In the viewing of Dr Who the audience begin to explore the ways in which the extract constructs the two opposing representations of gender between the two protagonists by analysing the Mise-en-scene.
In the viewing of the clip ‘Dr Who’, the audience can explore the ways
in which the extract constructs the two opposing representations of gender by
analysing the mise-en-scene, editing, camera, sounds etc. In elaborating on
this, I will use the Levi-Straus’ theory called ‘binary opposites’ to
illustrate the differences that are portrayed within the two protagonist
genders. I will discuss how the male gender is portrayed to be more in demand
and physically stronger, whereas the female gender is conveyed having less
power and control.
Levi-Straus’ theory ‘Binary Opposites’ is simply a conflict between two
terms or qualities that oppose to one another. For instance, Binary Opposites
could be anything from ‘male vs female’ to ‘hero vs villain’ to ‘youth vs old’
to ‘good vs bad’. However, the two characters I have chosen to analyse are the
male enemy and the female character that are displayed at the start of the
extract using the ‘male vs female’ binary opposite.
Firstly, I will be discussing the way
in which the female character is portrayed. From the first few seconds in,
there is a long shallow focused shot which allows the audience to see the male
enemy in most focus, and the female character far behind him as she enters the
door, blurred out. This straight away illustrates to us that the female
character has less control and in effect, is less important compared to the
male character. This displays the binary opposite ‘power vs weak’. Going on
from here, we can interpret this binary opposite even more so from observing
the facial expressions displayed on both characters in the next few shots. The
male enemy looks smug and very sure of himself, whereas we can see that the
female character looks wary and anxious of her surroundings. This therefore
portrays the typical stereotyped view of women being weak and displaying their
emotions physically and through facial expressions and body language. Similarly, from the
positioning of the two characters we can see that this clearly emphasises the
theory of binary opposites ‘control vs helplessness’ as the male character is
presented at a higher level with stairs leading up to it demonstrating a
hierarchical structure of being more important and having most control, whereas
the woman is presented as a lower level which portrays her lack of control and
lower importance. Furthermore, the audience can see that the male character does
not choose to go down the stairs and meet the female at her level; - instead he
stays at his high level and beckons her to come towards him in a controlling
manner, and here we can see that the female obeys and steps forward anxiously. Also,
the audience can see that as the female walks in, there is a shot displaying
two female characters watching and their facial expressions very scared, in comparison
to two male characters next to them, both armed with guns and looking very firm
and tough. This portrays the idea of power in males even more so as the purpose
in this would be the guns being a symbol illustrating the fact that the males point
of view are being in charge of sorting things out in the violence area and
coping with this well, whereas the females’ point of view is conveyed through
emotions. However, even though the female character is portrayed to have less
power, authority and control, the use of Todorov’s theory of having an
equilibrium, disruption and resolution in a clip allows the audience to see in
more depth of how the female character’s role can change and can therefore
interpret even more so how the two opposing genders contrast to eachother and
the way in which they deal with things leading to the theory of ‘Binary
Opposites’. Furthermore, the audience have been displayed that the male
character is the one that holds more control, power and authority and is seen
as much more dominant compared to the opposing gender (female) as the male is
the one giving out orders as if he is the boss over the woman and has all
control over her. This therefore portrays the stereotyped image of men being in
demand and having control over all females. Aswell as this, this particular
scene highlights that men also have a stronger verbal approach to things in
comparison to woman due to the fact that the male character here speaks loudly
and clearly down to the female character, and the female character hardly
speaks at all (and if she does, it’s quietly and uncertain) which therefore
emphasises how the two genders handle situations verbally.
The Binary Opposite of ‘power vs weak’
is conveyed once again in the next few shots of the clip as the male character
orders the woman to get down on her knees, and the woman obeys and does as she
is old. This scene metaphorically acts as if it is a King-like figure, demonstrating
respectful authorative royalty, and furthermore this portrays the male gender
even more so as being the breadwinner as he is also wearing a suit displaying a
smart businesslike approach, whereas the female character is wearing all-black.
This can lead to another interpretation for the audience as the colour black
has connotations of many negative things such as death, violence, mystery etc
portraying them as perhaps the bad gender, and also leading the audience to
start thinking about what could happen in the next few scenes of the extract.
Nevertheless, the male character is portrayed as a confident character that is
very comfortable in his own skin and he also is the gender that is speaking the
majority of the time and giving orders, which therefore reinforces the Binary
Opposite of ‘power vs weak’ or perhaps even ‘confidence vs shyness’.
As the extract progresses, it displays a clear role reverse as it reaches
and equilibrium (Todorov’s theory). The female character is portrayed to ‘come
out of her shell’ as the way she was previously portrayed, switches completely.
She gains confidence throughout, and during the middle of the extract the
audience sees that the female character suddenly gets an urge to fight the
dominant male character back and is determined to display her point. As the
female character begins to get her point across verbally, she does it in a very
polite manner, maintaining calmness to ensure that all of her facts and
opinions are heard, maintaining a professional and respectable manner.
Therefore, in conclusion this highlights how the two opposing genders settle
things and how they are conveyed in their approach of the matter.
