Ethnicity Essay

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representations of ethnicity using the following:

• -       Camera shots, angles, movement and composition
• -       Editing
• -       Sound
• -       Mise en scene

The TV drama, Hotel Babylon, shows each person in the clip as a different type of ethnicity. This is represented through the use of camera work, editing, sound and mise en scene.

At the start of a clip we briefly see an encounter between a White man, who is signified as a customer because he lying on a sun longer by the pool and a Black man, who is wearing a suit and severing the customer which implies he is a worker at the hotel (Ferdinand de Saussure's). The White man comes across as more important than the worker because he is paying to stay at the hotel and he is being waited on. Also the light is shinning down on the customer, which suggests he has more authority. The Black man is also polite to the White man, as he says things like ‘Thank you’. This implies that he has respect for the man. The camera then pans right as the Black worker walks away. It then changes to tracking alongside him. This enables the audience to focus on him. 

The viewer then witnesses a conversation between the Black worker and a Black customer who gets out of the swimming pool. However, although it is implied that these two men are old friends, as they use language such as, ‘How are you Tel?’ and ‘I thought it was you bro’. The Black worker seems uncomfortable.  A reaction shot is used, which shows that the worker is surprised to see his friend. Over the shoulder shots are frequently used to also show the worker's reactions. The camera then zooms in on his face, which conveys a sense that he does not want to return to his old ways. This is evident when the customer says ‘just like old times’. This suggests that the worker now has a new life and he does not want to go back to the behavior that his friend is suggesting. The customer is stereotypically Jamaican, as he is wearing bright colours such as green and red. These colours relate to the Jamaican flag which culturally connotes his ethic background (Roland Barthes 1977). The customer  specks in a lower class manner, which is a contrast to Benjamin's standard english, he uses words such as 'booze, girls and ganja' which highlights his Jamaican ethnicity. Through the use of mise en scene a representation of Jamaican people is constructed by the customer's costume and props. He is wearing jewellery, for example chains and earrings, which potrays the customer as a gangster. He also has his hair braided, which is a common connotation for this ethnic group. Throughout this clip Jamaican people are portrayed as interested in 'parties, girls and ganja' because of the representation of the customer. However, Hotel Babylon goes against this representation of this ethnic group, which is evident to the audience through the use of the character Benjamin. He (Benjamin) seems uninterested in having a party, which his friend is suggesting, as he says 'You don't have to.' The black worker also looks uncomfortable when the costumer is talking about 'girls', although he seems interested in his friend. This is shown when he says 'Your looking good' and the camera shows Benjamin looking at his friend's body for longer than he should do. This signifies his sexuality, which suggests that he has a new life that he doesn't want his old friend to known about. This clip goes against the stereotypical representation of Jamaican people. There is also non-diegetic music featured throughout this encounter, which helps to build tension and suspicion.

In scene two, two female maids enter they are suggested to be from Eastern Europe because of their accents. During this clip they are represented to be exotic (Alvarado et al 1987), as they are seen performing a 'strip tease' for a customer who is staying at the hotel. At the start of the clip one of the maids is explaining information about the customer to the other maid. This signifies that she has done a strip tease for this customer before. In the background there is non-diegetic music which creates a suspicious yet sultry atmosphere. The camera then shows a close up of the maid looking uncomfortable and reluctant. Once inside the room, the camera uses a long shot to show both maids and their different body languages. The less experienced maid has her head down and her arms folded across her body, which signifies that she feels uncomfortable and suggests that she is embarrassed. On the other hand the more experienced maid has one hand on her hip and the other hand by her side. This connotes that doesn't care and that she is more exotic, as her body is on show to the audience. The camera then shows a close up of two piles of money, which stereotypes that although they are working in a posh hotel they are earning extra money from sexual ways. The music then changes to diegetic sound and the song is from the genre Burlesque, which changes the atmosphere to a lot more sultry and suggestive than before, as it repeats the words 'Hey sister go'. The room is very dim and it is only lit by table lamps which are seen in the background. This helps to add to the sultry atmosphere. Through mise en scene one of the maids is portrayed as 'innocent', as she wears white underwear which signifies purity. She also wears a cross to show that she is religious. In Eastern Europe they are represented as religious so Hotel Babylon has used a stereotypical representation in this clip. The camera uses many close ups to show her reaction to the situation. There is also the use of long shots to show that she is standing side ways on show that she is not fully exposing herself to the customer and the audience. In juxtaposition, the other maid is wearing black underwear, which signifies her as less innocent and she is also revealing herself quicker. This clip shows that not all women are interested in earning money from sexual ways.
The male client, who is also featured in this scene, is represented as a stereotypical Japanese man. This is because of his East Asian features, such as his eyes, which are signified with this ethnic group of people. The clip portrays the Japanese man as a tourist because he does not speak any English. He is also represented as wealthy, as he is paying to stay at the hotel and the audience also sees him nod several times at the piles of money on the table. Hotel Babylon associates this ethnic group of people with technology, as the client is the one that turns on the music. This signifies that he has knowledge about technology. The use of mise en scene represents the man as quite sleazy because of his costume and props. He is dressed in dressing gown and is sitting on a bed, which creates a sexual atmosphere. Camera composition also adds to this sexual atmosphere, as most of the camera angles are close ups of his face; they show his wide eyes and his mouth which is slightly open. However, there are a few low angle shots. These reinforce that he is the customer, therefore he has more authority and power over the maids because he is the one who is paying them. This clip also signifies that he has power when one of the maids walks out and he (the Japanese man) gets annoyed and goes to turn the music off.

