Doctor Who analysis

Doctor Who

I am going to evaluate the sequence from Doctor Who and how it relates to gender. One of the things in the extract that helped to represent the gender was the camera work, for example to show the status of the Master a low angle shot is used to show that the male is in control and has power over Martha (the woman.) To show the status of Martha being restored see stands up and makes the shot on her from a high angle shot to an Eyeline shot. This gives the Martha the status back and shows that she is now in control. In the camera work there is a focus pull from the master to the ticking clock this is to show that the scene is based around the ticking clock and that the master is controlling it. It also shows us the limited amount of time that Martha has before the world is destroyed. When the control is lost by the Master it goes to a close up on his face to show his emotions, this shows how the male party has lost the control and it is given to Martha. A high angle show is used on the Doctor when he is old to show him as being weak and having a very low status within the scene, and when he transform he become taller and the angle changes to give him his status back.

The editing is used well in the piece to show the relation between genders, for example it uses the cutaway to the missiles which shows the Master in control which strengthens his masculinity over the women in the scene. The screen time is used well in the piece to show who is in control, at the start the most screen time is given to the Master and this shows he is in control and that the time is on Martha and the Doctors side. This give the male (Master) the power and a highest sense of status. Whereas Martha is seen as obsolete. But when it Martha tells the Master how she is going to defeat him it shows us that her status is high, now Martha and the Doctor now have the control. The control is reinstate between to the Doctor and the women have the control for a while but it is given back to the Doctor and this is shown as he has all the magic around him and when the master shoots him with the gun it doesn’t hurt him. This piece of editing shows that the Master has lost all control and is having to result to killing but doesn’t work, this shows that a contract between the two males and how one has no power/status while the other has a high sense of power/status. There is a colour grading used in the flashback to show that it is a memory and that the control is being given to the female and how she got it. While Martha has a low status and the Master is talking the editing uses a shot reverse shot to show the link between the two genders and how he has the power over her. 

The sound in the piece is used to amply the status and show the power over the other genders. The sound of the ticking clock is to show that the Master is in control and that the time isn’t on Martha’s side. This shows how the males are dominating the scene. The ticking noise is synchronous to what is being shown and add tension to the scene. The dieagetic sound of the weapon that the Master is holding enforces his male status in the scene. The sound of the music in the transformation scene makes the scene more exciting and adds tension to the scene and it also adds to the sci-fi feel. in the atmosphere with the robots, they have a females voice this shows that the Master is in control and that women are inferior to the males in the scene.

The mise-en-scene in the piece is used very well to represent the differences between genders. The costumes symbolise the status that the characters have. For example the women in the scene are wearing maid’s costumes which represent them having to work for the males. This gives the males the power over the females and shows the women as not being as important. Captain Jack is very dirty and shows the men as the workers in the scene and shows the men as the gender that does the hard work. The women that the Master wife is dressed in a very sexual way which shows her as being just an item that he uses. She is also wearing red which suggests danger. Women come across as dangerous in this scene and this is shown as she is wearing red and Martha isn’t like the other women she isn’t wearing a slave outfit she is in a military costume which suggests she is strong and that she isn’t like other women and that she is empowering. Both the Master and the Doctor are wearing suits which shows them as being smart and sophisticated, this makes them have a higher status than what the women are wearing and gives them the control in the scene. The guards are also wearing military costume but they have guns as props which give the males control in the scene and shows them over powering the women. Then weapons in the scene give the males a higher status and as the women are unarmed they are in superior. All these techniques show the status of the genders and give the scene more depth.

Mise-En-Scene

Jungle suggests that they are deserted, the darkness confirms that they are alone and mystery to the beach. The key lighting is mainly on them more than likely from a handmade fire. This helps to emphasize their facial expressions and how the two people feel about each other. The back light is used on the grass in the background to add atmosphere and set the mood. There is a little amount of fill light on the backs of the characters which just outlines them slightly. This is ambient light whereas the fire would be natural light. Stubble, scruffy hair and dirty clothes show they aren’t living in a nice environment. The log as a bench shows that they don’t live in luxury.  Camera is a mid-shot. No jewels or personal processions show that they aren’t living in luxury. The way he I sat suggest he is masculine and in control. 

This is a mid-shot also you can see whatever is in the corner of the screen looking at Arthur however it is a silhouette so it looks very mysterious or dangerous. Also it shows he is a skilled fighter in the way of his stance, this also shows that he is powerful and in control of the current situation. The robes that Merlin is wearing shows that he is poor and isn’t very important as he doesn’t have anything of value and also the clothes he is wearing are quite tatty. The main light is coming from the fire that the characters are holding which lights up the cave. The key light is on Arthur so it shows that he is the main person to focus on. Back light is being used to add depth to the scene. This is so that we can see Merlin and Morgana in the background. 

The brown suit shows the doctor is smart and he likes to travel in style. The lights, wires and tubing in the background shows that it is a sci-fi and that it may be quite complicated. This is a medium long shot shows the two people and helps to show the characters facial expression and give a nice feel of the surrounding area, which in this case is the tardis. There is a lot of key light that goes all over the shot and gives the feel of safety. This is good for the character of the doctor as he wants to feel strong and he also shows his status through his stance. He stands strong and shows he is the man in control. 

This is a mid-shot on the two characters. The main amount of light is coming in from the window and some coming from behind right of the camera, this is the natural light from the area. The key light is on the right hand side on the characters.  This puts light on the characters face helping to see his emotions. The liquor on the side shows that the men are in a pub, we can also tell this from other people in the background drinking and the table and chairs aren’t very expensive so would probably we in a pub. The way the character is leant shows that the man (on the left) is comfortable and relaxed and feels like he’s in a comfortable environment. The costumes suggest that it must be cold as they have very big coats on but also that they are masculine. Also the ties suggests that they are working men and that they have just finished work and have gone to the pub to relax.

The colour pink shows that she is feminine, and the dressing gown being worn shows she is comfortable in her own home.The ash tray shows she is a smoker and that she does it a lot to have one in her house. The old wooden cabinet with ornaments in shows that she is elderly also that she has old possessions. The sofas aren't leather so they show that the owner isn’t very wealthy. The photographs of people shows that she has a nice family that she likes to spend time with. The lighting is all over the room and gives the feel of warm cosy home. There is only slight shadow in the background in the other room but that doesn’t really tell us anything. The hair looks messy and shows that she mustn’t feel well or that she just feels very comfortable in her house. It is a mid-shot so it shows her emotion but allows the audience to show the surrounding area. 

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