Composition

FRAMING

Why use this composition?

How could this be used to show

stereotypical gender?

• They used framing in the extract of Eastenders in order to make the audience focus on the the woman praying for her children. They wanted the audience to focus on her in order to see her distress in her characterisation and how she has turned to God. This is stereotypical as often Asian characters are seen as having strong religious Muslim views. The aspect of set used to frame the image was an archway in the mosque which enhances the stereotypical view of ethnicity because of the religious connotation.

RULE OF THIRDS

Why use this composition?

How could this be used to show counter-stereotypical regional

identity?

• Based on the rule of thirds, the director puts the child in a position which adheres to this rule which makes us focus on them. They want to do this because it is emphasing the counter stereotype as the child is quiet and reading a book alone in a dark room. This combined with the use of lighting makes us assume something is wrong.

DEPTH OF FIELD - Focus

Why use this composition?

How could this be used to show stereotypical

ethnicity?

• A shallow focus is used in order to focus on the woman in the frame. The foreground is in focus leaving the male not in focus. This creates the effect that the woman is seen as in control and having power as she is in focus and also in the foreground of the frame. The smile on her face and confident body language adds to this. This is counter stereotypical as usually men are seen as the ones in control. This however changes when there is a focus pull and the man in now seen in focus. His angry facial expression regains his power and adheres to the stereotype as the man is portrayed as strong and has a temper.

Framework for writing about composition

• A name of composition is used in order to what is the

purpose in general terms and who is in the frame. This is stereotypical / counter stereotypical of the representation of name of representation

because ???. It also ???

Camera Movement

See video

Tracking In

• What is the purpose?– To increase someone's power and / or status in the

scene, draws the audience into the action, makes them focus on someone or something in particular.

• What could it show in terms of the representations?– Tracking in could be used to track through a hallway

into a kitchen to set the scene of a home. The fact that it is a kitchen is a stereotypical view of women.

Tracking out

• What is the purpose?– Shows location or scenery, suggest a lack of

importance of a particular character or point, show the end of a scene, action coming to a close

• What could it show in terms of the representations?– Status and class due to a better view of scenery, to

show a characters status being lowered.

Sideways track

• What is the purpose?– Follow an object or person moving, change

scenery, focus on something while moving• What could it show in terms of the

representations?– Focus on shoes to show something about the

character (high heel = feminine) or to show the pace at which someone is moving (slow = control)

Tilt shot

• What is the purpose?– Tilting upwards suggests them having power, see a

character from another’s point of view, see full costume,

• What could it show in terms of the representations?– Costume (mise en scene) what kind of person they

are.– Women – tilting upwards showed her power –

counter stereotype

Zoom

• What is the purpose?– Highlight certain features of a person or object,

show facial expressions, focus on whole person within a crowd,

• What could it show in terms of the representations?– Focus in on facial expression or feature can help us

understand a range of characters for mise en scene (eg. Wedding ring = traditional wife)

Arc shot

• What is the purpose?– To show emotions in a range of characters, in

conversations to show emotions, reactions and relationships

• What could it show in terms of the representations?– Represent power and status to see peoples

expressions and where they are sat can denote power

Panning

• What is the purpose?– Show location and characters journey – where

they are going, show what characters are looking at off camera

• What could it show in terms of the representations?

Crane shot

• What is the purpose?– Used to show an aerial perspective, make

someone look small and unimportant, show the wider area of a scene.

• What could it show in terms of the representations?– Class and status – low status in a high status

location – show how he looks small and out of place.

Cutting

• What is the purpose?• What could it show in terms of the

representations?

Example Paragraph

• A zoom out is used in order to create the effect of the mother loosing her power and importance in the eyes of her child. This is counter stereotypical of age because normally parents are seen as very important in the child’s life. This camera movement shows how as the child has got older and is going to university his mum is less important in his life and also shows how she feels sad about this due to her closed body language and sad facial expression as she watches her son leave.

Framework for writing about camera movement

• A name of camera movement is used in order to create ???? effect. This is counter stereotypical / stereotypical of name of

representation because ???. This camera movement shows ???.