Representation of Women in relation to Cabin In The Woods

What were Jeremy Tunstall’s 4 character roles for women and do they apply to The Cabin in the woods? 

Jeremy Tunstall suggests that women are presented in four main roles; domestic, sexual, consumer and marital. He says that women can be seen as busy housewives, doing cleaning duties etc, contented mothers, consumers or as sex objects. Jules would be seen as the sex object because she is flirtatious and wears revealing clothing, her short hot pants, throughout the film. This is also strongly reinforced when she is with her boyfriend, Curtis, and undertakes sexual activity. Although she has been drugged up by Sitterson and Hadley which evidently influence her.  

How is Dana typical of Clovers ‘Final  Girl’ theory? Please mention: the ending; Danas appearance and her actions during the film. 

Dana is a typical example of Clovers ‘Final Girl’. Especially when she is compared to the character of Jules, it increases the lack of Danas feminism. We are given the impression that Dana is the smart and sensible character from the start, when she packs study books in her holiday bag and the others are packing alcohol. Through out the film Dana portrays numerous male characteristics and is knowledgable which why she survives, according to the final girl theory. Whilst Jules is more concerned about her make up and hair, Danas top priority is survival, which complies with the theory.  

Jules undergoes mental and physical transformations during the film, what are they and how do they cause her to become a horror archetype? 

Although we do not see Jules with brown hair, we are informed through conversation of the characters that she has died her hair blonde. Oblivious that this is a way to give her a psychiatric drug to transform her into a promiscuous, dumb teenager. As the film goes on it is clear the drugs have an effect on her and she performs erotic dancing near the fireplace in the cabin, as well as kissing a dead animal on the wall and taking her clothes off in the woods. Typical characteristics of an irresponsible and dumbed teenager. 

Is Mulvey’s Male Gaze thoery exemplified in the film and if so, how? Think about framing, camera angles and POV shots. 

Laura Mulvey suggests that spectators are heterosexual males by using camera angles which present woman as sexual objects. The audience is positioned as though they are the eyes of a male, objectifying the females. This is used within Cabin in the Woods from the start, when Dana is shown in her underwear although she is the least objectified of the two female characters. When the characters are in the cabin and Jules performs her dancing, the audience is shown point of view shots which views Jules’ body in a sexual manner, this supports Mulveys theory in use of Cabin In The Woods.  

In the film we, as an audience, are made to be voyeurs; when does this happen and why is it important in regard to representation of character?

We as an audience are voyeurs of the characters in several different parts of the film. We are very much voyeurs when Jules is in the woods with her boyfriend Curt, as well as when Dana and Holden are able to see each other getting dressed through the secret mirror. This is important in the film because it allows us to understand the characters more than we normally would. 

Summarise the way women are represented in The Cabin in the Woods. Are they objectified and there to provide satisfaction for heterosexual males and/or do they fulfil another role/purpose? 

Both the ‘Male Gaze’ and the ‘Final Girl theory are used within the film which reprints both female characters in different ways. The Male Gaze theory which objectifies both females to provide satisfaction to hetrosexual males who may be watching. The Final Theory represents Jules as a typical dumb blonde, and represents Dana as  heroic female showing male characteristics.