The Representation of Gender: In Doctor Who Clip

The Representation of Gender: In the Doctor Who. Traditionally within the media men are portrayed as being strong leaders, protective over women and the more powerful sex, whilst females are portrayed as weaker, reliant and followers. I believe this particular clip follows the traditional rules of gender representation, representation, as within merely a few seconds in, we have a man physically higher up than the woman, with the connotations of being higher signifying importance and power, and then with him carrying out demands “The teleport device!” All of which suggests that there is a lack of equality between the sexes, as the male is the one who is the leader and the women are there to bossed around and are not treated with respect. A further example is the fact the woman behind him in the red dress remains remains silent and rather nervous looking throughout almost the whole scene, she seems to understand her place as female. A high angle is also used to look down on the woman establishing establishing again her lowly position, helpless and vulnerable, whilst also appearing physically smaller and inferior. Whereas a low angle is used to look up at the man making him appear even larger and bolder symbolising his physical presence as a man and his supremacy. His further orders for the woman to kneel, an action associated with a slave or bowing, emphasise his power further. The music in the background background during this time ti me is that of slow, deep orchestra music that seems to gradually build and rise. It reflects his strength and almost announces his presence, however being non-digetic, merely accentuates the implied mood of fear from the others and his control. He is also dressed in this scene in a suit which in itself  represents a smart and important person, exaggerated further by the shear comparison of the woman in casual dark scruffy clothes and women in the corner dressed as maids, clearly menial clothes. The other female in t he red dress, who although is dress well, is quite exposed and done up, highlighting her vulnerability as a woman and follows Mulvey’s theory of the male gaze, and her position to the man as merely an object of satisfaction as opposed to being seen as a person to him. Part of the traditional gender discrimination that females are less important and deserve less rights. The man also refers the girl as a ‘Child’ which carries the connotations of her possessing little control and the expectation she will follow commands. And the long shot used of him holding the weapon down to her accentuates her comparative comparative size and position to him, being helpless and desperate. Then the close up of his smug face and his raised voice completes the picture of his unquestionable domination. domination. However during this scene there is a little twist as the female begins to possess some of the power herself and strips away the man’ man’s confidence reversing their gender roles. At this switch the music starts up again but higher pitched and almost victorious sounding and the woman laughs at him. The laugh i tself signifies lack of respect and that she doesn’t take him seriously which instantly reduces his control. She begins telling him some important information information of  how she has ruined his whole plan and that he is i s powerless to stop. During which time the use of fast cutting between a close up of the t he woman, man and then clock creates a sense of building suspense and reflects the now anxious and belittled man. The man makes an order for the chanting to stop however this order is now ignored, his leadership is no longer. The woman in the red dress also speaks for t he first time joining n the chant of “doctor” and the low angle up to her seems to portray her in a new light of being empowered. Although the women are regaining power there is still an overall sense of male authority at the end of the scene, with the doctor flying up above the room of people looking down on the other man now completely reduced to nothing. The cut to the use of high angle looking down on him symbolises the change, and the use of special effects with the light circling round the doctor suggesting the connotations of him being almost godly and strengthened exaggerates exaggerates this man failure. But in keeping with the view of females as helpless and weaker, it cuts to the girls huddling in the corner and finishes the scene with a male remaining the overall hero and most powerful.