'Cutting It' Essay - Representations of Gender

Analyse the representation of gender in this clip

When analysing this clip from the TV drama, ‘Cutting It” it becomes apparent that there are many ways in which the representation of gender is shown. It is represented through the camera work, sound, editing and mise en scene.

When assessing the camera work and how it represents both genders in the first shot, I noticed that they have both been filmed together and are central. By doing this, it shows to the audience that the man and woman are equals and are together as a unit. However, this changes when they start having a conversation about the possibility of one of them passing away as they are both being filmed separately through close up shots. By doing this, it represents how they are possible becoming more distant as they are disagreeing on the topic and even though it is a subtle way to show their contrasting opinions and differences, it still has an effect on the audience.

An equality in gender is also shown when the woman and man working at the clinic are filmed from a birds’ eye angle. In this shot, the screen is split into two by the table and on either side, the man and woman are sitting. The shot is divided almost in half, showing that both the man and women are seen as equals, which has a positive effect on the audience.

The theme of equality between the genders is also supported when the last shot showed the couple lying together in the centre of the screen holding each other. This is similar to the shot used at the start of the sequence when they are both filmed together, holding hands. By doing this, it could show to the audience that they will finish the way they started, by being together and could also symbolise the equal opportunities that men and women should have.

However, in contrast to this, when a tracking shot is used when the woman is walking away from her partner and the camera at the same time, without zooming in on her. By doing this, it represents to the audience that the woman is becoming more and more insignificant as she is appearing smaller on the screen. This is quickly contrasted with a close up shot of the man, whose face fills up the whole screen. By doing this, it represents to the audience that the man in the relationship is seen to have more significance than the woman.

When analysing the mise en scene in this clip, it seems as though the woman is put in a more positive light. The representation of gender is displayed when the couple are standing on the pavement and the light is shining on her face, but not his. By doing this it may seem to the audience that she is more innocent and bright than the man who is facing away from the light. By having a shadow on the man’s face, it may make the audience view him in a more negative light without realising.

A positive refection of women is also displayed when the camera is cross-cutting between the woman inside and the man outside. This is because the woman is wearing warm colours such as nude and pink as well as having a warm, pink/ yellow- coloured light, shining on her which contrasts with the man who is being shown in a dark grey blazer with an almost blue tinted light on him. By doing this, the audience may take a liking to the woman more than the man.

Also, after the woman had been hit by the bus and was lying on the ground, she was next to white flowers. This is significant because white flowers have connotations of innocence and purity which would be connected to her in this scene as she has been knocked down, just like the flowers. After she has been hit, the audience also sympathise with her which subconsciously makes them feel sorry for her. In contrast to this, the woman is made to be the weaker gender in this clip as she is injured while the man is perfectly fine and has a result, puts women in general, in a negative light.

Editing is also used to represent the roles of both genders, especially in the end when there is a fade to black. By using this effect, it symbolises the end in both of their lives, even though the man is still physically there, he does not want to live without his partner, as equals. It also shows that they are ending together equally which shows to the audience that they are there for each other no matter what.

Also, when looking at the editing aspects of this clip, the woman has the most screen time. By doing this it could show the audience that she has the most power, which actually contrasts with the often stereotypical opinion that men have more power. To the audience, this may be seen as empowering up until she is hit by the bus and all the power that she once possessed is taken away.

When assessing the way gender is represented, sound is also something that plays in an important role in the way that the characters are portrayed. An example of this is in the last shot, when the woman is trying to talk, but her partner tells her to “Shhh”, which stops her mid-sentence. By doing this, it shows the audience that he has more power over her as he is able to control what she says now she is weak and injured. Even though this is a subtle way of representing men having power over women, it is still effective.

This contrasts with the start of the sequence when they get out of the taxi cab and the male is the one who is asking all of the questions and is confused as to why they have stopped in the middle of the street. Here, the woman has all of the power as she is the only one in the scene that knows why they are there, leaving the man confused and needing to ask questions. This shows the audience that she has more power in their relationship in that moment in time.

Towards the end of the sequence, when the woman comes out of the clinic and is crossing the road, she has to shout to be heard by her male partner. This could be a metaphor for the voices of women and how they often struggle to be heard and usually have to make a larger effort to be judged equally against men. Soon after she shouts across the road, she is hit by the bus and is knocked on the floor, her voice overpowered by the sound of the bus. This shows how she now does not have any power now and the audience would sympathise with her.

Even though the power is taken away from the woman, since her and her partner are in love, it is almost like he doesn’t have control either. This becomes apparent when the audience hears the noise that is meant to be his heartbeat. By using the sound of the heartbeat for effect, it shows how the man is panicking because his fiancé is injured and would not know what he would do without her, showing that all of his power lies with her.