Discuss the way the extract from Doc Martin constructs representation of regional identity?

Sound is one of the ways regional identity is constructed and presented to the audience in this clip. The audience gain a real insight into the character by the way in which they talk not only to each other but through compassion of the way they sound and what they say. Doc Martin can clearly be noted talking down to other characters within the clip. The audience can tell that Doc Martin does talks differently to other characters in the clip, this could be linked to where his character comes from, and he may have been brought up in an area in which proper English is preferred rather than regional dialect. Doc Martin can be noted talking down to people when he says ‘treat yourself to a noun’ expressing his annoyance that the character in question isn’t talking correctly. As well as saying ‘is that an endearing local term’ this shows the audience that there is a difference in the way in which people talk and that maybe Doc Martin in mocking the way in which they talk as the way he says ‘endearing local term’ sounds like a mockery. Another way in which regional identity is represented is when Doc Martin says ‘I’m not interested in your opinion’ this could portray the fact that as he isn’t from that area he sees the people there as being inferior to him and he doesn’t have the time for them. On the other hand the audience can also notice the regional identity of the people from the community, the old man at the beginning of the clip for example is difficult to understand due to his thick regional accent. In the clip the audience see that it’s down to the person sitting next to him to relay to Doc Martin what he is trying to say. The person sitting next to him does show how regional accents and regional identity may differ through generations. The younger man doesn’t seem to have as much of an accent which does make him appear more intelligent as the old man was portrayed as being unintelligent as you couldn’t understand what he was saying. The younger man says ‘ it could be a literally reference’ this does automatically give the audience the perspective that he knows what hes talking about as the other man just mumbled and didn’t make much sense.

Camera shots also help show the difference in the regional identity between the characters. In the scene in which Doc Martin is walking down the street there is an extreme long shot of him walking down the hill. The audience can notice from this clip that Doc Martin holds himself very well when walks this could be because he feels superior to the people in the community and shows this in the way he walks. In comparison at the beginning of the scene there is a high angled shot which shows all three men, the youngest of them doing manual work on the floor. The shot makes the youngest man seem inferior to Doc Martin as he is doing manual work and Doc Martin is shown to the audience as being above him. This could simply be because he is doing manual work which carries less status and esteem than a job as a doctor would, or it could show that not only is being a doctor better a profession, but Doc Martins regional identity is better than his.  The later high angled shot looking down on Doc Martin shows that he is no longer in control of the situation as he is trying to fix the water leak, while the others in the scene are standing around. This may show the audience that ever though he may feel that hes above the people in the village because of where hes from, he is actually equal to or lower than them at the present point of time.

The mise en scene in the clip also creates representations on regional identity. The ways in which the characters dress differ. Doc Martin for example this dressed very traditionally and smartly, he is wearing a plain coloured suite and a beige trench coat. This could show that he is from a well brought up background, in an area in which people would dress well in comparison to a council estate for example, in which you wouldn’t expect the residents to be walking around in suites. The elderly woman at the end of the scene doesn’t dress in a way you’d expect a woman to do. She is shown doing manual work that you might expect a man to traditionally do. This could show that woman are treated differently in that particular area and are expected to do manual work. She isn’t dressed smartly which would show that selling vegetables in order to make money is more important than the way in which you’re portrayed to others. The older man in the clip also doesn’t dress very smartly as he is shown wearing dull, dirty look farm clothes, this may again show that it isn’t a community in which dressing smart would be appropriate as manual work may be the way in which they make money.

(I didn't know what to say about editing)

Sexuality questions

Is the sexuality of the characters easily identifiable? I think the sexuality of the characters is easy to identify, but it isn't extremely obvious, unlike what you see him some tv drama e.g. Mark in Ugly Betty. It can be sensed through the way the characters act that there is a difference in sexuality, the camera angles as well as mise en scene and sound help identify the characters sexuality Is the sexuality represented as being important in their life? I'd assume sexuality is an important part of their life even though they have to be secretive about it, as it isn't accepted in society. I'd assume it would be difficult for the character as a persons sexuality is an important part of their life and having to hide that may prove difficult. Are particular sexualities seen as more powerful, better, normal? If so, how? What message is the clip aiming to portray about sexuality? The straight man is seen as being more powerful to the homosexual woman. This shown to the audience when he has his hands around her throat and by the way he talks to her, trying to make her fearful of her sexuality 'she'd laugh in your face if she knew.' His attitude and the way he is shown fits the era up the clip is set in and how society would of seen sexuality. Is the time/ era / context of the clip important or relevant when considering attitudes towards sexuality? I think the era the clip is set in is important when considering attitudes towards sexuality, there would still of been stigma surrounding homosexuality in this era as people didn't fully accept others for being gay. The era is relevant as it shows the audience that people of different sexualities can't be open about it as it isn't socially expected

