Showing posts with label Essays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Essays. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 November 2016
Friday, 28 October 2016
Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Sunday, 23 October 2016
Representation of Age- Humans
Sound-
Camera Work-
At the beginning of the scene we are shown the front/ main room of George's house. The camera focuses on the degrees and achievements on the walls to show that the person, whose house it is, has been through a lot and lived a full life. This representation lives up to a common stereotype of old people being proud of their achievements and wanting to show them off. The camera slowly pans so the George is in the shots, he seems relaxed whilst tidying away some beads. George drops the beads when the doorbell rings and so the shot zooms onto the beads to show how disorganised and disrupted they are. This representation mirrors that fact that the outside world and changing atmosphere has disrupted is calm, relaxing way of life.
A stereotypical shot of George in the door frame is used to show that George is security conscious. This lives up to the stereotype that old people are targeted for crimes because they are weaker. a point of view shot from Georges aspect is used to see how cautious George is, it also allows us to see how he views the outside world. Over the shoulder shots of the person outside the door are used to show what George looks likes to the rest of society, an old, security conscious man who is scared of the changing world around him.
Editing-
The editing follows strict continuity editing and is paced as slow and unnoticed.
Mise-en-Scene-
George looks like the stereotypical old retired man. He has grey hair, wrinkles and wears old fashioned clothes. He is not physically impaired in any way and even though the idea of him having an illness is subtly dropped into aspect we see that George has enough energy to run a little bit when people come calling on his door, thus defying the stereo type that old people have little energy.
His house is dimly lit, the colours used are what you would associate with rotting and putrefaction. the home is also littered with books and pieces of paper, this shows that he has read a lot information and hordes endless amounts of meaningless junk as well as his wife's old clothes and things. This follows a usual stereotype that old people own a lot of things because they are too frightened to part themselves with the past because things seemed better back then.
When George addresses his synth he calls it 'son', this follows a usual idea that old people follow a term of endearment usually based on the ages of the people they are addressing. young men are usually referred to as 'son' to men who are older than them
Sound-
Non-Diegetic classical music is played in the opening scene to effectively enforce an elderly stereotype of George. The idea that he enjoys classical music cold relate the fact that he enjoys just the old things he remembers also creating a strong sense of nostalgia and wistfulness.
The sound of doorbell is alarming however one we would expect in the environment of a house. the sound interrupt the calm and relaxed atmosphere and this shows disruption.
When the company enter the house we can only hear the diegetic sound of dialogue. George sounds tired and he does not speak much, the idea that the care worker speaks the most shows that she has control because of the overtly prestige way she has managed to obtain and go around the conversation.
when George and his synth begin speaking about the wedding with his wife the feeling of remembering and wishful want for the past returns in the form of calm and relaxing music. with this feeling of reminiscence George's attitude changes and he becomes much more positive. because the music is slow this mimics the way that George's mind and memory appears to operate.
Camera Work-
At the beginning of the scene we are shown the front/ main room of George's house. The camera focuses on the degrees and achievements on the walls to show that the person, whose house it is, has been through a lot and lived a full life. This representation lives up to a common stereotype of old people being proud of their achievements and wanting to show them off. The camera slowly pans so the George is in the shots, he seems relaxed whilst tidying away some beads. George drops the beads when the doorbell rings and so the shot zooms onto the beads to show how disorganised and disrupted they are. This representation mirrors that fact that the outside world and changing atmosphere has disrupted is calm, relaxing way of life.
A stereotypical shot of George in the door frame is used to show that George is security conscious. This lives up to the stereotype that old people are targeted for crimes because they are weaker. a point of view shot from Georges aspect is used to see how cautious George is, it also allows us to see how he views the outside world. Over the shoulder shots of the person outside the door are used to show what George looks likes to the rest of society, an old, security conscious man who is scared of the changing world around him.
Editing-
The editing follows strict continuity editing and is paced as slow and unnoticed.
Mise-en-Scene-
George looks like the stereotypical old retired man. He has grey hair, wrinkles and wears old fashioned clothes. He is not physically impaired in any way and even though the idea of him having an illness is subtly dropped into aspect we see that George has enough energy to run a little bit when people come calling on his door, thus defying the stereo type that old people have little energy.
His house is dimly lit, the colours used are what you would associate with rotting and putrefaction. the home is also littered with books and pieces of paper, this shows that he has read a lot information and hordes endless amounts of meaningless junk as well as his wife's old clothes and things. This follows a usual stereotype that old people own a lot of things because they are too frightened to part themselves with the past because things seemed better back then.
