FOR NJOSH ONLY

ENGL 1302

Professor

October 30, 2016

Project 2 Annotated Bibliography

Fitzpatrick, Molly. “Jurassic Park is 100 Times More Feminist Than Jurassic World.” Fusion, Fusion Media Network, 17 June 2015, http://fusion.net/story/150874/jurassic-park-is-100-times-more-feminist-than-jurassic-world/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016.

Fitzpatrick compares the 1993 Jurassic Park film’s use of female characters alongside the 2015 Jurassic World’s. In particular, she compares Dr. Sattler (Laura Dern) from Park and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) from World. They describe Claire as an uptight park manager with the lack of motherly values who, throughout the movie, is bossed around by multiple men —Owen, the park owner and the security manager. Fitzpatrick points out that even though she makes some heroic moves she is overshadowed by men, but Dr. Sattler on the other hand is “one hell of a character.” Sattler plays a major role in the Jurassic Park plot and is a strong woman who doesn’t allow herself to be pushed over by the men. The author points out that unlike Claire in Jurassic World, Sattler and her colleague Alan Grant (Sam Neill) “share a bond that’s built on mutual respect.” Sattler expresses her intent to one day have children, but the responsibility falls with Grant to protect the children which he ultimately becomes fond of. Fitzpatrick explains the difference in Grant’s growth towards affection and Claire’s original neglect is that Grant’s is shown in progression and perceived as “joyful” whereas Claire’s is viewed “with shame and anxiety.” She also points out that the only young women in Jurassic World are eye candy to Claire’s oldest nephew, but Lex (Ariana Richards) from Jurassic Park saves the day by hacking into the park’s system to reboot the security system. The author emphasizes movies can be great with the same type of characters without being offensive if you allow the characters to “mutually learn from each other.” The fact that Jurassic Park was released 22 years before Jurassic World draws unwanted and in some cases offensive comparisons to me. Dr. Sattler is an intelligent, independent woman who plays a key role in defeating the dinosaurs and Claire is and “unwanted” perfectionist who requires a man to save her and her two nephews.

Flores, Jayson. “The Five Most Sexist Moments in Jurassic World.” BitchMedia, 15 July 2015, https://bitchmedia.org/post/the-five-most-sexist-moments-in-jurassic-world. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016.

Flores’ review, like most of the others, brings up the same arguments of sexism, but his review in particular points out and goes in detail about certain scenes in the film. Flores’ “Five Most Sexist Moments” are (1) Meet Claire the ice queen, (2) The baby envy, (3) The post-Pterodactyl kiss, (4) Zara’s Randomly Violent death, and (5) Heel-Gate. Through these specific scenes the author shows how undeveloped and “poorly written” the female characters are in comparison to the male cast. Towards the end of the article Flores points out that there is one-woman worth recognizing in this so called sexist mess, Vivian (Lauren Lapkus). Vivian emerges as a “genuine person” who is “competent but not controlling” and comes off as a person rather than a stereotype. Flores is able to go into detail on many of the questions about the plot that have been brought up by reviewers everywhere. The five moments that are listed are not knew conversations, but it does in a way, clarify what they are all trying to say. When the most “relatable female in the movie is a Velociraptor named Blue,” “you know the script is in trouble”.

Garner, Ross. “Jurassic World and Sexism in Survival Situations.” RossGarner.net, WordPress, 14 July 2015, https://rossagarner.wordpress.com/2015/06/14/jurassic-world-and-sexism-in-survival-situations/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2016.

“Twenty years after Jurassic Park, it seems we still haven’t had that conversation about sexism in survival situations.” Dr. Sattler—in Jurassic Park — has a scene where a man attempts to relieve her of a duty since he believed it was more of a “man’s job.” Sattler’s response was “Look… We can discuss sexism in survival situations when I get back.” Garner finds this quite ironic since one of the main criticisms of Jurassic World deals with exactly that. In the latest and greatest instalment though, Claire’s every decision is questioned by her boss and she stands idly by while the men try to destroy the parks latest attraction. When the two nephews of Claire’s are in harm’s way, Garner believes that Claire, instead of toughening up to save them she will “find a man who can help.” The author makes note that the marines —notably all male— set out with tranquillizers, the owner in his big shot helicopter, and Owen rides a bad ass bike accompanied by Raptors, giving Claire ample time to strip down to what a male audience would like to see. Garner explains that even though Claire was able to take charge a few times in the film, she always ended up “overshadowed by an uncomfortable epilogue,” leading her to learn that females in film will be “defined by their relationship with men.” The author’s take away from Claire’s early character is that she is perceived as what not to be like as a woman, but evolves throughout the movie to be what is less threatening, a kinder, more nurturing woman and girlfriend. Instead of following Jurassic Park’s lead with strong competent females, Claire unfortunately had to settle for the damsel in distress. Garner exposes sexism in Jurassic World, but also shows how it’s a Hollywood trend.

