Film Analysis Essay: Social Class, Gender, and Community Depiction

This essay undertakes a sociological analysis of two films, examining the portrayal of social class, gender roles, and the surrounding community. The essay contrasts the films 'Wanda' and 'Amelie,' highlighting how they depict the lives and experiences of women within different societal structures. The analysis explores the conflicts between genders, the influence of the community on individual lives, and how the characters navigate their social environments. Furthermore, the essay applies Bourdieu’s concept of social capital to the movies, showing how economic and social capital impacts the characters' positions and opportunities. The essay highlights how 'Wanda' portrays the challenges faced by women in lower social classes, while 'Amelie' showcases the support and achievements of a woman who breaks societal barriers. Overall, the essay provides insights into the societal norms, expectations, and power dynamics reflected in the films.

Running head: ANALYSIS OF FILMS
Analysis of Films
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1ANALYSIS OF FILMS
Sociology refers to study of the human social relationships along with its institutions.
Sociology helps in analysing significant matters in relation to our personal lives (Haskell
2016). This essay analyses the difference between the social classes and the genders in the
two films. It states how the surrounding community has been depicted in the movies and the
conflict that exists between the genders in the movies. It also states how the Bourdieu’s
thoughts in relation to social capital can be applied to the movies Wanda and Amelie.
Wanda is revealed as an estranged body that is in motion who keeps wandering
through the city streets. The figure of Wanda was shown as being decentred within the film
frame and her view was blocked by her surroundings. This goes on to show that the character
of Wanda was dominated by her social environment. With the help of Wanda, Loden portrays
a woman who does not have any kind of space and she cannot make her own space. Wanda is
denied any kind of privacy or that of intimacy that shows her inferior position within the
social environment (Haider, Nawaz and Habib 2017). On the other hand, the movie Amelia
portrays the ambitions of a woman and her character was a contribution to that of the post-
suffrage equality of the women. Amelia Earhart was able to break down the barriers and she
served like a role model for many women. The accomplishments of Amelia Earhart were not
only personal achievement but they were feats that were lauded by other women in the
society. Earhart was able to gain fame for the aviation exploits and she helped in creating a
new vision of the women within the social structure. Earhart was able to exceed societal
expectations along with norms of the women. She could inspire transformation within the
societal attitudes. Her character exudes power and she believed in the fact that all the women
should be given the opportunity for proving their competence. The bar owner Mr Dennis and
the character of Wanda has been shown in the film as passive and locked in. It portrays the
subordinate position afforded to the lower classes in the society (Coyne et al. 2016). On the

2ANALYSIS OF FILMS
other hand the movie Amelia shows the superior position of the people by portraying people
belonging to higher social order.
The character of Wanda is overlooked by other people within the community and she
is avoided and unacknowledged by the society around her. Wanda is not visible to the
community around her and her place was at the thresholds. Her place was in the office
doorways, domestic windows and the car doors that goes on to show the subordinate position
relegated to the women in the society. Amelia was recruited by the publishing tycoon and her
eventual husband that reveals the support that the character got from the people around her. It
helped her in creating a professional position within the social structure (Han et al. 2015).
With the help of support from the community she was able to get into limelight and became a
women pilot in her time. Amelia fell in love with Putnam and they eventually got married.
Amelia made a record in the year 1932 and flew solo across that of the Atlantic Ocean. In the
event of returning to the United States, Amelia was honoured with the Distinguished Flying
Cross that was awarded to her for her heroism and extraordinary achievement (Clover 2015).
There is a conflict in terms of the role that is played by the genders in the movie.
Wanda is shown in the movie as stumbling around the hometown and drinking throughout the
day. The only thing Wanda worries about is regarding who would buy her the next drink.
This shows that the women figures in the society were at the mercy of the surrounding
society around them and had to rely on them for the fulfilment of their wishes (Huang 2015).
The character of Dennis provides purpose in the life of Wanda however he slowly starts
dominating her life. He drained her of the autonomy of her life and wanted her to act like a
lady. The relationship between the male and female gender was thus dependent on the
authoritative male notions in the society. Amelia on the other hand reveals the support that
the titular character got from her husband and the society to emerge as the winner of
Distinguished Flying Cross that helped her in getting a position in the society.

3ANALYSIS OF FILMS
There are differences between the movies in relation to the structural perspectives.
The main character Wanda is portrayed as being at the mercy of the society specially the men
around them. They were controlling the life of the girl and were dominating her life. The
movie Amelia does not reveal any kind of conflict between the male and the female character
as her cause was supported by the people in her surrounding community (Osgood et al.
2017). Bourdieu’s thoughts in relation to social capital is evident in the movies Wanda and
Amelie. The movie Wanda projects cheap wood, ramshackle house and grim hotel room that
reveals the dark fate of the titular character. On the other hand, the economic capital that
Amelia amassed with the help of her profession of women pilot helped her in building up a
prominent position in the society that enabled her in getting respect from the people (Coyne
et al. 2016).
Wanda is portrayed in the film to be an estranged body who wanders through the city
streets. The view of Wanda was blocked by the surrounding that serves to highlight the
dominance that she was subjected to in the society. Amelia brings to light the ambition of
women and her character contributed to that of the equality of women. Amelia broke down
the barriers and she acted like that of a role model for many of the women. Wanda shows that
the women figures in the society were dependent on the surrounding community. Amelia
brings to light the support that the main character got from her family along with the society.

4ANALYSIS OF FILMS
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