Thursday, 13 October 2011

How representation of gender is constructed in prime evil

A wide shot is used to show the audience a female, operating very heavy machinery, that would stereotypically be seen being used by a strong male. This juxtaposes the archytypal representations of males in the media, as here they are being presented as the weaker gender. This is used in contrast with a medium close up of the male carrying light weight material (grass), which shows the difference between how the male and womans strength potential is being portrayed.

Through the costume we can see a contrast where the female and the male are captured in a wide shot showing his his costume colors being; light blue & white which connotes innocence and venerability, where the female is wearing tight black leather costume which shows representations of prominence, strength as well as having some sexual references.

In another wide shot the audience is a allowed a symmetrical view of both the male and the female showing the female defeating the tiger and the male running away. This is all set in fast pace editing when cutting to show the male running away, and then slow pace when the female is defeating the tiger, which helps con notate the males fear and panicking whilst showing representations of the female being organised, calm and confident showing she is not afraid and knows what she is doing. This follows the stereotype that men are more collected when it comes to practical tasks whereas women are more collected when it comes to processing plans, being well organised.

Following this scene there is then a CU which establishes the males facial expression, showing he is scared, which contrasts to the next shot which is an eye line match from the female targeting the tiger and shows the tiger being shot. This again con notates how the female has greater courage and strength than the male.

In a medium shot, the female is shown (still in her tight black leather suit) surrounded by males dressed in light stylish clothing in contrast. This is used to connote the her empowerment and higher levels of courage than the males. This is a form of role reversal as the audience would expect the males (through stereotype) to be braver and less unsettled by a fear striking situation.

In a SRS, the camera firstly tilts up in a medium shot to show the female pointing the gun towards the man, in contrast with a tilt down still in a medium shot to show the man pointing his gun at the woman. This helps builds representations of female strength as it puts the audience in the males position when the camera is tilting down it con notates the woman's presence and sense of authority upon him. The following CU of the males facial expression showing his fear and anxiety also helps construct this representation.

In another SRS the camera cuts from a CU of the tiger about to attack the male, to a medium shot of the male cowering in a hole hiding his face, this helps build representations of a mother womb and the protection it gives the fetus; con notating the same protection he is looking for.

The female always seams to have camera priority as when she shot she always takes up 2/3 of the shot which helps build representations of her strength and authority. As well as this the female is always shot in a medium shot showing her operating machinery or ammo (being practical). Whereas the male, the majority of the time, is shot in a MCU to show his facial expressions of fear & venerability.