Mock Exam Question

 Hi blog! Welcome back! In class we were tasked with writing up an essay response to an exam sample question based on a short clip from "Agent Carter." Here's my take at it, enjoy!

    The Agent Carter clip does a great job showing Peggy Carter’s struggles in a world where men are in charge. It uses a lot of techniques like colors, editing, sound, and camera work to show themes like sexism, grief, and Peggy’s strength as she fights to prove herself.

One of the ways the clip shows meaning is through the colors and setting. In the office scenes, the blue lighting makes the place feel sad and lonely, which matches how Peggy feels after losing Steve Rogers. The blue also shows how hard it is for her to fit in and be respected by her coworkers. Later, during the distress call scene, the lighting turns red as alarms go off. The red makes the scene feel urgent and also symbolizes Peggy getting fired up to show that she’s capable of handling the mission, even though she’s underestimated because she’s a woman. The office setting itself is important, too. It’s shown as a place where men are powerful and women are ignored. Peggy being the only woman there makes it clear she’s an outsider who has to work harder to prove herself.

The editing also helps show the emotions and themes. In the flashback to Steve’s final moments, the clip switches back and forth between him in the plane and Peggy on the ground. This helps the audience feel how much they care about each other and how hard it is for Peggy to lose him. Later, during the fight scene, the editing cuts between Peggy fighting and a man inside listening to happy music and eating snacks. This is funny because the man has no idea what’s going on outside. It also shows how people underestimate Peggy, which ties back to the theme of sexism.

Sound adds to the meaning, too, especially in the office scenes. Peggy’s boss speaks to her in a way that’s very dismissive, saying things like, “Relax, war’s over, we’ll handle the rough stuff.” He talks down to her and acts like she can’t do the job, even though she’s clearly skilled. At the same time, he’s much more encouraging and respectful to the men in the office. This shows how unfairly women were treated in the workplace at the time.

The camera work also helps tell the story. For example, when Peggy picks up a piece of paper from her desk, the camera focuses on it to show how hard she works, even when no one respects her. Later, a tracking shot follows Peggy as she walks toward the fight at the end of the clip. The way the camera moves with her makes her look strong and determined, showing that she’s ready to take control and prove herself.

In the end, the Agent Carter clip uses things like lighting, editing, sound, and camera work to show big ideas like sexism, grief, and determination. All these techniques work together to show Peggy’s struggles and how she rises above the challenges she faces in a world that doesn’t treat her fairly.