Image and Sound Essay
Assignment Objective:
Critically analyze messages
Engage in communication Inquiry
Assignment Description:
The Image and Sound essay was a 50-point assignment that analyzed a television scene, episode or series. Using Jeremy Butler's textbook for TV style, the essay demonstrated the ability to use media production terminology, identify media production techniques and exploring the meaning of those techniques. I personally analyzed a segment of American Horror Story's "Cult," episode 11, "Great Again." My thesis asserted a switch in the traditional power dynamic between the genders.
View the essay below or as PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OuPbZmAWNf9Pb97FURl-ljKt8w-qPWTV/view?usp=sharing
Flipping the Power Dynamic Between Genders in American Horror Story’s “Cult” Using Image and Sound
Introduction:
American Horror Story is an anthology television series directed by Bradley Buecker. I will be analyzing a segment of episode 11, “Great Again,” from season seven, “Cult.” This segment ranges from 37:57 to 38:44 on Netflix. Cultist leader, Kai (Evan Peters), performs his monologue about the inferiority of women, right before the power dynamic flips. Feminist and political icon Ally (Sarah Paulson), once traditionally a meek and paranoid woman in the season, reclaims her power as a woman by the end of this segment. Using aspects of image and sound, the traditional power dynamic between the genders flips in American Horror’s Story’s season of “Cult”
Analysis:
A monologue is a long speech presented by one character in a piece of work, conveying an important viewpoint. Kai’s monologue is as follows:
You symbolize the hope that women will one day win an argument with their husbands, that they won’t be catcalled when they walk down the streets, that their bosses won’t talk about their tits anymore, that they’ll make just as much money as men make, that the fight is winnable! But when I kill you, they’ll see that there is no hope. Women can’t lead. Women can’t win! They will always be outsmarted and outmuscled. They need to finally understand that what they can and should do is shut up, know their place, and make me a goddamn sandwich!
He begins speaking normally, before gradually building up in dynamics to abolish all hope and establish that a woman’s rightful place is in the kitchen making men sandwiches. Kai forcefully impresses upon the audience that women are inferior to men, establishing the traditional power dynamic between the genders. Sound is all diegetic in this scene, honing in on this moment. Diegetic sounds are those that are part of the TV world, not added in while editing.
Delivering this monologue to Ally, a shot reverse shot is used. A shot reverse shot, also known as a shot counter shot, is a framing technique that offers a sense of continuity in the conversation while alternating shots. Below provides an example of the exchange between Kai and Ally at 38:11 and 38:13.
Oftentimes, this framing includes a medium shot, a shot framed above the waist, of the speaker while the receiving character is only partially in frame and viewed from over their shoulder or showing the back of their head. This framing provides an opportunity for the facial expressions of each character to be emphasized, as one can see that Kai is frustrated and threatening the unphased Ally. Kai overcrowded Ally for the majority of the segment, taking up more space on screen and, therefore, portraying him as the more dominant figure while he delivers his monologue. It isn’t until 38:33 that Ally speaks up against Kai and the dynamic begins to shift.
Kai and Ally and presented more equally in terms of space on screen, demonstrating an equality between the characters and the genders. Ally assumes even greater power at 38:44, when Kai realizes that his gun has no bullets and he has been deceived by one of his cult followers.
In a two shot, a frame that contains two people, Kai is positioned further right, as he backs off from Ally. By doing so, Kai loses his power in the scene. Using this shot, both of their facial expressions are simultaneously visible, in comparison to the shot reverse shot previously used in the segment. Kai can be seen, frustrated and betrayed, while Ally can be seen with a look of amusement upon her face. Ally claims victory, overcoming the power dynamic between her and Kai, who serve as examples of opposite genders battling for superiority.
Lighting furthers the divide between these two characters. Ally is filmed in hard light. Hard light is direct lighting with distinct shadows, creating a sense of toughness. Ally proves invulnerable to Kai’s threats, who waves a gun around and screams in her face during this segment. Kai, on the other hand, is filmed in low-key lighting. Partially in shadow, this creates the sense of defiance or opposition as Kai opposes the rights of women.
Conclusion:
Ranging from 37:57 to 38:44 on Netflix, this segment from American Horror Story’s “Cult” establishes the exchanging of a power dynamic. At first, men are seemingly superior, as Kai dominates Ally in the scene. Kai overtakes the segment, taking up greater space on screen and enforcing his monologue by screaming in Ally’s face. By the end though, Ally takes control of the situation in a two shot, representing women’s superiority to men. By the end of the episode, Ally has created her own cult, composed entirely of “nasty women” prepared to take over the world. This season, and particularly this episode, of American Horror Story is especially applicable to today’s traditional mentality of women, where, due to Donald’s Trump's sexism, women took a tumble down the steps for equality. Now, with Joe Biden president, women have the opportunity to become “great again.”