Example of a D grade investigation on representation (moving image) - WJEC GCSE Media

1. HOW DOES SHERLOCK
REPRESENT MEN AND
WOMEN?
By
Luke Lane

2. WHAT IS SHERLOCK?
Sherlock is a British television crime drama, made by the BBC, that shows
a modern adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes
detective stories. It was created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss and
stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as
Doctor John Watson. Nine episodes have been produced, the first three of
which aired in 2010. Series two aired in 2012, and a third series aired in
the first quarter of 2014. Sherlock is the BBCs most successful crime
drama with an average of almost 12 million viewers who watched the third
series.

3. HYPOTHESIS
Television criminal dramas are often sexist by having the
male characters as heroes and being big and strong
resolving issues and mysteries whereas the female
characters are usually victims and helpless and there for
men's pleasure in terms of sexual attraction.

4. HOW CAMERA ANGLES AND FRAMING
REPRESENT GENDER
The use of using medium close ups with a blurred background which allows the audience to focus on
Adlers facial expression. She looks as if she enjoys luring Sherlock and flaunting her body which is
what men like to see.
They use a lower angle shot to make Adler look more dominant and proving that women can be
stronger and more in control than Sherlock. When Adler was naked the camera focuses on Adlers
whole body representing that she's subtle but devious and dangerous and with Sherlock looking
confused and supressed.
The camera moves slowly so it catches every single movement of the body and how they interact
with each other.
In contrast with Sherlock Luther used high angle shot and close ups and low angle shots. The low
angle shots and long shots in Luther made Luther look dominant over Alice. They used close ups to
show Alice's facial expression when questioned by Luther. Sherlock and Luther both use a
stereotypical female character but in Sherlock they use a naked woman whereas in Luther they use
a woman dominated by a man.

5. HOW SYMBOLIC CODES REPRESENT GENDER
In the scene between Adler and Sherlock Adler gets naked to try to seduce Sherlock
which suggest that she is just a sex object. This is emphasised though her job being a
dominant matrix and the elegance of the room they are in is posh, classy, etc. this is
because people lust after these things, which is reflected in Adler as men lust after her in
this scene. Also she wore lipstick and earrings to make her self look more attractive.
In contrast Sherlock is dressed as a vicar which makes him look religious peaceful which
is the complete opposite of Adler. They are also intelligent and respected which makes
men look more dominant and makes woman look weaker and not worthy because she is
full of sin.
Unlike Sherlock the way Alice is dressed in series 2 episode 1 she challenges the female
stereotype because she is all coved and also not wearing any make up. However, she is
shown to a prisoner and Luther a policemen which shows that men are more powerful
and good than woman.

6. THE WAY SOUND REPRESENTS
GENDERBefore alder comes into the scene you can hear nothing but her foot steps and her voice
which makes her mysterious and these two sounds are the sort of sounds that men find
sexy and when she enters the room she is completely naked which makes Sherlock
shocked and uncomfortable which took place when she entered the room. Through out
the scene the music played a playful and mysterious music which added to Adler's sex
appeal. Also sound is used to show the thought of character, such as the quiet blank
noise when Sherlock cannot read Adler.
Whereas the music in Luther sounds mysterious and tense which makes Alice look like a
criminal and made her sound dangerous. The music constantly builds up when
something is about to happen or when she says something intelligent which challenges
the female stereotype.

7. NARRATIVE CODES
Sherlock is shown as a hero by questioning Adler and trying to read her to solve the crime to try
to get access to the photos and Watson was assisting him by asking Sherlock what he needs
and follows his orders which makes him a helper. Adler was representing a femme fatale by
forcing her self on Sherlock and interrogating him by trying to seduce him. she is also a
dominmatrix.
Luther is shown as a hard and strong man because he's intimidating when he was questioning
people. Luther was also independent and carried out the investigation by him self which shows
him as a hero like Sherlock. Alice challenged the female stereotype unlike Adler in Sherlock by
giving Luther advice about how he can be better, making her look like a helper. However she
came across like a femme fatale like Adler because it was like she was trying to gain information
from Luther and made subtle threats which made her mysterious and dangerous.

8. HOW REPRESENTATIONS
APPEALS TO THE TYPICAL
AUDIENCE OF SHERLOCKSherlock is aimed at teenagers and young adults mostly as well as people aged up to 50
with the majority of these being men. This is because it involves crime, action and drama
which presents danger excitement adrenaline which all appeal to men. To ensure Sherlock
meets the needs of its target audience it relates to Laura Mulvey male gaze theory. This is
because Sherlock as a man is the lead character and hero with Watson who is another man
the second main character and helper. Also the focus of series two episode 1 is Adler. She
is shown naked which is sexually appealing and what men would like to see. She is also
very forward and flirty and make men want to be Sherlock.

9. CONCLUSION
Sherlock relies on stereotypes because the smart detective and his helper who are the main characters are men. Because
they are trying to solve the investigation and are at the centre of the action. In series 2 episode 1 Sherlock is shown to be
righteous because is dressed as a vicar and trying to recover indecent photos. Adler the main female character in the episode
is shown as a eye candy because she is naked and tries to seduce Sherlock. This conforms to the stereotype of men and
women.
Luther also conforms to male and female stereotypes because he is the main character and a male who is also strong
intimidating and chasing action. In contrast in series 2 episode 1 Alice the female focus was shown in a prison which shows she
morally is below Luther and therefore men being superior to women. However, she was covered and offered advice to Luther
which challenges the female stereotype.
In contrast to Sherlock and Luther, scot and baily uses two females as main characters which not stereotypical but they dress
and act like men.
Comparting Sherlock with these shows it relies on gender stereotypes but all the shows try's to make women like men which
shows that TV crime dramas in general relies on gender stereotypes.