Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of gender using the following: Camera shots, angles, movement and composition, Editing, Sound and Mise en scène

In this clip from the BBC show: 'Luther', gender is represented in such a way that women and men are definitely equal yet women do seem to be shown as the stronger, more dominant type which is usually associated with men. The woman in this clip completely dominates the narrative and ends up with all of the power by the end of the scene.
In terms of mise en scene, the men wear expensive looking shirts and suits which help to support the dominant ideology of men being smarter/dominant, more professional and successful. When the woman enters the scene, she is wearing makeup and has her hair styled in a fashionable way as well as wearing fashionable, smart looking clothes. Whilst she comes into the scene with a certain amount of presence and dominance which goes against the female stereotype, she also feels the need to look attractive through the conventional methods of makeup and hair styling. Her clothes also emphasize her figure and make it very clear to us that she is a feminine woman who can also be dominant in the presence of men. This subverts the stereotype of a dominant woman as they are typically stereotyped as being more of a 'tomboy' or an over-sexualised 'dominatrix' kind of character. The criminals clothing is more ragged and less tidy which tells the audience that he is of of a lower, less stable status.
The use of a low angle close/mid shot at the beginning of the clip shows Luther as the bigger, more dominant character as we are looking up at him from the criminals perspective which is shown from a high angle shot to emphasize the difference both in their physicality but in Luther's authority over the criminal. When using a shot/reverse shot editing technique to show the difference in impression of the two opposing characters (Luther and Ian - the criminal) their differences are emphasized yet they both have an equal amount of screen time. This could be because they are both male and therefore still hold a large amount of importance, no matter what their circumstances are, adhering to the dominant ideology of men being 'all-powerful' and dominant. When the woman enters the scene we first see her from a low angle shot which establishes her dominance but then we see her from a mid/long shot so that we can see her as equal to the men as well as her dominant body language when holding the gun and stern facial expression which supports her dominant nature. The continuity editing makes the action flow and seem fast paced and smooth, echoing her efficiency in their circumstances - a trait usually associated with men.
The non-diegetic sound of the music creates a tense, almost sad impression which is linked to the idea of emotional attachment which isn't common with the male stereotype, showing them as more emotional beings like women. Near the end of the clip a song begins to play which speaks of understanding and forgiveness, however it then goes on to talk about madness and violence. The overall tone of the song used is quite upbeat which makes it asynchronous as the action on screen is quite violent and dark, creating a clear contrast. The contrast between the music and the action could also be linked to the 'soft-hearted', 'gentle', 'emotional' stereotype of the woman being overcome by the dominant action of the woman on screen when she shoots a man without a second thought. She succeeded in completing a task that the men could not and eventually one of the men begs her to do it, hinting at a sense of role reversal.

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of ethnicity using the following: Camera shots, angles, movement and composition, Editing, Sound, and Mise en scene

