Finger smith Clip January 2012 Representation
Issue of Sexuality
During the Finger smith clip the representational issue of
sexuality is significant throughout it. The different micro features of:
camera, editing, sound and mise-en-scene allows the audience to identify the
representational issue which is significant and represented throughout the
clip.
The first significant micro-feature I am going to be talking
about is camera, many different camera shots and movements are used to help
represent the issue of sexuality throughout the clip. For example the first
camera shot which is used by the cinematographer was a over the shoulder shot this
is significant because it connotate’s that they are both equal because of their
gender however one of the women is always helping the other, this is significant
to help the audience understand the relationship between the two characters.
The next significant camera shot which is used is a low shot which looks up to
the two women in bed while one of them runs her hand over her body. This is
significant because it is the first time the male gauze is used this is because
it helps over sexualise the mode of address and represent that it is a dirty
scene which at the time was forbidden unless it was a man and women who was
married. Furthermore the next significant camera shot which is used is a high
angle shot which shows the man looking down on the more vulnerable women, this
follows the hegemonic norms because the man has more dominance and power in the
scene. Furthermore close ups and jump cuts are used by the cinematographer
through a shot/reverse shot to show the audience one of the women’s facial
expressions which juxtaposes with a close up of the other women’s cleavage.
This connotate’s to the audience the lust one of the women has for the other
and helps represent their homosexual feelings for each other to the audience.
The last significant camera shot which is used is a mid shot of the women and
the man behind a tree this is significant because it shows the two characters
doing sexual things such as the man taking of her glove and licking the female
characters hand, however because it is happening between a male and a female
this is a use of ideology because it is a idea which was more acceptable the
time that the Finger smith clip was set.
The next micro feature which was used within the clip which
I am going to discuss is mise-en-scene this feature has been constructed with
very good treatment as it significantly helps their clip represent the issue of
sexuality. First of the lighting varies throughout the clip to suggest and create
different meanings. For example at the beginning of the clip low key lighting
is used to suggest a down beat sexual mood this juxtaposes with the dirty
mirror which symbolises and represents their personalities because the mirror
is dirty like their character. Furthermore a good example of low key lighting
being used was when the women hovered her hands over the other women’s body
because the lighting was dark this suggests that the particular act was against
social conformity and forbidden because they were two women and not married. In
contrast high key lighting is used in the next scene as it is mid day a
stereotypical less sexual part of the day and one the women is still thinking
about her in a sexual way and it is showing the linear narrative of the clip.
Furthermore another aspect in the micro feature of mise-en-scene is the
characters costumes. These are significant as they help represent sexuality in
a very unique way. For example the two women are wearing very revealing
costumes for the 18th century whereas the man in the scene is
wearing a formal suit which shows he is following the social society rules but
the women don’t as they want to look beautiful and appeal to each other. This
again is a use of the mal gauze because the mode of address is a lot more
sexual as they are scene in a more sexual way compared to if they were wearing
less revealing and sexual costumes. Furthermore in the scene were the man takes
the women’s glove off and starts licking her hand in a sexual way is also
significant to the representational issue of sexuality because they both start
heavy breathing and he is holding her neck in a sexual way which could imply a
form of sexual activity such as rape because it’s something which the audience
sympathises with her about because she doesn’t really want to be doing it. This
scene also follows the hegemonic norms of social conformity because he has the
physical and mental power to put her in this situation.
The next micro feature is sound this is all the diegetic,
non-diegetic and ambient sounds which are used throughout the clip to help
represent the issue of sexuality a lot more to the audience. Straight away non-
diegetic sound is used by the main female character in the form of a voiceover
where she says ‘you look so beautiful’ this is significant because it helps the
audience understand the relationship between the two women as one of them sees
her as beautiful. Furthermore slow pace stringed music is non diegetic sounds
which are used to heighten the sense of sexual desire which exists between the
female characters relationship. However in contrast in the next scene a
diegetic sound of the main female character screaming is used however it is
masked by the man’s hand this is significant because it connotate’s he is more
physical and also he has more dominance over her. This also links to the
non-diegetic sounds because the classical music is more upbeat compared to
before which represents and signifies the current situation and it tells the
audience the possible dangers which the female characters could be about to
face. This is a good use of binary opposites because the sexual scene at the
beginning has slower and more relaxed non diegetic’s however the scene which
isn’t sexualised as much has more upbeat non-diegetic sounds. Lastly ambient
sounds such as birds signing and sound bridges are used to help add a
significant effect to the scene as it is made more peaceful and relaxing.
Furthermore the last micro feature which is used within the
clip is editing which is used to help represent the issue of sexuality. In
every scene in the clip which includes the women the editing is a lot slower
whereas in contrast the scene which includes the man the editing is a lot
quicker. This is significant because it helps represent the difference between
the two different genders and their sexual relationships with each other. For
example the main female character’s editing is a lot slower because she has
lust and deep love for the other women whereas the man’s editing is a lot
quicker because he is trying to get married and have a sexual relationship for
other reasons than just pure love and emotion. Furthermore the editing
technique of a dissolve fade is used on two occasions which has been done to
show implied connections between the two scenes. For example the first time the
dissolve fade is used it the first scene is about the main female character
thinking about the other women in a sexual way and the scene it connects with
through the technique is when she hovers her hands over the other women’s body
again in a sexual way which is the main connection between the two scenes. These
are significant and are presented as being connected because they both include
the main women thinking homosexually about the other women. This forbidden
because the time the clip was set in was a very homophobic and metrosexual
period in time. Adding to this the editing technique of ellipsis editing of the
narrative sequence is used by the editor to link it with the ambient, non-diegetic
and diegetic sounds throughout the clip, this adds effect to certain scenes and
makes it seem more dramatic to the audience.
In conclusion all the micro features which are used in the
Finger smith clip helps imply and present the representational issue of
sexuality. The micro features of camera, editing, sound and mise-en-scene all has
connotations and helps support the mode of address. These have all been
constructed and treated in this way to help represent the issue of sexuality.
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