She looks like she's out of place and like a funny woman who's dressed up in doll's clothes in the unre-touched one. I think her legs look better withut the fakery, proper thighs and calves.

Good for her.

My neighbour's cat, who spends loads of time in my flat, has taken to sprawling over my keyboard when I come on here. She's so lovely and sweet I don't have the heart to shove her off, but she is jealous of you!

She even started pressing the keys when I'd got up to leave the room, just before, and my laptop objected.

I do treat her like royalty when she comes round, I nickname her Sheeb short for 'Queen of Sheeeeeeeebahh', so I suspect she thinks I should be at her beck and call at all times.

Hi again moob, a final bit of free advice: If you are researching the effects of feminist representations of women (in any area of cinema) on audiences, the you will need to reserach your audiences, rather than the people who make the films. Thisis called a cultural studies approach and borrows much from sociology and psychology, some of the others may be able to help you with a suitable set of methods for testing your thesis, whatever it may be.

======= Date Modified 11 Apr 2010 15:34:51 =======
Hi moob, I have tonnes of marking to do and I really don't want to get into a lengthy debate with you about this, especially as you think it is such a inane suject, so I can only presume yor reason for banging on about it comes down to some kind of insecurity or ego issue. Or that you secrretly wish you were doing a phD in film stuies (however, just remember the key board sacrifices you would have had to make if you hade made that choice) and hate your wn subject.

I am probably writing this because I want to avoid marking, but I am giving my valuable time to you so please read what I write this time, properly. You apperaed to ignore much of what I said last time. Remember, I am sacrifing time outdside in the glorious, and rare, sunshine to do this for you.

However, here is my response:

1.Yes, the role of women, as portrayed in films, has changed over time, and this does relate to feminism, although it is not necessarily 'feminism in film' perse, what you descibe would more accurately be termed 'representation of women in film'. The topic you describe is incredibly broad and would need to be narrowed down dramatically for any level of acdemic writing from pre-GCSE upwards. It would not be accepted as a PhD topic as it stands, and it would make a pretty disastrous first year undergrad essay. Also, it has been studied, extensively, already - it's kind of A'Level standard stuff, in terms of broad subject matter.
2. Having worked on many films, British and American, I have observed that actors do not make much difference to the overarching aspects of the characters they portray, that lies in the hands of the writers, directors and producers they work for. Actors are, on the whole, highly skilled interpreters of what other people want them to do. This is a widley accepted reality of the film making process, both in the industry and in academia. Marlon Brando was a notable exeption to this, otherwise universal, mode of practice, and he did create his own characters: People run research projects in him as an anomily within dramtic construction because of it. It may be intersting to look at Last Tango in Paris in terms of feminism and his performance, but that is not a French film and Brando is not a French actress.
3. Becasue of the above, it would be much more productive to interview the film's director and producers if researching the topic you suggest: they call the shots and have to issue approval on all creative decisions n the film-making process. But, if you look back at my earlier post, you will see why that approach is not always that fruitful or ncessary.

They're the main points, and now I'm going out to enjoy the sunshine now, I hope we can be at peace: Even if you think what I do is inane, you don't have to voice it so much, in a thread which is about arts PhDs.

P.s. I have far to much to do to be sitting here repeating things and I want paying for any further tuition on this topic.

Thank you Manboob, that was not condescending at all; however, when you say 'your' avatar etc, do you mean the avatar of person who I will be quoting, and not 'my' avatar? Because I can't find one, or a quote button, on screen, as I'm writing.

======= Date Modified 11 Apr 2010 14:51:56 =======
So where's the training in the quotes thing then? I meant it, I would really like to know.

It's fine by me to think studying film, or whatever you like, is inane. I think areas of the sciences are damaging, and inane. But I wouldn't think it my place to 'teach' PhD students their subject in those areas by giving them criticism about the method of their discipline, and I wouldn't join in thread discussion that relate to their subjects either.


I

Also, as you are so upet about my typos a new key board would help. As I .study arts, I can't afford one myself

Mods, don't you have rules about lack of respect for other people's research areas? How incredibly rude Moob is? Did you get some special training for that, moob?

Yes, I would really like some coaching aboutthe quiote button, especially if stiops the petty tit for tat squabble you seem to enjoy so much. I may also make you feel like an expert, and I can see you enjoy that.

======= Date Modified 11 Apr 2010 13:59:31 =======
Quote form Manboob

'Yes, I do blindly believe that I know everything, especially things that I have no expertise or experience in, and I do also have zero respect for the expertise and experience of others, so I am really sorry for that, and for talking twaddle, being a petty child and moaning about typos, and for not actually reading your posts properly'

That's Ok Moob, just remember this a voluntary position.

======= Date Modified 11 Apr 2010 13:44:05 =======
I will not feed the troll, but Sneaks, we have one, the advertising works!

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Hey Doc Moobs, I am amazed, astounded and blown away by the deep levels of ignorance you display about visual studies, and the study of films, specifically. What the bloomin' heck would anyone get from discussing feminsim in French film with a leading actor? Apart from the obvious fact that any feminism in a film would, almost certainly, not have been put there by its actors, feminist film usually equals key, and very influential, surrealist films which were made a very long time ago by women film makers, and whose lead actors, and directors, are dead.

A PhD in performance in contemporary French film might lead you to La Tatou (although the clock is ticking on that, when did she last make a French film?), as might a PhD on performance in Hollywood biopic films. Interviewing key players isn't usually necaessary in any film PhD, most directors and actors have already said most of what we need to hear anyhow (plus the film industry is a notorious site of major b***** propensity) although I am hoping too pursuade my supervisor that an interview with one of my directors is necessary after all...

How about I offer you my expertise on a thesis in your field? Manboob?

======= Date Modified 10 Apr 2010 20:29:54 =======
Hi Sneaks, I'm going to send off a speculative CV to the great time lords in the sky when I'm near completion: they need a woman Dr. Who, surely the equal opps commision of the universe are jumping up and down about that by now. If I get it, I'll almost certainly get funding for an assistant, so I'll offer you that if you want... No living expenses, copious travel and you can make a fortune on magic tricks at parties, what say?

And I'm pretty confident you'd be able to get all your dog walking in in one block at the start of the contract, time travel knocks the socks off flexi-time!

How about we ask the mods to post this on the PG opportunities section?

Troll required: Must be immature, annoying and out to irritate at all costs. This is a voluntary post, but offers genuine job satisfaction for the right person.

Hi Teek, I think it's down to a relationship between our human capacity for denial, and fabrication, and the way we live our lives: we don't lsten to ourselves or eachother nearly enough, and can tell ourselves it doesn't matter and that other things matter more instead, so we don't even know we're not listening and don't deal with the most important aspects of our lives: birth, death, love, spirituality with any real conviction or commitment. Things build up and we construct narratives of denial around our lives and relationships, that make things work in the short term, but are ultimately destructive.

I've thought about this a lot, there are some quite serious mental health problems in my family, but, looking those who do and don't suffer in this way, in my family anyhow, I really don't think it's genetic, more down to experience and personal narratives. I've been through quite a lot of 're-programming', as I see it, myself and have found it most beneficial.

I've looked at the Freud book, he's important for my PhD, in fact, that big idea is pretty key, yeah, I think he has a really good point.

Hi I've changed my look, given that it is no longer winter, so I don't need a big coat, and because Wally's award for worst dressed is still flashing back at me in a horrific manner. I've gone for a quasi military/Super Mario look, inspired by Cheryl Cole. Can't get much joy frm what's on offer though, I think Sneas has the best look, but it's already taken, unfortunately.