In this clip ethnicity in terms of minority groups such as Hispanic, Black and Asians are shown to be inferior to White people which adheres to ethnic stereotyping. These minority groups are portrayed as one unit that work and stick together as a family as they are all in a similar position when it comes to avoiding immigration. White people are stereotyped as being cruel and uncaring to those who are of different/stereotypically inferior groups. They adhere to this stereotype in the clip by walking into the hotel unannounced and seemingly don't care that they're running their operation in public where the British people will see what's going on. This could arguably represent the British people as being unjust and superior to those who are not classed as 'British'.
 The diegetic sound of the immigrants talking helps the audience to identify that they are different and it is obvious that they are all of various nationality, creating an umbrella term for the immigrants and placing them all in one inferior group as opposed to individual groups based on ethnicity. Also, the tone set through the non-diegetic, asynchronous sound of the music suggests a sense of normality through its calmness which contrasts to the action going on onscreen as the immigrants are frantically trying to run and hide from the authorities. As the authorities dominate and drive the action in this clip as they are the ones disrupting the hotel's (and the immigrants) environment, the music sounds almost like music that would be used in a spy or detective show. This communicates the fact that what's going on in this scene is driven by the authorities (who are all white) almost like an undercover mission.
the fact that the white people are all wearing suits/smart clothing suggests that they are wealthier/superior perhaps and are definitely of a higher place in the hotel hierarchy. Interestingly, there are a couple of black people who are also wearing suits and seem to have similar jobs to the white people who manage the hotel. However, they are still bossed around by the white people and seem to be incapable of doing the same job as them. This is shown in the part of the clip where the blonde woman who works behind the hotel reception desk asks the black man if he has completed the simple task of delivering some documents to another department in the hotel, he replies that he forgot and she then turns to the white men who represent the authorities and comments on how he has a "brain like a sive", therefore demeaning him and portraying him as dumb. The awkwardness of the black man in the suits behavior connotes that he perhaps doesn't know how to be authoritative which implies that he isn't suited to being in a position of responsibility of leadership and should remain inferior. In terms of setting, the immigrants live below the hotel and their working quarters/environment is very bare and prison-like in contrast to the luxurious, professional setting that the white people work in.
The use of action/continuity shots shows the fast paced, panicked nature of the action that is going on onscreen as the immigrants are trying to hide themselves away from the immigration officers. The fact that they have a set protocol for when this happens infers that they are no strangers to oppression and racism from the immigration officers, thus supporting their inferior status to the white people/immigration services. The parallel cut that jumps between their panic and the unknowing black character (Abraham) as the immigration officers hunt for him and the rest of the immigrants hide and hope for his safety.
A close up shot is used near the beginning of the clip on the white man who gives the orders to the policemen who surround the hotel. By highlighting his concerned, authoritative expression, he is therefore portrayed as a serious man who is not to be messed with. His status is then communicated through the way the camera then zooms out to show his influence over the officers. Finally, near the end of the clip when Jackie (the Asian woman) tries to stand up for Abraham after he has been taken, a mid/close up shot is used along with a shot/reverse shot editing technique to show how she attempts to stand up to the white immigration officer. This is effective as is shows that she is trying to overcome the stereotype of white people being superior and be on the same level as he is, e.g: a mid shot.

Doc Martin essay

'Doc Martin' Essay

Class and Status research and representation

British Class quiz:

After taking the 'British class quiz', I was placed into the technical middle class section of society. According to the BBC, this means that I tend to mix socially with people of similar interests and I like to engage in emerging culture by getting involved in different activities such as visiting art galleries, going to concerts, listening to classical music, etc. People of this group also tend to be interested in and have skills in technical, scientific areas and will usually end up working in those areas.

 Personally, I don't feel like I belong in this class as I don't tend to judge where my place in society is based on what activities I like to take part in. For example, I love going to concerts and festivals which are generally quite grungy and associated with people who are maybe 'looser' and less concerned about what society thinks of them. On the other hand, I also enjoy classical music and I can appreciate museums and galleries just as much as a rock festival. I feel like this quiz stereotypes people into what is typically expected of people who are associated with certain classes. Also, I have no interest what so ever in science, maths or any academic/technical subject, nor am I good at them as this quiz suggests...

Class and status is difficult to determine as people are scared of what might be thought of them if they're associated with a certain class, For example, people who are of the upper class might not want to be associated with the upper class as they're typically snobbish, belittling and posh which is frowned upon by most people in today's society. Similarly, people don't like to be associated with the lower classes as they're typically expected to be 'chavvy' and are also frowned upon. 

This suggests that class and status is more of a stereotyping system to tell people what they're worth in society and there will always be conflict and rivalry not only between those who are of upper and lower class (e.g: a class/power struggle) but also between those who choose not to identify or associate themselves with a specific class and those who believe everyone should have a place. 

How is class measured? 

Class in generally measured by how much money people have and what they choose to involve themselves with culturally and socially. According to most statistics, what job someone has, where they live and what they choose to do in their spare time determines what class they are. Personally I feel that there are issues with labeling people as a certain class simply because of what they do or how much money they earn as people may have different views and feelings towards the stereotypes that come with that particular class. I don't think that labeling people is necessary anymore, especially in today's society  as the need for class separation isn't relevant anymore. In today's society we are striving for equality across all walks of life and categorizing someone over how much money they have and how educated they are defeats the object of class equality. In terms of TV Drama, a wrong or stereotypical representation of someone of a particular class might cause upset and effect how the show is reviewed. Also, it might give people (especially those of a younger generation) an impression that they feel they have to follow because they are of a certain class. 

