Representation of Gender

Representation of Gender

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of gender using the following:

• Camera shots, angles, movement and composition

• Editing

• Sound

• Mise en scène

In this extract we see an exchange between the protagonist Luther and antagonistic Alice. This conversation shows a fight for dominance, a number camera shots, angles, Mise en scene and exchanges show the viewer which of the two managed to win the battle for power. At the start of the video the establishment shot sets the scene and is a close up of Alice, this indicates she will play a main feature, which she does, in the extract to follow, it could be considered she asserts her dominance early on. As the scene moves on we see an over the shoulder shot at a high angle so the shot is looking down on Alice over Luther's shoulder giving the impressing Luther is empowered by his natural physical presence over her. Again later in the scene we see another over the shoulder but a low angled shot from a different perspective as the camera is looking up to Luther, again this asserts his dominance as it shows he's above and physically superior to her.

Further into the scene Alice tries to use her sex appeal as a woman to seduce Luther to distract him from his interrogation of her, momentarily this appears as though it may have worked and Alice had used her female superiority to get what she wanted. However, Luther does in turn reject her but it does show that she may have slight hold over him in the sense that he knows she is willing to have sex with him to avoid the whole situation and it looked as if it may have crossed his mind. This would also prove that Alice could be considered a 'mad, bad, dangerous' woman and so doesn't really care how he views her as a woman or anybody else. This is significant as the camera angle does show a close up of the two stood facing one another in an intimate position glorifying her sexual power over him, this camera shot emphasizes her sex appeal.  

Towards the start of the extract, it is highlighted by Alice how exhausted Luther looks and she invites him in. This could reflect the stereotype that men go out to labourous jobs, as to why Luther is exhausted after a long day at work, and women stay out home and keep their house guest suitable, as to why Alice invited him in to a clean looking home. It could be argued this represents the old fashioned way of life.

The scene then transitions to where Alice takes off her coat, it's an over the shoulder shot and shows us as viewers Alice's perspective of the room, Luther being in the focus and centre could indicate he is her main focus during this entire extract, where as it appears Luther is more concerned about his investigation than Alice's presence. He just wants her there to interrogate and nothing more.  We then witness a combination of camera movements such as close ups and mid shots once it has moved away from Alice's perspective, the close up's are of Alice and could indicate her being under pressure from Luther's interrogation and this could be considered him imposing his dominance.


A lot of editing has been carried out on this extract, for example shot reversed shots are often used. This emphasises the characters almost staring each other out through the scene which shows the tension between the too. This in turn creates an atmosphere which potentially indicates domestic verbal or physical abuse, despite it not being included in the extract, there's always the sense that it could take place when the characters become less calm and uncomfortable with each others questioning.