Primeval analysis

1. How is gender represented in
the clip from Primeval?
Emily Kennedy

2. Cinematography
The female character here is being represented as vulnerable, this is suggested
through the use of a high angle shot which makes the female appear smaller. This
representation is true to the stereotypical view that women are weak and defenceless.
As the audience, we are supposed to feel sympathetic toward this character as well as
concerned for her safety.

3. Cinematography
Both genders are represented as powerful/ important in this scene, this is signified to
the audience through the use of a reverse tracking shot. This shot shows all of the
characters walking purposefully to a meeting point. This is stereotypical of the strong
male view, but deviates from the stereotypical image of women being helpless and
unimportant. At this point, the audience would feel impressed and excited of what’s to
come.

4. Cinematography
The male character in this instance is represented as significant. This significance is
shown through the use of an over-the-shoulder shot which highlights the male
character as the point of interest. This is typical of the view that males are key
characters. As the audience, we are supposed to be intrigued as to what this
character is saying as he is the main point of interest so his dialogue must also be
crucial.

5. Cinematography
The female character is represented as less significant than her male counterparts.
This is shown to the audience through the use of a side-angle shot, when she speaks,
which shows that her facial expressions and reactions are less important than that of
the males. This is compared to the frontal angles of the male characters, when
speaking, which show their expressions and reactions. This is typical of the generic
view that women are minor characters. The audience are supposed to feel that what
this character is saying isn’t as significant as the male’s dialogue.

6. Cinematography
In this scene the male character is portrayed as being vulnerable and frightened, this
is signified to the audience through the use of a high angle shot. This deviates from
the stereotypical view of males being courageous and brave. The audience would feel
tense at this moment, wanting no harm to come to this character.

7. Sound
At this point the male character is represented as frightened and endangered. This is
shown through the use of the non-diegetic mood music, where the drum beat mirrors a
fast heartbeat which connotes energy exertion and fear. This is not stereotypical of the
view that males are cool and collected when in danger. The audience would feel
anticipation for the wellbeing of this character as well as fear.

8. Sound
The female character is being represented as powerful. This is shown through the
diegetic sound of the gun shot which connotes power and aggression. This strays
away from the view that females are often damsels in distress and need saving
themselves. The audience would identify with the power shown here by the female
character and be relieved that she has killed the threat.

9. Sound
The male character is portrayed as strong and aggressive in this scene. This strength
is mirrored with the sound of dogs barking which also connotes anger and
aggression. The representation is stereotypical of the view that men are the dominant
gender. The audience are supposed to feel angry and frightened with this man, and
the digs barking would be disorientating reflecting the feelings of the frightened
female character.

10. editing
In this scene the male character is being represented with a sense of urgency. This is
portrayed through the use of flash cuts, which show how fast the action is happening
and subsequently how urgent the situation is. This is typical of the view of males being
the centre of the action and having a sense of urgency when in a dangerous scenario.
The audience would feel tense and apprehensive for the success of the male
character.

11. editing
Within this scene the female character is represented as logical and quick thinking.
This is shown through the use of short cuts which mirrors the reactive thoughts of the
female character. This deviates from the typical view that women are useless and
vulnerable in dangerous situations. The audience are supposed to feel impressed and
relived that the female character eliminated the threat of the Sabre-tooth.

12. Mise-en-scene
The male characters in this scene are represented as dominant as they are the first
characters we see. This is typical of the view that male characters are more important
than their female counterparts. As the audience we are supposed to be expectant of
these characters as they shows that they're powerful, we are also meant to admire
their authority.

13. Mise-en-scene
In this scene the female character is sexualised, this is shown through the use of
costume (with the low-cut top) and make-up (dark eyes and red lips). This
representation is stereotypical of the view that women should be stylish and beautiful
at all times. However, the audience may identify with this as being powerful and rout
for this female character’s success and independence. Other members of the
audience may just look at her for their enjoyment because she's attractive.

14. Mise-en-scene
This male character is portrayed as aggressive, this is shown through the use of the
gun prop which connotes violence and death. This representation is typical of the view
that males are the dominant, aggressive gender. As the audience, we are supposed to
feel angry at his sudden outburst and scared for the female character’s wellbeing.

15. Mise-en-scene
In this scene the female character is represented as being out-of-place. This is shown
through the use of body language as the middle male character is acknowledging her
out of the rest of the characters. This is stereotypical of the view that females don’t do
manual labour, and don’t belong in a “man’s world”. We are suppose to feel as if the
female character is odd for being part of this team, and perhaps impressed that she
is.