The film “Souls at sea” from the 1960s represents women as inferior to men and a lot more vulnerable. In every appearance that women have in the poster their gestures and body language suggest they feel reliant of protection by the man assisting them. This is signified clearly by the woman who looks afraid, resting her hand on the man for comfort. Although the woman at the bottom is a little more confident looking, she is still following behind her man.
You can also see the “childlike” ways the women are dressed, with connotations that they are need of protection and share the same traits of children, who feel to be protected, they need another guardian.
The prominent male figures in the poster body language and facial expressions are opposing to the women. They assert dominance in every appearance, with a relaxed and almost “in control” expression. The figure of the men nearer to the bottom of the poster are also accompanied with a shotgun demonstrating how they are an active character, therefore the women become their passive followers.
Using Stuart Halls theory of representation , the posters preferred reading could be a romantic love story, however some viewers may see this poster as misogynistic and offensive this is because it represents women as inferior to men.
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