Grubbs, Jefferson. “Why Jurassic World’s Claire Dearing is Actually a Feminist Hero.” Bustle, 18 June 2015, https://www.bustle.com/articles/91024-why-jurassic-worlds-claire-dearing-is-actually-a-feminist-hero. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016.

The popular view of Claire’s character being so far anti-feminist is completely wrong according to Jefferson Grubbs. Audiences around the country were fed the idea that Jurassic World was sexist in a variety of different ways before its release, which gave movie goers the expectation that they would view sexism. A major criticism of the movie, according to Grubbs, is the fact that Claire is sporting high heels through the entirety of it. Bryce Dallas Howard was actually the main proponent of sticking with the heels according to Director Collin Trevorrow in an interview saying that “she felt like surrendering the heels felt like surrendering the femininity of the character.” Grubbs insists that the true hero of the movie is indeed Claire. Yes, Owen trained the raptors that fight the Indominus Rex, but Claire Kills the Dimorphodon about to kill Owen, drives her nephews to safety when being chases by raptors and also has the presence of mind to release the T-Rex while Owen lies helplessly defeated. Grubbs realizes that Owen is a loveable character and he isn’t refuting that, but that does not mean Claire’s “career driven” character is something to be viewed negatively. Claire runs the most successful amusement park in the world and still has the bravery and “problem solving ability to save lives.” “Heroes don’t have to sport machineguns to be feminist.”

O’Neil, Tyler. “Jurassic World Sexist Claims Don’t Stand Up to Scrutiny.” DailySignal, The Heritage Foundation, 19 June 2015, http://dailysignal.com/2015/06/19/jurassic-world-sexism-claims-dont-stand-up-to-scrutiny/. Accessed 18 Oct. 2016.

O’Neil’s argument towards the accusations of Jurassic World being sexist is that “feminist have to twist the story to make them work.” He finds it ridiculous that doctor Grant’s “newfound” love for children in Jurassic Park, its natural, but when a woman does it, it’s sexist. He argues that Jurassic World doesn’t force the idea that a woman’s place in the world is as mothers and wives, it simply shows at the conclusion that Claire “has a boyfriend and stronger ties with her family.” Owens does help build Claire’s character —as feminist are very critical of in the film industry— but she herself, discovers it. O’Neil admits that Claire is not the stereotypical “strong female character brought to appease feminist,” but she ultimately saves the day and realizes the importance of relationships and family. The only negative of her character is that she is a workaholic, but her discovering the importance of relationships is not, in itself, sexist.

Ryan. “Think Jurassic World Is Sexist? Let Me Tell You Why That’s Ridiculous.” FilmFad, 15 June 2016, http://www.filmfad.com/jurassic-world-sexist-let-me-tell-you-why-thats-ridiculous/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2016.

Jurassic World is sexist? This statement does nothing more than “draw controversy” in todays “point the finger culture” according to Ryan. Chris Pratt’s character does show traces of Chauvinism in the scene between him and Bryce Dallas Howard’s character, but Ryan insist it may be needed for the plot. Showing Owen’s dominance or alpha personality is crucial to be realistic in making him a true alpha to the raptors he trains. This dominant attitude can easily be “misconstrued as chauvinistic or sexist,” but this scene establishes him as a dominant man not only toward women but men as well —he reacts similarly towards his boss Mr. Hoskins. “The traits of his character clearly stem from animalistic traits of nature not sexism.” The author states that drawing comparisons between Claire and Dr. Sattler is unfair to women in acting by establishing limits. Maybe Dr. Sattler of Jurassic Park satisfies a group of women because she is a more respectable character, but the author argues, why is it ok to “chastise someone for stereotyping yet its ok to establish a stereotype to follow?” Claire and Sattler are two different characters, so it’s not appropriate or fair to draw comparisons, and when an actor takes on a character’s traits, “that’s called acting.”

