Explore the ways in which audiences can respond to and interpret the representations of gender in Humans
Knee jerk reaction: There are lots of different ways in which audiences can respond to gender in humans, which presents stereotypical representations of gender in order to provoke an audience response
- Gender is complicated
- LVZ - feminist theory male gaze
- Brothel scene w/ Leo
- Gender performitivity - Butler
- Binary oppositions
- Anita slave/maid
- Representation stuart hall
- Anita: perfect woman/mother
- Stereotypes
- Anita: doll or sexual object?
- Objectification/sexualisation
- Atypical reps of women: Matty
- "Crusty sheets"
- Gegemonic reps of gender
- Hyperreality - anita
- Gilroy
- hooks
Introduction
CDA
Context
Definition
Argument
D - Representation refers to how a group of people are re-presented by the producer in order to encode their ideological perspective. C - Humans is a science fiction TV show first broadcast in 2015 on Channel 4, and adaptation of the Swedish show Real Humans. A - Humans presents a stereotypical series of representations of gender in order to clearly construct an allegorical representation of how women in particular are represented in our society.In this essay I shall explore how many different and often conflicting represents are constructed, and most importantly, how audiences can respond to these
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Point - One way in which representation is constructed in a stereotypical way in order to provoke audiences is through the stereotypical and highly hegemonic representation of Anita. An excellent example of Anita's stereotypical gender performativity can be found in the breakfast scene. The mid shot of Anita cooking instantly positions her in the setting of the Hawkin's kitchen. This is further reinforced through her stereotypical costume, a basic maid's outfit, which forms a binary opposition between her and the the Hawkins Family, who's messy and informal MES could not be more different. Anita is even positioned in slightly low key lighting, which once more contrasts with the Hawkins family. Anita's voice is both calm and robotic, a specific convention of the science fiction genre, that clearly will appeal to pre-existing science fiction fans. (Binary opposition between middle class setting and working class Anita) Anita's representation here is stereotypical of how women are represented in our society. This representation could particularly resonate with female target audiences, who will be able to identify with Anita, and the ways in which she is represented. Additionally, the male characters in this scene continually look at Anita, reinforcing her importance. This is an excellent example of Van-Zoonen's notion of the male gaze, where the only purpose of a woman in a media product is to be seen and valued by heterosexual male acknowledgement