The document analyzes the character Steve Stifler from the film American Wedding. It provides both a dominant and alternative reading of Stifler. The dominant reading suggests that although Stifler is initially viewed as a self-centered asshole, over the course of the film he proves he has a soft side and cares about others, such as by helping find the bride's wedding dress and redoing the wedding flowers after ruining them. The alternative reading from a gay and lesbian perspective views Stifler as a stereotypical cisgender male focused on women and sex, but also suggests he shows hidden talents like dancing and has a journey to becoming more comfortable with his sexuality and image.

2. American Wedding is a Universal Pictures sequel to the
other American Pie movies. American Wedding is based
primarily on the Livingston wedding and the events leading
up to it. The groomsmen try and leave the wedding a secret
to where Stifler doesn’t have the chance to impose his
inappropriate behavior on the wedding. Stifler does
however find out about the wedding and Jim has no choice
but to put Stifler in the wedding. Stifler even helped
conquer some gay trouble, helping Jim find his future wife’s
dress maker. Steve Stifler causes some serious problems for
the wedding though. However, he didn’t give up on his
chance for the girl (The bride to be’s younger sister,
Cadence). He made sure he fixed the problem, resulting in
him eventually saving the wedding.

3. Dominant Reading
Steve Stifler (Sean William Scott) doesn’t come with a good name. From the feminist
point of view, you would would more than likely conclude Stifler is a self centered
asshole who only cares about himself and not the wedding. Right here he ruins
everything he has going with Cadence because of his gestures on what he intends to do
tonight. Conflict and Climax in this movie may change some of the views.

4. Dominant Reading cont.
If you look back on the film,
you can see Stifler helping
people. Jim didn’t know how
to Dance but Stifler took
dance classes when he was
younger. When watching the
film, I would consider a
cisgender and feminist
reading to be a bad ass with a
soft side. In order to uphold
his title as the stifmeister, he
would need to keep the softer
side hidden. You can later see
this in the climax.

5. Conflicts
This is the first main conflict occurring with Stifler. The boys set out to find Leslie
Summers, the bride to be’s dressmaker to see if he would make her dream dress.
The boys run across the location which turns out to be a gay bar. Stifler ends up in
a heated gay dance off to find out information about Leslie. Stifler had no idea he
was in a gay bar until after the dance off was over. Needless to say, he wasn’t
impressed.

6. Ending to dance off
In a way, One might think Stifler took one for the team by helping get to Leslie.
His dancing actually helped make the brides dreams come true by getting her
dream wedding dress. His cisgender reaction was probably typical in male. Most
would probably realize they were in a gay club though by the surroundings.

7. Alternative Reading
From a gay point of view, homosexuals would find Stifler to be a very
masculine cisgender man. He could also be considered to share some
homosexual traits in arts. In this case, Stifler proved he could dance with the
best of the gays. One would also conclude Stifler to be homophobic. He
wasn’t impressed at the end when he found out he was in a gay bar dancing
with a homosexual man. Also, from a gay and lesbian point of view, you could
prove Stifler to be comfortable with his sexuality, except his hidden art of
dancing. He clearly proves he is all about women and his sex life.

8. Conflict
This is the main and most significant
scene in the movie for the image of
Stifler. Stifler went into the flower
fridge before his date with Cadence,
which was ruined when he was caught
making gestures. He flicked switches
which tripped the fridge. All the
flowers ended up getting ruined and
Stifler was left with a choice by his
groomsmen to tell him to leave. He
was upset by the fact and didn’t let it
end his hopes on Jim and Michelle
having a great wedding.

9. Climax
The ending really saved the image for Stifler. He didn’t give up after his
mistake. He dropped his bad boy image and found the soft spot in his heart to
do what's right. He found the flower shop and had them redo the flowers over
night in time for the wedding. When Jim and Michelle arrived to the venue,
Stifler was arranging a beautiful theme of flowers. Both couldn’t believe it.
Stifler saved their wedding after nearly ruining it. Sometimes bad guys can turn
into good guys.

10. Closure
In the end, the protagonist Stifler was able to fix his mistakes and win over
Cadence. He realized he liked her and was able to do something he is horrible at.
Stifler actually apologized and gave a girl flowers for real meaning. This really
changes views. In the beginning he was a total jackass, wanting Cadence for her
looks. After he lost what he thought he had, he realized he couldn’t be without
her. He still wanted in her pants but at least he wanted more, unlike before.

11. Dominant Reading Summary
The protagonist Stifler had a bad name but
managed to improve on his view from others. A
cisgender point of view would consider Stifler a
self-centered asshole who cares about himself.
He changed that image though. He managed to
prove that he actually cared. He survived a gay
dance off to get Michelle a dress. He had all the
flowers redone after ruining them. He won back
his girl with true affection and not some fake
crap like the past. The best way to sum up the
dominant reading for Stifler would be to say,
bad guys are often soft guys who feel like they
need to act like bad asses in order to get respect
from their peers. It’s this typical cisgender
masculine feeling that often promotes a bad
view from feminist points. Feminist women
would also agree he has a soft side. He proved
this, but Stifler has a Mr. bad ass image which
does him no good, which he realizes in the end.

12. Alternative Reading Summary
From a gay and lesbian point of view, Stifler
would be considered a stereotypical cisgender
male. He’s all about his women and will do
whatever it takes to get laid and have attention.
In the end he turns his image around to a point.
You could also say he is comfortable with his
sexuality for the most part. He is a little put off
by gays but it betters towards the end, as his
whole self image does. You get the vibe he is a
man who cares about his image and that’s why
he only shows the bad boy side and not the
hidden arts side where he can dance with the
best of the gays. Gays and Lesbians would highly
view him as a stereotypical cisgender man.
That’s the best alternative reading for Stifler’s
image. He’s all about women, and getting laid.
Even his soft side leads to wanting to get laid
and this confirms the stereotyping from gays
and feminists.