Recently, I have been attracted by a TV Drama “飛女正傳”. Although it has just released for one week, I am very interested in its characters and story. Generally, the story is about a 30-years-old woman, 梁巧芝. She is a vice manager of the bank, and her requirements of man is high. However, she still can not compete with a young and beautiful lady in the bank. One day, she owns a mystery power to become a “super woman” by an accident. She meets and interacts with three ideal male characters – 簡明軒, 楊浩然, 徐永暉 in the following episodes.
After I watched five episodes of this drama, the most impressive section for me is the characters’ image. Their customs, hair style, behaviors etc, are the main factors to show the character’s characteristic. I will take梁巧芝 and楊浩然 as examples to further explain how the TV Drama shows the stereotype of the social groups.
梁巧芝 is representing the typical “港女”and “中女”. Her “pear body” is represent she is not young. Also, she always wears formal clothes and glasses, depict her as a well-educated office woman. In the TV drama, she selects man with high requirement and look down on men who are poorer than her. Till now, she still can not find a suitable husband.
After the transformation, 梁巧芝 becomes a very attractive “super woman”. She is beautiful, nice body ratio, thin and fashionable. There is an obvious contrast between before and after transformation.
楊浩然 always wears black clothes, trousers and sunglasses. His appearance and gesture are quite cool and clam. In episode four, he is dare to jump off the building to save 巧芝. He is depicted as clam, brave, masculine policeman.
These stereotypes are showing our general agreement on social groups such as policeman, “港女”and “中女”. This TV drama can make the audience think of the identity of the character through their clothing, behaviors, dialogue. Stereotypes make the social categories more visible.
In addition, the drama’s gender image and relationship is referring to our “world”. Firstly, the heated social topics of “港女”and “中女” have been shown in the drama to reflect our society. Secondly, 巧芝 feels so happy after transformation. Because she has a young and nice body which she does not have in her life. It presents that every women would like to be slim, fashionable, young etc. This is really presenting our perception of ideal women body in our world. Finally, drama reflects the gender relationship that men should better than women such as education, income, career. The three male characters are doctors, policeman and wealthy man. These kinds of men are a dream for women in reality.
Tsang sin Man, Crystal (10345015)
To avin:
ReplyDeleteThere is a problem with th picture. So, here is the website of photo instead of the original. http://img.tvb.com/ii/5/12302/000001230157_1271151293.jpg
Sorry for the technical problem :(
By Crystal
I am interested in this drama too (Ada Choy’s acting is very good)! The review has made good observations on the images of the main characters, and explored their gender relationships by applying concepts covered in class. The phenomenon of “middle-aged woman” can be further elaborated, as Yvonne (Ada Choy) embodies many cultural elements and symbolic meanings representing this social category. You may cite some particular scenes to illustrate your argument.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the image of policeman Yeung, his personality is much more complicated than what he looks like. He seems to be a tough and protective man, but there is another side of him (e.g., in episode five, his fear of height came back after being “challenged”by the “power” of Yvonne). What are the implications behind his character? Is that disturbing the typical gender images and power relationship perceived by the society?
Lastly, what do you feel after watching the so called “ stereotypical images” in the drama? Are there any alternative readings?