“Let Olive be Olive”! demands her mother Sheryl right before her performance from the rest of her family. And indeed, at first sight, Olive’s stage act seems to be an act of positive rebellion and empowerment for herself. Deliberately set as a stark and shocking contrast to the conforming performances of the other girl-contestants, the viewer is given the impression of Olive as being a self-governing and independent girl, acting out her own authentic self, out of her very own decision. But is this really the case?
Further investigation shows that Olive’s identity is predominantly shaped by the two most important men in her life: her grandfather and her father. Both males seem to play an instrumental role in Olive’s identity formation process. She strives to please them both and “is left to negotiate between their desires for how her body should look” (Happel 4). Happel and Esposito argue that in Little Miss Sunshine both, the father and the grandfather act as literal versions of the so called panoptical male connoisseur (cf. 4). Feminist researcher Sandra Lee Bartky contends that “[i]n contemporary patriarchal culture, a panoptical male connoisseur resides within the consciousness of most women: they stand perpetually before his gaze and under his judgment.” (72) Dolezal agrees that “Women in the patriarchal order, identify with men and learn to see themselves through their eyes.” (113) Furthermore, “[h]aving internalized the gaze of the (male) Other […] women begin to regulate themselves according to his standards” (Dolezal 113).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Female Sexual Identity Production in Contemporary American Patriarchal Culture
- Performing solely for the pleasure of males? -Feminist Research and the role of the "Panoptical Male Connoisseur” in Patriarchal Culture
- Representations of the Panoptical Male Connoisseur in Little Miss Sunshine
- “I coached her. I gave her the moves” - The Grandfather as a Panoptical Male Connoisseur in Little Miss Sunshine
- “You're gonna become big and fat” - The Father as a Panoptical Male Connoisseur in Little Miss Sunshine
- Monitored by the Male – The impact of the “Panoptical Male Connoisseur” in the process of female sexual identity formation as represented in Little Miss Sunshine
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper aims to investigate the influence of male figures on the sexual identity formation of a young girl, focusing on the movie "Little Miss Sunshine". The paper analyses how the male characters represent the "panoptical male connoisseur," a concept derived from feminist research.- The concept of the "panoptical male connoisseur" and its impact on female identity formation
- Representation of the "panoptical male connoisseur" through specific male characters in "Little Miss Sunshine"
- The role of these male figures in shaping Olive's sexual identity
- Analysis of specific scenes showcasing the influence of the "panoptical male connoisseur"
- The impact of the "panoptical male connoisseur" on Olive's self-perception and performance.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The research paper explores the concept of the "panoptical male connoisseur" in feminist research and examines its representation within the context of the movie "Little Miss Sunshine." It delves into how this concept influences the female sexual identity formation process through the actions of two male authority figures: Olive's grandfather and father.Chapter 1 introduces the concept of female sexual identity production within contemporary American patriarchal culture, setting the stage for the subsequent analysis.
Chapter 2 examines the concept of the "panoptical male connoisseur" as a critical element in patriarchal culture, drawing upon feminist research to understand how this concept shapes women's self-perception and behavior.
Chapter 3 explores the representation of the "panoptical male connoisseur" in "Little Miss Sunshine" through the analysis of specific scenes showcasing the interactions between Olive and her grandfather and father. This chapter investigates how the male characters embody the "panoptical male connoisseur" and how their actions influence Olive's understanding of her own sexuality and desirability.
Chapter 4 delves into the impact of the "panoptical male connoisseur" on Olive's sexual identity formation. It analyzes how the male gaze and expectations influence Olive's self-presentation, performance, and overall perception of her own sexuality.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on the themes of female sexual identity formation, patriarchal culture, the "panoptical male connoisseur," and the representation of these concepts in the film "Little Miss Sunshine." It explores the influence of male characters on Olive's self-perception and performance, highlighting the impact of the "panoptical male connoisseur" on her identity formation. Key terms include: female sexual identity, panoptical male connoisseur, patriarchal culture, film analysis, "Little Miss Sunshine."- Citar trabajo
- Melanie Buettner (Autor), 2018, Monitored by the Male? The representation of the “Panoptical Male Connoisseur” and the process of female sexual identity formation in Little Miss Sunshine, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/455014
