Mock Exam Preparation Homework

1) Analyse how the representation of gender has been constructed in the still shot using mise en scene and camera work

2) Revise the key terms on slide 3

Camera – How has camerawork been used to construct representation of gender?

The camerawork used in this scene is used as it represents the female as brave and strong. Whereas the male is represented as weak because he is standing behind her. The picture shows that the female might be the leader of them two as she is standing in the front and the male is following her. Another aspect that shows that the roles of female and male are not stereotypical is that she is standing higher then the male character which also represents that she is brave and strong. The roles in this scene have changed as the male is not the brave person anymore. The female is the leader and he is following behind her.

Mise en scene – How has mise en scene been used to construct representation of gender?

The mise en scene used in this scene shows that the female character is dominant. I can see that both characters are in a different mood. The female’s face is looking serious and unimpressed. She is starring at something whereas the male is looking scared which makes him look weak. The gun in the female’s hand is another aspect which shows that she is a brave person. It is not typical that the female is the leader an has the gun. This prop is making her even more strong. The things I said before are making me sure that this scene is not a stereotypical one because normally the male person has the gun, he should stand in the front of the female and he should be the one who is starring and something in front of him and not looking scared an week as he does. The roles have changed because the female does all these things.

Help SheetWhat does the question mean?The examiner wants you to analyse how the representation of gender has been constructed.

Point – Identify a way that men or women have been representationExample – Give a specific example of how this has been constructed using a technique from mise en scene

or camerawork.Explain – Explain the effect created by the technique – how does this show gender to the audience –

positive/negative, fairly/unfairly, powerful/weak… Link – To key terms or theories (has is reinforced or challenged a particular stereotype or theory? Does it

support the theory of Strauss/Mulvey/Hall etc)

Points could consider: • Representing gender in a certain way• Communicating the gender’s position to the audience• Making the audience feel a certain way about the characters / gender

What key terms should I include?• Media language – connotation, encode, decode, icon, key signifier, symbol, mise en scene,

verisimilitude• Film language - Camera shots, angles and movements- Lighting, low key lighting, high key lighting, contrast, tone/ colours- Iconography - Costume, hair and make up, props, setting, - Positioning of objects within the frame• Genre - sub genre, key signifiers, conventions