Masculinity Flashcards

Question

Symbols: Boxing Gloves and Ballet shoes.

Answer 1

Timestamp: 0:10:24 - Both boxing gloves and ballet shoes signify the gendered cultural assumptions: the schemata of masculinity and femininity are clearly defined by each. - When Billy tries to transcend such societal boundaries of gender binaries, he is faced with a lack of social acceptance. - Jackie asserts the notion of inherited masculinity when he states to Billy 'those where my fathers gloves. You better take better care of them'. - Billy's critique of predominating societal expectations regarding masculinity culminates as Mrs Wilkinson validates artistic expression, daring him to swap his boxing shoes for ballet slippers, 'Go on, I dare you'. - The use of extreme close up in the closing image of the film emphasizes adult Billy's ballet shoes as he leaps into the air (symbolic).

Answer 2

The excessive presence of police in the film demonstrates the overwhelming power of social beliefs. Tony's conflict with the authorities can be juxtaposed to Billy's journey, as it mirrors Billy's struggle for belonging. * Both Billy and Tony come into conflict with social expectations; however, the crossing of gender boundaries causes Billy to become ostracized while Tony is heralded for his masculine behaviour.

Answer 3

- The disjointedness of Billy's relationships with his family is shown in the scene where the camera cuts between Billy dancing and his father protesting. This shift between the music that accompanies Billy and the angry yelling of the protesters creates a staccato that represents the cultural gap. - Daldry effectively presents a juxtaposition of Billy's artistic expression to the violent and loud emotional expression of miners, associating masculinity with trade unionism. Daldry uses this scene to draw on his own experience from the battle of Orgreave, and critique the limited, superimposed and confined boundaries of masculine expression.

Answer 4

- The camera takes on first person POV of Billy's perspective, spinning around the faces of Jackie, Tony and Mrs Wilkinson, reflecting Billy's confusion and alienation from his family. - Tony attempts to assert control over Billy, reinforcing the notion that men should be placed in positions of authority and power. - Tony's demand places Billy in a situation where his masculinity is scrutinized. In a hyper-masculine working class environment, being made to dance can be seen as a humiliation, or an attempt to expose his weakness. - It may also highlight that masculinity is often performed for others, rather than being an inherent trait.

Answer 5

- While Billy recognises that Michael's actions of crossdressing are unorthodox, he does not question his actions but rather accepts him for who he is. - This unyielding friendship between the pair is observed in the scene where Billy takes Michael to dance ballet. The close-up shots of both of the boys demonstrate that happiness is found in the acceptance of others, not conformity to a rigid societal ruling.

Answer 6

- In saying this, Tony reinforces the belief of belonging to a group that share the same beliefs and values. - This reinforces the established lyrics from the opening sequence of the film "What's it like to be alone" - trex. Conveying an inherent masculine fear of ostracism, further highlighting societal pressures to conform to masculine ideals.

Answer 7

From the outset of the film, Jackie is emblematic of binary gender roles, as the audience is invited to make an inference that he 'bottles up' all of his grief regarding the death of his wife. However, a telling difference between Billy Elliot and a classical fantasy is that not only Billy undergoes transformation, so does Jackie. - This begins when he breaks down crying after destroying his wife's piano for firewood. - Lancioni notes: 'From then on, Jackie is a broken man. Even when he discovers that Billy has been taking ballet lessons behind his back, it is his son Tony who does all the yelling ... he ultimately accepts and supports his younger son's aspirations. - His usage of the piano for firewood demonstrates that Jackie has failed as a provider and caregiver, and thus, in his mind, he has failed as a man. If he cannot live up to traditional concepts of masculinity, how can he fault is son for not doing so? A realisation of his own inadequacies may lead to a broader acceptance of others.

Answer 8

The intercut scenes between Billy dancing and the strikers boisterously protesting convey that for a boy in such as situation, dancing is like striking, an act of rebellion.

Answer 9

'We framed scenes set in Billy's home and neighbourhood very tightly, because we wanted to suggest that he was trapped in his environment'...But this claustrophobia lifts when Billy 'emerges from the bottom of the screen, still dancing on the road, still with walls on both sides, but with a bright blue sky above and ocean behind him'.

Masculinity Flashcards

(34 cards)