SSC Film Studies

How do the representation of women in Get Carter reflect the time in which it was made?

In the opening to the movie we are immediately introduced to Carter stood in a window, in the background we see a woman sat down in the corner of the frame, this indicates that women are literally on a lower level or class to man, as she is literally lower than him; the fact that she is in the corner could indicate that women were isolated in the 60's, as because of the pill the didn't become sexually free, is was less risk for them to get pregnant, therefor men took advantage and women became sexually trapped or controlled. as we progress through the scene we see that the room they are in, as a slide show with pornographic images of woman, that is placed under a painting of a nude woman in a provocative position; this is showing that men only viewed woman as sexual objects. We see the woman again at the beginning, but this time through Carters eyes, we first see a hand on her leg, and we spend a long time staring at her body (once again showing that men only view women as objects of pleasure) before we get to her face, which looks like she is feeling uncomfortable. The girl is not given an identity until later,as we find out her name is Anna.

We see Anna again later, in a sex scene. the scene is completely irrelevant to the narrative, but the scene is only used, as Anna is used for a sexual object for the spectators to look at. Carter can't even see her in the scene, so we know that this is just for the spectators; which reinforces that women in the 60's were just seen as sexual objects for men to look at. In the sex scene we only see her body parts, not her entire body, even her face is obscured, revealing that she is being deprived of an identity, as men didn't view women as people in the 60's. after the scene we hear Anna say, "i'll come tomorrow," to which Carter retorts, "no wait until I get there sunday," this is a sexual innuendo for an Orgasm. Basically Carter is saying that she can't have pleasure without him; and he only says this as f she can just please herself without him, he feels threatened, as most men felt in the 60's when women were becoming independent.

There is a character in the film, that represents woman as independent, but is controlled when men are involved, Edna. Edna is shown as a strong, independent, business owning woman, until Carter arrives, after this encounter, she is used by carter. The audience see her provide assistance to Carter both sexual and domestic. She is controlled in her own home by Carter. Carte shows a complete lack of respect and disregard to her as he tells her to shut up, he doesn't even look at her when he says it; she is only there to serve the men, and her opinion is not considered, even when she threatens to call the police. Throughout the film, we never see her leave the home, and when she attempts to assert her authority toward the men, it is over ridden by carter who tells her, "to go and make a cup of tea," and when she does so, she is rewarded for her obedience like she is a dog. after such events Edna, tells Carter to leave, but he tells her that he'll, "tell everyone she wears purple underwear," to which this leads to a sex scene with Edna. the significance of this s that, if he tells everyone that information she will be seen as a hoar by people and her reputation will be ruined. After the sex scene she is never seen again, illustrating the fact that in the 60's women were just used, and then cast aside. so basically Edna was an independent liberated woman: but when a man enters her life she becomes domestic and a servant.

Another female character in this is Glenda. Glenda is the main female character that is used for sex and info, and nothing else. When we first meet Glenda she is used by Kinnear, just to seduce Carter, and we can rightly assume that she will be used for sex by Kinnear, after seducing Carter. we first see he legs are exposed, showing and over sexual feature of hers, her voice through the entire scene is obscured by a meaningless conversation, even though what she is saying is very important, we are shown that a mans opinion i taken as more important even though it is meaningless. the function of her throught this scene and others is simply to be an object to look at.