Tammy
tells the hilarious story of a woman who has hit rock bottom is trying to find
her out. Uncommonly, the solution to Tammy’s problems is not a man, but finding
herself and saving her grandmother from herself. This idea seems almost radical
considering its lack of feature on the big screen. A mix of this idea and untraditional and
non-stereotypical characters, Tammy passes the Representation Test with flying
colors scoring a high A (13 points), which measures a film’s societal impact or
commitment to change.
Tammy
checks off most of the boxes on the Representation Test, but gains most of its
points from the Woman section. In reality, the film is very woman oriented with
all main characters being female. Tammy, the protagonist of Tammy, is a female protagonist. She is
not a woman of extreme beauty, fitness, or shape; in all honesty, not only is Tammy
a non-stereotypical lead but she is also a very unfamiliar body type for the
big screen especially for a woman. Gaetti,
from Understanding Movies agrees with the typical mold asserting, “good looks and
sex appeal have always been the conspicuous traits of most film stars”. The
idea of Tammy breaking all the common molds for women in film goes along with
what the theme the storyline portrays: Tammy
teaches that a women’s way out should not be a man and that in order to make
something of yourself or to make your way up in life, your only option is solely
to work hard. The film’s emphasis on this idea also helps Tammy check off the rep-test that a woman is not presented as
solely an “object
for male gazers.” Tammy is not bursting with sex appeal, but she is also funny
and strong. The film also checks off “passing the Bechtel test” which mostly
comes from the conversations of Tammy and her grandmother as they are learning
about each other and helping each other to grow.
In terms of
men, Tammy does not check off as
many. Tammy does avoid “glorifying violent men” and “perpetuating an extreme
and unhealthy body ideal for mean”. However there is a general lack of men
having conversation without a woman. Tammy
has mostly main characters being female with the male holding supporting
smaller roles. These supporting roles are rather untraditional making it able
to mark off another rep-test. The man Tammy ends up with, Billy is an example
of this. Billy takes after his parents including his father, who drinks too
much, and his mother, who is very sick, even though they are both separated. He
is an uncommon nice guy who is not extremely attractive or even remotely
smooth. When trying to compliment her says “It’s not that you’re a catch, not
that your not a catch, but my life is boring, and you’re not boring.” This
exemplifies how Billy very much breaks the mold of what most men in film want
from woman. Billy wants her for her personality not her looks. Tammy is also very representative for
the LGBT People as the film features many lesbians, whom are very diverse, and
whom are not reduced to stereotypes. An example of this is Lenore, the cousin
of Tammy’s grandmother, whom the film gets to know very well. She not only is a
main character but she also is a strong woman, who has made a life for herself,
and teaches Tammy that ‘life isn’t fair” and that the only way to make it is to
work hard. This promotes a very positive message for the lesbian community, as
a lesbian is made to be hard working, intelligent, and in touch with the world
which is not a typical role for lesbians in film. Tammy also checks off in Race, Ethnicity, and Culture as there are
no celebrated offensive racial, ethnic, or cultural stereotypes but there are
also not too many races featured in the movie. Lastly, the film does feature a
person with diabetes whose “storyline [is] not limited to [her] disability.
The
Representation Test is supposed to measure a film’s contribution to change or
cultural impact. In terms of Tammy
the representation test is accurate in that it is very successful in representing
most groups and presenting a positive image of those groups. This shows how in
order to pass the test with a high score; a film must be very successful in
representing many groups and elements very well. The more groups presented to a
certain level, the higher the score. Essentially, the rep test asserts that if
all films could include all the test’s diverse elements then a change in
society would result. However, it is also possible that a film could be very
successful in representing one group or category, and could change for that
group.If each group were represented solely by a film, then all together they would
also have cultural impact. This goes with the idea of “separate we fall, united
we stand.” With many films specialized for change in different areas, all
together they would successfully represent. But with the reptest if a film is
very strong in presenting woman as equal to a man but lacks in many races,
alternate sexuality, and disabilities, it will not score well. How can the test
not grade a film that’s emphasis is on a commitment to change for woman in society well in cultural impact
because it lacks in showing other groups? How could a film that represents gay
men as being athletic not be graded high for its contribution to change because
it does not feature females? Though the rep test grades well for movie with
overall different groups, it disincentives producing a film that’s focus for
change is society is centered only on one group. In evaluating films, it must
be noted that society views many a year: not all films must contribute to
change for all films, but all the films together must cause change for all
groups.
In closing, Tammy rocks because it shows a strong
woman, teaches that a man is not the end goal, that you shouldn’t rob a fast
food joint, no matter how desperate you are, and keeps you laughing the whole
way through. And on top of all that, it asks for gender equality and acceptance
of all people while passing the impossible rep test. Therefor I am giving Tammy
5 pickles.
Ashley Smith
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