Whale Rider Assignment - 2013

How is Paikea a female counter‐stereotype? Use the "female gaze" theory to describe how the film and the character fit this model of the female perspective and female “voice”. Use the web links provided in Week 6 module on the Female Gaze (the Rubaiyat Hossain article, “Female Directors, Female Gaze”). Clue: the director of Whale Rider is a woman!

In the film “Whale Rider”, the main character Paikea is proven to be a female counter- stereotype in various ways. Throughout the film Paikea is portrayed as strong leader, who has the ability to lead a group and lead herself through the many challenges she faces throughout the movie. From the beginning of the film Paikea's grandfather Koro is not accepting of her. Not because Paikea is a bad person he simply discriminates because she is female. He doesn't believe women have the ability to do and think the same as men and as Paikea grew older she became more and more strong and wise. She proved this when she retrieved her grandfather's necklace from the sea when none of the other boys could and at the end of movie when she was able to save the whale that had washed up on the beach. In the Female Gaze article, the Rubaiyat Hossain says "As women we need to run free with our desires to come to a place when and where we know who we are and what we desire." Paikea had the courage to really let her desires run free. Without being able to do that she would never of been able to prove to her grandfather that she too could achieve the same that the boys could achieve and eventually this led to Koro accepting Paikea for who she truly was.

How is Whale Rider a statement of empowerment for women and girls? How does Paikea challenge gendered expectations?

Whale Rider is a statement of empowerment for women and girl because revolves around the theme that women can accomplish the same challenges that men face and women and girls can do anything they set there mind too. It is a stereotype that the male gender is more dominant, but that stereotype as we know today is untrue. Our world is full of powerful women who have accomplished great things.

In the film Paikea is faced with a series of challenges it is believed by Koro only men can complete. From fighting with the sticks, retrieving the necklace in the sea, saving the whale and fixing the boat motor. She constantly stood up for herself and showed no fear when doing these things. Not only that because she was alone for most on the time because many of the other people were afraid of Koro.

How is Whale Rider an example of counter‐cinema? Use the 1990’s Lecture notes in Week 6 Module to help with this answer and the “Hollywood” article (by Kord and Krimmer) in the course package.

In the notes from 1990's and Beyond, counter-cinema is defined as "cinema that stands in opposition to the dominant forms of Hollywood." Many Hollywood movies continues portray women characters as weak and helpless. Whale Rider is an example of counter-cinema because it completely goes against the Hollywood movie stereotype of women. In the film Paikea is portrayed as a leader who is very strong. This is very much unlike the stereotype for the weak and passive Hollywood woman. Counter-cinema films portray a women who is a strong individual, the heroine and the one who can speak freely and speak her mind, not ashamed of what anyone else might think or do.

Sources:

Whale Rider 2002 film

1990's Lecture Notes

Rubaiyat Hossain article, “Female Directors, Female Gaze"