Analysis 6: The Scarlet A and Easy Access.

Foucault, in his text " The History of Sexuality: An Introduction, Volume 1", tackles two major concepts in the idea of sexuality.  The first is that sexuality was at first repressed, and sexuality was almost a taboo, but it was soon scrutinized scientifically.  This is to say that the need to understand sexuality caused sexuality to be seen in the realms of science, psychology, sociology, and other avenues of study, creating a power based off of understanding and finding the sexuality.  The second idea is that the study of sexuality and perversions helps create or strengthen perversions by bringing them to light or making them evident in the eye of the beholder.  This creates a drive into understanding and finding new perversions as well as classifying sexual deviance outside of marraige, I.E. Homosexuality, Transsexuality, Transgendered, etc etc.  It creates the ability to classify and sub-classify each perversion in an attempt to understand it, and in doing so identifies the person with that perversion. The individual now becomes a homosexual or a furry based on his sexual perversions which is not paralleled in say their taste in food (like a "vegetarian").  He defines these studies as a source of power for both the one being studied and the one studying.  The first gains power because they become aware of their perversions, while the second gains power because of the knowledge of the new perversion he brings to light.


Enter the movie Easy A, Olive is just a regular no body in school until the rumor spreads about her sleeping with a fictitious college student.  Now all the students at her school are paying attention to her, spreading more rumors, and participating in a rumor mill to enhance their popularity and power at the school.  The movie becomes a study of school aged sexuality as pointed out in Foucault.  Students are originally kept away from sexuality, but it develops due to the want to understand sexuality and gives the observers and the participant power.  The power on the observers part is a feeling of superiority over the "slut" (who brands herself with a scarlet A) as evident in Amanda Bynes ultra conservative character that leads a movement to get Olive separated from school.  This instance also creates power for Olive, now she is being recognized and is able to insight the crowd and control her fate (or sexuality).  By lying about her sexuality she actually saves (and later condemns) a teacher who was sleeping with another student, as well as enhance the social life of the "others" in school (the nerds).  Her relationship and understanding of the power, as well as the other individuals feeling of empowerment for being better (and a sense of schadenfreude by living vicariously through her) allows her to gain the ability to broad caste both her sexuality, and in the end tell the truth and dispel the rumors of her "slutty ways". Easy A is an excellent example of the power gained by the "understanding" of sexuality, especially in the setting of a school.

 Foucault. "The History of Sexuality". ed. Leitch, Vincent B. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. Print.