Representation of gender question

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of gender

This is a extract from Luther including the main character Luther and Alice.

Mise-en-scene

The clip does mainly stick to the basic stereo types of the male and female, however some of these stereotypes are challenged especially with the female. Firstly in her apartment, she has a large stack of books and a telescope this contradicts the idea that women aren't usually that intelligent. This is Supported even more from the scientific poster that she has on her wall fully proving that she is intelligent. Also that her apartment is in London which will be an expensive area to live in so this further goes against the female stereo type that she will not have much money to be able to afford such a place. In her apartment she also has a red chair, because of how she is acting this may symbolise danger. However she is wearing red lipstick which can symbolise lust which may be why she is pining for Luther's attention. Throughout out the clip the lighting is mostly shown as natural light because at the start of the clip they are shown out side and then the apartment is very much a well light room, however when they are outside the lighting is very dull possibly giving ideas that the show may be much more darker and have a bad turn. Also when the two are talking even though Alice has a lighter background the lighting on her face is darker showing her as weaker or a bad person, where as the lighting around Luther is lighter showing him as a better person compared to her almost as a godly figure that the light is shining onto him. So this challenges the typical stereotype of women that women are loving and caring and that the men are the darker person but this is completely flipped. They are both dressed smartly as Luther is in a tie tweed jacket shirt and trousers and Alice wearing black trousers, smart jacket and top. So this shows that both of them are intelligent for there work places or high up in there work places, however Luther's clothing is much more dull compared to Alice's going with the stereotype that women have better dress sense than men and like the keep up with styles and care more about what they dress where as males just slap on any clothes that work. 

Camera shots

At the beginning of the clip it starts with an establishing shot showing both of the characters Luther and Alice. Also this gives context as to where they are a main city of some sort. Then during the conversation between the two characters it uses over the shoulder shots so the audience can follow the conversation, however at the start of the conversation it has a close up of Luther to show his expression to Alice's previous statement but also to start off the conversation. Also throughout the conversation, when it is looking at Alice from Luther's perspective it is looking down as if he is a more threatening person or bigger. Also when it is going from Alice's perspective it is looking up to give connotations that she is a weaker counter part or is threatened by him. In the extract when the female starts to talk about the black hole and how it devourers and destroys matter the camera starts to zoom in on her to make her seem like a threatening or a scary person. Then throughout the clip it goes from doing over the shoulder shots and then going for a long shot but this will also act as a two shot but when it isn't doing a long shot or over the shoulder shot it will use a two shot. So mainly throughout the extract it shows Luther standing above Alice as if he is more dominant and powerful and her as being weak shown by the camera shots looking down on her. This sticks to the general stereotype of the male being much stronger and powerful compared to the man but is challenged by the extract by her being shown as more powerful in certain situations like when talking about the black hole.

Sound
The sound is also key to this extract, at the start when it first shows Alice it has a loud boom type sound to show alice as a sark character straight away and what effect she may have that she is a protagonist in this situation from showing her as a more powerful person with this sinister style sound. Luther and Alice are in a city setting the sound is used to put them in this setting by sounds of cars and traffic in the background so we as the audience can get a full sense of the setting and surrounding. The next part of the extract in which we get sound is from when Alice is talking about the black hole, it uses diegetic sound to try and make the blackhole seem even more ominous and scary. Further more its adding to the effect that Alice is an evil character.  When the clip starts to become more tense and confrontational the sound level of the diegetic sound starts to rise to show the tension rising between the two characters.  This extract is very much conversation based with Luther's loud booming voice which very much dominates the extract and is more dominant over Alice's voice which is calm and soothing but also sexual that she is putting on this voice to try and lure Luther in. Alice's voice also shows a hint of intelligence which is a constant theme throughout the extract, whereas Luther clearly has a North London accent which isn't commonly associated with intelligence. So overall in the clip the man is again shown as more dominant through his loud voice and the theme of Alice being evil and sinister is carried through with her voice and the way she is spoken in a way in that she is trying to lure Luther in.

Editing
At the start of the extract a cross cut is used to keep the storyline moving, by moving from outside to inside her apartment. Also throughout out the clip it uses continuity editing to make the storyline keep flowing and make it so there isn't anything that will cause the viewer to disbelieve anything because something has randomly changed between the cuts. It could also be said that fast-paced editing to show the conversation between the two characters because this will show both of the characters during to conversation so it can show the story progressing. 

The chair in the corner of Alice's apartment is a symbolic code and this gives the stereotype of a woman with lust that she wants sexual action and this is a stereo type of certain women and it is applied to Alice. That she has lust for Luther the male character with her so this is chair is symbolising her lust for Luther that she wants to be with him. Also that she mentions sex by asking him whether he came for sex it is showing her as a 'Slag' stereo type that she is wanting male attention and this time from Luther.