Friday 13 November 2020

How is the representation of gender constructed in the 'buying Anita' scene in S1E1 of Humans?

 CU Anita's Eyes as she is first unveiled demonstrated the stereotypically and hegemonic perfect symmetry of her face, and functions as an hermenuetic code, creating a sense of mystery for the target audience

Mise en scene of dirty dishes shown in mid shot emphasises that Joe is ineffective at cleaning the house. Stereotypical man??

MS of sales man winking as he hands over the 18+ card to Joe, demonstrates that Joe has purchased a surrogate mother, he has also purchased the right to have sex. Allegory of a consumer product such a mobile phone

Walking with Anita through the showroom, another synth (a fancy one) is completing stereotypical feminine roles (chopping food), other male synths completing typical masculine roles, such as playing golf

The mise en scene of Anita's costume is basic, and resembles nurse scrubs. Highly gendered and highly utilitarian. Objectification. 

Close up/extreme close ups of Anita's face: asks audience a hermenutic code: who is this beautiful. Cut from this to Joe's surprised expression

"Can we change her if she's not pretty" - Objectification and sexualisation. Polysemic interpretation: both comedy and creepy 

Anita looks identical in every scene, a 'hyperreal' expectation of beauty, a 'perfect' representation of women?

"There's a really posh one": Joe is happy to compare and contrast the synths based on their monetary value: another clear example of objectification

  Joe is Anita's 'primary user' He controls her, reflecting stereotypical patriarchal hierarchy between men and women

The salesman winks at Joe when he gives the card, which acknowledges the expectation that as a heterosexual man, he will use his new purchase for sexual reasons

All synths are objectified - the standard costume and looks of all synths are divided by wealth