Exemplar student response - A1. To what extent are the key representations in your three main texts stereotypical?

When regarding the famous bond film, Spectre, which was released on 26th October 2015, representations of men, women and race are extremely stereotypical. Firstly, women are highly sexually objectified throughout to appeal to its targeted audience of heterosexual men. For example, during the key scene where Bond seduces Lucia the stigma surrounding the sexualisation of women in films is reinforced through conventional aspects such as the chosen setting. The scene is filmed in a large bedroom, emphasised by extreme low key lighting providing an action code that something sexual is about to occur, reinforcing the ideology of the producer that women are often objectified within the film industry. The close up shot of the couple kissing with Lucia pressed against a large mirror targets a heterosexual audience and in turn provides sexual gratification, placing emphasis on the idea of the male gaze. The fact that Bond is captured holding Lucia up against the mirror portrays the idea of a patriarchal society, representing Lucia as inferior due to being a woman, reinforcing the theme of misogyny and hegemony within the industry. Non-diegetic music is used throughout the scene which gradually becomes louder and faster when the couple become closer, which effectively creates a sexual atmosphere. The mise-en-scene is simplistic, mid-shots carefully capture the large bed and mirror, used as a suggestive code to the audience that the couple are about to take part in sexual activities and therefore creating audience appeal for the specific heterosexual audience and further emphasizing the producers ideology. The binary opposition between Bond and Lucia sets a sexual undertone and objectifies Lucia for being useful for one thing only; sex. Furthermore, this creates a strong stereotype of women throughout the duration of the text.

Similarly, the film ‘selfish giant’ which was released on 25th October 2013, encodes the extremely stereotypical representation of class through a variety of genre conventions. For example, during the key scene where the police visit Arbors’ house the stereotype of a social hierarchy with the ruling class at the top dominating and the working class at the bottom is portrayed. The mid shot which captures the two policemen at the door staring down on Arbor enforces the ideology of the producer that the ruling class looks down on the working class in pity. This ideological approach is empahsised by the binary opposition between the police offers uniform costume and Arbors’ scruffy clothes. In turn, this creates the stereotype that all working class people are poor and don’t worth their physical appearance. However, it could also be argued that this stereotype is subverted through Arbors’ lexis of language. For example, when the police offers arrive at the house, Arbor demands them to “take your shoes off” the use of this imperative language places authority within the working class as the police comply with his orders. However, this stereotype is short lived as a long shot captures Arbor lying on his sofa on his phone whilst the police officers are trying to speak to him. This conveys the frequent stereotype which is associated with the working class that they’re rude and lazy. This stereotype is reinforced through Arbors’ costume; trousers with holes in and a dirty jacket. Therefore, fulfilling the stereotype that the working-class are outcasts from society. The mise-en-scene also fits in with the representation of the working class as poor. Several high angle long shots capture the unlivable state of their living room reinforced by the low-key lighting. Moreover, the stereotypical representations of different social classes are cleverly encoded by the producer to target the specific audiences.

Additionally, the 2015 Mad Max (Fury Road) film which was released on 15th May also uses stereotypical representations. For example, during the after the storm scene, women are represented as sexualised and objectified. Again reinforcing the ideology of the producer that women are often, if not always, represented as sexual objects and used just for their physical appearance. Firstly, the 5 women are dressed in all white revealing clothing, providing sexual gratification for the audience and installing the idea of the “perfect woman” as the white connotes purity and perfection. The characters roles are fulfilled by women who are models in the real world, implying the idea that they were used purely for their looks; suggesting a patriarchal society. This stereotype is heightened by a several close up shots which capture the women’s clothing being sprayed with water and therefore making the clothing see through. This specifically targets a male heterosexual audience and empahsises the objectification of women within the industry. However, the 2015 popular film can also be argued as feminist and be known to specifically subvert gender roles and stereotypes. For example, Furiosa, a character played by a female takes the role of one of the leading protagonists, which is highly unusual within action films. This particular switch of gender roles, in turn, subverts traditional hegemonic ideologies. For example, a close up shot of Furiosa holding a gun to Max’s head contradicts the idea that women are innocent and victimized within the film industry. However, Furiosa’s physical appearance isn’t one which is the ‘norm’ within the industry as she has short hair and masculine features which also subverts the stereotype that women within action films are typically represented as the ‘perfect woman’. This stereotype subversion is also emphasised through the mid shot of Furiosa kicking Max in the head, therefore representing women as strong and powerful and reversing the idea of a patriarchal society. Overall, Mad Max does encode stereotypical representations, however it also includes unconventional representations such as representing women as superior to men.

Thanks Alice for the excellent response, and for giving permission for it to be featured on the blog! In order to improve this response further, I would recommend addressing the following:

• Including an introduction and conclusion. These are essential as they establish the argument or point of view to the producer. 
• The question specifically uses the word 'stereotype'. So, why do producers use stereotypes? 
• Richard Dyer suggested that they serve many purposes for both the producer and for the audience. They provide an 'ordering process' that allows the audience to make sense of the world, and they provide a shortcut for the producer. 
• However, by consistently being exposed to stereotypical representations, a dominant hegemonic ideology is cultivated in the target audience. 
• So, for Spectre for example, what is the impact of this cultivation on the target, white, male, middle aged audience? How might this stereotype affect the treatment of women in reality?