Grease
"Why this car is auto-matic. It's system-matic.
It's hydro-matic. Why, it's greased lightening!"
The movie I chose to watch was the 1978 film, Grease. Growing up this movie was one of my all time favorites. I have been reciting the catchy tunes that accompany the film for years and until this test, I have never actually thought about what I was saying and or watching. Obviously I knew some of the events and discussions that took place in the movie were not exactly what one could say as, "a lifestyle American high schoolers should strive for," but none the less I never took into account what I was watching fully until watching it from the view of a GWS class.
This movie follows the young love of two high school teens who fall madly in love during the summer and believe that they will never again see one another. As a viewer you are swept into the lives of Sandy, played by Olivia Newton- John and her lover, Danny, played by John Travolta, as they unexpectedly reunite at their high school. You are introduced to countless friends of each individual and are taken on a journey into their lives as well, battling the sometimes unfair realities of adolescence. (side note: some of the events that happen in the movie are unrealistic and dramatized)
The movie has many female characters who all are seen multiple times throughout the film. Some of them are more well known than other's, but each time you are always given the name of the female who is shown on screen. I believe because of this, the movie passes the first question on the list of criteria. 'The Pink Ladies' which consists of Rizzo, Frenchy, Jan, and Marty are all very close friends. When Sandy comes into the picture, Frenchy takes her under her wing and helps her get acquainted with the in's and out's of the school. As a result this also passes the second question regarding if the women talk to one another. As for the last question, I had troubles making a concrete decision if the movie passed the test or not. For the most part the girls all talk about the men or lack there of in their lives. A very slim few times do they bring up anything other than men, such as when Frenchy decides to go to beauty school. With that being said, I came to the conclusion that the movie did not pass the test as a result.
The movie is no where close to being a feminist movie. It does not portray women as being independent or being able to fend for themselves in any way. The men in the movie often take advantage of the women by focusing on their outward appearance and the sexual aspects that accompany this. The boys's group, otherwise known as ' T Birds', is always looking to capitalize on their next advancements toward the women. I especially noticed parts of the discussion we had in class about the images seen in magazines and commercials. The women in the movie are always concerned with their self image and even change it at times to "get the guy". Sandy at the end of the movie does this. She becomes more of a 'greaser' to appeal to Danny's senses, when in all reality he did the same to for her. This test was a very eye opening experience because though I had already known most of this, I never actually took a second to think about the way it truly is at times a dig on females.
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