In the next clip a male and a female are seen talking in a corridor. They are clearly English, as the audience can understand everything that they are saying. They are gossiping about the two chefs that are working in the kitchen. During their conversation they reveal the chefs' past. The male worker seems to be worried about the two chefs working together, as he can relate to the men. Where as the woman does not see a problem with them working together as she say 'well they are both professionals, they wouldn't but their personal life before business.' This signifies that she is not really bothered about the history as long as they both do their job. In the background there is faint non-diegetic music, which builds tension. Nevertheless, this is overpowered by the workers, who are working around the English people, talking. Through the use of mise en scene the man and woman are dressed in formal clothing, which is a contrast to the red that the foreign workers are wearing. This makes them stand out and implies that they have more authority. This represents this ethnic group as superior to the workers that they are managing. The lighting is very dim, which signifies the conditions that the foreigners are working in below the hotel. At first the camera uses a long shot, which shows the managers walking towards the camera. This also highlights that they are different to the workers around them. It then switches to a mid-shot so that the audience can still see both people in the shot but the audience can still see the foreigners working around them. There are then close ups to show the differences between the male and female responses to what they are discussing.

When the man and woman enter the kitchen the audience sees two chefs working in separate areas. Both chefs are represented as being from different ethnic groups. One of the chefs is stereotypically Italian because of his strong accent and the use of gestures such as, kissing the other chef of his forehead and putting his fingers to his lips. These are all cultural signifiers of this ethnic group. His costume is black, which has connotations of villain which links to him stealing the other chef's wife. This is a contrast to the English chef who is wearing white, which signifies him as innocent. Both of the chefs regard themselves as Head Chef, although the Italian man is more dominant as he call the kitchen 'my engine room'. At the start of the clip there is only diegetic sound, which is of people working and talking. When the managers leave the kitchen music beginnings to play, this is non-diegetic sound, which adds tension and as the argument becomes more heated the music builds. The English chef and the Italian chef are both threatening as they insult each other by using names such as 'yop prat' and 'english pleb'. However, the Italian chef is stereotyped as violent because he picks up a knife. When the knife is picked up there is a loud slicing sound (diegetic sound), which a knife would normally make. At the beginning there is a close up of each chef working. The camera then uses a reaction shot to show the English chef's reaction to the words 'my engine room', which are spoken by the Italian chef. There is also a two person shot featured in this clip, which is used to show the fake relationship that the two chefs have with each other. When the knife is brought into the scene a close up is used, which makes the audience focus on the prop and it also adds tension. Towards the end of the clip there is a mid shot. This has been used to show each chefs' body language. This scene represents the Italian ethnic group as dominant and violent and the English ethnic group as weak and innocent.  

Representation Of Ethnicity

How did Roots and The Cosby Show challenge previous sterotypical representations of black people in TV dramas?



The Roots


More realistic views about slavery, rape and dealing with racial precedence of black people, which started to change in 1984. Not that long in terms of history.