When George addresses his synth he calls it 'son', this follows a usual idea that old people follow a term of endearment usually based on the ages of the people they are addressing. young men are usually referred to as 'son' to men who are older than them
Class and Status Representation- Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a historic drama series set in the pre WW1. It focusses on the struggles that the upper class family has in contrast to the people who serve them. The idea of the drama is to make sure that we learn to see clearly that we are all part of the same human condition whether we are upstairs or downstairs. During the extract we have watched we can see a clear divide of the classes, many of the characters from each social convention carry many of the stereotypes of each class or background that they have emerged from.
Camera work
During further filming of the scenes set downstairs we are given constant reminders that the characters of the lower class are being controlled and ordered with what they have to do, these reminders come from the small shots of the bell being rang and the way the upper class have their food served to them in comparison to what the workers are eating at the table around them.
Sound
In the downstairs scenes we see an environment of people working in a dork, dull area. The reason for this is that this area is not on show, there is no reason for it look nice for the servants at all because at the end of the day they don't live there of even spend fifteen minuets straight there because they are usually busy doing horse for the upper class family. The servants, maid and waiters are all dressed in smart uniform simply because they will be scene and inspected by either visitors or residents of the family, therefor they must present themselves as the same to not draw attention to themselves and create this visualisation that they are invisible.
In the upper class scenes we see that the halls and the house are spectacular and decorated with pieces of art work and amazing architecture, this is the way the family show of how rich and powerful they are, through the way they look and where they live. Each of the upper class characters wear their own individual outfit so that, in like the lower class, attention is drawn upon them. They want people to tell them haw they look. the scenes in the home contrast further with the working environment because they are light and airy, we can see so many aspects of their home which ultimately they take for granted.
The ways that these elements are used to portray the two classes helps each class to live up to the expected social classes and they definitely help to enforce the idea of there being a significant divide the two types of people.
Downton Abbey is a historic drama series set in the pre WW1. It focusses on the struggles that the upper class family has in contrast to the people who serve them. The idea of the drama is to make sure that we learn to see clearly that we are all part of the same human condition whether we are upstairs or downstairs. During the extract we have watched we can see a clear divide of the classes, many of the characters from each social convention carry many of the stereotypes of each class or background that they have emerged from.
Camera work
In the opening of the scene we have a tracking shot following a man on a bike. The man is a post man and is part of a labour force. He is seen cycling up to the Abbey house and the tracking shot that is following him pans out into an establishing shot. Because of the camera choice that has been made here we, as an audience, move from focusing on the postman to the house. The man appears insignificant and small as the house is brought into perspective. This choice of camera work could convey or communicate that the upper class is more powerful and focused on than the insignificant working class.
In the scenes which contain characters from the upper class Steadicam is used to show that the scene is controlled and planned, as though these people live this life of luxury everyday. We contrast from this managed environment to an unfocussed chaotic surrounding when we begin to see scenes form downstairs with the lower class. The camera work used is hand held and gives a jointed impression to suggest that the situation is slightly manic and uneven. This could also convey that these people are not taken into consideration as much as the upper class characters should be because it is difficult to focus on their element of things. During further filming of the scenes set downstairs we are given constant reminders that the characters of the lower class are being controlled and ordered with what they have to do, these reminders come from the small shots of the bell being rang and the way the upper class have their food served to them in comparison to what the workers are eating at the table around them.
Sound
Lots of elements of sounds are being used in scenes mainly set downstairs because the environment is needed to be shown as chaotic. Diegetic sounds of movement that are constantly heard assist the idea that their working environment is difficult, cramped and laborious.
In massive contrast to this we are given a quiet, calm and serene surrounding when we see the characters of the upper class. Non-diegetic music is used to covey the message that the upper class characters are in control and hold a higher position of authority because they get other people to do their work for them, thus living up to the usual stereotype of upper class people being spoon fed and ungrateful for what they have.
Editing
The editing during scene with the upper class characters appears to be controlled, cleaner and holds a lot of continuity editing. The composition that is used is organised to make sure we get a sense of authority from each of the characters.
In the downstairs scenes the editing is fast paced to show a pressured environment, this supports the stereo type that lower class and working class people only tend to take orders and act them out accordingly.
Mise-en-scene
In the downstairs scenes we see an environment of people working in a dork, dull area. The reason for this is that this area is not on show, there is no reason for it look nice for the servants at all because at the end of the day they don't live there of even spend fifteen minuets straight there because they are usually busy doing horse for the upper class family. The servants, maid and waiters are all dressed in smart uniform simply because they will be scene and inspected by either visitors or residents of the family, therefor they must present themselves as the same to not draw attention to themselves and create this visualisation that they are invisible.
