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 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.