A theme tied to American Culture, the infantilization of women is shown through Wendy and how she’s treated— both in the film and in criticisms/receptions of it.
In No.9, Danny tells Wendy not to worry— a child of 5 or 6 interrupting and asserting dominance over his mother in conversation is weird.
In No.24, Jack mocks Wendy for suggesting that the cure his writer’s block is to develop a daily writing habit— which is in fact exactly the advice that would solve the writer’s block.
In No.31 and his “new rule”.
In No.47 immediately discrediting her “Are you out of your fucking mind?” even though the experience with Lloyd had just occurred. If it hadn’t, then it was in his mind, but the immediate response to her is that she’s crazy.
In No.50, at first Jack gaslights Wendy around Danny’s bruises and what happened there. Then when that doesn’t work, Jack attacks her for his lack of future career prospects.
In No.64 Wendy reverts to a child, wanting to simply retreat to her room.
and the famous “Wendy, darling, light of my life, I’m not going to hurt you, I”m simply going to bash your brains in”.
In No.65 Jack takes full advantage of her lack of knowledge with the radio and snowcat.
In No.72, taunting her with “3 Little Pigs”
In this image · No.9
Inappropriate Content from Television
Danny knows what cannibalism is but not what The Donner Party is.
Inappropriate Content from Television: No.40.
Cultural Relativism: Native Americans / Africans were “savages” for their practices, but Europeans/Americans were justified in their choices, be it for the sake of survival, or for pleasure when the wealthy ate slaves and mummies.
No.14’s dialogue; No.37 and No.37.
Children’s cartoons had content that showed indigenous peoples as savages, engaging in cannibalism. In America, you mainly associated cannibalism with the Donner Party. To show Danny knowing what cannibalism is but not what The Donner Party is connects to the “violence in cartoons” signified by the Tom & Jerry, Roadrunner & Coyote narrative theme music and the Bugs Bunny signifiers.
Violence in cartoons; American Culture; Play vs. Harm.
Inappropriate Content from Television: No.40.
Cultural Relativism: Native Americans / Africans were “savages” for their practices, but Europeans/Americans were justified in their choices, be it for the sake of survival, or for pleasure when the wealthy ate slaves and mummies.
Television
A child dismissing an adult and not being challenged by either Wendy or Danny.
Jack’s frustration at the Television.
Wendy & Television: No.4, No.6, No.29, No.37, No.62.
As Danny continues, he says he learned about cannibalism from the television, which prompts Jack to tease Wendy about the reliance on television. This lukewarm interaction is the seed that begins what will become abusive in future scenes.