Representation of Gender - Doctor Who

Self-Assessment

I found the task ok. However, I found writing about the things I'd picked out hard, as it was difficult to link them together and then to link it all back to the representation of age. I found that I struggled to write about anything other than costume (for the mis-en-scene) and the camera angles, so it was lacking about the editing and my links to the representation of age were weak. Also I ran out of time and rambled about the things I was writing.
So overall I don't think that I've done very well on my assessment, even though some of my points were good.

Representation of Gender

Our next focus area will be the representation of gender. This is an interesting and demanding area and, to fully engage with representations of gender, you need to be aware of gender stereotypes.

Gender stereotypes are simplistic generalizations about the gender attributes, differences, and roles of individuals and/or groups. 

Stereotypes can be positive or negative, but they rarely communicate accurate information about others. When people automatically apply gender assumptions to others regardless of evidence to the contrary, they are perpetuating gender stereotyping. Many people recognize the dangers of gender stereotyping, yet continue to make these types of generalisations. We see gender stereotypes regularly being reinforced in television drama.

Traditionally, the female stereotypic role is to marry and have children. She is also to put her family's welfare before her own; be loving, compassionate, caring, nurturing, and sympathetic; and find time to be sexy and feel beautiful. 

The male stereotypic role is to be the financial provider. He is also to be assertive, competitive, independent, courageous, and career‐focused; hold his emotions in check; and always initiate sex. 

These sorts of stereotypes can prove harmful; they can stifle individual expression and creativity, as well as hinder personal and professional growth. 

The weight of scientific evidence demonstrates that children learn gender stereotypes from adults. As with gender roles, socializing agents—parents, teachers, peers, religious leaders, and the media—pass along gender stereotypes from one generation to the next.

The Exam

Exam May 15th

2 Hours long

2 Sections (A and B)

Section A = T.V Drama

1 Compulsory question = 50 marks

Overall exam = 100 marks
80 = A 
70 = B

Question:

Discuss the way the extract constructs the representation of X using the following:

• Camera shots, angles, movement and composition
• Editing
• Sound
• Mise-en-scene

X could be:

1. Gender
2. Age
3. Ethnicity
4. Sexuality
5. Class and Status
6. Physical ability/disability
7. Regional identity 

Genre in Television Programming

• from french/origin latin word for kind/class 
• all have awareness of genre
• we rely on. helps us categorise and classify
• pick up from things we've read/ seen or been told
• become highly conditioned to expect certain things 
• create stereotype
• become highly critical/reject or distrust anything that doesn't follow this norm , if it fails to follow the genre conventions
• genre:
• kids
• comedy
• drama
• entertainment
• factual
• films 
• learning
• lifestyle
• music
• news
• sport
• religion

1. sub genre - e.g food is sub genre of lifestyle
2. hybrid - e.g a children's factual program 

• genre drama - sub genre:

1. medical drama
2. crime drama
3. fantasy drama
4. teen drama
5. science fiction drama
6. comedy drama
7. continuing dramas - Eastenders
8. Period/ Historical Dramas

• one-off
• Series - Episodes
• Serial - continuing - Holby City

Verisimilitude - a creation of a "real" world in which you can believe in.