Some Like it Hot is a funny little window into a far less progressive time than we're living in now. Films were still stuck in stereotypes that were simply used without question, where this film successfully examines those conventions in a way that draws upon the absurdity in the expectations held for women over the years. This film presents our two protagonists, musicians who need to skip town after witnessing a mob hit, in their situation of having to dress as women to make their way to Florida with a group of female musicians. Their journey introduces them to the discomforts of high heels, breezy skirts, and having to overcome their own urges to reveal their true identities.
As the two men trot down the train station in their newly acquired disguises, one remarks about how difficult it is to walk in high heels. He then mentions how vulnerable he feels wearing a dress, and how cold it is wearing what women were expected to wear at the time in order to appear "beautiful". This technique is the first the calls into question normal conventions that men usually don't consider when watching films with women. The reality that men don't see is that women wear heels for the effect of the accentuating certain parts of their body, but really those heels are difficult to walk in and really unnecessary when you really think about them. The film also features the lovely Marylin Monroe, who exemplifies several stereotypes of her own gender, including the notion that she's not very bright. This makes a statement of how women think of themselves as a result of their dealings with men, particularly when she explains how her lack of control in the spell of men makes her dumb. Again, these stereotypes contrast with reality, because obviously, women can have as much potential and intelligence as men.
Alternatively, it depicts men in a ravenous light, having the disguised men drooling over the alluring females around them, and features them referring to their own hidden gender hairy, gross, and possessing eight hands. We also see them slaves to their own urges as they are stuck in situations in which they must hide their desire to flirt with the women around them. Popular stereotypes view men as more stable and put together, especially in the 1950's. However, when we see men as these apes who can't seem to complete the simple task of dressing up without inspiring women around them to drink and misbehave, it provides a contrast with the norms of the time, and therein we find the comedy.
So, what this film does in the context of feminism is draw attention to the major differences, and more specifically, the inequalities in the expectations of men and women. The benefit of this is not to attack people with an opinion, as I think many people wrongly view feminism to be, and provides a funny contrast that allows people's laughter to act as a degree of consideration for the real reasons why women are expected to do what they do, say what they say, and wear what they wear. And, of course, the result of this in an ideal world would be that people can come to the realization that women should really be allowed to wear, say, and act how they like to the extent that men do, because we are all just people at the end of the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment