Women and Road Movies

Film Review # 17058

Film > History of
Gender and Sexuality > Homosexuality
Women Studies
Women Studies > Culture

How the movie "Thelma and Louise" (1991) changed the course of the road movie.

1,529 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2002 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how "Thelma and Louise" strayed from the typical "road movie" formula in terms of casting, theme and storyline. It shows how the film not only helped to redefine gender stereotypes but also paved the way for other women, as well as gays, people of color and other traditionally underrepresented groups, to become "road movie heroes" as well.

From the Paper:

"The conventional road movie twosome, which is usually comprised of either two young males or a male and female with a romantic connection, has permeated the genre since its inception. Thelma and Louise broke that tradition by not only using two female protagonists, but by portraying men in a consistently negative light; essentially as either "rapists", "bullies" or "boy toys"."