Stereotypes vs. The World - CIU110 #1

Critical Concepts

Critical Concepts are to my understanding, a manipulation of concepts in order to create a piece of media that will be ideally viewed and enjoyed across the world. These concepts are often moulded and shaped by directors, producers, artists and musicians to meet the ideals that they may or may not have set out with at the beginning of their creative process. These ideals could have something to do with a certain genre, stereotype, cliché, aesthetic or to portray a certain narrative in the piece they have created. In this post, I will be writing about stereotypes in the movie, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Stereotypes

What I would define a stereotype to be is an overplayed or easily predicted idea, character or story that is featured in a creative piece of media. Another definition a of stereotype is; "…as a term that is used to describe how fixed qualities or traits may be attributed to groups in the way they are represented in various media. It is usually applied to negative impressions or pernicious representational techniques." (Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, The Key Concepts. 3rd ed. USA: Routledge, p.216.)

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Synopsis

As bass guitarist for a garage-rock band, Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) has never had trouble getting a girlfriend; usually, the problem is getting rid of them. But when Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) skates into his heart, he finds she has the most troublesome baggage of all: an army of ex-boyfriends who will stop at nothing to eliminate him from her list of suitors.

Stereotypes in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

This piece of creative media is filled with stereotypes, from jealous girls to evil exes., 'Scott Pilgrim vs. The World' isn't short of them. In this blog, the stereotype I will be focusing on, which are also the main antagonists in the movie are Ramona's 'Seven Evil Exes'. Exes are usually portrayed as mean, selfish or unsavoury people who were the cause of their relationships end.

In Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Ramona's wide range of exes are portrayed as six men and one woman all set on eliminating Scott and becoming Ramona's partner once again. In the movie, they all show a lot of hate towards Scott, threatening him and fighting with him Ramona back. These exes fit into their stereotype because of this behaviour, showing fixed qualities that usually can describe the stereotype of an ex boyfriend or girlfriend. They're all jealous of Scott and Ramona's new relationship, and all have their own unique stereotype within the movie. an example of this within the movie is Todd, Ramona's third evil ex.

Todd is a vegan in the movie, and his character is based off of a stereotyped vegan. He believes he is better than Scott (and everyone else but Ramona), and has 'vegan powers', which consist of telekinetic powers. Todd fits the stereotype of a vegan because vegans are portrayed in the media as people who believe they are better than others because they don't consume or use animal products.

What I Have Learnt About Stereotypes

I have learnt that stereotypes are more of just a portrayal of a group in the media based on the way they act and the qualities they show instead of just an idea or concept that has been over used in the film industry.