Gender representation

PART TWELVE

 HOW IS GENDER REPRESENTED IN PRIMEVAL?

I am going to analyze an extract of primeval. At the start of the extract in the first scene, there is a MIDSHOT, this shows that the two characters are having a discussion. The  camera then tracks the woman as she walks away from the man, showing independence and strength of character (often a masculine trait).                                                                 In the second scene, the forest, the colours are bright and green/natural colours are used. The camera pans left focusing on Abby in a digger, it is a WIDESHOT. Abby is wearing a black cargo outfit, this represents her masculinity. The shot then cuts to a CLOSE UP of the scientist's (male) face. This conveys his feelings of fear more clearly, showing his femininity. He is wearing a shirt and trousers. Although his outfit is not particularly masculine or feminine, he has mud on his clothes. This is what sets him apart from Abby, (her clothes are clean). This extract plays with issues of gender, for example, the representation of Abby doesn't fit the stereotypical image of a woman. We see a MIDSHOT of the scientist when he is side on, he is represented as the bate for the sabre tooth tiger. It is unusual because usually, the woman would be the bate and the man would be the saviour. However, it cuts to Abby the female driver of the digger who is attacking the sabre tooth tiger and protecting the scientist as he makes an escape. Violin strings play which creates tension. This NON DIEGETIC music sets the scene. It is ASYNCHRONOUS. There are also SYNCHRONOUS sounds which mirror Abby's actions. It shows her aggression and intention. This makes her more dominant and in power than the scientist. There are then NON DIEGETIC but SYNCHRONOUS drum beats that represent the scientists beating heart. Abby is very much included and accepted as able to carry out a 'typical man's job'. There is a large sense of equality within this extract as it is unusual for a woman to be given this much responsibility as a man.

   In the third scene, we see a WIDESHOT showing 3 men and a woman walking towards the camera. Two of them are very masculine, one of them is gay and more feminine, and one of them is Abby, the masculine woman. This plays with inequality and masculinity issues, as the screen time for Abby and the gay man is the same as the other two men. She is also shares the same frame as them. This shot symbolizes their unity as a team. The idea that the gay man is more feminine than Abby completely goes against all the gender stereotypes. The next clip shows a WIDESHOT of a woman. It is also a LOW ANGLE shot, showing that she is dominating at this time. There is a farmer who is being accused of something by this woman. She wears smart clothes and stands tall. We then see a CLOSE UP shot of this businesswoman. She is wearing lots of make up. This is a typical stereotype of woman. As If they are only there to look good. We can see this is not true when she threatens the farmer, who is dressed in muddy hunting clothes. This is a stereotype of a farmer. The businesswoman dominates the dialogue, showing her intelligence and power over the situation. This goes against typical stereotypes of females too. The shot cuts to a LONG SHOT of the farmer picking up a gun. This shot is from a LOWer ANGLE than before. Showing the exchange between the man and the woman and the change in aggressor. The next shot focuses on a CLOSE UP of the businesswomans face, allowing us to see her fear and vulnerability (another trait stereotyped as belonging to women). She falls down into the hay as he holds her at gunpoint. The prop used, a gun, is a very masculine object and because the shot of the woman laying in the hay is from a HIGH ANGLE, we can see that the farmer dominates this sequence now and that the businesswoman is being threatened by him.