Thursday 8 December 2011

How is gender represented in the clip from mistresses?

How is gender represented in the clip from mistresses? Throughout this clip from mistresses three different scenes are shown, the first scene opens with a brief extract of music- non digetic to introduce the clip, the scene then takes place with a husband and wife in the kitchen, the woman in the relationship is represented as taking on not your typical house wife role, but in contrast is shown as a business woman, whereas the husband is represented as a house husband being the one who isn’t working, in the relationship the typical traditional roles seem to be reversed, and we are shown clues of this for example the wife is wearing a suit and the husband makes his wife tea in a ‘super mum’ mug which has been placed in the scene to reinforce the idea that the wife is wearing the trousers perhaps, in the sense she is the provider for the family. So this couple does follow the stereotype of husband and wife roles. The couple are shown having a conversation using over the shoulder shots so that the audience can be involved in the dialogue and their perspective. The editing/ cuts in this scene are slow paced to mirror the pace of the conversation and to flow, but to also make the scene appear more realistic. The camera angles used in this scene are mostly a ‘two shot’ angle to capture both characters together, the scene then ends and cross cuts to the next scene. This scene opens with a woman bent down rushing to get her child ready, in the background of the clip you can hear the shower running- digetic sound, a man then emerges from the bathroom not wearing any clothes and is closely followed by a woman , both characters are standing up and when filmed over their shoulder the woman bent down is made to look smaller and not in control while the stood up characters look more superior, the characters are also shown from an eyeline angle of the child/ mother who is bent down so you can see from their perspective and also reinforces the idea of using levels to give the impression of power, the editing in this scene is faster paced because of the layout and speed of the action, but also showing the reactions, and the shots cutting quickly from one another to show the expressions of the characters, it then cross cuts to the next scene. This scene opens with a view of the sign for a pawnbrokers, and then cuts to images of balls which a symbolicc to pawnbrokers, by showing these sygnificant images before dialogue or characters are shown in the scene you can gain a better insight into the storyline of the scene before it takes place, the camera then switches to close up views on money in the mans hand and then a close up of his expression, non digetcis music then emerges into the clip and a sound bridge occurs from one setting to another, this helps the location changes flow better so you know the two are conected, the man is then shown going home to his wife and bringing her flowers, this couple are shown as a more stereotypical couple compared to the other two, they appear to fulfill more traditional gender roles, for example the man has come home from work with a present for his wife, he is wearing a suit,and appears to be wearing the trousers in the relationship, while the woman takes on slightly more of a housewife role.

1 comment:

  1. A good analysis. Don't forget to mention the type of music and the emotion it is intended to evoke. What is the mise=en-scene of the final couple's flat? How does it repesent gender there?
    Merry Christmas!

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