Lisbet Van Zoonen on Humans (Leo Representation)

• Lisbet Van Zoonen - Male Gaze Theory (main theory)

• "There is a depressing stability in the articulation of women's politics and communication. The underlying frame of reference is that women belong to the family and domestic life and men to the social world of politics and work; that femininity is about care, nurturance and compassion, and that masculinity is about efficiency, rationality and individuality."

• Van Zoonen also argues that gender is constructed and that its meaning varies dependant on cultural and historical context.

• She suggests that masculinity as well as femininity is constructed - and that the codes used to construct men 'as a spectacle' are different.

• in medias res (in the middle of a story)

• John Berger (bonus theory)

• Men act, Women appear. 

• Within a narrative, males drive it forward, women are there to be looked at.

• Humans

• Ensemble cast - there are lots of characters.

• A lot of character arcs - 20 named characters in first episode of Humans.

• Story Arc's in Episode 1
• Hawkins Family
• Leo trying to find Anita
• Flashback - Leo and Anita
• Niska in the brothel
• Fred in the plantation
• Matilda's struggle with synths
• Synths in the warehouse being produced
• Detective to see wife with synth
• Anita kidnapping Sophie

• Humans linked to Van Zoonen - Leo's Confrontation

• Shot reverse shot - Shows how confident Leo is and how uncomfortable Sadiq is as he is not keeping eye contact.

• Close up - of two heads in same shot shows that they're discussing something. But Leo is threatening Sadiq. 

• Gestures are aggressive and purposeful as he's unshaven which demonstrates a stereotype that he doesn't care what he looks like.

• He is stern and blunt in his vocal delivery, its not as easy to understand what he is saying compared to other synths.

• He is using physical force

• He is approaching Sadiq when he is vulnerable showing Leo is tactical and smart. 

• He is showing that he really wants to see Anita so it is obvious that he really wants to find her and that is his motive to be so aggressive. 

• The photo of Anita is a binary opposition to where they are now as Anita is pure and in nature whereas Leo and Sadiq are in a rough and rundown backstreet. 

• Van Zoonen on Leo

• Males constructed through movement (active)
• Leo is the active protagonist

• Silence and impassivity
• Rarely smiles or shows emotion

• Strength, muscularity and aggression
• Often running, fighting etc.