Sherlock Analysis Opening Scene

The representation of gender is shown to the audience at the beginning of the clip where the music is being played over the woman speaking and not the man, which can suggest that what she is saying is more important than what the man is going to say and so what she is talking about is represented through the music. Another side to this is that there is no music being played over the man when he speaks, which could indicate that he is a stronger character- the position of the character or the fact that he is male which would mean he is more dominant over the situation- and needs to be heard properly. The music being played and not being played can influence perceived feelings on the situation, IE the music is played on top of the woman talking which gives off emotions such as importance and tension, while no music can portray feelings such as impertinences.

The representation of gender can be portrayed through mise en scene, an example of this shown by the use of the camera. While the woman speaks the camera is never focused on her and moving around the room showing the audiences' reactions and when the man speaks the camera is constantly focused on him, this conveys the stature of the characters and that the female characters role is secondary to the mans. In this first scene the man is more covered up while the woman is wearing something more reviling, this has connotations of sex and that women are seen as objects or seductive beings to please a mans eye, this is a way of demeaning the gender of women. The man is covered up allowing him to perceived as the stereotype of a business man:smart, in control and a dominant character role. Physical objects also have a role in the ideas of gender in this scene; both male and female have a coffee cup which can symbolise that they are equals. Later in this clip Molly Hooping puts on lipstick to impress Sherlock and for her to feel more attractive. Lipstick has connotations of love and attraction, the choice of a woman wanting to wear lipstick shows that the woman is trying to impress the man which shows a representation of gender through societies eyes; a woman wants to impress the more dominant character-a man.

Lighting can also play a part in representing gender, this is shown when the lighting is tinged/darl/murky, which can symbolise the surrounding mood of what is being discussed by the woman (even though she is the one delivering the news and the man isnt) but when the man starts to speak the camera lighting/room lighting becomes warmer and brighter. This may be because he holds a different role within this scene -woman is the deliver and he answers questions-. Another example of lighting is in the next few scenes when John is shown walking in a park, warm lighting is used then, which can be a way of expressing his mood or the type of character he is. John is asked a personal question and the lighting become murkier, having a change in lighting shows the audience that something bad has happened or been brought up. The change in lighting still surrounding the same character shows that in some scenes the lighting cant define gender roles.

In this clip the representation of gender is shown by camera angles and editing, examples of this is shown in the first scene when the woman is talking the camera tended to zoom away from her and focus on the man next to her and the audience, while focusing on the man (as ive mentioned previously). Another exampe of camera angles and editing can be seen when Sherlock is whipping the dead body nearing the end of this clip, the camera is positioned at the same level as the dead body laying on the table which gives a POV of the dead body and a low angle shot up towards Sherlock. These angles show Sherlock as the more dominant character as he is looking down apon the dead person, automatically giving him a higher role, this could also reflect on Sherlocks gender, he is a male and they are known to be the more dominant gender. At this point the camera shows Molly standing outside the room, this represents gender by showing that the less dominant character, who happens to be a woman, not taking control of the situation and having to watch.