La La Land Gender Analysis

In the Kiss of the vampire poster, there is an equal ratio of male to female. This is the same in the La La Land poster. Additionally in both posters, females get the same amount of space in the composition of the poster. However, one thing that sets these posters apart is the arrangement of the names. Emma Stone’s name is featured second to Ryan Gosling, in the same large font. However, on Kiss of the Vampire poster, Jennifer Daniel’s name is the fourth to appear before three men’s, despite the fact there are only two male characters advertised.  This may reflect the progressive change for females in the film industry in the 50 years between each film, as they are now seen as equal talent to males.

Additionally, the costumes the female characters are given are very significant to the representation of gender. In Kiss of the Vampire, we see both models on the post wearing flesh coloured dress. This connotes to nudity which is amplified by the fact the dresses are tight, emphasising the curves of the model. This is important as the poster is using the sexuality of the actresses to sell the movie, rather than their talent, they are being reduced to their beauty. In contrast, Emma Stone is wearing a vibrant yellow dress which is more modest compared to Kiss of the Vampire. People often associate the colour yellow with hope and ambition, already giving the female character a story and more depth than just her body. Furthermore, the black background creates stark contrast to her dress as they are complimentary colours, perhaps implying her positivity won’t go to plan. This can relate back to David Gauntlets theory that Mia will act as a role model for women who want to be seen as equal to men. However, interestingly, the male characters on each poster are dressed very similarly despite their half a century divide. In kiss of the vampire, the male victim is dressed in a white shirt and black pants. We see Ryan Gosling wearing a similar outfit in the La La Land poster, perhaps implying there has been very little change for males in the film industry. On the other hand, a heteronormative couple being depicted in dresses and suits is extremely stereotypical, especially for the romance genre, creating the idea that perhaps the film is less progressive as it seems.