In the upper class scenes we see that the halls and the house are spectacular and decorated with pieces of art work and amazing architecture, this is the way the family show of how rich and powerful they are, through the way they look and where they live. Each of the upper class characters wear their own individual outfit so that, in like the lower class, attention is drawn upon them. They want people to tell them haw they look. the scenes in the home contrast further with the working environment because they are light and airy, we can see so many aspects of their home which ultimately they take for granted.
The ways that these elements are used to portray the two classes helps each class to live up to the expected social classes and they definitely help to enforce the idea of there being a significant divide the two types of people.
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
How is ethnicity represented in the clip from Hotel Babylon?
In the opening scene of this clip we are introduced to a calm, everyday atmosphere. We can see a white, male worker from the hotel going about his everyday business he is wearing a suit and looks presentable, this suggests to me, as a viewer, that he works with people who are customers and so therefore is not an illegal immigrant. A tracking shot is used to follow this character and focus on his movements and reactions. The steadicam filming then combines both the tracking shot and an over the shoulder shot. We, as an audience, are still focusing on the white male character when we see that two police officers come enter the same shot, as the policemen enter a firm base-like (non-diegetic) music begins to play to influence empathy being felt for the workers at the hotel. The director uses an over the shoulder shot to introduce the police officers, this shocks the audience because it is not something we were expecting from the shot.
When the young male character sees the policemen he is slightly nervous but tries to remain as calm as possible so he does not arouse suspicion. The audience already know that there are immigrants working in the hotel and so the director wanted the character to act this way in order to win over the audience. The male worker greets the police officers with 'Alright?' (diegetic dialogue) which is said to in a nervous tone of voice in order to involve the audience and create tension as well as dramatic irony- the audience will know why he is nervous.
When the young male character sees the policemen he is slightly nervous but tries to remain as calm as possible so he does not arouse suspicion. The audience already know that there are immigrants working in the hotel and so the director wanted the character to act this way in order to win over the audience. The male worker greets the police officers with 'Alright?' (diegetic dialogue) which is said to in a nervous tone of voice in order to involve the audience and create tension as well as dramatic irony- the audience will know why he is nervous.
The camera cuts from the white male character to the two police officers during a sound bridge of the policemen talking and the camera is positioned so that it is looking up at the policemen, this is so they are viewed as invading, disruptive and controlling. This scene is slow and based upon minimalistic dialogue so that the action takes place through rhythmical circumstances, the director does this to allow the audience to be enthralled within the tension. The audience understands that the hotel will be searched and that the action coming up will occur due to this. The scene then cross cuts to the front desk of the hotel, the music is still playing which suggests that this scene will link to scene prior. We at given an establishing of the hotel's reception and then camera zooms to another significant character: the receptionist.
As the camera zooms and focuses on the receptionist we can see that she is an attractive blonde, typical receptionist. By casting an actress to play this particular looking woman as the receptionist it could be implied to be an attempted avoidance of immediate suspicion with in the program as to whether of not there are immigrants working at the hotel. Because the receptionist is the first person other characters would see when they entered the building the employers need to make sure she does not arouse suspicion. She is busy doing her normal jobs when the camera cuts to the police walking through the door. We can still hear the music to suggest a threatening atmosphere. Whilst the receptionist speaks to the police the camera work is very smooth, this suggests she is controlled and maintaining the situation. The police man is portrayed through a forwards facing tracking shot and he also expresses little emotion, he is seen as unfeeling and merciless through his facial expressions and actions. This representation of the police contrast to the normal everyday protagonist view we usually hold for them, instead our understanding of the police in this drama is that they are antagonists who are cruel, hateful and insensitive.
We move to the back corridors of the hotel which are lit with minimalistic lights to suggest a working atmosphere which contrasts to the luxurious setting of the front desk. this communicates that the working class at the back of the hotel is not the part that should be on show, it should be hidden. This is because many of the workers at the hotel are immigrants and so they do not wish to be unveiled. We are tracking the previous white male and a new young dark gentleman through these back corridors. They are filmed using hand held camera to show that the situation is panicked and rushed. these two characters eventually reach an office belonging to a main character, Jackie. All the while the music has picked up in pace ever so slightly and this allows the audience to become more engrossed in what is happening.