Representations of Class and Status through mise-en-scene in TV Drama

Clip - Downton Abbey

In this clip from Downton Abbey, the lower classes are shown to have the bare minimum they need to survive as they have a bed to sleep in and a sink in a room which they have to share with other servants. Their clothes are neat as they are servicing the upper class but they are still dull and have no detail to them. Later on in the clip we see a boy of the sane class stood outside wearing very worn out, scruffy clothing which is typical of someone of his class. When the servants go upstairs to start cleaning the rest of the house so that it's ready for the upper class people, you see a very clear difference in wealth and detail. The rooms are covered from floor to ceiling in colours that symbolize wealth such as reds and golds. There's also an excess of furniture, paintings, rugs, etc which is there to show that the upper class people can afford to have more than they need and they aren't prepared to share it with those who are deemed inferior. The butler who is seen walking around collecting glasses at the beginning of the clip is dressed very smartly as he has the most contact with the upper class, showing that he must look as though he were wealthy just to be seen by the upper class, otherwise it would be seen as offensive to the upper class to have someone of such inferiority in their presence.

Representation of age in TV drama: age 50 - 60

Stereotypical ideas about people aged 50 - 60

• Stubborn
• Rude/offensive
• racist
• stuck in their ways 
• "Back in my day"
• refuse to believe the world has changed 
• think they're still young and can still mix with the younger generations
• constantly telling stories from their youth
• Think they know best 

Example - Sir Malcolm - 'Penny Dreadful'

In this clip, Sir Malcolm comes across as a very stern, stubborn man who believes that he knows best and he will always know best even though Vanessa is an adult who is also experienced in certain areas. The way he speaks to her is very abrupt and sharp, almost as though he is treating her as a child, therefore belittling her and being openly rude and offensive, which is stereotypical of people of his age group. The way he stands facing away from her in a very upright position shows that he feels that he is of a higher position than her simply because he is older. This is contrasted by Vanessa as she is sat down and away from him in a more comfortable position showing that her generation, which is younger, doesn't feel the need to look 'proper' all the time the way someone of an older generation would. The use of a low camera angle when he is speaking shows that he is physically bigger which communicates that he is like a father figure to her as he believes he is wiser and doesn't even look at her when he is talking to her, the same way a father would do to a child. Even in the end of the clip where he realizes that he is wrong and Vanessa actually does know what she's talking about, he doesn't apologize or acknowledge he is beaten, but continues to speak to her in a stubborn, harsh manner and claims that they're in it together. This is stereotypical of elderly people (men in particular) as they do not like to admit they're wrong to those who are younger than themselves.

Representations of Sexuality in TV drama

Heterosexuality - Damon and Elena - 'The Vampire Diaries'

Heterosexuality is represented in this clip through a very happy, positive relationship, shown through the use of camera angles, editing techniques, and sound. The camera shots are mostly close-ups to show emotion and facial expressions that are mainly produced by Damon. He is adhering to the idea of the stereotypical male within a heterosexual relationship by being assertive and confident in admitting his feelings to Elena, looking directly at her and being in close proxemics with her. This could suggest that he is the more dominant of the two, therefore the idea of a stereotypical heterosexual relationship is being adhered to, confirming it as the dominant ideology. Also, the use of mid-shots shows their body language towards each other. Damon looks like he is stood very firmly with both feet apart and his shoulders rolled back, communicating a sense of power and dominance when talking to her. Elena on the other hand looks more timid and flirtatious by looking down slightly and then back up at him as well as holding her hands together and lifting her shoulder slightly, emphasising her neck and shoulders while communicating that she is perhaps more submissive towards him. the shot/reverse shot technique is used mainly to show how Elena is reacting to what Damon is saying, showing her as the stereotypical woman in the relationship whose job is to listen to the man. The use of Damon's speech over the top of the clip shows that he is dominant over their relationship as other clips are shown of them together but he is speaking for the both of them. Also, the use of slow, romantic music communicates how their relationship is happy and positive with little to no issues that can't be overcome by the power of love alone.

Homosexuality - Santana and Britney - 'Glee'

Homosexual relationships are represented in this clip as being difficult and restricted because of what everybody else feels is acceptable. For example, when Finn confronts Santana in the corridor, the low camera angle makes it look as though he is towering over her and making her feel small and powerless. This echoes the fact that she feels that she can't express her true feeling towards Britney in front of everyone else because of how she will be seen by the rest of society. This is representative of how society stereotypically feels towards homosexuality, e.g. hostile, confused, disrespectful. When Britney and Santana are together, the camera is on the same level (eye level) and the shot/reverse shot shows both of them equally. This represents that they only feel secure and equal when they're in each others company and confidence as opposed to when other people confront them about it. When Santana tells her own mother for example, she is told to leave the house and never return due to the fact that her mother has strong religious beliefs and won't accept her as a lesbian. A slightly lower camera shot is used when the camera is behind Santana's shoulder to show how her mother is belittling her and Santana remains powerless. It is only when Britney and Santana are together that they are shown to be on the same level.

