2. Sexuality in ‘Flash Forward’ is represented in a way in which conventional perspectives of sexuality
are distorted.
Stereotypically as the audience we see a woman who is excluded from the norm of society, in terms
of sexuality and this chasm between masculinity and femininity. The setting used (karate lesson)
alludes to this convention of masculinity however the producer has subverted this stereotype by
placing a woman at the top of the chain. Moreover the woman offers out her hand to the man and
helps him up; the producers subvert the accustomed patriarchal perspective. Additionally the
camera sweeps the audience; all having very blank faces, inferring in some ways this remote
conception of homosexuality being controversial. The shot type and characterisation of the audience
put fourth this matriarchal conception.
Secondly, the camera transgresses to the restraint scene, a cutaway shot is used to zoom out from
the subject of the shot and make the shot more general, including other characters in the
background. This shot is used to convey a section of society’s perception of sexuality. This is inferred

3. because none of the other characters are starring or making comments conveying the normality of
sexuality. However both of the women are dressed in very different colours, red and black conveying
2 very different perspectives. Red symbolises passion, desire and red conveying this subjective
conception of characterisation whereas black is a colour associated with power, elegance, formality
and fear. The symbolisation and chasm between colours infers a subjective and objective view of
sexuality.
Furthermore sexuality again is portrayed in a subverted manor, as the woman who plays the man’s
role in the relationship; this is suggested through mise-en-scene e.g. work clothes. Conversely
society’s perception is subverted as ideally the ‘man’ is taking on a woman’s role e.g. cooking. On
the other hand it can be argued that the woman, who stereotypically is taking on the woman’s role,
defies this subversion by saying “here let a professional do that.”
To conclude, the distinction between morals and reality is blurred through the use of a variety of
techniques suggesting allowing a subjective judgement to be made, society’s stamp is removed from
each individual to allow individuality to surface.