Film is a relatively new art form, though it is solidly based in other forms, like writing, theater and painting. Some people see it as a uniquely different form of expression, while others see it as an extension of other forms, especially narrative. Criticizing film is a very recent phenomenon, and potential critics are testing all possible avenues of criticism and methods of analysis. Laura Mulvery tried in her essay Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinemato base a feminist analysis of film in Sigmund Freud's theories of penis envy and sexual deviation.
             The problem of analyzing the film "Some Like it Hot" in relation to Laura Mulvey's writing is that she does not prove her point very well in her essay. Her stated point is to prove that psychoanalytic theory can be used to demonstrate the way the unconscious of (our) patriarchal society has structured film form. (Gehring, Wes 1988 p 297) While this is certainly a provable theory, Mulvey does not prove it. In fact, it is difficult, indeed, to ferret out her points in this essay. What she does prove is that directors and cinematographers have, at times, been masterful in enhancing the narrative of the writer(s) who come from the patriarchal society of the time frame of these Hollywood Studio System narrative films. Directors and cinematographers are supposed to enhance the narrative and its inherent themes and intended messages. Analyzing how directors and cinematographers have played upon the cultural norms of their audience only proves that they are good at their jobs, not that they were promoting Freudian response to techniques designed to trigger response based upon sexual deviation, penis envy and other Freudian constructs.
             Ultimately, the creator(s) of the narrative, whether in a book, a poem or any other medium, will both mirror and attempt to modify the culture of their audience. The techniques used by directors and cinematographers enhance the narrative m...