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Media Series - TV
Characters
Representation – page 2-3
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Look at the sequence. Consider how the character of Anita is constructed
Non-diegetic audio track reflects heartbeat – “birth” of a synth.
We initially see only her feet in the mesh “delivery bag”. She is an object to be bought and sold.
Sophie comments “Can we change her if she’s not pretty?” Female value lies in physical appearance.
She is “revealed” – to them and to the audience as a spectacle. Reaction of Sophie and Joe as she is revealed – she gasps, he does double-take. “To-be-looked-at-ness”
Programmed for “standard domestic model …basic housework” – female as domestic
Use of CU on eyes/face and panning shot as reveal occurs
Costuming is bland and uniform in grey/green (connotations of sci-fi). Lack of embellishment suggests utilitarian nature of the “product” but also draws attention to her physical beauty.
“My primary user” suggests she is simply an appliance “used” by the humans
“She’s ours” – ownership of the object.
Her voice is low, attractive and without emotion – a seductive machine. Joe grins sheepishly like a younger boy faced with an attractive woman – “Hello, Joe”
Contrasted with Laura who is costumed in more natural (but duller) browns through cross-cutting.
Anita is presented to Laura holding cleaning products – the perfect domestic female, in opposition to Laura as the frazzled, emotional working mother.
Referred to by Laura as “a machine”
Focus – use of deep and shallow focus to connote dominance e.g. Laura in background, Anita clear in the foreground.
