Representation of Gender

Media Essay on Gender Represented in Primeval

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of gender using the following: camera techniques, editing, sound and mise-en-scene

Gender is represented in this extract of primeval through the use of camera techniques, editing, sound and mise-en-scene. Primeval is a TV programme of the genre Sci-fi where the males are usually presented to be dominant and heroic, whereas the females are typically presented to be weaker and vulnerable.

Despite this, the first scene that gives the audience a chance to interpret characters shows Abby sitting in control of a digger. A digger is often associated as a masculine object because it’s heavy machinery stature. The sound diegetic sound of the digger also re-enforces the masculinity of the object, this is used to emphasise Abbeys role in the programme. This immediately denotes that Abby isn't our typical female protagonist. This is supported by the clothing Abby is wearing; black leather jacket and black outdoor boots. This was very clear to the audience by the use of a slow zoom in by the camera. In this scene, it could be interpreted that the roles of the characters are in reverse by the way the characters are positioned within the frame. The shot showed the female in the digger where we would usually expect the male protagonist to be controlling the heavy machinery. This was certainly a representation of gender as the male is dressed in comfortable clothing instructing the woman as she steered the vehicle, almost taking the female role completely. The camera then quickly cuts a mid-shot of another male character that is shown to be slowly placing down bait; the shot reveals to the viewer exactly what the character is doing. The audience’s perspective of this character is that he is quite feminine and not of high importance. This is because of the clothing he is wearing; hat, scarf, pink shirt and black waistcoat. The director may have used his clothing as an indexical sign to the audience to portray him to be well educated yet weak and feminine. Both the feminine man and Abby contrast normal expectations of gender.

The next scene reveals a mid-shot of Abby in the digger. The use of the camera angle denotes that Abby is in power by remaining eye-level or at a low-angle shot looking up at her. This is shortly followed by Nick on the ground which re-enforces his lower status of this scene. The majority of the time Nick is on scene he is usually presented the audience in a high angle shot looking down on him signifying him to be inferior. The scene is quickly interrupted by a non-diegetic sound of a sabre-toothed roar signifying danger. The eye-level shot of Nick quickly changes to a high-angle shot as he cowardly jumps into the ditch emphasising his atypical role of the extract. As Nick is helplessly in the ditch the camera switches to Abby in the digger who distracts the feline away protecting Nick. A shot reverse shot is used whilst Abby is fighting off the sabre-tooth to emphasise her bravery and fearlessness. The use of the editing in this scene including mise-en-scene helps the viewer understand the power Abby contains in comparison to Nick and the tiger. Despite this, the audience is presented with a short moment of usual roles within the characters as Nick builds up some courage to shout at the sabre-tooth to lure him away from Abby. This then restores the audience’s typical expectations of the male protagonist to save the vulnerable woman. Despite this, the camera angle shows Nick in a long-shot view whilst calling the cat which then dims down his importance, as he is shown to be small and ready to run away. The camera work then rapidly speeds up as Nick rushes through the woods being chased by the tiger until he reaches a ladder. The camera then moves to a bird eye view of the situation signifying still that he is inferior. The short sharp editing of Nick removing his belt for the zip line denotes the audience that he is thinking fast and has courage. However, as Nick reaches the end of the line he stumbles over helplessly about to be attacked by the sabre-tooth. Despite this, the camera then quickly changes to show Abby running opposite holding a rifle. Abby then positions her gun quickly and shoots towards the tiger scaring it away just in time. This shot doesn’t show much realism as it would be very difficult for most strongly built men to perform this action where Abby does it with ease. Furthermore, by showing Abby save Nick again their roles change back to what they were.

The next shot goes back to the original digger scene. In this scene a high angle shot of Nick back in the ditch who seems to be discovering a dead body. It could be interpreted that this is a typical role of the male character as it’s a dirty job with the horror of finding a dead body. The setting then changes as the camera presents three male characters along with Abby. This re-enforces Abby’s masculine role in the programme as she is the only woman alongside the men. It is important to note that the two most feminine characters are either side of the group emphasising the weaker characters to be less centralised within the shot. Despite this, the camera angle shows all of them in the shot not focusing primarily on one character also with eye-level shots throughout. As the scene progresses we see a more expected prospection of gender within the group. With Abby being the only woman within the group she doesn’t get as much screen time as the other male characters suggesting her opinions aren’t as important. The camera then pans around the group expressing each characters facial expression; revealing the men’s faces to be serious as if they are now in control of the situation.

The extract ends in a change of setting. The frame of the shot reveals a man and a woman talking in a small barn. Whilst they are talking the camera is positioned over the shoulder switching from both characters signifying them to be equal. The woman’s clothing denotes high status and intelligence, yet weak physicality. Whereas the male characters clothing denotes a low status and of small intelligence yet strong physicality. As the scene goes on, the viewer sees the woman to take control as she threatens the man to get what she wants. The camera then shows a mid-long shot of the man walking away creating short suspension as he goes to reach for something. The man then quickly pulls out a gun pointing it towards the woman changing whos in charge of the situation. A shot reverse shot then indicates the fear on the female characters eyes re-enforcing whos more powerful in the scene. We then see the man push the lady over on her back with the gun still pointed directly at her. The high camera angle emphasises her vulnerability at this stage. This shot represents a more traditional stereotyping of gender with the woman helpless and the man in charge. At this point Abby, the feminine man and another male character enter the barn to save the helpless woman. The male character is pointing a gun towards the farmer presenting a typical projection of the male protagonist; saving the woman. The more feminine man is positioned behind him who grabs a shovel as a weapon rather than being handed a gun. This puts emphasis on the fact hes less superior to the other characters within the extract. This also re-enforced as even Abby is holding a gun as a weapon, still positioned behind the male protagonist. Overall, the end of the extract revealed that both men and woman are presented atypically with a few traditional signs of stereotypical representation of gender.