Jessica

The television drama Jessica directed by Anthony Buckley and produced by Peter Andrikidis, is a powerful medium for presenting the importance of sex in a relationship, gender expectations and discrimination. The protagonist, Jessica is a young woman living in the small frontier town of Narrandera, and is constantly looked down upon by others for being a tomboy. Jessica’s mother, Hester, is desperate to secure a wealthy future for herself and daughter, Meg, by forcing her to marry. Jack Thomas, the son of the richest family in town is burdened with being the perfect man chosen by Hester. Unfortunately, he falls in love with Jessica and this proves to be large problem for the two, as neither family will accept their feelings. The importance of sex in a relationship, gender expectations and discrimination are expressed through camera, sound effects and characters.

Sex was forbidden for those unmarried in the early 20th century, and lack of contraception meant that if pregnancy occurred, the pair would be forced to marry due to bad reputation. According to drama, sex is important in conveying the feelings we have for one another, whether positive or negative. There are two sex scenes in the drama, and these are between Jack and Meg, and Jack and Jessica. Both are very different from the other and clarify where both girls stand in Jack’s life and the way the viewers are positioned to respond to them. Meg forces herself onto Jack, and she dominates him by taking both hers and his clothes off, then pushing him onto the bed. The room is pitch black and casts shadows on the two’s faces, showing that Jack and Meg aren’t meant to be together as darkness symbolises secretiveness, and allows the couple to be hidden from others and themselves. A high angle shot is used with Meg on top of Jack inferring that she is in control and a lack of equality and love is being expressed. When Jack leaves the next day Meg stands watching him, blurred, from behind a window as he gets into his car. He doesn’t smile and sits as if paralysed for a few seconds before a close-up of him with tears on his cheeks. The shot of Meg behind the window conveys the idea that she is protected, as she knows her mother will go to any lengths to ensure her safety and happiness, leaving Jack with hate for himself and a guilty conscience. Jack and Jessica have intercourse after a voice over of him expressing his love for her which is a totally different scenario from that with him and Meg. The viewers are exposed to Jack and Jessica’s intercourse through Jessica’s flashback which adds effect to the experience. There is light everywhere and all objects have a fuzzy outline, indicating that it is a good memory and therefore a positive event. All noise is contained, including talking between the two, to add to the effect and harmonious music is the only sound present. Jack and Jessica look at each other continuously and close-ups of their eyes and smiles are featured. A close-up of them kissing passionately takes up the screen and their white clothes are luminescent. Unlike Meg’s encounter, Jack is on top of Jessica, indicating that he actually wants to be with her and is happy with her. One of the main and most simple things lacking when Meg and Jack are together is Jack smiling which he doesn’t do even once with her. Due to the camera and music in the drama Jessica, the viewers understand that Jack has a major impact on Jessica’s life as the father of her son and the love of her life, and vice versa. Whereas with Meg, Jack makes it clear that he does not love her, and is only marrying her to retain her pride.

Gender is a major issue in Jessica’s life that constantly needs to be overcome, and is conveyed through the characters created. According to most of the men and, strangely, women in the town, females are objects designed to cook, clean, obey and adore. When Jessica goes to get a job at Riverview, the town’s most established estate, she is asked “where? In the house?” This shows that women are simply expected to work in the house, not the farm. She and her father persevere and get her a job despite the fact that “shearing’s not girl’s work.” When she goes to thank her boss, Mr Thomas, he scolds her and tells her that she can only “speak when...spoken to and never to [him]” he also adds that “she won't get the same wages as a boy....she’s a girl for cry sake.” Jessica works hard in the shearing shed, and at lunchtime a bell is rung to notify the “gentlemen.” Jessica isn’t even acknowledged as she isn’t seen as important to anyone other than the men she serves lunch to. Later on, she is assaulted as the men don’t want her there. She gets tar spread throughout her hair and when she cuts it off, her mother gets angry. “A woman’s hair is the gift from the Lord!” she informs Jessica, believing that she can't be a woman if she doesn’t have long hair.