My Week With Marilyn

my week with marilyn on Prezi

Prometheus

Prometheus on Prezi

Gender in tv drama

In this clip of hustle gender is represented in different ways. We are shown both male and female character, both of which differ. Some of the characteristic the characters do follow the generic stereotype of men and women, but some differ.

The main female character; Sarah is shown to the audience of being a well off characters. The audience can see this is as shopping in a store that looks high end and exclusive. The first thing you may notice about her is that she looks very put together; she looks as though she takes pride in her appearance. In this sense she may follow the stereotype of a woman as she only cares about what she looks like and her image may be extremely important to her. Although the audience finds out later on that she is a business woman and is one her way to a meeting. The character also follows a stereotype as a classic blonde when she loses her ring while shopping, even though the audience learn that isn’t the case. The character is hysterical and quickly offers money for the safe return of her ring. This could show that the value of the ring is a lot more important that the sentimental importance of the ring. This could also show that she is over reacting, which is a common stereotype of a woman rather than looking for the ring calmly. The clip also shows that even though she is portrayed as being as being upper class, she is really just using it as a cover up in order to scam the owner of the shop. This shows the audience that woman can be sly in order to get what they want.

There is a very strong contrast between Sarah and the other woman shopping in the store. The older woman looks out of place in the shop. Her clothes and all together appearance differ largely from that of Sarah’s. The older woman appears a lot darker and dull when in comparison to Sarah. They way in which the women are spoken to also differs, the older woman is spoken down to for example the shop owner says ‘a little too rich for Madame?’ and ‘it is at the lower end of your current stock.’ This gives the audience the impression that she doesn’t belong in that environment. The camera shots used expresses this point; there is a close up of her face when she says ‘hundred?’ as she is shocked at the price of the dress. The appearance of the character shows that maybe she doesn’t care as much about her appearance as her hair put back, she doesn’t appear to be wearing much make up and her clothes are simple. This character doesn’t follow the stereotype of a woman, as she seems a lot more practical when it comes to money, as she notices the dress is far too expensive. She may also know that there are more important things than how you look in life.

The men in this clip also differ. The shop owner comes across as being very feminine which would fit the job stereotype as you expect woman to own a dress store as it’s a feminine environment. His femininity is shown in the way he acts, at one point he skips happily over to Sarah, possibly as he knows she is wealthy, by her appearance and will buy a dress. He is also shown as greedy, after Sarah offers him money if he finds the ring he neglects his next customer in the hope of finding it. He later offer the customer who finds the ring money so he’ll give him the ring. He does follow the stereotype of a sleazy man as he is trying to make as much money out the situation as he can.

 The male con artist is largely different to the shop owner. He is a lot more masculine in the way he acts.  This is shown in the way he talks for example he refers to his girlfriend as his ‘bird’ and when commenting on the ring he says ‘she didn’t get this out of a cracker.’  The way he talks shows that maybe he doesn’t necessarily think about what he says before he says it.  When he is first shown to the audience they first camera shot is of his shoes, this shows that he is wealthy as his shoes look expensive. The camera then pans up his body to show him wearing a suit; this again gives the audience the impression that he’s wealthy and fits the style of the shop. The way he talks does contradict the way he is dressed maybe showing the audience that he’s streetwise.  The topic of him being streetwise is shown again when he breaks the forth wall and talks to the audience when he is walking away from the shop owner. This shows that he is streetwise as he comments on the situation, like he is trying to teach the audience something.

Gender in TV drama

This clip shows that women, especially elderly women are unaware of change, to a modern viewer it would make the character appear unintelligent and to an extent are 'behind the times.' It is shown in this clip when the character is unaware what a swivel chair is.

