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  • Essay / Pygmalion and Pretty Woman: Gender and Class Values ​​Revised

    Contextual attitudes and values ​​regarding gender and class in Pretty Woman (1990), directed by Garry Marshall, and Pygmalion (1913), written by George Bernard Shaw, are mainly maintained. in both texts, although minor adaptations were made to preserve contextual relativity. Gender power inequality clearly exists in both texts, while first and third wave feminism influenced individual plots differently. Class mobility proved more difficult during the Victorian period; however, the critical assessment of class stratification remained a sustained notion throughout the novel and play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Throughout Pretty Woman and Pygmalion, traditional gender hierarchies are maintained. Both explore the transformation of a poor, lower-class woman through the help of a wealthy, upper-class man. In Pretty Woman, Vivian relies on Edward for her income and her new lavish lifestyle. In the scene where Vivian calls Kit and reveals the offer she accepted, the cut between Vivian in the hotel suite and Kit in their apartment visually shows the change Vivian has already undergone through her connection with Edward . The scene in Kit's room consists of empty cans and takeout boxes scattered throughout the small, cluttered space. In comparison, Vivian is located in a spotlessly clean hotel suite, showing the difference between her undesirable past and her favorable present that was made possible thanks to Edward. Similarly, in Pygmalion, Professor Higgins and Pickering act as a means for Eliza to progress in society and break away from the cycle of poverty she was born into. Higgins says that "Pickering could put you there: he has a lot of money." " while discussing with Eliza about opening a florist shop. Men are wealthier and therefore have supremacy over major decisions and opportunities. Women are presented as living in patriarchal societies where they are dependent on powerful men to improve their own lifestyle However, various waves of feminism have characterized the female protagonist differently in Pretty Woman and Pygmalion. Sexual stereotypes of women are portrayed through Vivian's introduction in Pretty Woman, supported by editing decisions. and costumes. The camera framing presents her as a series of fragmented body parts clad only in lace lingerie, while depriving the viewer of a shot of her face. Combined with a soundtrack of "The Wild One." , the framing and music aim to dehumanize her character and portray her as a sexual figure Throughout the film, Vivian's sincere and childlike character is highlighted by images of her jumping on the bed and sitting up. legs crossed on the chair, illustrating his outspoken nature. Her gratuitous portrayal is reinstated to reinforce how her carnal profession misinterprets her authentic character, reflecting the ideologies of third wave feminism in which there was a heavy focus on the injustices seen regarding sexual stereotypes of women in the media and ingrained in society. Rather, Pygmalion explores the loosening of Victorian rigidity in the early 19th century, as women began to gain more independence from their male counterparts. Eliza's refusal to stay and marry Higgins is a representation of Shaw's feminist beliefs as it expresses.