Permalink
I. Introduction
A. Hook
• Include the definition of gender stereotypes and how the move Knocked Up shows those stereotypes.
B. Background/ Context
• How gender was seen in our society in the past
• What is society’s ideal man and woman
• How are men and women seen today in our society
C. Thesis
• Aside from society’s ideal man or woman, the move Knocked Up shows a new model for these roles as society is beginning to accept people for who they are.
II. Body
A. Denotation of Elements
• Sight
1. In the beginning of the movie, Ben and the guys are hanging out by boxing, riding rollercoasters at amusement parks, and just being guys.
2. Alison’s first scene is her working at her job at the E! Network
3. By the way Ben dresses shows that he has no care for how he dresses
4. Alison is always looking her best
5. Ben and his friend’s house is a mess
6. After Ben buys Alison drinks, while Alison walks away, Ben glances at her butt.
• Sound
1. When Alison’s boss is speaking to her about her promotion, her boss tells her that she should tighten up her physique if she is going to be seen on television.
2. When Ben and Alison go out for breakfast after their one night stand, their conversations are awkward and Ben talks about perverted stuff.
3. When Alison speaks with her mother about her being pregnant, her mother explains that her career could be over and implied that she should get an abortion.
4. When Ben speaks with his father about him getting a girl pregnant, he says that it is a blessing.
5. Peter asks Debbie if they should have sex tonight and Debbie responds saying that it sounds awful.
6. When Ben is having breakfast with Alison and Debbie’s family, Debbie and Peter’s daughter says that she thought that you cant have a baby unless you are married.
7. Alison and Debbie have a conversation about Ben’s proposal in bed while eating ice cream and watching t.v.
8. Whenever Peter explains anything to Debbie, Debbie finds a way to turn whatever he says into a bad thing making the situation his fault.
9. Alison tells Ben that he should support her even if she is wrong on something.
10. When Debbie and Alison tries to go into the club, the bouncer tell her that she looks good but shouldn’t be going to a club because she is old.
11. Peter and Ben cry and talk about love when they are alone with each other at a hotel in Vegas.
12. While Alison is having problems with her labor, Ben steps outside to talk to the uncooperative gynecologist in a polite manner asking if he could lighten up a bit and take his stress out on him instead of Alison.
13. Ben demands that Debbie stays out of the room and stays in the waiting room while Alison is in labor.
• Soundtrack
1. Rock Lobster plays in the background while Ben and Debbie have their one night stand.
• Who
1. Ben: 23 years old; Canadian; chubby body physique; messy hair; dresses poorly; low income; pothead; no motivation to be successful; minor pushover; not dominant in any part of his life; always has to ask for help from others and need someone to tell him what to do
2. Alison: Mid-20’s; French; curvy physique; looks her best all the time; successful job; independent; lives with her sister
3. Debbie: Alison’s older sister; looks great for her age; mother of two girls; upset that her youth is over
4. Peter: Debbie’s husband; stressed from family and work; lies to wife in order to have alone time
• What
1. Alison meets Ben, who is a grungy, jobless, bum with no motivation, at the bar and hook up because they are drunk.
2. Alison invites Ben to her place where they have a one night stand.
3. Alison finds out she is pregnant eight weeks later and contacts Ben.
4. Alison and Ben try to get to know each other for the baby’s sake.
5. Alison thinks that Ben isn’t ready to be a father or husband so she breaks up with him.
6. Ben learns to grow up by moving out to his own place.
7. When Alison is in labor, she calls Ben to help her and they make up as she is giving birth.
8. After the birth, Ben and Alison raise the child together and live their lives as a family.
• Where
1. They live in Los Angeles
• When
1. Modern day (present)
B. Connotation of Elements
• Sight
1. Ben hanging out with the guys shows the masculine aspects of a man. It shows male aggressiveness and that men like to mess around when having fun.
2. Alison working at E! Network shows that she is a successful, independent woman.
3. Ben not caring about his appearance is an over exaggeration of a stereotype men have.
4. Alison always looking good is a stereotype that women are always suppose to look attractive.
5. The messy house shows that men cant clean up after themselves because they aren’t meant to do housework.
6. Ben looking at Alison’s butt shows that men are naturally perverted.
• Sound
1. In order to be put on television, Alison needs to tighten her physique in order to look like the ideal woman of society.
2. Shows that men don’t know how to start a conversation with women.
3. This shows that women are the ones that are held responsible for taking care of the child and that you have get rid of your hopes and dreams to do so.
4. Since Ben had nothing to look forward to in life, having a child is a step forward to maturing in his dad’s eyes.
5. This shows that when you’re married, sex becomes more of a chore instead of pleasure.
6. This shows that we teach our children about the ideal ideas of how families should be instead of what really happens in reality.
7. This shows how women bond with each other and talks about personal things that are going on. It is a chance for them to express their emotions.
8. This is a stereotype that women always have to have the last word.
9. This is a stereotype that women always want to be right even when they know they are wrong.
10. This shows that age means everything to a woman. No matter how great you look, if you are old, you’ll always be behind the girl that is younger than you in our society.
11. By crying about love and being alone together may not seem masculine or may seem gay, however, it shows us a new trait in masculinity in having the ability to care about love, and have emotions.
12. This shows that Ben is maturing
13. This shows that Ben is maturing
• Soundtrack
1. Rock Lobster is played in the background because the sex scene isn’t suppose to feel romantic. The song takes away the seriousness of the situation.
III. Conclusion
A. Re-state Thesis
• The movie Knocked Up does not show the traditional expectations of gender roles, however, it shows us a new model of those roles and that society is starting to accept people for who they are.
B. Re-state major ideas
C. Closing (tie pieces together)
MichaelJayDelgadoFerrer.
