Power + Authority Comparative
One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest:
Mcmurphy is a disruption to the status quo.
He doesn't respect authority e.g his informal language to Dr Spivey.
Another example is his relationship with Nurse Ratched - always first to question her power e.g. his request for the world series foils her attempt to exert her control and symbolises the rise of the individual against the system. Another example is him entering her office without permission.
Nurse Ratched - ward nurses are complicit in her control of patients e.g. abusing her power through world series. Represents ignoring and altering democracy.
America has long made heroes of figures who assert their individuality. Novelists have written about characters whose individualism conflicts with the societies around them. McMurphy isn't part of the society he is a part of as he represents the life and colour of the outside world and the institution is bereft of colour and joy. McMurphy is presented as non conformist and unwilling to accept authority. This ids evident in the first therapy scene where he is the only character wearing colour.
The film is notable for having men existing in a passive relationship with at least one controlling women. Believes she is doing what is right but it being destructive. Comes across as aggressive as soon as she is challenged on a higher level than ever. A number of men have psychological/sexual issues with women such as Billy and Hardy. Nurse Ratched is presented as the antagonist to McMurphy. The wards night watchmen are all played by black men representing how they are inferior to the oppressive regime of Ratched.
McMurphy is a non conformist character. Foreman's previous film banned in his own country for shining a negative light on communism. Power and authority is gained from fear around Ratched. Mcmurphy gains power through admiration and social skills. Thomas Schatz argues classical hollywood narrative device of plot is based on psychological desires and character goals. Challenged 1970's cinema in which characters became plot functions.
HOW VERTIGO REPRESENTS AUTHORITY AND POWER
How Vertigo represents authority and power. ( written as a question answer)
In Vertigo power and authority are represented in a variety different ways in their text. One of the ways Vertigo does this is through the main character Scottie, Scottie is shown as a male authoritative figure throughout the film with his dominant expression and approach to women. One scene where this is very clear is when Scottie jumps into the river to save Madeline and the scene that follows, Scottie is shown as an Authoritative figure here because he takes action immediately jumping in to save the women. During the 1950's women were seen as lower in power than men with men being the most powerful in society. Going to the scene after this Scottie took Madeline back to his house and she is left powerless laying in the bed whilst Scottie makes her some tea. A common theme shown by most Hitchcock films is having a Blonde girl in it, this was usually done because Alfred Hitchcock liked blonde women and saw them as a tool in his films, someone who doesn't have any power except through sexual persuasions. However this is shown to be different in Vertigo where we find out Madeline had aided in the murder of Gavin's wife, when we find this out we get a completely different outlook on women power within the film and how women act as a hidden power often unseen by the audience.
Furthermore Scottie's misplaced in society, this is most present in his attempt to regain his authority after he lost is when Madeline died. his attempt at regaining control is presented as desperate and sad when he forces Judy to Dye her hair so she looks identical to Madeline because of the illusion created by the idea of helping madeline helps Scottie see himself as an authoritative figure which the time of the film was seen as being manly. Scottie tries to grasp onto his authority to try to fell secure in himself. This can be linked to the context of the film as 1950's America was a time of fear in which men were desperately trying to hold onto their power partially due to the rise of the 2nd wave of the feminist movement and the wars America fought; men are trying to recapture an outdated sense of authority
In Vertigo power and authority are represented in a variety different ways in their text. One of the ways Vertigo does this is through the main character Scottie, Scottie is shown as a male authoritative figure throughout the film with his dominant expression and approach to women. One scene where this is very clear is when Scottie jumps into the river to save Madeline and the scene that follows, Scottie is shown as an Authoritative figure here because he takes action immediately jumping in to save the women. During the 1950's women were seen as lower in power than men with men being the most powerful in society. Going to the scene after this Scottie took Madeline back to his house and she is left powerless laying in the bed whilst Scottie makes her some tea. A common theme shown by most Hitchcock films is having a Blonde girl in it, this was usually done because Alfred Hitchcock liked blonde women and saw them as a tool in his films, someone who doesn't have any power except through sexual persuasions. However this is shown to be different in Vertigo where we find out Madeline had aided in the murder of Gavin's wife, when we find this out we get a completely different outlook on women power within the film and how women act as a hidden power often unseen by the audience.
Furthermore Scottie's misplaced in society, this is most present in his attempt to regain his authority after he lost is when Madeline died. his attempt at regaining control is presented as desperate and sad when he forces Judy to Dye her hair so she looks identical to Madeline because of the illusion created by the idea of helping madeline helps Scottie see himself as an authoritative figure which the time of the film was seen as being manly. Scottie tries to grasp onto his authority to try to fell secure in himself. This can be linked to the context of the film as 1950's America was a time of fear in which men were desperately trying to hold onto their power partially due to the rise of the 2nd wave of the feminist movement and the wars America fought; men are trying to recapture an outdated sense of authority
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