Research Scedule

Alright, the time has come to create a research schedule. This will not be a very easy task as my work schedule is not constant, varies greatly, and is not given to me until the Thursday before the next week starts.

 Even though I had less work hours this week, I am currently sitting at my cousin’s birthday party working on homework for three of my classes. That’s just the start of it because life is a little busy right now. That being said, I cannot create a schedule that is “set in stone”. The tentative plan is to be spending a least an hour on my project during the weekdays (more if time will allow) and one or two free day a week where I power through 4+ hours of working. I work best when I really sit down and spend a lot of time on something.  I also plan on spending time with my instructor to ask a lot of questions before some classes. 

Analyzing a "Tangled" Scene: Part 2

Rapunzel is about to turn 18 at the start of the movie. In today’s society, 18 is considered the starting age of becoming an adult. In the time period that Tangled takes place in, 18 was well into adulthood due to the life expectancy being so low. Despite this, Gothel treats Rapunzel as if she were a baby or young child. In the beginning of the song she says to Rapunzel “look at you, as fragile as a flower. Still a little sapling, just a sprout”. Towards the end of the song she even uses a word commonly used with young children. She says, “I'm just saying cause I wuv you”. In both cases as well as with the entire song, Gothel is speaking to Rapunzel, a full grown woman, as if she is a young child.

Analyzing a "Tangled" Scene: Part 1

The first scene I have decided to analyze using the critical model begins with Rapunzel asking Gothel, who she thinks is her mother, to leave the tower she has been in for all of her life. The scene consists of a song Gothel sings called “Mother Knows Best”. In the song she lists many reasons why she believes Rapunzel should not leave the safety of the tower. I found that the scene is full of infantialization and objectification.

Gothel views Rapunel as merely an object she uses to keep herself young. While she pretends to have mother-like traits, her true intentions still shine through when does things such as caressing Rapunzel’s hair rather than Rapunzel.

The Model

In This entry I will discuss the critical model as I understand it. The model studies how women are viewed by others and themselves and how these views affect women. The model focuses on studying stereotyping, objectification and infantilization. It looks to views found in a society for these things.

I have chosen for my analysis to focus on stereotypes found within the movie Tangled. I believe this is the best topic because I will be able to include all of the other topics women’s studies focuses on within it. I look forward to discovering some interesting things about scenes in the movie and will report my findings here soon.

Updates

 To anyone keeping an eye on this blog, I apologize for taking so long to post again. I have been very busy with work and some important social events. Luckily this week, I only have 12 hours scheduled at work so I will be able to focus a little more on school.

Anyways, here is what has been going on with my research project:

1. My instructor believes I should focus on stereotypes rather than my art idea. I like the idea and it should be easier to back up with research.

2.    I am awaiting approval of my new topic choice from the instructor. It was stated in the project proposal I feel I did well on. This was my thesis: “With this research paper, I wish to explore the various stereotypes found in Tangled and how they may affect society today”. 

3. I must begin the search for resources on women’s studies. I am slightly worried about it, however, because the instructor was not clear on how long we would be able to keep the books we borrow. I feel they will be necessary to have until very close to the day we turn in the final essay but we will not be able to keep them that long. What if I go to renew a book and someone else needs it? Semester-long projects never fail to stress me out.