How is disability represented in the clip from 'A touch of Frost'?

How is disability represented in the clip from 'A touch of Frost?

There are different representations of disability in this clip, one being that people with disabilities are treated like they are children.  We see this in the way people talk to Billy for example Frost slows his speech down, often taking pauses when talking to Billy. Depending on your personal view on disability this may make you think differently. By frost talking down to Billy it may make the audience feel pity for him like he’s a child and he doesn’t understands what’s going on, even though that may not always be the case. You also see Billy being treated like a child by his parents; they may do this subconsciously as they are just trying to protect him. An example of this is when his Mother says Billy would prefer if she could clean him up before Frost speaks to him. This again creates emotion for the viewer as you feel sorry for him as he is covered in blood.

This clip contains both diegetic and non-diegetic sound.  At the beginning of the clip there is non-diegetic sound in the form of the eerie background music. This music builds up tension for the audience as Billy is walking through the woods at night.  As the police shine touches in Billy’s direction the music changes, this may be to show the audience they have found what they are looking for. The background music continues until the policeman had Billy on the floor. The music may stop at this point to show that audience that the tension has reached its climax as the Police have found what they are looking for. The diegetic sound in this clip also builds tension as the view doesn’t fully understand what’s going on with Billy at the beginning. The rustling of the leaves as the Policemen are walking suggest to the audience that they are looking for something, at this point you are unaware so it continues to build suspense.  When Billy says ‘I didn’t do anything wrong’ the audience hears that Billy has a disability, this may make the audience feel sorry for him. The conversation between Frost and Billy’s farther shows how people are often ignorant to disability. This is shown when frost refers to Billy as ‘mentally subnormal’ and is correct that Billy is actually handicapped.

The camera angles in this shot give a different representation of disability.  Firstly they give the impression that having a disability makes you vulnerable.  This is show when Frost is talking to Billy and a high angled shot is used, this makes Billy look smaller and appear weak and vulnerable. The shot then widens and the audience sees Billy’s Dad sitting behind him, this adds to the audience opinions that having a disability makes you vulnerable as his Dad has to sit with him to make sure hes ok. This scene also shows an over the shoulder shot in which you see a silhouette of Frost, this attracts your attention and makes him look powerful as him stands over Billy. The audience can clearly see the fear on Billy’s face when there is a close up of him when the police turn their touches on. A later close up of him being held by the Police makes him look scared and weak. This may also makes the audience feel sorry for him because their personal view, that maybe that people with disabilities don’t understand as much as abled bodied people. The tracking shot of the Police chasing Billy builds suspense for the audience as they wonder whether or not they’ll catch him. It would also makes the audience wonder perhaps Billy did do something wrong as he ran. The tilted high angled shot of Frost talking to Billy’s Dad gives the audience a sense that they are ease dropping on the conversation, this may makes the audience hope that they’ll learn more about what’s going on.

The blood on Billy’s face makes you feel sorry for him as he is obviously been hurt. Even though it does pose the question of how he got hurt in the first place the audience would first feel pain for Billy. The Police and Police dogs at the beginning of the scene tell the audience that something has happened; the audience can tell that they’re looking for something; this builds suspense as it isn’t clear what they’re looking for. The neighbours standing outside the house gives the impression that it’s a close community where not a lot happens, so the slightest Police involvement draws people out of their houses in find out what’s going on.  At the beginning of the clip you see Billy wiping mud off his trousers, at this point you don’t necessarily know he has a disability so you assume hes done something wrong due to the environment in which hes in. If you knew that he had a disability it may make you see the situation differently as you may feel that he wouldn’t mentally be capable of doing something.

The editing at the beginning of the clip is slow paced but cuts straight from one clip to another; for example, you see the police dog, then the Policeman, then Billy. This shows the audience that at that moment they aren’t aware of each other, but it’s only a matter of time before they do. While Frost is interviewing Billy the editing gets slightly faster as it cuts from Frost talking to Billy’s facial expression, then back to Frost to ask another question.  By showing the clip in this way you see that Billy doesn’t look phased by what Frost is saying, it makes Billy look stupid doesn’t look like hes takes in what Frosts saying.

Class and Status

Class and status on Prezi