Stereotypes In The Film Pretty Woman

Films plays and important role in media and society. All of our lives we’ve have watched movies and television and what we see on our screen is what we categorize as normal and acceptable behavior. Films can either progressively improve our societal view of typical archetypes, or they can reinforce negative stereotypes that are already so abundant in the media today. The two films I chose to write about were Pretty Woman and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Both films has positives and negatives influences throughout, but can be referenced as popular films which carry a strong social message. The Film Pretty Woman, was directed by Garry Marshall and written by J.F. Lawton. The film centers around Los Angeles prostitute Vivian Ward, Julia Roberts, who encounters successful business man Edward Lewis, Richard Gere. Originally intending to ask for directions, Edward ends up hiring Vivian to spend the night with him, during which time he is surprised and intrigued by her intelligence and wit. The next morning Edward offers Vivian a large sum of money to spend the week with him and accompany him to a variety of social events. With the help of hotel manager Barney Thompson, Hector Elizondo, Vivian makes an elegant transformation which stuns Edward. As the film progresses Vivian and Edward grow closer. …show more content…
Vardalos also stars in the film as Fotoula “Toula” Portokalos, a Greek American girl who is nearing her thirties and questioning her life. Like the other woman in her family, Toula is expected to marry a Greek man, have Greek children, cook and clean like a proper Greek woman. Unlike her sister, Toula has done none of these things, instead she works at the family restaurant “Dancing Zorba’s”, and is under constant pressure to settle down and have kids. One day, Toula meets handsome teacher Ian Miller, John Corbett, and the two eventually fall in