Language Lessons: Gender-Based Material Signifiers of Social Intent in Better Off Dead

Authors

Elizabeth Brady, Brigham Young University

Keywords

women's studies, film studies

Abstract

While there is significant evidence of Lévi-Strauss’s model of women as material signifiers of male intent present in Better Off Dead, two characters undercut the absoluteness of this theory. Monique freely dwelled outside of the realm of the system, indicating that there are alternate models. Lane’s willingness to and success in denying the system and departing from it indicates that even those within the system are not inevitably bound to the tenets of the theory.

Biography

Elizabeth Brady recently graduated from BYU’s MFA program in creative nonfiction, emphasizing in the personal essay. Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Santa Clara Review, Brevity, and BYU Studies Quarterly. She currently teaches creative writing, composition, and yoga at BYU.

Recommended Citation

Brady, Elizabeth (2016) "Language Lessons: Gender-Based Material Signifiers of Social Intent in Better Off Dead," AWE (A Woman’s Experience): Vol. 3, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/awe/vol3/iss1/7