In Wire in the Blood women are seen as being uptight where as men are seen as being quite laid back. These representations are shown through Alex and Tony. Alex is a busy woman within the extract, she always seems to be rushing around. In her house before she is leaving, there is fast pace editing shown through straight cuts. This creates snappy transition between shots. This shows that she has no time to waste showing that everything has to be in order. If there was fades between shots such as fades it would suggest she had more time to spare. As well as this the camera movement is quite shaky. This shows us that the filming was done hand held. This suggests her trying to put everything in order in a short period of time due to the adding of how hectic the sequence is. The narrative adds to this feeling of Alex being uptight because she says, "meeting in 15 minutes", showing us that she has always got something on. Tony is represented as being quite laid back when he is spending time with Ben. The main contribution towards this is the mise en scene in one clip with in it. Popcorn is used as being a symbol of them two having fun within it. It ends up going all over the place and despite this Tony didn't turn sour within the way he was behaving. This shows he is laid back because in another circumstance it wouldn't be the same reaction. Also the high key lighting with in this sequence created a lighter bubbly feel. This suggests a happy, fun environment. Finally, the music used enhanced these effects as it was parallel to the image track. These two behaviours of Alex and Tony are following stereotypes in this respect because men are seen as being more laid back where as women are seen as being more uptight.
However, Alex and Tony go against gender stereotypes in the roles of their parenting. Tony seems to be better than Alex at a parenting role. Tony is seen as good in this position because when spending time with Ben, Ben opens up to him. Ben says, "She is always angry and always tired". This is a conversation that Ben wouldn't have even had with Alex who is his mother. Also the proxemics between Ben and Tony when they're sitting on the sofa are quite close. This extends the comfort that is shared between them. As well as this the camera is at a close up of the twos faces which enhances how close the two of them of become. The chiaroscuro lighting within this scene creates a relaxed feeling. This shows that the two are relaxed in eachothers presence. In contrast to this Alex doesn't seem to have a good relationship with Ben. She doesn't seem to have any interest in him but only in herself. Alex was trying to get a babysitter for ben, in failing in this she ends up just leaving him with Tony. This shows that she doesn't seem to bother what happens to Ben as long as she gets to her meeting. When Alex is walking down the stairs the camera follows and tracks her. She walks straight past Ben giving no attention to him. The tracking is also fast. Speeding past Ben. This suggests that Alex isn't interested in what Ben is doing and doesn't intend to either. This all shows the conflicting between stereotypes as you expect a mother to be caring and nurturing. In this clip it is a male role showing these parenting attributes.
Women and men alike are seen as being dominant in this extract through Alex and the men within the violent scene. Alex is shown as dominant with in two different scenes. At the very beginning the camera angles and movement suggest this. There is a track camera used when Tony and Alex are walking out of the house at the very beginning. Alex is racing ahead and Tony is following her. It suggests that Tony is taking the lead of Alex making her the more dominant character. It seems as if in this small sequence Tony is following her like a lost puppy. As well as this there is a close up/long shot at the end of this sequence outside. Tony is far away being captured at a long shot yet Alex's shoulder and half of her head is at a close up. She is bigger within this shot making her slightly more important. Finally, when Alex can't find a baby sitter for Ben Tony comes along. Alex says to Tony, "Are you busy tonight?" and before Tony can even answer he is left with Ben. Alex is in control with Tony throughout the whole extract in which they are featuring in. Men are seen as dominant when it comes to the violent sequence. The black clothing that all of them are wearing is seen as threatening and evil, this will ensure intimidation towards other people making them have dominance over them. The chiaroscuro lighting extends this sense of fear that would be put upon other people due to them. Their way of putting across dominance is the fear that they give off. Finally adding to this point a worms eye view is used with the main man. This worms eye view is used to suggest his power and make the audience feel as if they are lower than him.
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