Desperately Seeking
Susan is an interesting film in which we as the viewers and characters
project on women who and what they are.
The viewer also is taken through post-modern aspects of 1950’s in order
to show how women have transformed over time.
As second wave feminism swept across America in the early
1960’s and throughout the early 80’s, preceding opinions
toward ideas of female sexuality and gender roles were challenged. Desperately
Seeking Susan was a film that clearly depicts a woman’s shift from a
typical mannerly housewife to a free-spirited woman, that character being
Roberta Glass. From the first scene we
share with Roberta, the viewer understands that Roberta is a typical suburban
housewife that is almost stifled and subservient to her dominating
husband. However, Roberta shows an
interest in the periodic encounters two lovers share through the personal
section of a New York newspaper. As
Roberta is mistaken for this free-spirited character named Susan, she begins to
completely embody Susan and it becomes apparent to the viewer, not only do men
idealize the free-spirited Madonna figure: but women do as well.
Roberta
herself begins to find solace in this character she discovers. As Roberta hits her head and forgets her true
identity, she begins to take on the image and character of Susan, a sexualized
woman who is not held back by social boundaries. Even though Roberta had ideas of freeing
herself from her stagnant and unfulfilling lifestyle, as the viewers saw as her
husband found feminist literature and self-help books, Susan’s image was what
ultimately freed her. As Roberta begins
to dress more “scandalously” and also become more assertive, the universal message
revealed is that without social restrictions even the 1950’s housewife could
transform in to this sexualized and empowered woman. Despite being mistaken for a prostitute and
having people discriminate against her because of forced preconceived notions,
Roberta is in more control of her own life than when she was with her husband. Roberta’s entire transformation would not
have been made possible without the character of Susan, who serves as a model
for new feminist freedom. One aspect
that provides the viewer with more information on Roberta is her last
name. Roberta, whose last name is Glass is
endowed with this last name to show the mirror image of Susan, opening the
boundaries up for all women to follow the archetype of the free woman.
The character of Susan is based directly
on pop singer Madonna’s persona. Madonna,
who made a name based on reinvigorating on Marilyn Monroe’s image, utilizes it
to make a social statement in Desperately
Seeking Susan. Madonna, a polarizing
figure of the 80s and 90s uses her blonde bombshell image to break down
barriers allowing women to talk about sex openly and disregard social taboos prohibiting
any talk of sex. Madonna does this
through her sensual, yet intelligent persona to convey her ideals and arguments
against social double-standards. Jane
Miller in her article Traces of Struggle
and Desire said “Foreboding, prophecy, intimation, insinuation: these
borders or barriers are dangerous, brutal. One must not make a mystique of
them, but rather survive to celebrate art as their representation.” Madonna did not shy away and has made it
easier for women to express their sexuality openly. Many of the steps taken to change social
opinion have been made through movies such as Desperately Seeking Susan and although some men such as Roberta’s
husband may not have been receptive to Roberta and accepting of her new ideals,
many men such as Dez did.
One thing in particular that grounded the movie was that
there was a solution to the traditional antiquated man, and that socially
updated man was fulfilled by means of the character Dez. Unlike most men in the film, Dez does not
immediately sexualize the women he meets and instead gives them a fair chance
by not judging women immediately. This
character in particular had shown that not only had women become accepted of
feminist thinking, but men had as well, which provides for a forward-thinking
and overall empowering representation of society.
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ReplyDeleteI think you are right that its the socially updated male persona in Desmond's character that makes this movie something special. Madonna is great and leads the way for feminist ideals in the movie but it is characters like Des that really adds that last touch and makes the message that much stronger. Contrary to many people's belief, feminism isn't solely a women's issue. It has as much to do with men as it does women. A lot of the issues that feminism is concerned about very much involve men: rape culture and unhealthy gender roles being two examples. Desmond's character was so refreshing to see a man that is not only sensitive and caring but strong of character rather than aggressive or violent. His character combined with the other progressive characters in the movie made Gary's misogyny laughable, his character didn't make sense in that world. Overall, the message was strong, easy to digest and entertaining all in one. Desmond made it look easy to adjust to a more progressive male gender role and provided a strong and healthy alternative to the violent and emotionally closed male gender role in our society.
ReplyDeleteYour observation of Roberta's last name is an interesting one. You indicate that she serves as a mirror to reflect Madonna's attitude and appearance, but I think you're on to greater observation when you note that she opens up the boundaries of all women to follow the archetype that Madonna portrays. In this way, "Glass" really does function as a window into this way of life. It may also have to do with the fragility of her current "traditional" life at the beginning of the film -- either that it is ready to break on its own or that she is ready to break it herself.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that your take on her last name was very interesting. While I agree with what you said about it I have another take on it. I think it could be taken as a form of representation for Roberta's personality. One can say about another that they are 'transparent' or that there is not too much to a person. They are easy to 'read' or understand because they are a bland or basic person - they are as simple and clear as glass. I think that before Roberta decides to take after Susan's character her personality is very much like glass. She is a housewife with little ambition and does whatever her husband wants. I also think your mention of how Roberta transforms into Susan after she forgets who she was before. It is true that this makes it seem as if Roberta could not have made the change if she was still attached to her life, attached to the social norms she lived in. This makes it seem as if the social pressure that many housewives felt not to change was too great to break free from.
ReplyDeleteI really love the discussion here! I like your take on Roberta's name very much. Your point about Dez representing a new type of man as much as both Roberta and Susan represent different types of women, is also interesting and well-taken. Your timeline's a bit fuzzy here though, obscuring the strength of your argument. Roberta isn't a 1950s housewife, but a 1980s one acting like a 1950s one-very different. Similarly, this film, in which style makeovers stand in for personal liberation, is representative of early third-wave feminism, not second-wave. Second-wave is much more about actual political freedom: equal pay for equal work, reproductive freedom, etc. None of that is really going on here. This movie is about the freedom to assume an image that pleases one, and self-transformation figured as style makeover.
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