Discuss the ways in which in the film ‘terminator 2’ constructs gender using the following; camera angles, movement and composition, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.
In the film terminator 2 the use of the close-up angle in the interview scene portrays gender as the use of desperation and Sarah having to prove herself to the ‘doctor’ this cross links the idea of sexuality and how men are seen to be more superior to women and the idea of women having to prove themselves to be seen as on the same level as men. The use of the canted angle here suggests that the imbalance and instability of Sarah. The use of all the staff working at the mental institute being male here implies the transition and contrast between Sarah being a female and the staff being male. Here this could suggest the idea of male sex being dominant and known as more superior.
The use of the canted angle suggests here that it is the view from Sarah’s point of view and foreshowing her vulnerability. The use of clothing in this scene shows the gender of the characters for example Sarah is wearing a long white night dress. We assume with a women dresses and skirts whereas different personalities portray different ways of expressing yourself for example; women that are seen as more male and therefore choose to dress like that persecific sex for example a tom boy.
The contrast with the night dress shows a femine and vulnerable side to Sarah as the idea of not being able to escape the mental institute foreshows this with the idea of dressing as a tom boy as putting a guard up and being the idea of ‘Hard’ and not showing the uneasy and vulnerable side of Sarah. The use of the mental institute foreshows the helpless and defenceless character Sarah has become as she was stripped of her personal clothing and weapons which here could resemble her comfort blanket and she feels as if she is always in danger.
The location in the scene is in a office, the office is dull and the use of colours is limited. This reflects the idea of the staff being male dominated as this is reflected within the institute. The main colour reflected within the lighting is black, white and grey. This could reflect the mood within the institute as it is a uneasy atmosphere. The clothing used for the staff is a contradiction as you associate a doctor in a white coat as harmless and trustworthy whereas the doctors in the film are vulgar and dangerous for example when the man lick’s Sarah’s face this foreshows the lack of respect the patients have gained and they are not trustworthy as they mimic them, as they know they are unable to react and therefore take advantage of the patient (Sarah) being reluctant to react. As for example here; Sarah is strapped down and her mouth covered. The windows which are shown to be blacked out.
The use of gender here is not established and therefore the director is playing with the idea of neither male nor female. The light coming from the window could symbolise freedom and the lack of light could show the contrast between reality and fate. The lack of light could symbolically suggest the mysterious but threatening atmosphere and how reality has disappeared for the patients as they are treated as non-humane. The use of sound is foreshowed by gender as Sarah is panting and breathing heavily and therefore could symbolically represent the vulnerable, distressed Sarah.
Therefore in the escape scene the high shot of john talking to the terminator could represent the urge for a father figure in his life and being able to relate to the same gender as his character as his mum has brought him up. And how he looks up to him as a superior and no longer see’s the terminator as threatening, the contrast between the personality of the terminator between the first film and the second could symbolically represent the courage and friendship that foreshadows his relationship with Sarah and John. The use of the change of clothing Sarah has adapted here would suggest that she has left the fragile and choked Sarah behind and has hidden that with the male clothing that dominates her life-style.
Some of Sarah’s facial features are shown here and therefore could represent the two sides to her as deep down she is a femine, vulnerable women but covers her personality with the boy-ish act. The use of the low angle shot of Sarah and the juxtaposition between the change of clothing from a dress to trousers and vest. The use of the shot could resemble him in control and how the director has played with the structure of the film so far. The use of the extreme close-up as Sarah injects the main doctor of the institute during her escape shows the personal approach and how the director could have placed his view from back. But the use of the extreme close-up could show the desperation and suspense. The use of the low angle of the doctor struggling could be a contrast between a female struggling earlier to a male. The disorientation of the canted angle could represent the confusion and the reluctant up-rising of Sarah’s escape. The contrast between the high and low angle could reflect the idea of trust. And how they have betrayed Sarah’s trust and the use of the high angle showing Sarah could resemble the idea of that now Sarah is in control of his life as he struggles and reinforces the idea that ‘what goes around comes back around’ and how they have betrayed her. The idea of the contrast between trust and the idea of being able to trust someone in a white coat comes from the idea of stereotyping. The lack of trust between Sarah and the other characters resembles that she may have been let down in her past and the idea of conflict between characters foreshows. Sarah’s minds reluctant to let anyone in because of her trust issues and the idea of being a mother and wanting to protect her son.
In the scene from the family place focuses on the light appearing from behind john this could resemble the importantance of the character and resemble an angel like figure. The close-up of Sarah reveals a more personal approach to the character and resembles her femine features. Sarah is wearing blacked out glasses and therefore hiding her eyes this could resemble hiding who she is as an old saying ‘if you look deep enough into someone’s eyes you can see their soul’. When Sarah wakes up the lighting is around her face and shortly goes dark this could symbolise the difference between fate and reality.
In the final scene the close up shot of the terminator and john struggling to help Sarah this symbolically represents the difference between male and female and the capability. This suggests that the need of a male influence within the family and the missing part needed. The low angle shot of Sarah and john here could represent the threat and vulnerability they are under and the contrast between and mother and son bond. The difference between a female and male child. The white shadow on Sarah’s face could represent the innocence and angelic personality she has. At the end Sarah and the terminator are on par with each other and could symbolically represent the non-social class between either and there is no difference between male and female.