s character as a female villain reinstalls a balance between
genders. In the film it is the female characters that show spuriousness all the way
through, for example Jennifer and her relationship sparks an interest when looking at
feminism. The two protagonist are identified to be binary opposites described by Levi
Strauss, Needy embodies simplicity and follows the Texas Chainsaw Massacre notion of
being the female “lone survivor”, the reason why Jennifer kills boys may be admired as it
is and extreme attempt to abolish patriarch.
Jennifer’s Body initially alters the audience’s expectations in a verity of ways. Male
audiences often side female character significantly, Jennifer and Needyarerevealedinthesame
shotimmediately ableallowing theaudience tomakeajudgment based on how they look. The camera
angle is also manipulated in this shot as it is took from inside of Jennifer’s bedroom;aclose-
upof Jennifer’s face is used to make the audience feel closer to her whilst Needyisoutside of
herroomlooking onthrough thewindow in ahoodedjumper. Lookingat this from a feminist
perspective, the director influences our opinions of the two girls by giving us a direct
comparison and leading us to believe that one is more innocent than the other. This scene
also includes a shot reverse shot which is used in many horror films where the ‘victim’
looks over at where the audience know the ‘villain’ is,buttheyhave disappearedfromtheshot.A
voice overfrom Need’s perspective begins by stating, “hell is a teenage girl”, a statement
which can be seen in a number of ways considering the background of the film. The fact
that this film is aimed at teenagers encompasses the idea that growing up is difficult, but
also that Jennifer is the person, which Needy must overcome.Needyalsocontrols thenarrative at
this point; therefore whatthe audienceare learning about is bias as we see and flashbacks from her
perspective. Once the audience become aware that Jennifer is the real ‘villain’ of the duo
later in the film, the early scenes of the film becomeironic asNeedyisproventobeinnocent. The
audience maystruggle tosidewith Needyasshe is presented as the killer in this scene, but it
would seem she is more relatable as a teenage character than Jennifer as she becomes
very expressive and open about the complications she’s met.
Sotheaudience could knowwho Needywasajump wasdistinguished, whentheymethim againin aprison.
Careful consideration is given to the mis-en-scene at this point as her character is
humanized through the use of the props a teddy bear is in the shot, which she is revealed
Suggesting she has not left her childhood behind notwithstanding being in an adult

2. environment where she is considered mentally insane. Needy is exposed in a medium
close-up shot with her back to the camera,with only herhair the most identifiable quality about
her on show. Being blonde subverts the traditional connotations of her being the innocent,
attractive ‘victim’ she is in fact in plain, appears to have committee a crime and is
deemed too unstable to leave the security she’s beenplacedunder.Thevoice overcontinues asthe
cameratilts downtoanarrayofgifts towhich she somewhat inappropriately says, “at least I have
my fans” which are mostly “perverts” suggesting that some men will still objectify
women despite the knowledge that their physical appearance cannot refuse the fact that
they’re a bad person. The first male character in this film is revealed as ‘Raymondo Who
Needy has no respect for however he still has power over her still maintains power over
her. Gender differences seem insignificant at this point, as Needy feels little compassion
towards anyone neglects the fact that his power could impact her damagingly.
Oneofthemale protagonists is thenintroduced through thecameramoving offfrom herscarsandzooming in
onapicture ofamale called Chip.Seeing thereisno break between these two shots, it could suggest
that she obtained the scars whilst fighting whatever it was that might have come between
her and Chip. The way that this character is introduced through the camera zooming into
his picture would suggest they once shared a close relationship, and possibly that he was
defeated by what attacked Needy. Feminist critics at this point of the film would praise
Need’s survival as the gender of the attack remains unknown, presumably the audience
would assume thatamale committed themurder, astypically the ‘villain’ characterarchetype is not
female. The entire opening of the film can be likened to what Barthes describes as
The hermeneutic code that being that there are many unanswered questions, which the
audience begins tosearchfor answersasthefilm progresses.Severalcutssurrounding mis-en-scenealso
twist the idea of Needy being mental; heranimal slippers induce thoughts of a childlike
innocence.
The second scene of the film opens by showing a yearbooks photos of the protagonist
characters. This allows the audience to start to understand what Jennifer’s character is
like, just by looking at the picture, the cheerleader outfits represents and shows the
audience that she is a popular student, which could give an idea that the only way that she
has succeeded this far id based on her looks. Mulvey’s ideology about themale gaze showing
her stomach, wearing tight jeans appeals to both the male audience watching, and the
characters in the film. Feminists may admire Jennifer’s ownership of her Sexuality and
feistiness, as she is the one who directs the action, removing the only male from the
narrative, which is shown through the scene where she is going to the club with Needy
When all the typical conventions of a horror film adhere to codes and conventions, but
the audience of a film can seek and identify to different types of pleasure when there
expectations are not as what they hoped which Barthes says.