Finger Smith Essay

In the extract of ‘Finger Smith’ the audience are faced with the representational issue of sexuality and the binary opposites of homosexuality vs heterosexuality. In this case it is based around a woman’s homosexual desire for her servant. Due to the Victorian setting of the show her homosexuality is disapproved of while she is forced into a marriage with a man. Immediately this confronts the audience with the binary opposite of progressive vs regressive. The progressive side is her gay feelings that parallel a more modern day concept where it is more socially accepted. However this is opposed to the regression of a forced heterosexual marriage much more common to the Victorian setting. Regression wins in the clip as she is made to accept the fate of the forced marriage. This is made possible as the male character holds all the power and is able to manipulate her to her desires. However as the audience we are expected to empathise with the female character. Forced into a marriage that violates her sexuality the audience is made to empathise with her as she struggles as the weak underdog vs the strong man. Her struggles are made clear with the polysomic iconic red paint dripping conveying not only her love for her servant but also the anger and pain she is forced to feel by being denied this. This creates a binary opposite of fair vs unfair created by the director in order to represent the hardship of lesbian Victorian women being forced to repress their homosexuality. As an audience we are positioned in the close up of the man threatening the woman whilst strangling her. Thus the director is forcing us to emote the same degrading situation she is forced into as a gay woman being subdued. This represents her sexuality to the audience as something important and acceptable which we long to be empowered over her degrading situation. Alternatively in the opening scenes during her non diegetic monologue we are presented with a tainted mirror. This tainting forms a parallel with the tainting seen upon herself by others and herself in her sexual confusion over her homosexuality. In light of other positive representations of homosexuality this portrays it as not wrong but as something that is not entirely socially acceptable. This in itself has been created by the director to not just comment on attitudes to homosexuality in Victorian times but also on an issue still common in parts of the modern world.  Her sexual fear can also be made apparent to the audience through the mise en scene of the symbolic white gloves she wears. This highlights her attempts to cover up her homosexual frustration with the pure virginity of the white glove. This plays a key part throughout making us as an audience empathise with her even more as we are positioned by the director in the medium close up to watch the heterosexual man take it from her. This combined with the sexual act of her hand defines him and his heterosexuality as the bully who can force his way into what he wants. This allows the director to make the social comment about how heterosexuality is expected as the normal in life and anything other is regarded as different or unnatural. In the closing scene the audience are made to view the lust through the female gaze at her servant. Her exaggerated beauty combined with nudity is created for us to view her in the same way her homosexuality does. This allows us to empathise with and understand that her lesbian tendencies and how homosexuality should never and can never be repressed. A strong part of representation of sexuality is the stereotypical confusion about hers that she faces, portraying how homosexuality is something that is ok but you have to come to terms with as a slight abnormality. This is demonstrated by the combination of fades and non-diegetic music the director creates for us evoking the tension that is built as she struggles to come to terms in her head about who she really is. However  her lust is confirmed as she is painting when the director shows from her point of view the close up of the servants breasts and genitals. This confirms to the audience and to her that it is what she wants and homosexuality is not a choice it is who you are and a part of your identity. In conclusion it is evident that homosexuality is portrayed as something good and that should be acceptable by all. However it is also clearly depicted to not be as strong as heterosexuality and that it has been forced to submit to something that is currently more powerful. Heterosexuality has been given the strength which has been represented as evil and manipulating by the man, but also as kind and innocent by the servant woman. This gives it a paradoxical aspect as having a side that can be good yet another that is so evil.