Male domination was inevitable and legitimate that reinforced the idea of male hegemony. Masculinity means having both physical and social power, over both public and private (Shaughnessy, Stadler. 2002). For example, Shrek was powerful and strong that he fought against the soldier and the fairy. He also dominated the decision making process that he was the one to choose drinking the portion or not. Shrek also showed his rationality over emotions that he did not cry throughout the film (Shaughnessy, Stadler. 2002). Moreover, after Donkey became a father, he said “I should find a job”, which implied he was the financial support of the family. Puss also showed his brotherhood and bonding in helping Shrek, his boss, to fight against the soldier. Furthermore, it was obvious that all heroes in the film were male. Shrek, Gingerbread, Pinocchio, Puss, Donkey, the King…etc. all of them were portrayed as brave and active heroes. Thus they were true men and having masculine identity (Shaughnessy, Stadler. 2002). Patriarchal value was dominating the film, which legitimize the superior position of men.
Passive female characters suit into the subordinate positions of the binary opposition as being natural and correct. Firstly, female were repeatedly depict as passive and emotional characters. For example, Fiona wrote in her diary that she was waiting passively for a prince to rescue her and her usual method to express her emotion was dropping tears. Donkey’s wife was said to be emotional and moody at the beginning of the film, who created troubles to Donkey. Secondly, family and love were what female wanted most, which link up female with motherhood. Such as, when the Queen talked about Fiona having babies with Shrek, both Shrek and the king reacted negatively, but the Queen and Fiona seemed passively accepted this idea. The Queen and the fairy both cared about their children, that the Queen said “I don’t want to lose my daughter”, and the fairy was trying her best to protect her son. These showed that family was natural and important to a female. Furthermore, the lyrics of “Holding out for a hero” (see appendix II) sang by the fairy during the wedding stated the passiveness of a female in waiting for a brave and handsome young male. Thirdly, female was portrayed as partners of men or sex object. Although the fairy was old, her body figure was nice with big breast and white skin. The women who surrounded human Shrek were depicted as young, attractive, and sexually desirable (Rayner, Wall & Kruger. P84). The film identify women how they should perform within a patriarchal world. Therefore, female acted as inferior sex object with a subordinate position.
Female was tried to depict as superior in the film, however it failed and further legitimized the subordinate position of women. Firstly, Fiona seemed to be knowledgeable that she realized Prince Charming was not Shrek, but actually she has no power and ability to fight against the evil. Male were the one who can save her, thus she was only a passive character under the control of the fairy. Secondly, the fairy seemed to dominate the king and has the power to control him, but actually she was betrayed by the king at last, which showed her ignorance. The king was actually active and in a superior position, on the other hand, the fairy was inferior and the loser. The failure of the film to challenge femininity legitimized and further reproduced the subordinate position of women.
In conclusion, media are a powerful means of shaping people attitudes and beliefs. The subordinate position of female in the film is presented to the people as a reflection of the “real world” (Rayner, Wall & Kruger). It only has limited success in challenging male and masculine power in society. Repeated hegemonic masculinity representations in the film naturalize, reproduce and legitimize the dominant position of men and the subordination of women.
Reference
Cranny-Francis Anne, Waring Wendy, Stavropoulos Pam and Kirkby Joan. “Gender Studies”. Terms and Debates. P1-17. 2003.
Giddens, A. 2001. Sociology, 4th ed. Cambridge : Polity.
O’ Shaughnessy, Stadler Jane. “Media and Society”. An introduction, 2nd ed. Oxford. P238-257. 2002.
Rayner Philip, Wall Peter & Kruger Stephen. “Media studies”. The essential introduction. P44 – 85. 2001.
Lyrics Keeper. “Shrek 2 sound track”. Http://www.lyricskeeper.com/shrek_2_soundtrack-lyrics.htm. Browsed on 28 April 05.
The internet movie database. “Shrek 2”. Http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0298148/. Browsed on 28 April 05.
Appendix I - Fairy Godmother Song by Jennifer Saunders
Your fallen tears have called to me, so here comes my sweet remedy.
I know what every princess needs for her to live life happily.
With.. just a wave of my magic wand your troubles will soon be gone.
With a flick of the wrist in just a flash, you land a prince with a ton of cash,
A high priced dress made by mice no less!
Some crystal glass pumps and almost dressed!
Worries will vanish your soul will cleanse
Confide in your very own furniture friends
We'll help you set a new fashion trend!
I'll make you fancy, I'll make you great!
The kind of gal a prince would date
They'll write your name on the bathroom wall
MALE VOICE: For happy ever after- give Fiona a call!
A sporty carriage to ride in style. A sexy man-boy chauffer Kyle.
Vanish your blemishes, tooth decay.. celulite thighs will fade away
A hool and a hey! Have a Bichon Frise
And oh, what the hey... have a Bichon Frise!
Nip and tuck here and there, to land that prince with the perfect hair.
Lipstick liners, shadow blush! to get that prince with a sexy tush.
Lucky day, hunk buffet
For the lipstick a roll in the hay
You can swoon on the moon with the prince to this tune
Don't be drab, you'll be fab
Your prince will have rock-hard abs
Cheese souflee
*something unintelligible, maybe Valentine's Day?*
Have some chicken fricassee
Appendix II - Holding out For A Hero by Jennifer Saunders
Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn and I dream of what I need
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night
he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
and he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light
He's gotta be sure and he's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life
Larger than life
Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasies
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet
Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning strikes the sea
I would swear that there's someone somewhere watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
and the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood
Repeat chorus x 2
Appendix III – Shrek 2 VCD & Songs