Status Transactions

Looking at status transactions between characters.

Disney's Incredibles.



Bob comes home.

When Bob comes home late from what he told his wife was an evening of bowling with his friend, he is met with a dark house. Thinking he's gotten away with his night of vigilante heroism, he calmly creeps around the house, helping himself to a large slice of cake. Suddenly the light turns on and he gets a fright as he realises his wife has been sitting in the chair waiting for him.
Composition-wise, Bob is the larger character that takes up much more space than his wife Helen. But it is clear that the character that holds the power is Helen. She is angry with Bob, stern in her body language but quiet in voice. Bob's relaxed posture and submissive pose adds to this.




Helen tells him off.

 Helen is clearly annoyed. Her movements are rapid and straightforward, and she uses gestures to strengthen her emotions of anger and dominance. Bob tries to reason with her, his features are relaxed and soft as he finishes eating the cake, and his gestures are slower and calmer.

Bob reasons with her.

Bob now takes control as he begins to get angry and defensive. He raises his shoulders and his expressions are stern and commanding. He reacts and takes charge of the argument, reminding Helen that he's not that submissive. Helen relaxes with her hands on her hips and let's Bob take the spotlight.


Helen gets angrier.

 As Helen comes in with her rebuttal to Bob's defense, she stretches herself so that she is much taller than him, raising her voice in a peak of the argument. She is now not only bigger than him but also leaning over him at an angle, looking down on him, showing her dominance.

Realisation that the kids are watching causes them to stop.

The argument is quickly forgotten when both parents realise that their kids have been listening and are scared. No matter how angry they were at each other, they care for their kids far too much to continue to prove their point in front of them.



This whole scene features a game of status negotiation that passes between the two characters evenly. Status shows emotions of the characters as well as dominance and submission. Interaction between two characters in the form of status negotiation has a direct effect on portraying their personality and emotions to an audience.