Evaluation of how gender is represented in our piece

Gender Representations in Our Opening Sequence

 

Overview of Issues around Gender Representation

Representations partly dictated by genre conventions, psychological thriller

Victim stereotypically  young female because  seen as weak

 

Villain stereotypically an older man - men  seen as having (physical) power over women

Negative stereotyping of women as weak?

 Adorno: stereotypes essential in art (media) because trying to compress narrative - stereotypes make this achievable.

 Lacey:  women  normally victims because patriarchal society trying to take revenge on them.

Clover:  women often overpower captor and survive at end (final girl)

 

Our Representations

 

Conventional female stereotype of victim used.

 

Created through mise-en-scene: casting of young actress, white (shows blood, connotes innocence); blood and black eye; deserted wood location.

Also through editing - pacy shots of vivtim running creating tension.






 .









Is an example of Clover's final girl - suggestion is she fought back and survives



Girl's revenge

Male attacker potentially negative representation of man using strength to abuse woman

 

attack scene

 

However, competing representation - male police officer in position of authority (expressed through official badge and handcuffs) but is kind.

Shot / reverse shot editing puts them as equals despite situation unlike attack. lighting is warm and cosy creating feeling of safety.

 

sympathetic police officer

 

 

Girl with Dragon Tattoo - similar attack / revenge plot line

Media reporting women as weak e.g. domestic abuse articles.

Attack shown to be frightening - reduced colour saturation, attacker never fully seen, aggressive expression, grimy basement location.

Exploitation of women's fear?

Attack is violent

Aggressive representation

 

Our police officer has power / authority - uses it for good.

 

Liam Neeson manages to use his  power to get his daughter back  in Taken - more positive representation of men.

 

 

Male power to protect

Taken

Male power to protect

 

Can be seen as positive representation of men.

Could be seen as demeaning to women - need man to 'save' them?

Important therefore that our heroine has saved herself.

Conclusion

Mixed representations of both men and women:

Women - initially weak but saves herself

Men - have power and authbority, can use it well or badly.