Textual Analysis - The brothel scene/ closing scene

According to Claude Lévi-Strauss, texts convey their meanings through a system of binary oppositions. Evaluate this structuralist theory. Refer to the set episodes of Humans and The Returned in your response. [30 marks]

 In this scene the representation of gender is encoded through the mise-en-scene and the performance of the characters. We see women being represented as the 'damsel in distress' and in need of saving. Whilst Men being shown as dominant and almost the 'knight in shinning armour'. This meaning is created through the binary oppositions of a Man and a 'Machine'. We see the Niska character being objectified through the male gaze. For example, the scene of her in revealing costumes in front of a glass. And the scene in where Leo is selecting a syth through a catalogue, this degrades her value and really empahaises that she is a machine. Niska isn't the only person being objectified, from the establishing shoot we can see other syths doing the same thing. Which differs heavily from the way Leo, you can also argue that there is a binary oppression between the two characters, of freedom and oppression. In this scene, Leo chose the syth he doesn't ask but rather says it like a command. This is further renforced  by the panning shot of all the sythns trapped in their room. And later on it is supported through dialogue where Niska says 'it can be only be opened by human touch' which further exggrates that she is an 'object' and she is being used. It furthermore creates an Patrical heirachy in which the Male is more authoritative than Women. The syths in that building are meant to satisfy the needs of the 'customers'. Meaning they don't really have a 'voice' and are meant to be repressive. We can tell this through the diegetic sound used in the tracking of Leo. This oppression of the syths, makes the specator empathise with them. The audience feel sorry towards the syths especially Niska, who they are more familiar with. Especially through the use of dialogue, through this we can tell the character is hopeless. One dialogue that may stand out to the audience is 'I was made to feel', which is a binary oppression of Concious vs. Unconcious. Throughout the entire episode it is repeated that syths don't have a conscious mind, they can't feel. This concept has been consistent but also been a debate as we do see several moments with Anita where it makes us question her sense of consciousness. When Niska says it makes the specator see her as a human with feelings rather than a machine. It is also a close-up shot of her in a way confronting Leo. But the close up shot mean that the audience can see her face and her emotions which her more vulnerable and easier to empathise with.