2. How women are represented in North by
Northwest's Eve kendall and Avengers Blackwidow
I have chose to study two different scenes that both show different ways in women
are presented in film industry. Eve Kendall stars in North by Northwest 1959,
played by Eva Marie Saint and maybe shows a dated but interesting view on
women. However Black Widow played by Scarlett Johansson shows a more
modern and shows a different representation of women in some ways. She is
featured in the Avengers films from 2012 and onwards.
5. Avengers Assemble Black Widow
The scene starts with a Cane shot that rises to reveal dark warehouse with Black Widow held captive and
being intimidated by group of men. Lighting is used to shine on her and keep the men around her in the
shadows instantly showing us she is a hero held under the power of these men. She is seen to be wearing
revealing/sexualised clothing which could be showing us signs of a femme fatale character however she is
currently being dominated by the male characters.
Lots of low angle shots are used to look up at the male and down at her. This represents the male
characters power and dominance they have over Black Widow conforming to genre conventions of males
being stronger and more controlling. The men carry on too intimidated her and the use of props, their
torture weapons are used to show how they control over the situation. All of a sudden the situation
changes when a random phone call comes in to put a stop the men after they know she has backup. It
moves into a fight scene and she shows the men who is boss. She swiftly takes out all the men and the
power is instantly given to her showing breaking the genre conventions and now showing her as femme
fatale with a hidden source of power. However the scene finishes with Black Widow picking her heels
walking off and not choosing to wear them showing that she isn't a stereotypical femme fatale as she
rejects to wearing them.
6. North by Northwest scene Eve kendall
Throughout the scene Eve Kendall is seen as both a weak victim and a powerful woman.This scene
begins with Eve Kendell entering the building with a man who has tight hold of her. She seems to be
under his control and follows him like some kind of animal would do on a leash. Eve is dressed in a full
back outfit, looking like she is ready for a funeral and this would point towards that the male has picked
this outfit out for her ,this is a semantic code. The two men continue to watch over her and command her
throughout this scene presenting her as a stereotypical weak victim. However a long shot is used to show
Eve talking to the undercover C.I.A boss. This instantly shows us that something is going on between
them and she may have a hidden source of power. She is then shown to be pulled back by the hero
Rodger Thornhill but then she pulls out a gun and takes the shot presenting her real power. However this
then puts her in the position of looking like she is a villain but this goes against everything we have already
seen but the audience know there is something more to this . She quickly runs away to her car (cream
white, connotations of purity), and there is a shot used that looks up towards the monument looking down
at her with blue sky’s in the background maybe showing that they approve of her doing putting her in a
better light and sines of an undercover hero. We later find out that the shot fired at Rodger was a fake
revealing to the audience that she actually a powerful woman as she has tricked the two overpowering
men. This goes against most stereotypes of women especially in the 50s when views of women being a
second class citizen were even stronger .
7. Comparison
Even though these two pieces were made over 50 years apart there are many
similarities between them to how these women are presented. They both show
women who have a hidden source of power and use it to there advantage to get
out of intimidating situations. However Blackwidow is seen to use more violence
and fast paced action which is more commonly seen in thrillers today, whereas
Eve uses her knowledge to outsmart and trick the the villain. However Eve Kendell
helps to build more tension as an enigma code is created after we think Roger is
dead and Black Widow goes straight into action showing her dominate as a
female.
