Feminism criticism

Story: Liway
Description: A true narrative based on the experiences of Dakip, a young child reared inside
Camp Delgado. The film is a gentle, understated drama about a young boy's innocence during
martial law. He was the son of Inday and Ricardo, both of whom are being held in Camp
Delgado, an improvised jail for rebels and criminals. During the latter days of the Marcos
dictatorship, his mother, Inday, was an anti-Marcos rebel known as Commander Liway and
referred to throughout the film by the vernacular term "Day." Day was 8 months pregnant when
she was captured, and gave birth to Dakip, which gave rise to the name Dakip, which means
"capture" in Tagalog. Despite Ric's objections, Day gives Dakip stories based on Philippine
mythology. Ric prefers that the child learn the facts rather than engage in fairy tales. The film
included one of the stories, a captivating shadow animation about the "Legend of Liway," in
which Day attempts to normalize Dakip's childhood with fictional stories. Prison is never an
ideal place for a child to live, but you can see Day's efforts to create a cozy home in that hell they
lived in. However, Dakip subsequently finds that Day's narrative was a fictitious version of his
mother's personal experience of resistance against the Marcos administration. The director,
whose identity was revealed at the end of the film as Dakip, wanted to make a film to honor his
mother Inday's hardship.

Why this work of literature can be in the category of feminism criticism:

The fact that the film is based on a true tale is one of its greatest features. Liway, also known
as Commander Liway, is a fictional heroine with the name Inday who struggled for her freedom.
She had broken the stereotype of women during this period as woman are taught to be obedient
and docile, she was a protester during the Marcos reign. During the scene in the movie, Day and
Dakip were both resting when a man started staring at Day inappropriately way but Day was able
to stand up for herself as the man dismissed her words of complain. Day has demonstrated that
she would stop at nothing to keep her loved ones safe. It is also remarkable to observe how she
was able to express herself freely as a woman at this time, to the point where she was unafraid to
lead an army in the struggle for independence. Even during the time period shown in this film,
when there is no freedom for anybody, a woman, even a young one, was able to overcome the
obstacle and fight for her independence.
Feminism Criticism
Story: Mulan
Description: An American animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature
Animation for Walt Disney Pictures. Which features the main character called Mulan. Mulan, a
daughter of warrior, was nervously getting ready for a date that was arranged for her with the
village matchmaker. But Mulan wasn’t a typical girl, Mulan is a tomboyish klutz who has no
trust in her ability to become a poised and respectable wife. Mulan brought a cricket because her
grandmother insisted it would bring good luck, but when the bug escaped the cage, it was in,
there was mayhem in the house and she had to make a fool of herself in front of everyone, which
also meant that she had to make a fool of her family. When the Huns invade China by breaching
the Great Wall, the Emperor realizes that he must conscript his male subjects to the Imperial
Army. Every home in China receives a letter from him demanding that one guy be sent to fight
in the army. Mulan was concerned for the safety of her aging father, makes the decision to dress
as a man and join the army in his stead. She leaves in his armor the early morning. When they
were suddenly ambushed by Huns, Mulan was able to save the troops by using a canon to make
an avalanche, burying the Huns with it. However, general Shang was not impressed by the action
as he slashed Mulan a crossed sword which revealed Mulan’s gender. Chinese law requires
Shang to execute Mulan for her deceit, but Shang instead exiled Mulan to the army because he
was pleased by her bravery and fast thinking, which saved many lives.
Mulan was exiled, but she continued her duty to uphold the nation's security until, on her way
home, she came across several Huns who had survived and were making their way to the
Imperial Palace. Once more, she defends China by assassinating the Hun Leader with the aid of
her comrades. Mulan was given the emperor's award and Shang's sword, and she was hailed as a
hero.

Why this work of literature can be in the category of feminism criticism

- In a society where men are expected to display their masculinity physically and
psychologically, it is socially built that women should be obedient and docile. Mulan, a Disney
film, has a strong feminist message about embracing originality and defying social expectations
for women, but it is also debatably anti-feminist because of the way Mulan is "crumpled beneath
the masculine gaze." The topic of Mulan (1999) is based on notions of racial injustice, societal
oppression, and government tyranny. Mulan humorously chops off her long hair in order to pass
for a male so that she might take her father's place in the war who has been enlisted into the
army. She manages this during a period when women aren't even allowed to engage in combat.
The Queer Theory holds that Mulan behaves in an odd and unconventional fashion, which would
mark her as a delinquent in the eyes of society since she goes against the stereotypes of Chinese
femininity. Mulan demonstrates that women are just as capable of defending their loved ones,
standing up for what they believe in, or saving the world from destruction as men are, in contrast
to previous male-oriented Disney movies like "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast."
After saving the Emperor, Mulan is offered a powerful job in his kingdom, representing a
stereotypically male position. Instead of breaking through the glass ceiling and discouraging
gender roles, Mulan instead returns home to be an obedient daughter.
As a woman, her heroic efforts were not appreciated; but as a bride, she brings honor to the
family. This highlights that even if women can be successful in masculine terms, what really
matters overall is conforming to their feminine gender roles. This demonstrates how deeply
ingrained in society these preconceptions are by reminding women of their traditional position
and conveying the message that departing from these predetermined roles is pointless. The fact
that the ruling male class upholds these sexist prejudices in order to keep women subjugated is a
crucial reason for them. (Mack and Ott 180).
Feminism Criticism
3rd literature - “Salute” by Little Mix

