delos Reyes, Walter Daniel ABE-191

Borlongan, Mia Lyn Mr. Carlo G. Soberano

Gender Representation in Media

(Collaborative)

Extract

Character Dialogue

Martin Simon! (0.5) Hey, >hey, hey, hey<  [Buddy ]

Simon [<Hey>, (.) Martin.]

Martin Hey, um, I used the computer in the library right after you.

Simon (0.3 ) Okay.

Martin Mm-hmm. (.) Well, I went to Gmail, and (.) it pulled up your account.

(0.3) And I, uh, read some of your emails.

(0.3) I know, I probably shouldn't've, but they were, like, right there.
((chuckles))

So you'll be interested to know my brother's gay.

Simon ((Stops in his tracks.)) (2.5) No Martin, (0.8) that wouldn't interest me to
know.

Martin Okay, (0.3) don't worry I won't show anyone.

Simon Show anyone what? (0.8) Did you print my emails or something?

Martin Oh,  >no, no, no, no.< ((chuckles)) (0.2) I – uh, screenshot them. (.hhh)

Simon You screenshotted my emails?

Martin Mm-hmm yeah.

Simon (hhh) Let me talk to you for a second.

((Simon grabs Martin by the shoulders dragging him into the library
furiously.))

Martin ((Notices Ms. Bradley)) °Oh, Ms. Bradley. 

Ms. °Hello, Martin.

Bradley

Martin Did you feather your hair?

Martin (hhh) (.hhh) °This is a good section. (.hhh)

((Simon arriving at a library isle pushing Martin.))

°Jeez. (hhh)

Simon (hhh) (.hhh) Now, why the hell did you screenshot my emails?

Martin Ah, (.) well, you and Abby Susso are good friends. Right?

Simon Yeah. We know each other. >What does that have to do with anything?<

Martin Well, I need you to help me (.) talk with her (0.3) and hang out with her
and stuff, ° you know?

Simon Why would I help you do that? (1.5) Are you blackmailing me!?

Martin (hhh) Oh, shh! (.hhh) Okay. Don't be so dramatic here, Simon.

Simon Sup, Tyler? ((Noticing Tyler getting a book from the isle.))

Martin What's up, Tyler? Is that a Patagonia? Nice.  (.hhh)

((returns to the conversation))

(.) I just like her. (.) And I think that (.) you could help me. 
 Simon Yeah, what if I say no, (.) Martin? I mean, what are you – what are
you gonna do?

You gonna tell the wh ole school that I'm... ((stammers))

You're gonna leak my emails?

You're gonna (.) post 'em on CreekSecrets?

Martin °I just think that we're in a position here, where we could help
each other out is all.

So think about it.

((pats Simon on the chest)) Good talk.

Extracted from Love, Simon (2018) based on Becky Albertali’s 2015 book,

Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda

1. What have you included in your transcript apart from the words?

The analysts added the actions crucial to paint the word picture for the scene.

2. What features of talk were hardest to capture in transcription, and why?

The most difficult most likely is catching the inhalations and exhalations in the
transcripts as well as timing the pauses in the extract.

3. Transcribing talk is meant to make you notice things about it that are not usually
evident. When you look at your transcript, what do you find especially striking, odd or
unexpected?

The analysts of the transcript found that there are a lot that can be said from the
way characters inhale and exhale as well as pause in between verbal
communication featured in the extract provided.

4. In what ways, if any, does your transcript look different from the sort of written-
down speech you have encountered in other contexts (e.g. dialogue in novels, comic
strips or play scripts)?

The transcript looks dissimilar from a written down extract due to the presence of
symbols only those who are familiar with transcriptions would comprehend.
However, due to its tabular presentation, it is pretty similar looking to a broadcast
script.

5. How far do you think your transcript really is a ‘full and faithful’ representation of
the contents of your tape?

We believe that the transcript is 90% true and accurate to the extract that we
transcribed into the given notation. We did not give a hundred percent due to the
lack of actions we deemed unnecessary to the extract such as inaudible crowd
chatter in the background as well as the setting where the conversation transcribed
took place in order to minimize the length and complication of the transcription in
the notation required to avoid unnecessary details in the content and context the
extract gives.
Analysis following Gender Role Categories by Budd & Thorne (1963)

Legend:

Behavioral Communication Patterns Source of Power Physical Appearance

1 Martin: Simon! Hey, hey, hey, hey. Buddy.

2 Simon: Hey, Martin.

3 Martin: Hey, um, I used the computer in the library right after you.

4 Simon: Okay.

5 Martin: Mm-hmm. Well, I went to Gmail, and it pulled up your account. And I, uh, read
some of your emails.

6 I know, I probably shouldn't've, but they were, like, right there. (chuckles)

7 So you'll be interested to know my brother's gay.

8 Simon: (Stops in his tracks.) No. Martin, that wouldn't interest me to know.

9 Martin: Okay. Don't worry. I won't show anyone.

10 Simon: Show anyone what?

11 Did you print my emails or something?

12 Martin: Oh, no, no, no. (chuckles) I screenshot them.

13 Simon: You screenshotted my emails?

14 Martin: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

15 Simon: Let me talk to you for a second.

17 (Simon grabs Martin by the shoulders dragging him across the library furiously.)

18 Martin: (Notices Ms. Bradley slightly whispering) Oh, Ms. Bradley.

19 Ms. Bradley: Hello, Martin.

20 Martin: Did you feather your hair?

21 Martin: This is a good section. (Simon at a library isle and pushes Martin.) Jeez.

22 Simon: Now, why the hell did you screenshot my emails?

23 Martin: Ah, well, you and Abby Susso are good friends. Right?

24 Simon: Yeah. We know each other. What does that have to do with anything?
25 Martin: Well, I need you to help me talk with her... and hang out with her and stuff,
you know?

