How does your media product represent particular

social groups?

By Chloe-Ann DorwardEvaluation Question 2

Questions?

When looking into representations there are specific questions that we have to be certain to answer, these are as follows;• Who/What is being represented?• What themes and issues are being

explored?• What are we made to feel?

How?

• The filmmaker will use micro elements to encode a specific macro representations in the narrative for the viewer.

• This then enables the viewer to decode these constructed representation to interpret meaning from the text.

Micro

There are specific codes and conventions when looking at micro elements, such as;• Narrative• Character• Technical

Under the category of technical micro elements there are sub categories of• Camera• Sound• Mise-en-scene• Editing

Macro

• The micro elements all add up to build the macro representations, these are as follows;

• Individuals• Types• Groups• Events• Places

Macro – sub categories

• There are sub categories to the main 5 basis categories of macro representation.

• There are sub categories such as;• Gender• Age• Ethnicity• Sexuality• Class & status• Physical ability/disability• Regional identity

All of these elements can lead on to other representations.

Who/What is being represented?

• In my intro micro elements from the technical category of mise-en-scene are employed to construct a specific representation of two social types: a working class man and a woman of high class. My intro contrasts between two different social groups, however there is not much evidence to prove this as I wanted to keep the sense of mystery as a key elements. Even though I wanted to do this I still made sure that there was a distinct difference between there economic class. When focussing on the man I wanted to make sure that I showed his transformation so I had keep my attention to detail when deciding on the costume.

How is this representation constructed?

• Technical category: mise-en-sceneElements Man Woman Both

Make-up Rough haircut, stubble.

Neutral.

Costume Vest, jeans –Shirt, tie, suit jacket.

Long coat, smart trouser, black boots.

Set design Tatty bathroomMessy bedroom – (unmade bed)

Clean bedroom – (clean window seal)Bright flowers – (outside)

Props razor.foaming brush.Bowl of water.Shaving foam.

Bag of old magazines. Letter.Photo.

Lighting Low key,. Bright, sunny.

Colour design Gloomy. Neutral.

Textual analysis questions 1Questions Answers

Micro elements from which technical category (camera, sound, mise-en-scene, editing) are at work in the extract?

In the extract micro elements from the technical category of mise-en-scene are employed.

What specific social type, group, event or place is being represented?

They are employed to construct a specific representation of a social type, namely, a working class man.

Highlight the key representative are in the extract (gender, age, sexuality etc.)?

Social class and status is a key representative are in the extract.

How are issues being explored in relation to this key representative are?

Issues of lack in personal maintenance which accompany the transformation of a un kept man to a smart business man are powerfully depicted and explored.

Textual analysis questions 2

What specific technical elements are being employed?• Costume and makeup, set design, props,

lighting and colour design are all employed.

Textual analysis questions 3

How do these technical elements construct a representation of a type?• The male characters make up – stubble, un kept hair – is designed

to betray a representation of someone who is scruffy and doesn’t take much pride in what they wear. This is also communicated through costume – vest, jeans, trainers. However, this does change as the male character then puts on a white shirt, tie and a suit jacket which communicates to the audience that he is trying to look better, this aspect is also shown through the course of when he is shaving. In the set design – messy bedroom, clothes on the floor, dripping tap in the bathroom, using a bowl instead of the sink – we recognise the untidiness and lack of pride in how his lifestyle is, however this may not be the case. Props in the form of a razor and a bowl of water show the audience that by using the razor to shave his stubble, he is trying to clean himself up. This is also communicated through the action of him picking up his dirty clothes off of the bedroom floor.

Does the arrangement of technical elements lead us to feel anything?• The low key lighting in the male characters

bedroom helps to communicate the thought that he may not have a bright life and that it is quite dreary, this helps to evoke a sense of sadness towards the protagonist.

How do micro elements address issues around the key representative area?• In combination with each other these

micro elements address issues around the key representative are of class and status, by delivering to us a working class mans lifestyle of being messy and out of place.

Micro to Macro• The male characters make up – stubble, un kept hair – is designed to betray

a representation of someone who is scruffy and doesn’t take much pride in what they wear. This is also communicated through costume – vest, jeans, trainers. However, this does change as the male character then puts on a white shirt, tie and a suit jacket which communicates to the audience that he is trying to look better, this aspect is also shown through the course of when he is shaving. In the set design – messy bedroom, clothes on the floor, dripping tap in the bathroom, using a bowl instead of the sink – we recognise the untidiness and lack of pride in how his lifestyle is, however this may not be the case. Props in the form of a razor and a bowl of water show the audience that by using the razor to shave his stubble, he is trying to clean himself up. This is also communicated through the action of him picking up his dirty clothes off of the bedroom floor. The low key lighting in the male characters bedroom helps to communicate the thought that he may not have a bright life and that it is quite dreary, this helps to evoke a sense of sadness towards the protagonist. In combination with each other these micro elements address issues around the key representative are of class and status, by delivering to us a working class mans lifestyle of being messy and out of place.