Quiz: Rakow, Question #1

APPROACH:

The Cultural Theory Approach

The preceding image taken from the classic Disney movie Tarzan displays Jane being carried through the woods by Tarzan. To a child viewer, specifically a female viewer, this image would simply be a representation of part of the film. Perhaps the child would fondly remember when Tarzan rescued Jane from the pack of dangerous baboons. However, from a feminist approach this image reads much differently. In fact, Lana Rakow explains in her article “Giving Patriarchy Its Due” that it is popular images like this that “set implications for women’s position and experience.” From Rakow’s perspective, this type of image displays women in a subordinate light. In the image, Jane is dressed in a skirt and blouse, an outfit unfit for the jungle. Implying that, women are often unprepared and frankly even unintelligent. After all, most people going to the jungle would know beforehand that they should dress more casually. Also important to note, is the way that Jane is clinging on to Tarzan; he swings freely, holding onto the forest-rope with only one hand while Jane clings to his body, fully embracing him as her protector. She, of course, is behind him because in a patriarchal society men lead the way. His facial expression implies than he is fearless; his confident grin and sharp bone structure make him the ideal example of masculinity. Jane, on the other hand, is delicate, even when flying through the air. Her small waist is visible even as she is clinging to Tarzan and is accentuated by her high-waisted skirt. Her facial expression is that of wonder and awe as she is flying high through the woods with her rescuer. Her feet are pointed and small and her legs are shapely, further emphasizing the “ideal feminine body.” Elizabeth Janeway, who was referenced in Rakow’s article, believes that these types of cultural images are becoming examples to women. Images like these teach women of all ages what it means to be a woman. Undoubtedly, Disney, being the largest entertainment company in the world, is going to have an immense amount of influence on popular culture. Janeway argues that ideas about women’s positions are “socially determined, not innate or inevitable.” Further implying that culture has a large influence on the way woman view themselves. The most notable theme of this theory is “that men and women live in two different spheres and have two different cultural experiences.” Oddly enough, Tarzan and Jane come from two completely different backgrounds, Tarzan one of independence and even violence, and Jane’s background being one privilege. Their differing cultural experiences make Jane’s submissive behavior even more appropriate and almost expected.