26 Simon: Why would I help you do that? Are you blackmailing me!?

27 Martin: Oh, shh! Okay. Don't be so dramatic here, Simon.

28 Simon: Sup, Tyler? (Noticing Tyler getting a book from the isle.)

29 Martin: What's up, Tyler? Is that a Patagonia? Nice.

30 (returns to the conversation) I just like her. And I think that you could help me.

31 Simon: Yeah, what if I say no, Martin? I mean, what are you gonna do?

32 You gonna tell the whole school that I'm... You're gonna leak my emails?

33 You're gonna post 'em on CreekSecrets?

34 Martin: I just think that we're in a position here, where we could help each other out
is all.

35 So think about it.

36 Good talk.

Behavioral

Line 6 shows Martin’s smug but dismissible personality in approaching this

conversation.

Lines 11 shows a devil may care personality that Simon exudes as mentioned regarding
Martin as dismissible.

Line 12 & 13 presents a shifting of the power dynamics in the conversation between
Martin and Simon (to be discussed later on). This is the fuse that led to Simon’s reaction
(as seen on Line 17) to Martin’s source of power. In line 13, Simon expresses his alarm.

Line 18 displays a side of Martin that is carefree and somewhat attention-seeking (to be
discussed alter in the semiotic analysis of the characters).

Line 21 exhibits Martin’s personality of thinking out loud and being unable to stop
talking.

Line 22 is where Simon expresses his frustration to Martin regarding his secret.

Line 25 & 26 shows his genuine intent in initiating the conversation, affirmed by Line 30.
Simon tries

Line 27 – 34 also supports the claim that Martin is a blackmailer.

Line 32 & 33 shows Simon”s distress on the situation.

Communication Pattern

Line 1 introduces a smug Martin trying to initiate a conversation with Simon.

Line 8 Shows Simon’s primary disinterest in the conversation Martin is trying to initiate.

Line 9 Gives an overshadowing hint that Martin can and Martin will if given the chance
to.

Line 10 & 11 Simon does not initially follow Martin’s train of thought but gets a glimpse
of the situation.

Line 12 Martin continues smugly.

Line 13 Simon tenses up and tries to confirm that Martin did such a thing.

Line 18 & 20 Observing him catching Ms. Bradley attention builds Martin’s character as
someone who likes to please people.

Line 22 Simon tries to understand Martin’s side.

Line 26 Simon defines Martin’s actions as “blackmail” expressing tension as information

regarding his sexuality ad a pen pal is still hidden.

Line 31 Simon expressing his fear that his secret will be outed by Martin.

Line 36 Martin smugly closing the conversation knowing he now has power over Simon.
Source of Power

Line 5 Martin let’s Simon know of his primary source of power.

Line 7 Martin takes a shot at Simon in order to better convey what he already knows
based on line 5.

Line 9 Giving Simon a somewhat insincere assurance.

Line 12 Correcting Simon and shedding more light into his source of power.

Line 23 Martin gets to the point of his actions clarifying his primary goal.

Line 24 Shrugging of the fact given by Martin however does not follow Martin’s train of
thought.

Line 25 Martin gets to his plan involving Simon in exchange for his silence regarding his
secret.

Line 26 Simon questioning his role in Martin’s plan trying to gain leverage for a source
of power.

Line 27 Martin shooting Simon’s attempt by denying his plea for an exit in the situation.

Line 30 Martin tries to appeal to Simon’s empathy.

Line 31, 32, & 33 Simon still tries to gain leverage, however he in search for a source of
power cracks and posits in panic a hypothetical situation if he does not agree to the
terms Martin is implying.

Line 34 & 35 tries to calm Simon and leaves him knowing he has the upperhand in the
situation.

Physical Appearance

Line 20, Martin points out Ms. Bradley’s hair.

Semiotic Analysis

Extracted from the transcribed item.

Simon

Physical Appearance – stereotypical teenage guy. Likes wearing jackets over hoodies.
No stereotypical traits of his sexuality. Short hair. Tall and lanky. Caucasian.

Body language – simple, reserved, somewhat stiff for a guy his age probably from hiding
his closeted sexuality.

A lot can be said about the semiotic representation of his character. Firstly, Simon was a
closeted gay at the beginning of the film hailing from a pretty cliché, normal family he
entails. Surprisingly, the movie portrayed a swell version of the character the book told us
about a boyish boy encountering a coming out fiasco in high school. Simon’s expression
of his sexuality isn’t also very pronounced and leaning on the discreet side with a
wardrobe a character describes as “all-hoodie” ensembles making him not at all stand out
from the crowd. All in all, this representation of Simon in the story adds to the diverse
ways we portray homosexuality in media not just stereotyping common knowledge traits
gay people tend to possess. Also this plain and cliché life Simon lives just sets the plot
up for his life as finally, something plot-twisted was about to happen to his life.
Martin

Physical Appearance – dorky teenage boy. vertically challenged. Likes wearing

floral/Cuban shirts over slogan and statement shirts. Long hair. Healthy build. Caucasian.

Body language – generally timid, almost creepy in a way however is very confident in
himself. smug, as can be seen in the transcript due to his source of power.

Martin on the other hand had the dorky teenager vibe in the course of the movie He was
that kid in campus that’s easily pushed around and is very dispensable. As showed in the
movie, he is also embodied as that dorky kid who always wore clothes that said something
on it like crazy slogans and terrible puns. Due to this stature in the social hierarchy of the
kids in school, we could clearly see the reason why Martin jumped on the chance to
blackmail Simon when he could because his presence and personality alone won’t make
girls attracted to her, such as Abby.