We then track Jackie who enters the kitchen and other various work places with hand held camera filming. She speaks to her workers with minimalistic knowledge of the language of her employees. the pace of the music speeds up as she then rushes her illegal workers into a confined cupboard. When Jackie locks the door the tense music stops suddenly and she can hear synchronous sounds of the people inside the cupboard, they are sighing and speaking with an alarmed tone of voice. Jackie is then composed into the frame as she counts all of the people within the confined space. The confined space is used to suggest that the immigrants have very little escape and are treated like working animals who are hidden away from society.
The music suddenly starts again when the camera zooms into Jackie's face using a focus pull. This suggests to the audience that something is wrong. the scene cross cuts to Arahim when he is hovering a corridor. this scene is accompanied by the ambient synchronous sound of the hover. when location of Abrahim is revealed the scene returns to the immigrants in the cupboard. our focus is drawn to a woman in the centre who looks to be finding it hard to breath. Suddenly she falls and the music speeds up to a quick, tense pace. Our focus is then drawn to a new character who is dark of colour and has an African accent an thus he follows the expected stereo of an immigrant. our understanding of this unintelligent illegal worker is breached when he begins to care for the woman who has collapsed. He looks after her and then reveals that he was doctor before he left home. Our expectations of how immigrants are is turned by this clip because we realise that all of them had individual and meaningful lives before they entered the country.
We return back to Abrahim and a cliché, expected focus pull is used when the police spot him this relieves the audiences tensions because we realise that it is inevitable that someone was going to get captured. A panicked, unplanned hand held camera is used to suggest how manic Abrahim's arrests is.
Throughout the clip many perceptions of ethnicity are shown and many stereotypes are challenged by the characters appearance and actions. Some characters do, however, reinforce representation of stereotypical views.
As the camera zooms and focuses on the receptionist we can see that she is an attractive blonde, typical receptionist. By casting an actress to play this particular looking woman as the receptionist it could be implied to be an attempted avoidance of immediate suspicion with in the program as to whether of not there are immigrants working at the hotel. Because the receptionist is the first person other characters would see when they entered the building the employers need to make sure she does not arouse suspicion. She is busy doing her normal jobs when the camera cuts to the police walking through the door. We can still hear the music to suggest a threatening atmosphere. Whilst the receptionist speaks to the police the camera work is very smooth, this suggests she is controlled and maintaining the situation. The police man is portrayed through a forwards facing tracking shot and he also expresses little emotion, he is seen as unfeeling and merciless through his facial expressions and actions. This representation of the police contrast to the normal everyday protagonist view we usually hold for them, instead our understanding of the police in this drama is that they are antagonists who are cruel, hateful and insensitive.
We move to the back corridors of the hotel which are lit with minimalistic lights to suggest a working atmosphere which contrasts to the luxurious setting of the front desk. this communicates that the working class at the back of the hotel is not the part that should be on show, it should be hidden. This is because many of the workers at the hotel are immigrants and so they do not wish to be unveiled. We are tracking the previous white male and a new young dark gentleman through these back corridors. They are filmed using hand held camera to show that the situation is panicked and rushed. these two characters eventually reach an office belonging to a main character, Jackie. All the while the music has picked up in pace ever so slightly and this allows the audience to become more engrossed in what is happening.
We then track Jackie who enters the kitchen and other various work places with hand held camera filming. She speaks to her workers with minimalistic knowledge of the language of her employees. the pace of the music speeds up as she then rushes her illegal workers into a confined cupboard. When Jackie locks the door the tense music stops suddenly and she can hear synchronous sounds of the people inside the cupboard, they are sighing and speaking with an alarmed tone of voice. Jackie is then composed into the frame as she counts all of the people within the confined space. The confined space is used to suggest that the immigrants have very little escape and are treated like working animals who are hidden away from society.
The music suddenly starts again when the camera zooms into Jackie's face using a focus pull. This suggests to the audience that something is wrong. the scene cross cuts to Arahim when he is hovering a corridor. this scene is accompanied by the ambient synchronous sound of the hover. when location of Abrahim is revealed the scene returns to the immigrants in the cupboard. our focus is drawn to a woman in the centre who looks to be finding it hard to breath. Suddenly she falls and the music speeds up to a quick, tense pace. Our focus is then drawn to a new character who is dark of colour and has an African accent an thus he follows the expected stereo of an immigrant. our understanding of this unintelligent illegal worker is breached when he begins to care for the woman who has collapsed. He looks after her and then reveals that he was doctor before he left home. Our expectations of how immigrants are is turned by this clip because we realise that all of them had individual and meaningful lives before they entered the country.
