7/31/2019 Representations of Gender in Doctor Who

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Doctor Who is a science-fiction drama, filmed in Wales, which is broadcasted by the BBC. The 5

minute clip from the show which I have just watched is successful in showing opposing

representations of gender, which link in well with Claude Levi-Strauss theory of binary opposites. I

will discuss how the men in this clip are shown as the domineering characters, playing the roles of

hero and villain, whereas the women are portrayed as helpless, secondary characters.

We are shown in the clip that the male characters are predominantly in positions of power

through the characters of the villain, who is about to kill Martha, his henchmen and the Doctor, who

comes at the end of the clip to save the day. The director uses mise-en-scene, camera angles and

sound to portray these men as domineering characters.

The formal clothing worn by both the villain and the doctor has connotations of wealth,

power and importance, which help portray them as important characters. The colours of their

clothing also bare significance, as the blacks, navys and dark browns worn by the Doctor, the villain

and his henchmen help portray them as serious characters.

The use of low angle shots to show both the villain and the Doctor further helps portray

them as powerful characters. The low angle shots of the villain help create the sense of Martha and

the maids looking up to him as he is royalty. Whereas the low angle shots of the Doctor help showthe villains fear of him and help exaggerate the Doctors powerful abilities.

The music used in the scene also helps to portray the males as powerful characters. The

thumping drums and guitar strokes playing in the background as the henchmen bring Martha to the

villain help create a situation similar to a scene from an old western, with the henchmen playing the

roles of villainous cowboys bringing a prisoner to the villain, which further helps portray them as the

powerful ones. Another way in which sound is used in the clip to portray the men as dominant

characters is through dialogue. The commands used by the villain show him to be a controlling

person, with his command to Martha to kneel portraying him as some kind of master, making

Martha act as his slave.

We are also shown in the clip that the female characters are portrayed as helpless,vulnerable figures, which play secondary roles to the males in the scene. We see these

characteristics in the characters of; the maids, who are helpless to the villains actions, the villains

mistress, who stands by the villain, acting as his inferior, and Martha, who is not only helpless as she

is sent to the villain, but also acts as the Doctors assistant, playing second fiddle to him. The director

uses mise-en-scene, camera angles and editing to portray these females as helpless characters.

By placing the villains mistress behind the villain throughout the scene, it helps show the

audience that she is of less importance than the villain, helping her come across as an object to the

villain. Her clothing also helps portray her as a secondary figure to the villain. Her red dress and long,

flowing hair help portray herself as a very attractive lady, which helps portray to the audience her

position as the villains woman, almost as if she was a trophy, representing his success.

The use of high angle shots to show Martha help show her as a helpless figure. The shotshelp portray Martha as a helpless figure who is being looked down upon by the villain, as if she is his

slave. This shot, however, helps the audience create an emotional connection with her character, as

they understand that she is a goodie under threat, and we begin to feel sorry for her.

Another way in which the audience create an emotional connection with Martha is through

the use of flashbacks. These flashbacks take us back to experiences which Martha has witnessed as

she is telling her story. These flashbacks help the audience connect with her as it helps them relate

to Martha and support her against the villain.

In conclusion, the use of mise-en-scene, camera angles, editing and sound help portray the opposing

representations of gender in this clip, with men being portrayed as powerful characters of

importance, and women as helpless, vulnerable secondary characters.