1. Doctor Who – Sequence Evaluation.
Discuss the representation of gender within the sequence of Doctor Who.
Make reference to:
Camerawork.
Sound.
Editing.
Mise-en-scene.
Within the sequence of Doctor Who, gender is definitely represented through the technical use of
Camerawork, Sound, Editing, and Mise-en-scene, and is also represented in a more general sense.
Gender is represented in a general sense due to the fact that the common stereotype of the position
and status of males being higher than females is evident very much so. However, this stereotype is
also challenged within the sequence, with it almost being completely reversed towards the end of
the sequence. The sequence is definitely a mixed bundle of gender representation for sure…
The use of Camerawork within the sequence certainly contributes towards this representation of
gender. The most immediately notable Camerawork technique used is High Angles and Low Angles.
Low Angles are used whenever the Master is in shot (not every single shot of course) to represent
his high/higher status, whereas High Angles are used whenever Martha is in shot to represent her
low/lower status. The general stereotype of males being more dominant and powerful than females
is a widely popular and adamant one, even though it may not be true, and this particular technique
used definitely represents and supports this stereotype, thus representing gender. However, this
exact use of High and Low Angles isn’t consistent the whole way through the sequence, as towards
the end of the sequence the situation reverses, Martha becomes more powerful and higher up in
status as she successfully fights back, so the Low Angles are now used on Martha and the High
Angles are now used on The Master. This perhaps gives connotations of Martha, and females in
general being feisty and not to be under-estimated – yet another common stereotype apparent in
today’s society, reinforcing the representation of gender further. Another important and significant
Camerawork technique used within the sequence to help represent gender is a Focus Pull. It is used
when The Master looks at the countdown timer as it descends in time. The Master begins the
countdown of the timer, and soon after this happens he is taken out of focus and the countdown
timer is brought into focus. This highlights the fact that he is in control of the countdown, and
generally just in control, supporting the idea and stereotype of males tending to be dominant (most
of the time ego-tistically) and powerfully superior…
The Sound evident within the sequence is rather important in contributing towards the
representation of gender too. At one part in the sequence, where the rockets and spaceships are
shown in a cutaway, it is noticeable that diegetic female voices are used on them. This is very
significant, as The Master is in command of them, and with him being a male and the rockets and
spaceships being female (you could say), this reinforces and complies with the common stereotype
of males being in control of females, and females doing the work that males tell them to do. Another
important aspect of the sound present within the sequence is the musical score that is played
throughout, which builds up a climax very effectively. The music played within the beginning of the
scene as Martha is walking in is very dramatic, enhancing and upholding the current tense and

2. desperate atmosphere. Soon after this, menacing sounding music is played as The Master is now
currently dishing out his evil-ness. This reinforces the idea of males potentially being quite menacing,
secretive and evil characters. As Martha is standing up for herself the dramatic sounding music is
played yet again, thus perhaps showing that herself and general females can fight and rise against
problems effectively, or even that they can be unnecessarily over-dramatic characters from time to
time. Both of these being stereotypes and ideas that are common in today’s society.
The Editing present within the sequence adds to the representation of gender in various ways. One
way in which this is evidences is that at one point within the sequence when The Master is in shot,
cutaways to rockets and spaceships under his control are used, representing his ultimate power and
dominance. This complies with and reinforces the stereotype of males being all-powerful and
dominant. Another way in which cutaways are similarly used is when Martha’s flashbacks are shown,
quite a gloomy, depressing screen filter is used on these flashbacks, and the sound of her
grunting/struggling is over-enhanced. This certainly gives connotations of her being quite a weak
character, reinforcing the stereotype of females being weak and less powerful character, more so
than males. The screen-time that the characters The Master and Martha have is very significant. It
seems that The Master has more screen-time than Martha at first, making it apparent that he is
more important and higher-up in status than her, backing up the common stereotype of males being
higher-up in status and more dominant than females. However, it seems that towards the end of the
sequence as Martha fights back more and more, that she now has more screen-time than The
Master does, challenging the gender-based stereotype just stated…
Mise-en-scene contributes to the representation of gender within the sequence too. The mainly
noticeable, gender-representing use of Mise-en-scene within the sequence is the representational
use of costume, greatly reinforcing the common stereotype of males being superior to females.
Males within the sequence are made higher-up in status through the costume that they retain, with
them either wearing; suits – showing they’re working classy men, combat/military costumes –
showing that they do hard work and are tough and powerful, or physically mucky/dirty costume –
showing that they do the hard manual work. In comparison to this, the female’s costumes consist of;
maid costumes – showing that their job is to serve others, and that they’re rather low down in
status, and in The Master’s wife’s case red dresses – portraying her as being a sex object and nothing
but. Although in Martha’s case, her costume doesn’t comply with this stereotype and instead
challenges it, with her wearing quite a rough, man-like costume. This could perhaps give
connotations of her, and select females in general being tough just like males are supposed to be,
and being quite a resistant character/bunch, going against the typical norm…