Gender is represented in many different ways and can be a very controversial topic. All types of media conform or challenge gender representations, which may be outdated or newly exposed. A prime example of this is Doctor Who.
The clip starts off with a low angle of The Master; already we see a representation of gender. The low angle of the Master places him at the top of the screen; this gives the audience an impression of power and dominance and suggests he is at the top of the hierarchy. Immediately a representation of gender is clear. By putting the male at the top of the screen and the female at the bottom of the screen, this scene is conforming to the common stereotype that males are seen as more dominant. In this same scene, there is another representation of gender. The low angle represents the Master (male) as the superior figure and Martha (female) the inferior figure. Close ups are often used on the Master, so that the audience can relate to the power he possesses, whereas a lot of mid shots are used on Martha, therefore the audience do not feel much empathy for her.
The woman on the balcony of the clip is wearing a long elegant red dress, and has no emotional stance. The colour red is often linked to sophistication and is seen as a passionate colour, but may also represent danger. The red dress could suggest the woman is sophisticated, but may also have a fiery side to her, which may not be portrayed in this clip. The emotional stance, red dress and long blonde hair, could suggest she is seen as some sort of trophy, that the Master feels he has won. The understanding within our society is that women are often seen as objects by men, and by showing the woman as a trophy, this scene is not only conforming to this statement, but is also showing how costume and colour can make a difference to how the audience can interpret the roles of gender. Compared to the ‘trophy woman’, Martha is a complete contrast, she wears a casual jacket and jeans, symbolising an informal dress code, therefore the audiences attention is drawn to the authority figure – the Master, wearing a suit, symbolising power – who just so happens to be a male. This shows that Martha is of less importance than the Master, and that the Master has all the power.
The non-diegetic sound during the opening of the clip creates an important atmosphere, backed up by the use of a long shot to establish the location. The non-diegetic sound plays throughout the Master’s dialogue, but seems to stop, when Martha speaks. The non-diegetic sound ups the pace of the Master’s dialogue, and reinforces the power that he has over Martha. In contrast the clip of Martha struggling through the storm, may suggest that the Master does not control all of the power, and that Martha posses something the Master does not know about, Unity. The scene of Martha, sitting on top of the stairs could contrast with the Master. The Master is stood on the stairs to show his dominance and independence, whereas Martha is seen sitting on the stairs surrounded by people. This could suggest that Martha has an alliance with these people, which the Master does not possess, and could ultimately, be his downfall.
The Master’s dominance is shown throughout the extract, until the tables are turned. The camera angle goes from being a low angle, showing the Master’s dominance, to a high angle, showing the Master’s vulnerability. In the end, unity is seen as the key factor, which was able to reverse the role of the characters. When the Doctor returns to his normal form, the angelic light suggests he has all the power, compared to the Master who no longer has any power or authority. Once again, the camera is lower to the ground, raising the Doctor and suggesting he now has the power. Towards the end, Martha is clearly shown as saving the world, which could suggest how much influence she has on the situation, which also challenges the typical female stereotype, that says males are more influential and dominant that females.
The representation of the male is much greater than the representation of the female in this extract; this has been shown through various aspects of mise-en-scene, such as costume, camera angles and lighting as well as the use of sound. This extract both conforms and challenges to common stereotypes, and is very important in the representation of gender, in TV drama.
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