HELP - Media Studies Questionnaire

[Bryan]

Hi all, for my critical research Media Exam I am challenging the hypothesis that women in Bond films are represented as mere sex objects.

As part of this exam I have to build up a series of research texts, including audience opinions. I have put together a questionaire, I would appreciate it if you could answer these questions for me, as detailed as possible.

Thanks Everyone

Are You: Male/Female

1) What James Bond films have you watched?

2) What Bond Girls do you specifically remember and why?

3) What positive elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films?

4) What negative elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films?

5) Do you feel bond girls are exploited for their appearance? Only hired on the way they look?

6)Do you think their presence is demeaning to the female sex?
Or are they role models to women of their time?

7) Do you feel that the characters of M (Judi Dench) and Miss Moneypenny are similar/different to the other female roles in the James Bond franchise? Why?

8) Some argue that women in the James Bond films are represented as mere sex objects. What positive elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films?
Do you agree/disagree with this statement? Why?

[Siobhan]

Are You: Male/Female female (the last time I looked)

1) What James Bond films have you watched? All except new one

2) What Bond Girls do you specifically remember and why? Ursula Andress (the bit coming out of the water) Honnor Blackman (her unique name), Onatop (russia girl will the literally killer legs Goldeneye movie)

3) What positive elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films? Not many, most are portrayed as defenseless bimbo who all want to bed Bond. I think Honor Blackman changed sides and she was very strong in character. I like Halle Berrys character too as she helped Bond and was not just his bimbo sidekick

4) What negative elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films? As above, they all so easily fall into bed with Bond and need him to protect him. I think mainly in the earlier Bonds, they all wore skimpy clothes and were put in a corner (so to speak) and squeal all girly like

5) Do you feel bond girls are exploited for their appearance? Only hired on the way they look? Yes, I have never seen a normal, plain bond girl, they are all models and hot looking

6)Do you think their presence is demeaning to the female sex?
Or are they role models to women of their time? Mmm tough one.. as I said in earlier Bonds, they played the submissive roles. In the later Bond movies they became more to the front and too charge in some suitation i.e. Halle Berry's role. So yes, they are reflective of the time, in the 60/70 women were not as dominate as they are today.

7) Do you feel that the characters of M (Judi Dench) and Miss Moneypenny are similar/different to the other female roles in the James Bond franchise? Why? Yes, M is the dominate role in the bond movies. Ms Moneypenny had a thing for Bond but I think she was too plain to be with him. Her role is more of admirer, wanna be lover where as M is his boss

8) Some argue that women in the James Bond films are represented as mere sex objects. What positive elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films?
Do you agree/disagree with this statement? Why?

Yes I agree with the statement. You can tell that the women in the movie are going to fall into bed with Bond and he can pick and choose them. It is kind of a fantasy role, women want to be a Bond girl and men want to be Bond to bed them. It doesn't inspire a role model for women of today but again over the years (especially during the Brosnan period) women played a different role and the change of M to a woman was a positive change. Old Bonds were very much a man's world and women were to be used for sexual gratification

Hope all this helps you Bry.

[DaVeyWaVey]

Are You: Male/Female Male

1) What James Bond films have you watched?
I have watched all of them apart from Casino Royale.

2) What Bond Girls do you specifically remember and why?
Halle Berry is always the Bond Girl that sticks out for me the most, as i found her very different to the other Bond Girls. All the other Bond Girls were easily led, but i felt Halle Berry played a Bond Girl who had her own personality, and was much more fiesty than the other Bond Girls. She was more of a sidekick to Bond, rather than his easily led lover.

3) What positive elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films?
I think that there are some positive elements but not as many as the negative elements. I think that Halle Berry had a positive representation of women in Die Another Day. She was different to all other Bond Girls, she was a lot more fiesty and she helped Bond on his mission. This was good as it showed that women can just be as strong as men, and that women can tackle situations as well as Bond.

4) What negative elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films?
The films represent women as being defensless easily led in my opinion, and that women have no personality but are only used as "sex toys" in the films for Bond to use whenever he likes. I think this is a bad representation as not all women are obviously like this.

