Student made powerpoint based on the issue of Representation of Gender in the film City of God

1. The Representation of
Gender in ‘City of God’.
(Meirelles/Lund, Brazil, 2002).

2. How is gender (men and women) represented?
 In Fernando Meirelles evocative masterpiece ‘City of God’, the
representation of gender is of paramount importance in imbuing the text with
gendered realism – the effect that gender plays in life and death is significant,
and pervades the text as a reminder that even in todays society, gender is still
a pertinent aspect of general life.
 The representation of gender in the film can be seen to be stereotypical –
men have power, women do not, men are physically strong, women are not,
men kill, women do not. In fact, the only way that women can control their
men is through a sexual hold – showing that their influence is purely
animalistic.
 In the film, the drug trade is highly important in creating power. However it
is interesting to observe that none of the drug dealers are female – this could
be a pointed commentary on the insufficiencies females are perceived to have
in terms of power - we have very few female presidents, for example.
 Men assert their power in a variety of ways throughout the film: they are in
control of the drug trade, they seek sexual gratification through rape, they
brandish guns at a moments notice – it is in these ways that their iron-like
grip over the women is enforced; a representation of their primal instincts
being enforced upon ‘their’ women – a derogatory representation of what it is
to be a female.

3. What are good scenes to talk about in relation to the
representation of gender (men and women)?
 In the film, one scene that raises pertinent issues regarding the issue of females
being viewed as objects for mens sexual gratification is when Knockout Ned’s
girlfriend is brutally raped whilst he is forced to hear her animalistic screams
as his head is pressed down onto the cold gravel ground. This portrays women
as empty vessels for mens charged emotions - weak individuals with no
strength to fight their sexual oppressors.
 Ironically, a later scene in the film contrasts this view when a journalist uses
sex to manipulate Rocket. This is a negative representation of women as it is
depicting them as being sexually predatory; using men to meet their own needs
with no consideration of the potential consequences. They are effectively
gaining an element of power via a purely sexual hold.
 In another shocking scene in the film, Shorty kills his wife after finds her with
another man. He brutally beats her with a shovel and then buries her. This
horrifying depiction of male violence suggest how women often become
victims; not victors.
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4. What might be challenging about the
representation of gender (men and women)?
 One aspect of the film that presents a challenging representation of gender is
when Bernice persuades Shaggy to depart the city of God with her as she has
fallen pregnant with his baby. This is challenging as the balance of power has
swung from man-woman to woman-man - it is bernice who is fundamental in
inciting the change in her life (leaving the slum), not shaggy.
 Another aspect of the film that raises interesting questions is how the women
who try to use power are indirectly responsible for the death of the man they
love - Shaggy and Benny are both tragically shot as a result of their efforts to
leave the City of god.
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5. What messages might the audience take from this
film about gender (men and women)?
 One of the most profound messages that an audience may take from the film is
how the stereotypical depiction of men and women may have changed in
developed countries, but has remained the same in non-developed countries.
The stereotypical portrayal of men as being strong and woman being weak is
richly conveyed in Meirelles stunning text, raising tragic questions as to why
these formulaic ‘roles’ have still not changed.
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