The Representation of Women in Relation to 'The Cabin in the Woods' (Goddard, 2012)

1. What were Jeremy Tunstall's 4 character roles for women and do they apply to 'The Cabin in the Woods'?
The four character roles for women are domestic, sexual, consumer and marital. In the film Jules is seen as the sexual type due to the events which occur such as her being out in the woods having sex with Curt as well as her dancing provocatively and making out with a moose on the wall. Another role seen in the film is Dana having elements of being the domestic type due to her being the mother figure and filling the drink cups up ready to serve to everyone.

2. How is Dana typical of Clover's 'Final Girl' theory? Please mention: the ending; Dana's appearance and her actions during the film.
Dana is seen as the female victim-hero. This implies some degree of monstrosity as stated in Clover's book. Her appearance can be seen as androgynous due to her fighting back and saving the male characters as well as saving herself. In comparison to Jules, she is saved by Curt as she is unable to fight back. Males would typical be known to fight back and be the hero of their masculine traits. Unlike Jules as well, she is seen as being less interested in sex due to her clothing choices. She is wearing jeans and doll type shoes reflecting innocence of a young girl. Another reason for her being uninterested in sexual activities could be due to the fact of her being indicated as insecure and stated as virginal even though she isn't Her interest lays within her studying as she originally chooses to take her books with her however Jules being the more fun and sexual type insist that she doesn't. Lastly, in one scene in which they are all playing truth or dare, Dana is picked and is assumed upon as choosing truth due to her being not as outgoing as the others therefore she can be observed as predictable.

3. Jules undergoes mental and physical transformations during the film, what are they and how do they cause her to become a horror archetype?
In the beginning of the film we see her as a blond haired girl but we soon understand that she dyed her hair from brown. Blonde girls can be stereotyped in many ways such as being dumb and dramatic. We as the audience soon discover that the scientists have distributed the medicine in which they want them to take through the hair dye to make her more vulnerable and fit the role of being the dumb blonde. This also has caused impair to her cognitive function. Throughout the movie, we get the idea that Jules is the sexual type due to her being flirtatious and dance moves to grab attention from the male characters and audience.

4. Is Mulvey's male gaze theory exemplified in the film and if so, how? Think about framing, camera angles and POV shots.
Mulvey's male gaze theory is exemplified through Jules and her change in personality and how she is shown to attract attention compared to the other female character (Dana). In the scene where she is dancing in front of the fire, we get a full length shot of her body to show her movements, only to find in the next shot, the other characters are watching, puzzled by her change. As well as this, she is dared to kiss a werewolf in the cabin, we get a slow moving camera moving going from the bottom to the top of Jules enhancing her sexual strut and allowing males to feel satisfied. Furthermore, we see a scene were Jules and Kurt are outside in the woods having sex, we get a point of view shot from Kurt's angle to allow males to identify as them being that person. In this scene, we see how the scientists are watching on the big screens and seduced by her, only to be disappointed she doesn't continue the sexual act when they are there.

5.In the film we, as an audience, are made to be voyeurs; when does this happen and why is it important in regards to representation of character?
In the first scenes when we see the characters choose there rooms, Holden uncovers a one-way mirror and sees Dana admiring herself and sighing about her imperfections. She starts to undress, Holden who seems to love what he is seeing in fact steps up and admits he can see and offers to switch rooms in the act of guilt and having respect. Dana accepts instantly which proves she has insecurities and has dignity left to not show herself off to another man. When we see Dana in the room Holden previously occupying, we see a repeat of what just happened- Dana is attracted to Holden yet still has that respect to cover the mirror allowing herself to not feel tempted.


6. (Briefly) summarise the way women are represented in 'The Cabin in the Woods'. Are they objectified and there to provide satisfaction for heterosexual males and/or do they fulfill another role/purpose?
I believe women are represented in this film sexually by objectifying there bodies through sexual acts and POV shots of there bodies. Dana is less experienced and insecure ( labelled as the virgin) therefore we see her as being the not-so feminine type. However, in the opening scene we see Dana in front of her window in underwear and a t-shirt, as though she wants that attention. Jules (the sexual one) is objectified in many ways during the film to show her views and temptations to the male characters. Her personality changes as she dances and flirts with all the boys and even undresses in the woods with her boyfriend to have sex. We as the audience, particularly the males get to experience and feel a part of the act due to the camera angles and POV shots. In addition to this, the sex scene sees Kurt not undressing as it allows Jules to stand out and be the object to admire, if we see Kurt undress too, it may not satisfy the male audience as much as just Jules.