"Cutting It" relationship representation

Write up your response to the Cutting it extract - How does the extract construct representations of gender? (And relationships)

Last lesson we watched an extract from "Cutting It". This scene started off with a couple riding at the back of a taxi. The female character (Allie) is shown leaning on her partner Gavin’s shoulder. This could suggest her dependency on Gavin; however it could also simply portray the closeness of their relationship. The closeness of their relationship is then emphasised in the close up of their rings in screenshot 4 suggesting that they’re a happily married couple.

Later on, the cab pulls up outside a hospital and Gavin is confused and asks “why are we here?” suggesting that Allie is the dominating character as she’s the one in charge as she set up the meeting with the consultant. Furthermore, Allie has even more authority in this scene as she insists that Gavin waits for her outside whilst she goes to see the consultant alone.  

Conversely in this situation the power shifts as the consultant has the power as he is the one that had the envelope which enclosed Allie’s fate. Scene 17 shows Allie receiving the results from her consultant. Her expression is detached, so the viewers are not sure what to expect with the news. The setting and the light on in that particular scene imitates an interrogation room, as it has one main light in the middle.

Scene 27 and 28 also suggest going against the stereotypical imagery, as usually that would particular scene would be shown with the male character shouting across the road, with the female character staying quiet to take in what the male character was saying and then responding with a simple facial expression (usually of agreement) Whereas in this scene; Allie is the character shouting across the road with Gavin replying with the use of silent facial expressions. This suggests Allie is in charge of the scene - mainly because she knows the results; however the audience and Gavin do not know the results.

When Allie is hit by the bus, Gavin is portrayed as a sort of super hero as he flew to her rescue; nevertheless he did this after a slight pause, which is typically the woman’s reaction to an incident, thus showing the constant back and forth of authority. It is only when Gavin and Allie talk to each other that we see Lillie’s spread around Allie. Victorians believed that Lillie’s represent beauty and charm therefore this Mise-en-scen could suggest the beauty of their relationship is over as she is about to die or it could represent the beauty of the day (up until her demise) as they were newlyweds and the news she received could have been positive.

Overall this extract constructs representations of gender to be unclear as the roles of authority are constantly changing throughout the extract as Gavin obtains feminine qualities at times whereas Allie upholds masculine qualities, thus showing role reversal.