We return back to Abrahim and a cliché, expected focus pull is used when the police spot him this relieves the audiences tensions because we realise that it is inevitable that someone was going to get captured. A panicked, unplanned hand held camera is used to suggest how manic Abrahim's arrests is.
Throughout the clip many perceptions of ethnicity are shown and many stereotypes are challenged by the characters appearance and actions. Some characters do, however, reinforce representation of stereotypical views.
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
Our Girl- Representation Task
Gender in television: representation of stereotypes
In our girl we are seeing a woman in the army, this concept itself breaks stereotypes of women being weak and powerless.
Analysing an episode of 'Our Girl' using the 4 key areas.-
Lance Corporal Georgie Lane, an experienced army medic, joins Captain James and 2 Section on a humanitarian tour to Kenya. She has promised her fiancé, Doctor Jamie Cole, that she will return home soon to marry him. 2 Section are posted to a refugee camp near the border of Somalia, and as soon as they pull into the camp, Georgie jumps straight to work when an IED explodes, harming many refugees. When aid worker Kicki is kidnapped, Georgie's determination to find her lands her in great danger.
During establishing shots and ariel shots we can see that the program/drama is set in a country which has a warm and dry climate with near-desert landscapes. We find out later on that the drama is actually set in Kenya.
The filming during sudden and spontaneous scenes is a mixture of hand-held camera shots which create a shaky effect. This way of filming allows the viewer to become submerged into the action and feel as though they, themselves, are stuck in the tense scenario.
majority of the camera work used in Steadicam however occasional crane shots are used, especially during operational movements within the team; when the other soldiers are moving around a site. it is used so we can assess all of the drama going on and understand the storyline and plans better.
Many tracking shots are used to help the audience maintain their understanding of the action going on.
Editing-
The ordinary continuity editing is used to show endless action and allow the scenes to piece and flow together. There were cross cutting scenes and these were made evident by the music used and the way the continuity shots had allowed us to follow the two story lines. The cross cutting shots appeared when the two storylines/ plots were possibly close to colliding. A few jump cut scenes were used to help the audience establish the main characters space as she was being held captive, this was helpful as it allowed the audience to know more than the character (dramatic irony).
During scenes when characters were being moved or captured there was plenty of fast paced editing purely to build up the tension for the viewers.
The ordinary continuity editing is used to show endless action and allow the scenes to piece and flow together. There were cross cutting scenes and these were made evident by the music used and the way the continuity shots had allowed us to follow the two story lines. The cross cutting shots appeared when the two storylines/ plots were possibly close to colliding. A few jump cut scenes were used to help the audience establish the main characters space as she was being held captive, this was helpful as it allowed the audience to know more than the character (dramatic irony).
During scenes when characters were being moved or captured there was plenty of fast paced editing purely to build up the tension for the viewers.
Sound-
The programme contain both diegetic sounds and non diegetic sounds. an example of a diegetic sound and occasionally synchronous sounds would be gun shots, explosions and the sounds of vehicles when they are on screen or even if they are heard in the background. On the other hand there is no appearance of a voice over at any point of which we watched. Music was used in some scenes as a non-diegetic sound, the pace of the music varied to persuade tension and anxiousness, it also allows the audience to see who exactly is in control at that point in time.
The programme contain both diegetic sounds and non diegetic sounds. an example of a diegetic sound and occasionally synchronous sounds would be gun shots, explosions and the sounds of vehicles when they are on screen or even if they are heard in the background. On the other hand there is no appearance of a voice over at any point of which we watched. Music was used in some scenes as a non-diegetic sound, the pace of the music varied to persuade tension and anxiousness, it also allows the audience to see who exactly is in control at that point in time.
Mise-en-Scène -
In this drama I was expecting a level of defying the normal everyday stereotype, in other words I was expecting an incredible feminist view or an anti terrorism viewpoint. Unfortunately I was deeply disappointed. The production allowed terrorists to be shown in the normal stereotypical way and women were shown to be annoying and non-tactical to a certain degree. The only part that I was quite surprised, which obviously follows a deeper plot line, is that the secondary leader of the terrorist group was British.
In this drama I was expecting a level of defying the normal everyday stereotype, in other words I was expecting an incredible feminist view or an anti terrorism viewpoint. Unfortunately I was deeply disappointed. The production allowed terrorists to be shown in the normal stereotypical way and women were shown to be annoying and non-tactical to a certain degree. The only part that I was quite surprised, which obviously follows a deeper plot line, is that the secondary leader of the terrorist group was British.
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