5) Do you feel bond girls are exploited for their appearance? Only hired on the way they look?
Yes i think they are. Every Bond film, the bond girls always sleep with Bond, and they need a good looking girl for Bond to fall for in every film. They are never exploited for anything else in the films, they only show off their looks on the films and sleep with Bond.

6)Do you think their presence is demeaning to the female sex?
Or are they role models to women of their time?
I am unsure on this one. I think most of them have been represented as defensless, easily led women which can be demeaning to the female sex, but i think when Halle Berry was the Bond Girl in Die Another Day, she was a role model for women of our current time. As women can be more masculine and dominant these days, than in the past, so it's a bit of both really.

7) Do you feel that the characters of M (Judi Dench) and Miss Moneypenny are similar/different to the other female roles in the James Bond franchise? Why?
I feel that M and Miss Moneypenny are different to the other Bond Girls in the films. M is very defensive and is not easily led. She doesn't show off her looks in the films, so i can tell that she won't be like any of the other Bond girls. M is Bond's boss so they have a professional relationship. Miss Moneypenny has a crush on Bond in the films, she has a very innocent crush on Bond and both her and Bond flirt very innocently, opposed to how Bond and Bond Girls interact with each other.

8) Some argue that women in the James Bond films are represented as mere sex objects. What positive elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films?
Do you agree/disagree with this statement? Why?
I agree with this statement. They are definetly represented as sex objects. Their purpose of being in the films is to show off their looks and sleep with Bond. It happens in every film and gives Bond some eye candy, throughout the film while he is on his mission. It gives Bond something else to do, it happens in every film, and as soon as Bond sets his eye on a certain girl, everyone can tell that she will be the film's Bond Girl, but more recently in Die Another Day, Halle Berry, i felt was not represented as a mere sex object but as Bond's sidekick as well, so maybe this representation could change in the future.

I hope this helps you.

[Jojo]

Are You: Male/Female Female (I think :rotfl: )

1) What James Bond films have you watched? All of them bar Casino Royale (albeit a long time ago!)

2) What Bond Girls do you specifically remember and why? Pussy Galore (Goldfinger) - love that name! Ursula Andress (Dr No) - walking out of the sea.

3) What positive elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films? In the majority of them, the females are there simply to catch Bonds eye. Only in the latter ones have they become more fiesty and able to defend themselves in a such, but in defence of that, thats been the way of the times.

4) What negative elements do you think there are to the representation of women in the James Bond films? In the earlier films, they were defenceless, there for sex appeal etc and simply there for Bond to bed , but then whats Bond without a girl on his arm, hanging off his every word .. However, this has never changed - there is always a Bond girll, and she always sleeps with him.

5) Do you feel bond girls are exploited for their appearance? Only hired on the way they look?Yes - I can't ever remember seeing a larger sized, unattractive Bond girl, they are all stunning, all have gorgeous perfect figures and are always very pretty.

6)Do you think their presence is demeaning to the female sex?
Or are they role models to women of their time?In some respects, I think they have changed with the times, with the women becoming tougher as time has gone on, but they still ALWAYS fall for Bond's charm

7) Do you feel that the characters of M (Judi Dench) and Miss Moneypenny are similar/different to the other female roles in the James Bond franchise? Why? Yes - M is a very strong character not to be swayed by feelings etc. Shes tough and a woman in a mans world having had to work very hard to get to where she is now. Miss Moneypenny has always been like she is - obviously finds Bond attractive, but I think its something that she'd never act on as she admires him more than anything (probably for his work than anything else too), than wants to jump into bed with him.

8) Some argue that women in the James Bond films are represented as mere sex objects.
Do you agree/disagree with this statement? Why?I would in the most agree with it. You never have a Bond film without a Bond girl, and Bond ALWAYS sleeps with the girl, whether she comes out alive is a different story (normally doesnt), shes always stunning, well turned out, slim etc and although she has become tougher as time has gone on - not scared of getting involved etc, she always have those characteristics.

Hope thats ok Bry :)