diamertic oppositions

 diametric opposition 

levi-strauss

one of the fundamental ways we make sense of is through binary opposition or 2 diametrically opposed concepts that end up dining each other 

e.g. day/night 

man v machine

Anita v Laura - Anita is a threat to her role in the family 

captivity v freedom 

progress v regression - progress of conscious, its own entity not machine 

family v institution - 

male v women - gender role 

old v young - conflict between daughter and parents  

metropolis (Lang, 1927) - sexualised, making this sexualised to make them more relatable 

blade runner (Scott, 1982) - binary oppoation of feminity between the character and barbie 

Sorayama Hajime - sexy robot 

Hannah Hoch: Das Schone Madchen / the beautiful girl (1919-20)

cyborg- cybernetic 

Anita is not seen as a machine even without consciousness a she takes on the roles of humans so is treated as such- people want to hurt her, have sex with her. they reflect their own abilities onto her and feel threatened buy her abilities 

 

Judith Butler- theories of gender performativity 

identity is a performance, constructed through a series of acts and 'expressions' we perform in every day 

there are biological differences dictated by sex, our gander is defined through cats 

there is no identity behind these expressions of gender

gender performed is not singular act but repetition and ritual. 

bell hooks- feminist

feminism is a struggle to end patriarchal oppression and the ideology of domination, and that position of the underrepresentation is by class and race as well as gender 

no woman is in power in the first episode- even Laura's power is under threat by Anita 

what representation of gender are encoded in these scenes?

the blonde woman is seen as a an an intaminate object within the program, however is also created for the audience to sympathise her being trapped.

the mum is seen as a concerned figure who's only goal is to keep her family happy and dependant on her as the caregiver. showing her need to be loved 

matty is seen as intelligent and forward thinking and the modern woman 

how are they amphasised through montage, giagetic sound, establishing shots?

the blonde woman, when being attacked his at eye level with the audience creating a direct mode of address to the audience making them more connected to the emotions she would be feeling if they were in her position. 

matty is represted as modern through her political awareness of other women such as her mum are not as concerned with, this is seen in her watching the news, however, everyone on the news talking about the synths as 'experts;' are all male. showing how only male genius is advertised in the media. 

what function do the male and female bodies serve? how do you know? 

the female body is designed to serve the male, this is shown in the scene with the blonde woman as her emotions are not desired by the male. even when she is able to recreate that of humans it is shown her thoughts are not desired only her body. 

what audience responses are possible from this scene?

discomfort from the sex scene