Simon, Benjamin. “Don’t Be So Quick to Call Jurassic World Sexist — A Feminist’s Perspective.” Inquisitr, The Inquisitr News, 28 June 2016, http://www.inquisitr.com/2208980/dont-be-so-quick-to-call-jurassic-world-sexist-a-feminists-perspective/. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016.

Simon—a feminist herself— doesn’t feel that it is fair to label Jurassic World sexist “simply because it falls victim to a formulaic plot.” She believes that the industry can be at times sexist, but says that it is “irrational” to expect every movie to be released to follow guidelines for feminism for the sake of “perpetuating feminism.” Claire isn’t a flashy feminist hero and Simon realizes that, but it’s also not fair to make certain character traits unavailable to writers. She asks if gender equality is so important that if many films follow a traditional plot with traditional characters, must throw them out? There are people of both genders who “defy” traditional gender roles, but asking Hollywood to deny the use of the traditional characters to simply “prove a point” is to ignore a “substantial portion” of the population. “The only thing Jurassic World is guilty of is resorting to familiar stereotypes.”

Stern, Marlow. “Jurassic World: A Big, Dumb, Sexist Mess.” DailyBeast, The Daily Beast Company LLC, 10, June 2015, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/06/10/jurassic-world-a-big-dumb-sexist-mess.html. Accessed 17 Oct. 2016.

Stern labels himself as a fan of the franchise and expresses his excitement for the new Jurassic instalment, but describes the film as being very bad. He builds on Writer/Director Joss Whedon’s comments of it being “70s era sexist” with describing the plot to be about a woman who climbs out from an “icy-cold, selfish corporate shill into a considerate wife and mother.” Claire is a career driven woman with no time on her hands so she shoos her nephews away—who were in town for a visit— and when the children are in need of help, she finds a man to save them and protect her. During the task of saving the nephews Claire begins to “loosen up” from some of Owens “sweet talkin’,” at which time she rolls up her sleeves and ties her shirt in a bow. Stern also notes that through all of the mayhem she is still in her high heels. His interpretation is that after some near death experiences and a kiss from Owen, Claire decides to “sever” her ties with her job, and the conclusion of the film really “hammers home” the “path to motherhood.” Claire was a successful woman in the amusement park business—which is seen as unattractive in the movie— and Stern believes the film pushes the idea that marriage and motherhood is the way women should inhabit this planet. He concludes by stating “embracing femininity”— referring to Director Trevorrows defensive response to the accusations about Claire’s character—doesn’t mean choosing “motherhood and a man over a successful career.”

Although Jurassic World had done something previous films hadn’t been able to do at the box office, some say the film had done something all too familiar. Bryce Dallas Howard plays the character of Claire who has been analyzed since the movie’s release for being placed in the plot a very traditional or sexist way. This whole fire storm started after Joss Whedon’s comment that a clip from the film was “70s era sexist,” leading reviewers and movie goers across the world to expect the claims to hold true. In his view and many others, Claire is a selfish workaholic without close ties to family or a man, which is to be perceived negatively. To the critics, the plot supposedly pushes conservative views that women shouldn’t be caught up in the rough and tumble of corporate business, but should be soft sweet mothers and wives to the ones they love. This image is quite different to its true predecessor, Jurassic Park (1993). According to Marlow Stern, Jurassic Park didn’t have any of this “gendered nonsense” when it came to their female cast and, actually, they played just as big a part. Dr. Sattler and Lex helped save the day and they looked strong in doing so, unlike Claire. It’s discussed that actors play pre-constructed characters who carry that character’s traits, so is it ok to compare two very different types of female characters to try to prove a point about sexism in Hollywood? It seems that the sexist claims laid right in front of our eyes can’t be disputed, but there are many that believe that those claims are utterly ridiculous. Some on the other side —including feminist— don’t believe the claims provide the right perspective of the character and that Claire is actually the hero of the film. Arguing who is the hero and who is dumped by the wayside is kind of child’s play, but much of the opposition to the sexist claims believe that “they are looking for something that isn’t even there”. There are instances in the plot that can be viewed as sexist and they most certainly are pointed out, but even moderate opposition believes that, at worst, the Jurassic World plot is guilty of following a “cliché” formula for their female characters. Neither side believes that Howard’s character is a shining example of what it is to be a feminist hero, but maybe it is important to examine both sides of the argument to pursue what messages it may be sending to women and those in the film industry.