I switched the source I'm using for my Synthesis Essay. I'm now using "Cultural Generation of the New Butch-Femme" by Cathy Griggers from the book Film Theory Goes to the Movies. The annotation will be in a comment because my computer won't copy and paste into the blog
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Griggers, Cathy. "Cultural Generation of the New Butch-Femme." Film Theory
Goes to the Movies. Comp. Jim Collins, Hilary Radner, and Ava P. Collins. New York: Routledge, 1993. 129-141.
Cathy Griggers, in her article “Cultural Generation of the New Butch-Femme,” claims that the implicit message of the film Thelma and Louise contains lesbian subcontext, rather than just feminist undertones. Her central arguments focus on the analysis of various aspects of the film, including: the final kiss, packing, men, and the savings account. She further claims that these aspects contribute to what she deems, “cultural semiosis,” “the complex and variable process by which cultures produce signification and by which cultural subjects produce meanings from signs” (130). According to Griggers, the lesbian subcontext of the film is depicted as a “social condition rather than an ‘innate’ sexual orientation,” thus the film’s imagery and symbols reflect a culture-shaped lesbian relationship while maintaining a feminist tone to the work.
Griggers presents her information by delineating her article into subsections that focus on the various symbols within the film and how they contribute to the cultural representation of lesbian guided feminism. This method, she states, is called camp: “one (sub)versive reading practice that has a well-delineated history,” or a dissembling of the text to better understand its significance. By presenting the information in this way, Griggers clearly defines the aspects of the film she is evaluating and summarizes them into the greater thesis at the end of the article, with the heading “The Becoming-Butch Blues.” Many of her claims are based on the unconventional use of many themes throughout the film, as well as tracing the development of these symbols throughout the film. Her argument rests on “the social process of becoming-lesbian” and how these objects and situations contribute to the changing relationship between Thelma and Louise in the film. Essentially, she traces the progression of symbols in relation to the progression of status of these two women and how culture shaped this transformation. However, Griggers takes the argument too far. Though the film entertains contradictions that somewhat inhibit its feminist undertones, its aim is to present these feminist ideas, not to present a lesbian subtext. She does accurately reason the culture-shaped identities of these two women.
“By placing sexuality (signed by the kiss) after its cultural production, Thelma and Louise reminds its audiences that identity in the body is an outcome of the social production of identity as a body of signs constructed out of the real, material options one has at hand.” (140).
This quotation reflects how culture helps to shape and influence identity, specifically, within Thelma and Louise, the feminist transformation that is equated with their journey across the Southwest. Identity is highly influenced by the culture around us, which is important to my Researched Analysis Essay because I want to focus on how the interaction between culture and the film.
Thelma and Louise reflect two standard women in a changing social and historical context situated in the early 90’s. This film reflects changing cultural standards and an increasing influence of women in society. [Original quotation: “In a socio-historical context, Thelma and Louise takes on its particular meaning in relation to women’s changing social status and gender roles in the political economy of the United States after the Second World War. Thelma and Louise’s age is generally that of the white, post-war baby-boomer. Thelma is unhappily married, and Louise is single, reflecting the changing status of marriage for many women who grew up in the U.S. in the postwar period” (131)]
This quotation will be important to my Researched Analysis Essay because it presents analysis of historical information that shaped the film’s characters and their actions throughout the film. This historic background sets the stage for their transformations within the film and the reasons behind their actions. These women are trying to break ground for all women and the historical background indicates why this transformation is occurring and its importance.
Hmmm...so is Griggers arguing that the film implies that Thelma and Louise are lesbian lovers (or would become lovers if they had live)?
Or is she arguing that the filmmakers appropriate some of the signs and patterns that appear within "lesbian-guided feminism" for their own purposes? What is that purpose?
You sound unconvinced of the final argument--where does it fall apart? In the close readings? Elsewhere?
Some of the summary and quotation marks are missing page numbers.
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