1. Mock Exam Preparation Homework
1) Analyse how the representation of gender
has been constructed in the still shot using
mise en scene and camera work
2) Revise the key terms on slide 3

2. Camera – How has camerawork been used to construct Mise en scene – How has mise en scene been used to
representation of gender?
construct representation of gender?
The camerawork used in this scene is used as it represents
the female as brave and strong. Whereas the male is
represented as weak because he is standing behind her.
The picture shows that the female might be the leader of
them two as she is standing in the front and the male is
following her. Another aspect that shows that the roles of
female and male are not stereotypical is that she is standing
higher then the male character which also represents that
she is brave and strong.
The roles in this scene have changed as the male is not the
brave person anymore. The female is the leader and he is
following behind her.
The mise en scene used in this scene shows that the female
character is dominant. I can see that both characters are in
a different mood. The female’s face is looking serious and
unimpressed. She is starring at something whereas the
male is looking scared which makes him look weak. The gun
in the female’s hand is another aspect which shows that
she is a brave person. It is not typical that the female is the
leader an has the gun. This prop is making her even more
strong. The things I said before are making me sure that
this scene is not a stereotypical one because normally the
male person has the gun, he should stand in the front of
the female and he should be the one who is starring and
something in front of him and not looking scared an week
as he does. The roles have changed because the female
does all these things.

3. Help Sheet
What does the question mean?
The examiner wants you to analyse how the representation of gender has been constructed.
Point – Identify a way that men or women have been representation
Example – Give a specific example of how this has been constructed using a technique from mise en scene or
camerawork.
Explain – Explain the effect created by the technique – how does this show gender to the audience –
positive/negative, fairly/unfairly, powerful/weak…
Link – To key terms or theories (has is reinforced or challenged a particular stereotype or theory? Does it
support the theory of Strauss/Mulvey/Hall etc)
Points could consider:
•
Representing gender in a certain way
•
Communicating the gender’s position to the audience
•
Making the audience feel a certain way about the characters / gender
What key terms should I include?
•
Media language – connotation, encode, decode, icon, key signifier, symbol, mise en scene, verisimilitude
•
Film language
Camera shots, angles and movements
Lighting, low key lighting, high key lighting, contrast, tone/ colours
Iconography - Costume, hair and make up, props, setting,
Positioning of objects within the frame
•
Genre
sub genre, key signifiers, conventions