Female Protagonists.

Female Protagonists.

Within our film opening, we were not sure whether to have a female protagonist or a male protagonist. Females are presented in many different ways within films, usually through being weak and vunderable, and the ones who always need saving. We wanted to look at different female characters who have subverted these expectations, as we feel that having a strong and dominant female protagonist could subvert the genre of our theme completely. 

Salt - Evelyn Salt

Usually women are portrayed to be dependant on male authority in a work based environment, but within this film Evelyn Salt, is a CIA Agent, who has been set up and accused of being a double agent. Being completely dependant on her own skills she has learnt as a agent, she goes on the run to prove her innocence to her country. Evelyn Salt's actions completely subvert her gender, as we do not expect the amount of skills in which she has to be used, to kill agents in which are pursuing her. Salt shows that she is not a character in which should be messed with, and one in which does not need saving. 

With the complete dependance on herself, it subverts the simplest stereotype that women are weak and vulnerable, showing her highly skilled ability to work and cope in severe situations. Salt shows the headstrong, but violent side to women, in which we do not simply expect, thus subverting the gender previous stereotypical views. 

In our film opening, if we were to use a character alike Evelyn Salt, they would need to have the qualities of a headstrong individual, with a violent but skilled nature, and a unstable background. This could work well with our genre, as if we have a female protagonist with these strong characteristics, we could completely change the stereotypical views of women being killed and weak within horror movies, and also subvert the stereotypical views of women. 

Elizabeth Swan - Pirates of the Caribbean

Elizabeth Swan in the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels is a typical girly type character who's life is drastically changed when she falls in love with a pirate, Will Turner. Elizabeth is a typical upperclass daddy's girl, who is used to getting everything that she wants. But as this film progresses we see Elizabeth's character become more complex as she fights for the ones she loves, and their survival. As she is a strong upperclass figure, she is subverting the audience's perception on upper class women, of which they believe to be set in their ways, and not willing partaking in any form of physical violence. Alike Evelyn Salt, Elizabeth is a headstrong figure in which can captivate an audience of dominating men, showing in which she has a lot of authority and power, also showing a role reversal, as men are usually in charge, and the ones who are dominating the scene. 

In our film opening, if we were to use a character like Elizabeth Swan, then it would completely subvert the expectations of the genre, and it would also be a large change to what is expected, as if we changed a upperclass female figure into a killer, or even a violent figure, it would largely change the dynamics of the opening. 

Ravenna - Snow White and the Huntsman. 

Queen Ravenna in Snow White and the Huntsman, is the evil queen, who wants Snow White dead to claim the kingdom as her own. This particular Queen Ravenna, is a complete twist on the usual Queen's, and shows the inner strength, and thirst for power. She is incredibly different from many female protagonists, due to her longing attitude for power and control, using physical violence and threats when ever possible, which is a complete subversion of a Queen, in which we usually feel will be like Queen Gwenivere from Merlin on BBC 1, who is kind, compassionate and full of love for her subjects, kingdom and those around her. By using a character so different to what we expect, we are completely detached from her, with no empathy or sympathy being provoked.

In our film opening, if we were to have our female protagonist to be vindictive, cruel and villainous, then we could subvert the audience's perceptions of a typical female protagonist. It would also detract the audience's sympathetic response, as they would not feel at all connected to this character in which is different to any they have seen before. If we went as far, as to use a female as the murderer, then this would completely change the dynamics, as an audience we would not expect the murderer to be a women, as they are seen to be selfless and  motherly figures. 

Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games.

Katniss Everdeen is a 16 year old female protagonist, who is sent away to partake in part of the Annual Hunger Games, where children from each district are send every day, to fight until the death. As Katniss is a young teenager, we as a audience suspect her to conform to the conventions of a teen who goes out with her friends, parties, gets drunk, and argues constantly with her parents, but due to this film being completly diffferent to the real world, and the experiences that Katniss has already been through, we see her subvert these views, as she is a regular hunter, in which is illegal in her district, has lost her father in a miniing accident, and provides soley for her family as her mother is unable to cope. Along with this, she is also thrust into the spotlight, as she volunteers to take her sister's place in the hunger games, showing a compassionate side, and showing the depths that she would go to for her family. Throughtout this film we see the courageous side of Katniss, accompanied by great stength, pride and determination, to return to her family. These are all qualities in which we would usually not refer to a 16 year old teenager. 

In our film opening, if we were to use a strong and determined character alike Katniss, I feel as if the believable side of the character could be lost, as our circumstances are simply too simple, for a character like Katniss, who has a lot of complex background within her life. So overall i feel that we could use the qualities of a strong and courageous protagonist, in which could defiantly fit in with our genre, but I just feel that the qualities in which Katniss has, are more suited to a action movie, instead of a horror, as we do not want our protagonist to be too clever, knowledgable or troubled, as these are the conventions in which are are constantly playing against.