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The only thing that never changes is the fact that everything will change. Time is constantly changing. The weather is constantly changing. People’s bodies change; their minds change. People’s perceptions and ideas of a group of people change. Movies and television have been a predominant medium for shaping our ideologies and in doing so reinforces our expectations of people’s roles in society. As our views change, roles depicted in films and television shows evolve as well. The progression of cultural gender expectations becomes clear when the gender roles in the films Casablanca and Body Heat are analyzed and compared. Casablanca was released in 1943 and Body Heat in 1981. The gender roles portrayed in each movie reflect the views of the time. The leading male role in Casablanca is Rick Blaine. Rick is a former freedom fighter and supposedly in exile from the United States, which allows for him to play his alpha male role in Casablanca. He’s been hardened or toughened emotionally from this. Rick is almost completely dispassionate. This is alluded to when Ilsa proclaims, “This gun is pointed right at your heart.” To which Rick replies, “That’s my least vulnerable spot.” When he feels any negative emotion he buries it in alcohol and anger. He is immensely independent. Several times in the movie Rick says, “I stick my neck out for nobody.” At the same time he takes crap from nobody. When someone disobeys his will, he reacts with anger and force. For instance, when Sam won’t play the song “As Time Goes By” he yells at him, or when there is a scuffle in his club between a German and a French soldier he confronts them very aggressively. Rick is highly intelligent, seeming to always be at least one step ahead of anyone else. His intelligence and aggressive nature makes him a leader. He knows what is right and his authority is rarely questioned. Rick always knows what is best for women. When his girlfriend at the beginning of the movie wants a drink he denies it to her, tells her she has had too much to drink and arranges for an immediate ride home for her.
Approximate Word count = 1409
Approximate Pages = 5.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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