SSC Film Studies

The representation of women in Get Carter is very negative and challenges the usual perception of the ‘swinging sixties’. The reason for this is that the ‘swinging sixties’ was viewed for many different reasons but must importantly, for this point, female liberation. Even though women were somewhat liberated, they are shown in a very submissive way throughout the film to the audience. Carter is shown to be dominant when in front of women, overall more powerful and controlling.

            This backs up Mulvey’s theory that all audiences must view the film from a perspective of a heterosexual male or from the ‘male gaze’. If this theory wasn’t true, then the film may not of been as successful, as there is multiple women shown throughout, who are sexualised and basically just used for the pleasure of Carter. Although women in the film do have a role and progress the storyline, they are represented as erotic objects and when Carter is finished taking pleasure from them, we hardly ever see them again in the film. It’s suggesting that Carter treats women as disposable objects, no matter how useful they are, which was a view shared by may men in the 60s/early 70s.

            Kinnear uses Glenda, in the film, as a tool to try and seduce Carter. She is lumped over the couch in a position facing Cater on her side, so we never really get to see her full face. This not only clearly signifies that she’s getting used to seduce by Kinnear but removes her identity because we never see her full face or without a man in the same frame. Glenda could be seen as a slave to some extent, only there to serve sex and drinks to the men.

            Glenda’s main function after that scene is to supply Carter with valuable information about how his brother was murdered. This is the main reason why we see Glenda in the film again. Once Carter has retrieved this information he watches Glenda drown, and has no empathy for her dying at all. This view, although morbid, is shared with most of the audience as we’re viewing this through Carters perspective as an antihero.

            Edna is liberated in the film and is an independent woman, who owns her own business and is successful without a man. As soon as Carter enters however, she becomes passive, like the rest of the women in this film. When Carter enters Edna’s house he doesn’t show her any respect and tells her to go make him tea, in which she complies. Edna resumes the role of a typical 1960s housewife whenever Carter is around. This is also seen when Carter tells her to ‘shut up’ again in her own house where he gives her no respect.

-Anna voyeuristic view

-Spectator can gaze at her body

-erotic object

-isnt a complete person, body parts

-does everything Carter tells her to do

-for fill male fantasies, camera in between her legs