Knocked Up (group#3) 10/26

In my group we discussed the consciousness of class, authority in command, and how the person that is second class, and not in command is submitted to the desires and expectations of those in charge. My duty was to find examples of how the main couple portrayed the "new woman" "the weak man" "sex" "class" and "romance." Allison was constructed as the independent woman but throughout the movie there was issues that contradicted the image created. She was independent, but lived with her sister. She did not want to commit to anything serious, but she was upset when Ben did not read the baby books; she said it was "a lack of commitment." Allison is obviously in power, she has the job, the looks, and the car. She is an example of the new modern woman. She is concerned about her job, not the image of the woman that must bare children. She is not independent or in power just because of her looks, job, and car; but by default. Ben is a slacker that gets high, has no real income, and no mobility.

Throughout the movie Ben submits to the torture and goes through a metamorphisis; from the embarassment to the ideal. He was after the girl, and changed for her, not because he wanted to, but because he needed to be accepted. Sex in this film is portrayed as the one night stand  that turns in to love. This is not realistic, it is the typical romantic comedy. We can argue that class is present because she yells at him about her property, she says " Get out of my car" "Get out of my fuc#$@ car" In other words, since she has lost control of her body, she cannot go back in time, all she is left with is her property. There is also a contradiction when we say that only the wealthy are concerned about their view and social standing. A present issue is abortion. In the wealthy family they say "Just take care of it " In the lower class they say "Smasmortion" Both classes avoid the word, however both classes are aware of the impact abortion can have on Allison and Bens lives. This movie makes us aware of what alcohol can do, alter a no strings attached situation, and the problems that our society faces when we create borders against the man and woman relationship, how people adjust to the "modern woman", todays various ways of how we view sex, marriage, and commitment.