Salute is a song by a British girl group called “Little Mix”. This song is their third single released
in early June of 2014. The lyrics were written by the girl group members. The song is filled with
strong beats that give out the empowerment vibes throughout the song, a rhythm that gives the
sensation of dominance and power. The lyrics gives out the military vibes, it is compelling-
authoritative that makes women convinced to stand up for themselves and fight for themselves.
The lyrics luring all of the women to feel dominance, independent and strong personality within
themselves. Additionally, the song’s beats and rhythms sound cool in a way that it doesn’t sound
soft, it is full of strong beats, remixes, sounds that are used in Electronic Dance Music (EDM) or
Electropop music, it is also more on bass which makes the song’s atmosphere set into serious but
inspirational mood. The way of singing and diction of words has suspense and commanding
diction makes the whole song into the serious feeling.

By the interpretation of the lyrics itself, we can see that feminist criticism can be applied to this
piece of literature. From my own interpretation, this is a women empowering song that clearly
lures women to fight for their rights and reminding all the women listening that they’re not alone
in the fight towards oppression, sexual harassment, violent and abusive actions towards them
mostly by men. Additionally, for me the song influences women to bring out the dominant,
independent and strong personalities within them. I can see clearly that this song wants to convey
a message that women can be independent and strong to like how men are seen to be strong. In
the literature, it is sending empathy to women who were controlled and bullied by men mostly
for pleasure. It can give the listeners a change of perspective in a way where in the first place the
norms of women are seen to be soft, fragile, used since men are seen to be strong and should be
obeyed. In the song, it gave the listeners the perspective where women are equally stronger to
men, that women can live as their own person or generally to be independent. In the lyrics
composed, it is set into a war like setting that signifies being dominant and strong. From my
interpretation, it is a war towards the social structure of women and women can be independent,
strong, dominant and powerful like how men are seen this way. Generally, the song's purpose is
to change the norms that women and men are strong equally not just physically but holistically as
a person.
Queer Criticism
Story: Portrait of a lady on fire
Description: A lesbian movie that is a sensual, intelligent, clear-eyed look as the transformative
power of love in which the character Marianne, is a young artist who travels to an isolated island
off the coast of Brittany in Northern France in the 18th century. She had been commissioned to
paint a portrait of a young woman named Héloïse, who is to be married off to a Milanese
nobleman. Marianne is informed that Héloïse has previously refused to pose for portraits, as she
does not want to be married; she had been living in a convent before the suicide of her older
sister necessitated her return and her betrothal. Marianne acts as Héloïse's hired companion to be
able to paint her in secret, and accompanies her on daily walks to memorize Héloïse's features.
Marianne was able to finish the painting but she wasn’t able to betray the trust of Heloise about
the true reason of why she is painting her. Marianne destroyed the painting after Heloise
criticized it. Heloise’s mom was shocked to find out that Heloise was willingly posing for a
painting over the next few days. As the two spend more time together, the intimacy grows.
Heloise’s portrait soon became a collaborative act of and testament to their love. But their
romance was cut short as Heloise’s return, Marianne and Heloise bid farewell to each other as
Marianne’s original job was done. And then Marianne leaves, and Héloïse never sees her again.

Why this work of literature can be in the category of feminism criticism

Sciamma, who has directed five films in France since 2008—has directed a movie called
“Portrait of a Lady on Fire “and critics has described as a “manifesto about the female gaze,” and
it’s true that at every turn her film subverts the male perspective in favor of feminine ways of
looking. Both the term male and female gaze are present in this film, as for the male gaze,
Marianne uses the male gaze while doing her portraits as it is submitted for the male
consumption, which means that it is the sexualized way of looking that empowers men and
objectifies women. Though there are hardly any men in the movie at all, and, when they do
appear, they often have their backs turned or their faces out of focus; when we finally do see a
man’s face clearly, it feels like an intrusion. The film makes unusually expressive use of
costumes without glamorizing its stars: each protagonist appears in a single, simple dress for the
majority of the film. This movie is also gloriously queer as it peels back the layers of desire
inherent to this form of love without judgement or shame.