Movie Analysis of Gender Stereotyping: Antz
In the movie 'Antz', we encountered blatant examples of prejudice based on three societal classifications: race, class, and gender. This movie appeared to be completely unintentional in the portrayal of the stereotypes, yet it is the completely benign nature of their usage which is of interest. Did Dreamworks SKG draw up the plot and characters around these stereotypes to draw the audience closer and encourage acceptance, or are these characteristics so deeply ingrained that they appeared haphazardly? Likely, we will never know, but the appearance of this phenomena is cause for interest.
The movie showed instances of gender stereotyping most strongly. Starting with the women characters, there is a laundry list of notable instances, but I will only name a few. We can start with Azteca, Z's friend and fellow "worker". While Z is a typical male who is competitive and wants to move up in the world, Azteca maintains a somewhat "typical" female response.
Film poster for Antz
Stereotypes Anyone?
Antz RacingInstead of encouraging him, she tells Z to just smile, and happily accept his place, even if it is an awful life where he is to literally digging ditches his whole life. This example simply highlight the stereotype that women can, in effect, be "yes men", the phrase further illustrating the perception of weakness in females. Another time when this theme appeared was when the Queen was talking to her daughter, who was, in an old-school sort of way, betrothed to a man not of her choosing, the general. While the daughter complained, the Queen simply urged her to be complacent, and accept her fate, because it is "the best thing for everyone". Another instance, and one which I found particularly hilarious, was the woman wasp(no coincidence there, of course). When Z and the princess were in...