Mock Exam Preparation Homework

1) Analyse how the representation of gender has been constructed in the still shot using mise en scene and camera work

2) Revise the key terms on slide 3

Camera – How has camerawork been used to construct representation of gender

One example of how camerawork has been used to represent the genders is the angle in which the character is viewed at. As the female is on higher ground but still in the same shot she is viewed from the audiences perspective at a lower angle. This gives the impression that she is powerful and dominating which goes against the stereotype that females are generally the weaker sex. The male character also seems to be at a slight low angle (less significantly than the female) which challenges Strauss’ theory about the use of binary opposites to represent characters as the female character is at a low angle to support this the male character would have to be at a high angle, this is not the case as he is also at a slight low angle (at the very least a neutral angle).

Mise en scene – How has mise en scene been used to construct representation of gender?

The mise en scene has been used to represent the genders in a counter type. This can be seen as the female is in the foreground of the image, is standing on higher ground and seems to have a more open (confident) posture than the male. This goes against the usual stereotype of females being the subordinate gender as the female is physically represented as the dominating figure (being at the front, seeming taller and standing with a more alpha stance than the male character, also she is holding a weapon further elaborating her dominance of the situation). I think this representation challenges Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze as although the female is the fore frontal character she is not represented in a voyeuristic way.

Help SheetWhat does the question mean?The examiner wants you to analyse how the representation of gender has been constructed.

Point – Identify a way that men or women have been representationExample – Give a specific example of how this has been constructed using a technique from mise en scene

or camerawork.Explain – Explain the effect created by the technique – how does this show gender to the audience –

positive/negative, fairly/unfairly, powerful/weak… Link – To key terms or theories (has is reinforced or challenged a particular stereotype or theory? Does it

support the theory of Strauss/Mulvey/Hall etc)

Points could consider: • Representing gender in a certain way• Communicating the gender’s position to the audience• Making the audience feel a certain way about the characters / gender

What key terms should I include?• Media language – connotation, encode, decode, icon, key signifier, symbol, mise en scene,

verisimilitude• Film language - Camera shots, angles and movements- Lighting, low key lighting, high key lighting, contrast, tone/ colours- Iconography - Costume, hair and make up, props, setting, - Positioning of objects within the frame• Genre - sub genre, key signifiers, conventions