Carrie 1976 Opening Sequence
There’s something beautiful about the carefree nature of the locker room
The locker room scene, underscored with the non-diegetic music, initially exudes the free will of a woman.
Before the bloody mishap that Carrie White received in the shower, the camera pans across the room and shows a sacred scene of femininity and camaraderie. With dreamlike qualities, such as the steam of the hot water and the slow-motion actions presented, viewers come to terms with how beautiful and carefree the female anatomy is.
Women have been subjected to sexualization for centuries, and there has not been much change. Unless you want to count the laws enforced by the government, which are now held back at the Supreme Court, there is not a significant amount that can contribute towards the evolution of the treatment of women. However, this demographic group still finds sanctions to express themselves without the unwanted gaze of society. Thus comes the scene mentioned previously; it shows the liberation of women letting themselves reign the space.
From the girls in the scene running and laughing as they get out of the shower, to the ones getting dressed and talking amongst their peers. Even Carrie White seems to be comfortable with the fact that there are no curtains to hide her body. Another aspect of the scene to take note of is every person who is nude appears to be completely natural, further emphasizing the true essence of a woman and nothing to be ashamed of. These women portray a sense of vanity in the best way possible; they are not ashamed of expressing themselves, freely, amongst one another.
And this is where the locker room scene falls short. Evidently, most of the women are nude and there are no men in the scene; nevertheless, who is the viewer? In the physical presence of this sequence, there is a male director by the name of Brian de Palma, and possibly other male staff. In fact, many of the girls were hesitant to appear nude in the film until de Palma showed nude shots of Sissy Spacek (the actress who played Carrie White). There is valid hesitation, specifically due to the fact that the scene would be slowed down to further create the illusion of a sacred moment to then present the horror of the next few minutes. This falls into the category of voyeurism because the characters are seemingly not aware of being watched. The definition proceeds to highlight this statement by explaining voyeurism as gaining (sexual) pleasure from watching others when they are naked.
Commonly known as a “peeping tom,” the women are not aware they are being watched; we assume they are roaming free because they are in a safe place. There’s a misconception as to women being comfortable around other women, yet we can see the pleased expressions displayed as the women talk to each other or playfully throw towels at one another. They feel free from the societal shackles of the male gaze. The male gaze comes from the assumptions made about women that play into the stereotypes of what makes a woman. We, the voyeurs, interpret the girls in the locker room as women by their autonomy (sex organs and their playful banner). Although there is more as to what defines a woman; we just see female organs and immediately label them.
Continuing on with the peeping toms, in this circumstance, are the wide variety of audiences who view the film. Not only do the women in this scene have physically present voyeurs (the film crew), but they also have third-party onlookers who pay attention to each detail of the scene that the director intended them to see. There are people who also study the music in the scene, which further consumes the mind to play into the performance of the fantasy given on screen. The gaze proceeds as the seductive close-ups of Carrie White take away from her vulnerability. We are not allowed to hear the conversations the women are having; all we can do is be influenced as to how we should feel by the non-diegetic music and the images displayed before us.
The girls’ locker room, among many places, is a vulnerable place. A place where women can be…women, and not be looked down upon (in the case of what a man has to say about their body or conversations). They can have multiple discussions of whatever comes to their mind and not be judged by the public. In context, they can talk about the size of their breasts, gossip that spread throughout the school, or simply how mundane their lives are without the intervention of whoever sees an opportunity to have a say in how women should present themselves. Yet, as we see in the scene, a woman’s sacred place has become a tainted environment. Once the world gets a hold of these cherished environments, are they safe havens for women to present themselves however they please? Can the question as to why when women want to freely express themselves, it must be seen by the entire world further enhance societal demands of this demographic group?
The movie scene is similar to that of Dance by Henri Matisse and Dancing Maidens by Leopold Franz Kowalsky. Both paintings exude themes of hedonism, meaning one’s idea of seeking pleasure and happiness because they are the fundamentals of life. We see the women displayed as carefree and enjoying the simplicity that life has to offer by dancing. Take note of how they are together, and other human life is absent. The paintings must show the figures in a state of vulnerability and expression. However, there are always onlookers, viewers, and critics who analyze Matisse’s and Kowalsky’s paintings as a need to have a say as to how women should appear. Whether that be in their movements or the way they look, there is always critique at the hand of the voyeurs, even if it is about enjoying the fact of knowing the characters are showing who they are in true essence in the means of emotional liberation.
While the locker room scene foreshadows crucial developments in Carrie, it is vital to examine how it both celebrates and constrains female identity. Amid the beautiful long take, the scene exemplifies the struggle to portray women beyond their physical bodies, underscoring the complexities of gender dynamics.
In creating spaces for women that are meant to be sacred, society often exploits these environments, distorting their significance for personal gain—whether through sexualized perspectives or power dynamics. The locker room serves as a microcosm of broader societal issues, revealing a complex interplay between liberation and control, ultimately challenging us to reconsider what it means to be a woman in a world that constantly seeks to define her.
