In the first scene where James Bond is seen strangling and tackling an enemy, he is portrayed to be the dominant character in the scene in comparison to the female who is portrayed as weak and powerless as she tries to remove the gun from the enemy's hand to assist Bond. After she removes the gun out of the enemy's hand, she sits back and watches Bond take over and kill the enemy. This shows that the female is emphasising the traditional role of helplessness, vulnerability and reliance on the male dominant figure - this emphasises Patriarchy. Furthermore, the female is wearing a low-cut dress along with shiny embellished earrings. She also has fairly neat wavy, brunette hair and heavy eye make-up. This sexualises the character and shows that she is fragile and needs to be looked after by a dominant male, Bond. Whereas Bond is seen to be wearing a tight-fitted white shirt covered in blood with a tight bow-tie around his neck. This emphasises his 'manliness', his power and ability to protect himself and the female from this enemy.
Furthermore, in the shower scene the gender role has changed. Bond now takes on the role of the woman and acts as a shoulder to lean on and emotional support for the female as she weeps in the shower in all her clothes. The female is portrayed as weak and helpless as she cries in the shower. In this scene, Bond's 'softer side' is revealed as he comforts her and he is shown in a different light in comparison to the other scene where he is portrayed as the "Macho Man". However, Bond is still portrayed as the dominant figure even though he has taken up this female role. This shows that when a female and a male are in a scene and the male is portrayed to be 'soft' and the female is using him as a support system, the male will always be the dominant figure.
Furthermore, in the shower scene the gender role has changed. Bond now takes on the role of the woman and acts as a shoulder to lean on and emotional support for the female as she weeps in the shower in all her clothes. The female is portrayed as weak and helpless as she cries in the shower. In this scene, Bond's 'softer side' is revealed as he comforts her and he is shown in a different light in comparison to the other scene where he is portrayed as the "Macho Man". However, Bond is still portrayed as the dominant figure even though he has taken up this female role. This shows that when a female and a male are in a scene and the male is portrayed to be 'soft' and the female is using him as a support system, the male will always be the dominant figure.
Comparing this to Angelina Jolie's character in Mr and Mrs Smith (2005), both John and Jane Smith are dominant figures in their relationship/marriage. They have both been hiding a secret from each other: they are assassins working for adversarial agencies. They are both discover that they have been assigned to kill each other. Although Jane is a woman and is presented to have power and the brains, she is also represented to be very sexy which deviates from her powerful role as an assassin. This shows although a woman may have power and may be on the same level as a man, she will still be perceived as 'sexy' or 'good-looking' or a mans 'trophy' on the side. |