Bisexuality - Barbara and Renee/Barbara and Jim - 'Gotham'

Bisexuality is shown in this show as being a source of conflict as Barbara cant seem to choose whether she wants to be with Jim or Renee. This represents bisexuality as being quite destructive and difficult both for those who are bisexual and for those who are involved with someone who is bisexual. For example, when Barbara is with Jim in the first clip, the lighting is dim and romantic. There's a crackling fire and a nice apartment where Jim comes home from work to his 'trophy' of a girlfriend who takes up the stereotypical role of the comforting, listening type. After Jim decides he doesn't want to go out, she simply accepts it and moves on to make sure he's comfortable and talks to him about his day to try and allow him to relax. She seems happy here. However, in the second clip when she is with Renee, she looks conflicted as though she still wants Jim but she chooses to be with Renee. Again, the warm lighting and the crackling fire in the background shows the comfort and safety she feels when she is with Renee whereas the apartment where Jim is shown making the call to her is dark and cold. This could represent the fact that Barbara feels conflicted as a bisexual as she doesn't want to hurt either Jim or Renee but she knows that she can only bring light and comfort to one of them. However, in the first clip, the high camera angle shows her as being the more submissive of the two which is stereotypical of a heterosexual relationship whereas in the second clip, a mid shot is used to show her and Renee on the same level as  they are both women.

How is disablilty represented through the character of Donna in Eastenders?

Representation of disability - Donna

Donna portrays herself as being quite defensive and bitter towards the rest of the world, which could be seen as stereotypical of someone who is disabled. She does this by putting on a front and immediately shutting down/turning away anyone who tries to talk to her. By doing this she is showing that as a disabled person she is accepting and expecting everyone to see and treat her a certain way. E.g. she believes that everyone else will see her as a disabled before anything else. She is surprised when Fats makes her breakfast in bed after their one night stand and she claims that she 'isn't a lady' when Fats explains that he wants to treat a lady properly. A mid shot is used during this scene to imply that they are equals within the relationship. This is supported by the fact that when Fats comes in, he sits on the bed, therefore he is lowering himself (physically) so that they are on the same level. This helps to support the dominant ideology of able bodied people trying to make a conscious effort to try and make sure that disabled people feel equal.

Donna thinks nothing of what happened between them as though she doesn't feel like she is worthy of having a real relationship, without any awkwardness. However, everyone else wants her to have a real relationship and is very supportive of her as a disabled person. For example her friend Pam treats her like a child when they're talking about her one night stand and begins to tease her and treat her as though she were a small child who thinks they're in love. A mid shot is used in this scene to show to height difference between the two characters. The camera is also placed behind Donna at a slight distance as though the audience are viewing the conversation from across the square. The audience then sees how patronising Pam is being towards her by standing slightly over her and treating her as though she were a child. It is then emphasised as the camera gets closer and we see Pam from an over the shoulder/low angle shot. This could be representative of the fact that Donna is the talk of the square because a disabled person is stereotypically not expected to be sexually active.

When Fats goes over to Donna's house for a supposed date, she falls over and he runs in to help her up. The high camera angle means that we are looking down on her as well as Fats, making her seem more vulnerable and needy which is stereotypical of a disabled person. However, she shows power and control when she brings him down to her level to help her up where a midshot is used to show how she wants them to be equals. Never the less, she falls again and we then go back to seeing her from a high angle shot, therefore we are looking down on her. This could be representative of how disabled people feel (stereotypically) that are lower/limited in terms of living life the way other people do. The use of the midshot and the digetic sound of the radio playing upbeat music suggests that she is trying to create a warm, loving atmosphere for their 'date'. She also makes an effort to wear a nice dress and do her makeup, only to be ruined by Fats not being able to overlook the fact that she is disabled.

Peer Assessment:

good understanding of the question and excellent detail of representation however more explanation of terminology is needed and how it links to each other.