ANALYSE THE REPRESENTATIONS OF GENDER IN BONNIE AND CLYDE. HOW DO KEY ELEMENTS OF FILM FORM ENHANCE THESE REPRESENTATIONS?
Arthur Penn is the director and supposed auteur, he takes the real-life event of bonnie and Clyde and makes it into a film in 1967 The film centres on the subject of the historical American bank robbers
Bonnie and Clyde in Texas of the 1930s. within this essay, ill be discussing how Arthur Penn, explores the art of film form to enhance the representations of gender within the 1930s and how the 1960s era of newfound liberty for women and others seeps into the film's agenda.
The film was made in 1967 which means it was released post hays code, therefore the boundaries which were in place before such as no televised nudity or adultery as a subject should be avoided and other taboo subjects and strict moral codes. Penn is already unleashing new unforeseen film footage to the public that is untamed and defiant to the past code of conduct. At the time in Hollywood (1960s) it was amidst of social changes for social inequalities such as the civil rights movement and women rights as well as hippie counter-culture. it's evident in bonnie and Clyde that Arthur Penn is influenced by the 1960s counter-culture in the film. Bonnie and Clyde are the pioneers of the Hollywood new wave era, typifies the movement in its daring subject matter and
unique editing and shooting techniques. specifically in the opening scene of Bonnie, its a close-up of her lips which could be interpreted as hunger, a hunger for something more than her
present existence. Bonnie's dissatisfaction with her situation is further emphasized as the
camera draws back from Bonnie's lips and we are given first a view of her face, and then her
naked body.
Moreover, her sexuality empowers her. Bonnie's nudity, sexuality, and autoeroticism dazzle Clyde. The last sequence of our
introduction to Bonnie is when she runs out to meet Clyde. Bonnie literally runs
away from home and the domestic sphere. Bonnie is struggling to find her own way in life, away from poverty and a dead-end
waitress job, and on the track of newfound fame and ultimately the love of Clyde. Bonnie
transforms into a woman who carries a gun, as well as herself, with confidence and heightened sexual awareness. Her sexual appetite is not satisfied, however, because her lover,
Clyde has sexual performance issues. “I ain’t no lover boy,” says Clyde when Bonnie makes
her first sexual advances toward him is characterized
from the very first images of her lips as a sexual object, something that men can play with
and manipulate for their own uses. She is not yet shown as a multidimensional person,
because that will be part of her cinematic journey to self-realization and liberation.
in the scene in which the barrel gang escape the authorities, but it was Blanche fault for getting caught, and bonnie screeches at Blanche, which adds more depth to Bonnie's character, but also showing she subverts the idea of what a woman would be like in the 1930s. in comparison to Blanche, Bonnie holds more 'masculine attributes such as being stern and careless, as well as being unmarried and a runner way, which is the opposite to Blanche who represents the typical women of her time, which is wedded and passive and subservient to her husband, this is seen in the scene Blanche then seek's shelter within Buck as the camera zooms and it becomes an extreme close up on Blanche's face laying on Buck's arms. This exposes how Blanche attempts to be a subservient woman to the societal expectations at the time and seeks comfort in a 'male' figure. As bonnie is shouting Clyde attempts to tell Bonnie to stop, but Bonnie immediately tells him to stop the car to speak to him; This is an example of Bonnie reclaiming her power within the couple and destroying any control Cylde had over Bonnie. The mise-en-scene within this scene adds to the shifting of the couple's feelings for each other as well as the power dynamic. Bonnie's white dress is starting to get dirty; emphasising this new change, whilst Clyde's clothes are getting lighter in colour; expressing how he is falling for Bonnie more. Arthur presents himself as an auteur of his time by showcasing bonnie as the protagonist, who is a woman subverting the stereotypical womanhood of the time and by making Blanche the antagonist, women of the past, not in line with the progressive nature.
in the scene in which bonnie visits her family, because she misses them this further extends bonnies character development from being Very sexualised, powerful and independent to
having Desperate love for her family and unhappiness at being away from them. this scene
has Very stylised cinematography, specifically Blue filter creating a dreamy, unreal feel. as well as Bonnie’s sleek hair and outfit, she is presenting her ideal self , the Black costume and limited conversation create the feel of a funeral, as the path she is on with Clyde and criminality leads to only one end, her death. Also Clyde’s announcement he will marry Bonnie, this scene may echo bonnie greatest desire and makes an active spectator question whether the scene is real. Lastly, her mum doesn't approve of Clyde 'you best keep running Clyde. Even with her mum's disapproval, Bonnie is still unable to let go of Clyde, even if it leads to her death, therefore bonnie it can be argued bonnie becomes reliant and subservient to Clyde. Bonnie's womanhood of wanting to be independent but also not cutting ties with Clyde shows contradictory gender role within her character but Arthur Penn did this on purpose to show women can be multidimensional beings on screen, even if in the midst of the hays code women were subject to the male gaze. Arthur Penn presents the protagonist Clyde as a typical masculine man, however, he emasculates him by giving him sexual performance issues, which also disrupts the stereotype that men are hungry for sex.
in conclusion, the film bonnie and Clyde, acts as a time-capsule of 1960s counter-culture and even though it based in the 1930s Arthur Penn utilises his skills to represent the fight for gender equality through subliminal messaging in the film, and as Auteur he encapsulates people who have gone against the grain of traditional living and normalises them in his film, which therefore creates social change.
