Miss Representation

The overall aim of this documentary is well received. It's clear what the subject is and it makes its points clearly. But the editing and production was a little confusing at times, and I found the narration of the producer to be at times not really related to the context. I understand the role of bringing it back to a newly born child. I also felt there could have been a greater emphasis on what society should do, not just on women lifting women up. As a mother of boys, I felt that part was missing. Overall though, really good work

Miss representation is a film that does not say anything that people who were interested in feminism did not already know before but yet still sends a powerful message. Just the other day I was asked why the media should change when they are making so much money off of the objectification and stereotypes of women and this film shows viewers exactly why. This movie highlights what an extremely powerful and dangerous tool the media is in how young women come to view themselves and their standing in the world. This documentary shows multiple examples of how women are portrayed in extremely sexual ways almost to be viewed as objects, and when they are not being treated like sexual objects they are being treated with extreme violence in the media. This documentary not only highlights how fictional female characters are being portrayed but also how some of the most powerful and respected women today, such as Hillary Clinton, are completely ignored for what they have accomplished and instead just ridiculed for how they look. Some of you may be wondering what the big deal is that the media portrays women this way and this documentary will serve you well because it shows that the media's representation of women directly effects not only how other people treat women, but also how young women come to look at themselves, and also feeds directly into what women are taught to value about themselves, looks over brains. The media may not be the only thing that feeds into the constant degradation of women but this movie illustrates to the viewer that changing the way that women are represented could be an important first step in the fight for equality.

First off - I'm a guy. Albeit a guy who had graduate level feminist media theory classes 20 years ago - I'm a guy none-the-less. And I think people who know me would probably consider me "a guy's guy" overall.

The film is filled with much of what we studied in graduate school in the early 90s. So I guess there was a lot of "no duh" moments for me in it. But if it opens some people's eyes then it's worth it. The messages are essential to the health of our daughters, sons and country as a whole. Many of what I thought were the most important parts of the film were "glossed over," but that may be my view/perspective. For example, to me THE MOST important point in the film is that TV shows are essentially "made for men 18-34." Why - because that demographic doesn't really watch TV unless they're driven to the set somehow. TV show creators don't worry about women - because women watch TV anyway.

Think about that - most of us can agree that most of what's on TV is crap. And yet, the people who make TV don't worry about losing the female audience at all. Until women turn off the crap on TV, I doubt that will change.

Hit or miss (no pun intended) outing for a first time director. Great messages, important content, mediocre execution. Probably too much "sexual imagery" for me to let my 12 year old daughter watch it - but soon. And everyone over 15 should be aware of the subject matter. This is as good a way as any.

I just wanted to write a response to the Review floating around from TVGUY that said it was "OK". First off, just because you're showing images of sexualized women, doesn't mean it's going against what the film is for. THEY'RE showing you the exact images that are being consumed by the masses, and THEN backing it up with evidence of how detrimental it is to women and men. If you don't want your girl seeing it in the context of it being negative then that's your prerogative; but at least they aren't glamorizing it... you think your little girl won't see it somewhere else? It's basically PLASTERED in our minds.

This was a great movie... it broke down the stereotypes and misogyny in the industry and really dissects the machine that controls the masses; media. Not only does it focus on Women's oppression, but also on the monopoly that the media has become... it's quite scary how controlling and how much dominance this institution has on the masses and consequently the public realm and government. This is no man hating by any means, they even draw the connections on how men are oppressed because of the oppression of women. EVERYONE should watch this... truly enlightening. If you think misogyny and female oppression is the only thing the Machine pushing and is the only problem going on then you're wrong... Oppression and violence will not be rid of in societies until we begin to hold the media and said institutions accountable. Anything corporations get a hold of turns into complete crap. Start thinking with your own minds, maybe then will you truly live a happy life and provide a safe place for both daughters AND sons.

"Miss Representation" makes some very good points, but the execution was a bit of a turnoff. That opening strings score while statistics are being thrown on to the screen borders on fear-mongering, and Jennifer Newsom cuts in throughout with a somber voice-over. The front end of this thing skews melodramatic.

Eventually, the documentary settles into the material, and it makes a solid argument. The shocking double standard of judging (and prizing) women differently than men in the media, the teenagers who work overtime to fit a media ideal. It's an engaging piece.

This is worth it if you can get beyond the clumsy opening. I have a child of my own, and I can empathize with Newsom in worrying about the world in which she'll grow up. It's just that the motherhood aspect was shoe-horned into the documentary.

6/10