Agent Carter is a 1940s-era action series that follows the character Agent Carter as she investigates mysterious threats. The documentary provides clues that suggest:
1) The genre is action based on Agent Carter holding a gun. 2) It is set in 1940s New York/America based on her military uniform. 3) Agent Carter is a strong female lead who is dangerous but also feminine, as shown through her various costumes.
1. Starter – look closely at the DVD cover for
Agent Carter.
What clues are we given about the
following
• Genre
• Narrative
• Where the action is set?
• When the action is set?
• Agent Carter herself
How have you reached those
conclusions?
About a Detective?
Set In New York/America
It looks like it is set in
1980’s
Annotation
Genre: Action because
she has a gun
2. Before you watch… watch do you learn about
Agent Carter from these stills?
She looks like she is in shock,
scared and emotional. Her
military uniform suggests power.
She is wearing casual clothes which
shows she is maybe undercover or
off duty. More exposed and wearing
feminine.
Having a gun is showing she
is dangerous and is near
danger.
She looks calm, confident
and serious and has power
because she is holding a
gun.
3. She is a stereotypical
woman doing chores. And
she is wearing feminine
clothes.
She is the male gaze, she is
showing off her legs.
She has a lot of clothes in her
wardrobe showing stereotypes and is
showing a purse/purse.
Showing a gun in a drawer but it is hidden
she wears feminine clothes but in the
inside she is
4. Top 5 men/women –
present visually.
Can you see any patterns
here?
5. Equilibrium Disruption Recognition Repair New
equilibrium
Agent Carter has
flashback about
captain America
They found a bomb
that can kill anyone in
a 500yrd radius
If any villain gets their
hands on the bomb it
can be life changing
Agent carter trying to
stop the villains from
destroying or
transporting it to
another location.
She has started to
investigate about the
formula.
6. 1. Who is the
target audience?
2. Narrative 3. Visuals
(interesting
camerawork)
4. Mise-en-scene
• Locations
• Props
• Costume
(Agent Carter)
5. Audio
• Diegetic
• Non diegetic
Teens/Adults Lots of camera angles New York, apartments
and cafes.
Old Fashion
Mysterious music and
actionized music.
7. 1. Who is this series most likely to appeal to (kids, teens; young adults, older adults; gender:
men, women, both)? How do you know this audience type is targeted?
2. What is the narrative of the film? What hints are given? How does this draw the audience
in?
3. What visuals stand out in this episode; what do you remember seeing?
4. Where is the action located, primarily? Why?
5. Identify three key props used by Agent Carter – what does this tell us?
6. Do we learn anything about Agent Carter from the different costumes she wears?
7. What sounds (including music) did you hear that made it memorable?
8. “Agent Carter” - a step forward in gender representation?