How is gender represented in Shallow Grave?

How is gender represented in Shallow Grave?

 

Boyle uses cinematography to show gender. This is shown when a low angle, which is also a POV shot, is used to make Juliet seem more intimidating and powerful than Alex. Boyle uses low angle and POV shots to represent females as being dominant, the POV shot also makes the audience feel part of the scene and exaggerates the power that Alex has lost over Juliet. This shot also shows the femininity of Juliet’s character because we see her keeping Alex down with a high heeled shoe, this shows that Juliet is both feminine and masculine. Boyle also uses a lot of two shots of Alex and Juliet this shows them as a pair, they are more fun loving. The pair are never really apart this shows that they are equal, however David keeps out of their way for most of the scene. This is also shown by the pair drinking and dancing together, without David. Boyle uses the two shots to show the pair as symmetrical and David as being submissive to the pair being together, this shows Juliet and Alex as more of a couple that David and Juliet. The shot changes to have all three characters together after David shows his aggression and masculinity by getting angry with a man who asks Juliet to dance, he is then put in the shot with the other two so has gained his place.

 

Boyle uses sound to show gender. This is best shown (with diegetic dialogue) by David swearing “f*cking binbag” this shows Davids masculinity through aggression, this shows his character as powerful and so he dominates the scene. Boyle uses dialogue (diegetic) to show men as potentially violent and dangerous. This dialogue is used near the end and because David has been very quiet and hasn’t got involved with the conversation it is a big contrast for him to get angry instead of being the quiet and feminine person we expected him to be. Also brunettes are stereotypically fun loving and like to joke about, this is evident when Juliet sarcastically says “do you think you could be a little more forceful next time” to David after he has just got angry with a man for asking Juliet to dance, this shows Juliet as being fun and jokey.

 

Boyle uses mise-en-scene to show gender. David is wearing a suit, this shows him as being powerful or classy. However the suit also shows that he is in touch with his feminine side and wants to dress nice for events, such as parties. This shows him as a boring person. David’s clothes show his job, as a businessman, this is quite a boring and mind numbing job and shows his less masculine/more feminine side. Alex also has a suit on but shows his more masculine side by having no tie and his top button undone. This shows he is scruffy and more masculine than David. Also Alex wears a tweed jacket instead of the less extravagant black suit jacket worn by David.

 

Boyle uses editing to show gender. This is used by cutting between Alex and Juliet when she pushes and holds Alex done with her shoe. The cutting is between a low angle shot from Alex’s POV and a high angle from Juliet’s POV this shows the power and almost masculinity of Juliet. It also shows strength and compares it to how Alex cannot get up showing that Juliet has more strength than Alex and so females are shown as stronger than the men. Another technique used is fast paced cutting it is used when Alex and Juliet dance together, the shot cuts between Alex and Juliet showing their expressions and reactions to each other. Also the shots of Alex and Juliet, during the fast cuts, are both close ups or mid shots of the two dancing with no high or low angle shots. This shows the pair as equals, but David is not involved and is shown as the masculine person who sits and watches.

All in all gender is represented through all four techniques, editing, cinematography, mise-en-scene and sound. The main message Boyle is showing about gender is that although Juliet is female she is one of the most powerful characters and can take control of the two men. This is best shown through the cinematography, mainly the high angle shot from Alex’s POV showing Juliet as higher powered and more intimidating. However Boyle also shows that although David may seem like the gentle feminine male, he is in fact the most masculine and aggressive of the three. This is shown through his dialogue (diegetic) and him being uninvolved with the dancing and festivities. Alex is shown as both masculine and feminine. He is shown to be masculine by his costume; he is wearing scruffy clothing e.g. his top button is undone and he is not wearing a tie. However he is shown to have less power than Juliet through not being able to get up when she holds him down with her shoe and he therefore seems more feminine.