Can we just take a second to discuss how fucking grotesque
this is?
This promotional poster from Sam Raimi’s “Oz: The Great and
Powerful” showcases the film’s antagonist, and iconic movie villain; The Wicked
Witch of the West. In a low-cut dress. With digitally enhanced cleavage.
Really?
No, seriously. REALLY?
The highly sexualised depiction of women in the media is
already something that I find a gigantic issue, but this is the sexualisation
of, not only what is meant to be a grotesque character, but also one of the
most frightening and iconic movie villains of cinematic history.
I fully understand the need to bring in a certain audience,
and I understand that posters are designed for a primarily male gaze (which is
an entirely different issue). But who in their right mind thought that giving
The Wicked Witch of the West a push-up bra was a good idea? Maybe the film
makes her a sympathetic character, and showcases a characters decline into
insanity, but the whole point of the character is that she is unappealing in
every aspect. For want of a better description, she is evil incarnate.
We’ve had films recently such as “Snow White and the
Huntsman” that play on the expectation of women in media, and the insecurities
they face. No doubt years “Maleficent” will carry the same themes with Linda
Woolverton helming the script. But from what I’ve seen of this film so far,
this isn’t an angle they are taking, and so I just cannot comprehend the logic
behind this image. The image of Margaret Hamilton’s witch (undoubtedly the most
famous incarnation of the character) had her covered completely from head to
toe, in a strict, sexless fashion. Because that’s what the character is
supposed to be.
Even the book “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked
Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire features a description of the character’s
pubic hair. But this isn’t there to sexually gratify the character, rather to
create an alternate human image of a character that eventually becomes an
iconic image of evil.
What I’m really trying to say is: is this really where film
promotion has lead us? To a point where we have to sexually objectify even the most iconic and vile
characters? Is the depiction of women in the media at a point where sexualisation
is so unlimited that we will dress up even the most vulgar characters if it
gets an audience? Cause if it is; I’M OUT!!
