This task was to learn about stereotypes and to find a film opening that shows a stereotype of a specific type of person.
Stereotype - A fixed but simple idea of a type of person or thing.
Archetype - The ultimate stereotype.
Countertype - A representation that challenges the stereotype.
Representation - The way in which people, events, and ideas are represented/shown to the audience.
The opening scene of the Romantic Comedy 'Life As We Know It' shows stereotypes of both males and females.
The woman in the opening is dressed up nicely for her date whereas the man has not made as much of an effort. Women are often represented as the sex that care more about how they look. The woman also puts more effort into other things. For example, she was ready promptly, however 'Messer' was an hour late. She also seemed more interested in having a conversation compared to him; she was asking lots of questions but he was only giving short answers and not participating as much.
They also talk in a stereotypical way. The man makes comments that can be seen as flirtatious, which is seen as common for males, and the woman makes sarcastic comments. She also says things that she does not really mean, for example she says that they '...don't have to do this [the date]' but seems shocked when he agrees with her. This is a trait that is very cliché for females as many people joke that women often say one thing when they mean something else, or say things to challenge the person they are having a conversation with.
'Messer' is also a stereotype for men as he makes plans over the phone to meet another girl later in the evening. This is stereotypical because men are often said to have commitment issues and are known to have polygamous relationships.
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