Practice Question (Gender)

Within the clip how is gender represented


This clip is taking from ITV's science fiction thriller Primeval. In this clip there are 5 males and 2 females, the way this clip has been constructed means that some stereotypicaly views of women are challenged and some are played into.

We are introduced to Abby, the strongest female in this clip, after an establishing shot of the surroundings, the camera zooms up to the cab of a yellow JCB digger while all the men are busy else were i think this shows she has dominance as it is stereotypicaly more of a male mode of transport as the diegetic sound proves it is loud and noisy. The entrance of a computer generated image of a saberthooth tiger is announced by a non diegetic roar, Abby swings into action to save her male team mate a crane shot from the digger arm angled looking into cab and the fast beat high energy non diegetic music leaves you a bit disorientated very similar to how Abby must be feeling. This action challenges the ideas of the girl always being the damsel in distress when the female in the clip is actually the one who saved the man.

When the male, the one Abby saved, discovers a dead body they have to call in the authorities. When they arrive there is a pan shot introducing them all cleverly leaving Abby till last as she is the only female in the line up and she has been put in a casual leather jacket that has the connotations of a hardened and tough biker girl. She stood next to a man in a head to toe suit, this again shows her dominance over the men. Then when the same group are chatting about what to do the camera goes into a 180 degree rule starting with Abby, she is seen i think as one of the boys as she is not put off with the nitty gritty of the task in hand.

The second woman in the clip is very different she is styled to look very glamorous, in a skirt suit, white coat and lipstick this is a styling contrast of the two females. In the second females scene she is in a barn with hay she looks very out of place and uncomfortable. The female is threatening the male, also with her in the barn he is dressed in simple comfy everyday clothes,  by his body language and facial expression you can tell he is feeling uncomfortable. When he pulls a gun on the woman the diegetic fast, tension music kicks in. This completely changes the power relation and she becomes the damsel in distress, rather than the one with the power. There is a brief moment when you think the man is going to shot the woman, the clip has been edited so that it cuts from her lying helpless in the hay to the barking dogs, a diegetic sound, then back to her. I think the director did this to build pressure and put the audience at the edge of their seats.