Representation of Gender;

There are six technical codes through which both genders are represented in a tv drama:

1. Superiority and Domination - usually men are shown in dominant positions and women are physically portrayed as less-dominant or co-operating with men (in new dramas).
2. Disememberment -full body is not usually photographed, usually it is parts of it, such as legs or chest,
3. Clowning and Exaggeration - women are portrayed as the less intelligent ones, more emotional and make them seem more foolish where men are presented in positions of reflective thought and intelligence.
4. Male Approval -women usually have to seek for men's approval for different situations. "Males desire and women are desired"
5. The voice-over Authority -there's a higher number of men speaking in voice-overs in commercials than women.
6. Irrelevant Sexualisation of Women and Girls -women's products are used to sell products, even if they are not products for women or directed at women.

^I have watched an extract that was used in last year's exams and I was meant to answer the question and then mark it as appropriate. I watched the extract and wrote about the six technical codes and how they are used to represent gender in the particular tv drama extract.


Superiority and Dominance.
Even though at the start of the clip, the men are presented as the dominant ones in this clip, later on the blonde character represents a high level of masculinity, presented by operating a huge digger machine, which is generally and stereotypically presented as a male job. As the women and three men walk towards the camera, the shot is mainly focused on the three men, which are shown for longer than the women, which only proves that there is a male dominance even if the girl is acting quite masculine. There is quite a significant and clear representation of male dominance when the woman is trying to persuade the man at 4:00 as he crosses his arms and he then gets out the gun and shoots at the floor to show his dominance. Then, as if the woman still did not get the message he pushes her to the ground, the woman looking up and the man looking down on her - which is a simple act of the man trying to underline his dominance and superiority over the woman.

Disememberment.
There is not much of this code present in this clip that could be referred to as gender representation.

Clowning and Exaggeration.
At the begining of the sequence, the man is shown as the calm and sensible person contrasting with the woman who is portrayed as a moany, and whiny person, aggressive and frustrated. Also the camera angles are different and are underlining the dominance in that particular situation when the woman and the man are talking/arguing. Later on in the sequence, the brunette woman is shown as a typical woman who cares about the outside and not the inside. The reaction to the gun pulled out by the man is quite over-dramatic and so is the position she lands in when falling on the floor. First thing she says after she got up was a comment about her coat, which is quite not what is expected to be said by any person in that situation however this is how she is portrayed in the clip - as a 'typical woman'. On the other side, there is a nice constrast shown to what the blonde woman is like, as beside her masculinity shown before, she is the first one to come over to the brunette and ask if she is okay, which is a sign of woman's caring and motherly approach to people.

Male Approval.
The clip when the brunette is trying to persuade the man, she is using her body language and the language she speaks in a certain way to persuade the man into acting or thinking the way she wants him to. Then when he pulls out the gun, she uses words and smiles to persuade the man to look at himself and admit that what he was about to do was wrong. She is running out of ideas how to save herself so she was trying to be a typical woman and smile and maybe try to solve a conflict in the least harmful way possible as a typical's woman instinct would be working like that.

Irrelevant Sexualisation of Women and Girls.
This refers back to points mentioned in Male Approval as the woman is trying every possible woman's weapon from smiles to certain body language to persuade the man to do no wrong.

TV Drama - Commentary.

Examiners thought that overall, there was only a superficial analysis of editing and sound in responses. They also believed that students with better responses or to provide better responses need to study a specific 'case study' of a TV drama, to be able to answer the questions more accurately and in greater detail. There was also apparently a very good improvement of time management at the exams, meaning that candidates did plan out and thought about their responses well.

Representation:
In one of the exams candidates were asked to present their understanding of the represantation of class and status in the extract they have been. Things that would make the responses more accurate and make them score more marks were: give few different interpretations of the representation of the class and status in the extract. A specific examples should be given.

Camera Shots, Angle and Composition.
The use of correct terminology and the ability to describe shot compositions, movemements, framing and angles in relation to the characters and their situation -whether the shot is appropriate for the scene or not. - That would get the candidates good marks.

Mis-en-scene.
Describing location correctly, character's appearance and body language should be all understood well. There should be a great attention to detail paid in each shot - all would get candidates more marks.

Sound.

Music or sound effects in a film should be well recognised, specified and analysed with linking the music to a particular character or a situation well. Appropriate use of terminology relative to the soundtracks and the ways of construction of the meaning of it. There should be also comments how the music relates to the moves/conversation or the status or class of the character.

Editing.
How the ways that the extract was edited in, helped to create a certain mood or character, sense of social class or status, gender etc. How different techniques were used to entertain/captivate the audience and make them want to see more or continue watching the scene. - all to be mentioned for higher marks.