1. Representation
You will evaluate and compare two film scenes, assessing the use of
gender representation. You will develop skills to construct the three
scene analysis pieces.
2. PROBLEM
I have to prepare a lesson to teach representation to Y10 students and I
haven’t got a clue!
Please help me out by creating (in pairs) a worksheet or Powerpoint that I
can use for my lesson, covering:
• The basics of stereotypes and archetypes
• Gender representation (male gaze theory, Angela McRobbie)
• Stereotyping theories of Dyer vs. Perkins
You have 15 minutes!
3. Eve Kendal – tough girl or victim?
1. Re-watch the scene from NBNW where Eve “shoots” Roger.
2. Make lists of all the semantic and syntactic codes within the scene.
3. Develop an argument using elements of Mulvey and McRobbie’s
theories about representation of women.
4. As a class, we will debate whether Kendal is represented as a tough,
independent woman (challenging the model), or is still a “victim”
being dominated and controlled by men (conforming to the model).
4. Black Widow – superhero or sex object?
1. Watch the scene from Avengers Assemble where Black Widow is
first introduced.
2. Make lists of all the semantic and syntactic codes within the scene.
3. Develop an argument by applying elements of Mulvey’s male gaze
theory.
4. Consider the context – how has director Joss Whedon represented
women in the past (e.g. in Buffy The Vampire Slayer)?
5. As a class, we will debate whether BW is represented as a tough,
independent, action hero (challenging the model), or whether
factors such as her clothing and an arguably “erotic” fighting style
objectify her (conforming to the theory).
5. Blog Entry
Using the scene from NBNW as your main text, with comparison to the
scene from Avengers Assemble, write your first scene analysis.
Remember to:
• Refer to theory (including the name of the theory and the theorist)
• Explore the media language and genre conventions –
semantic/symbolic codes
• Explore the narrative – syntactic codes
• Compare the two texts
