PLEASE HELP- A level media students, representation of Bond Girls
Timmers09
Posts: 8MI6 Agent
We are avid Bond Fans and are studying for our A levels, we have decided to base our Critical Research on Bond Girls. Our question is "Has the portrayal of women in Bond films changed with time?" I was wondering if anyone had any opinion, idea, quotes, sourses or anything it would be much appriciated.
Tim and Alex
Tim and Alex
Comments
By the way,none of the actresses ever said that they disliked appearing in a James Bond film or felt that their roles were somehow demeaning.Their individual opinions are all quite interesting,however.
A good university library should have this book in it's collection.If it's not available in your school,you might consider requesting it via an interlibrary loan.
Good luck on the paper.
Ahhh yes. Those grueling hours spent slaving away in the lab ...
*Sigh* How I miss my college years.
In reality, though, many of Ian Fleming's female characters (the original Bond girls) are notable for their lack of... I don't know... "feminine subordination?"
Honey Rider seemed socially inexperienced, and yet she was literally an encyclopedia of knowledge. Domino stands out for her brash attitude. Vivienne Michel is extraordinarily adventurous, if a bit romantic. Many of the literary Bond girls are described as "driving like men," Fleming's 1950s way of saying they broke free from the subordinate feminine mold.
People get really excited about characters like Jinx, who supposedly show how far Bond girls have come by having one who's also an agent - "Bond's equal." I believe these people overlook the fact that the very first Bond girl, Vesper, worked for the government herself.
I don't want to demean the underlying cause. I think, generally, the traditional role of women in the 50s and 60s needed to change; equality was a necessary but difficult fight. I believe we stand in a better place today than we did when the Bond novels were written, and when the first films were made. The CONTEXT of the stories has changed drastically, but I don't think the women have become any stronger or occupied any more valuable a role in the stories, especially in relation to the social context.
In most of the Bond stories, the Bond girl plays some real role in the plot/action. Even Tatiana Romanova, whose job was to look beautiful to lure Bond into the trap, is (literally) given a shot to seriously affect the storyline at the end of the movie.
Finally, who can forget those strongest of characters who, incidentally, are classified as "Bond Girls." May Day, Xenia, Octopussy, Pussy Galore and, especially, Tracy. Sure, they're nice to look at, but so is Bond (from what I'm told)...
Anything to do with the representation of bond girls?
If its changed within time?
Favourite Bond Girl and why?
PLEASEEE!
Many thanks
Tim