The Cosby Show

It was a show about an upper-class black family and focussed on their everyday advantages.

The black man was a doctor and the children went to private school, it was showing an educated family living in a penthouse with money. It represented a functional black family quietly confident in being black. The show revolved around the day-to-day situations that the family faced. The family was unlike other black families that had previously been seen on television. The father was a respected Gynecologist and the mother was a successful Attorney.

Analysing The Opening Credits Of Downton Abbey

When I played the opening credits of Downton Abbey, without sound, the images suggested that the Tv drama was going to be about the castle, which is shown in the very first moving image that appears in the opening credits. 

The credits then go on to show images of parts of the rooms or some of the objects that feature within the castle. These objects or rooms suggest that the family that lives in Downton Abbey is upper class. Whilst the images are playing, the names of the actors and actresses appear so that the audience can see who is in the programme.

In this moving image we can see a bell ring, which implies that someone is ringing it in order to tell someone to come. This is an close up, the camera first of all pans to the left but then it zooms in on the bell ringing. There are lots of signs under the bell which shows which room needs assistance. This particular bell is for the 'saloon' which is a posher word for lounge, which reinforces that the family is upper class.

The camera zooms in on the pot cooking on the stove. Someone dressed in black appears on the right hand side of the screen and takes the pot off the stove.

In this moving image the camera pans to the right however this movement could also be called tracking as the camera is very steady. This image shows someone laying the table. They are measuring the positions of the item to make sure everything is perfect. This shot could also be a point of view shot as the audience is looking down at what the person is doing. It is suggested that the person laying the table could be a butler as we can see that they are wearing a shirt and jacket.

This image is very quick compared to the others as the camera only slightly pans to the left. The lighting is bright which suggests day time. The ornaments look old fashion rather than modern which implies that the programme is a historical drama.

First of all the screen is dark although the audience is able to see the outline of the hand leaning in to turn the light on and you are also able to see the outline of the light. The light is then turned on which helps to create a warm atmosphere and the audience's attention is focused on the light.

The audience can then see a maid going up the stairs in the background of one of the moving images, which confirms that the family is upper class. We know the that the woman going up the stairs is a maid as she is wearing conventional clothing of the time. This shot is a medium shot however, it uses the camera movement of pan to the left.

At the end of the opening credits a drawing of Downton Abbey is shown, this drawing is in the style of a logo. This is also the first time that it is revealed what the programme and the castle is called.

It is implied that the genre of this programme is a costume drama. This is because the music is slow and classical, instead of being upbeat and modern. The narrative that is suggested from these images is that the TV drama may be about the lives of the family living at Downton Abbey. At some points in the soundtrack, the music creates a sense that the drama is going to be serious. However, there is then a contrast as it sounds peaceful.

Analysing Opening Scenes

Izzy and I have chosen the sub genre 'crime' to analysis. The programmes we will be looking at are Ashes to Ashes, Luther and The Bill.

Analysing Ashes To Ashes Clip 

Sub genre - Crime

Sound - Up until 30 seconds into the clip, there is non diegetic sound in the background. The music has a fast pace and sounds like a clock ticking, which fits in well with them only having a certain amount of time to find the suspect. After the music has stopped other people's voice can be heard talking and a telephone ringing, this is diegetic sound.

Camera Work 

When the camera shows this man a low angle shot is used. This implies that he is a dominant character and he is in charge of the team or the top inspector.

Reaction shots are used to show the expressions of the team when they are given their job to do. For example when Shaz is told to make a coffee she rolls her eyes and looks down.

This is a two shot which shows two of the team.

A close up is used to show the petition that some of the workers are talking about.

At the beginning of the clip the camera zooms out from the Inspector's back as he turns round to reveal the scene and who is talking. 

Lighting - the lighting comes from the lights in the ceiling which are bright and look office lights rather then lights you would have at home.

Costume - The more important people in the team are dressed in their own clothing but some members are in police force uniform. The people dressed in their own clothing are wearing clothes from the 60s era. The main woman in the scene is also quite glamorous.

Conventions - Some of the conventions of a crime drama are shown such as it is in a police station and they are talking about an investigation. They are also been given tasks each to help find out information. The police uniform is also a convention.

Luther Clip 

Sub genre - Crime

Sound - Starts off with the speaking of the characters and diegetic sound of the rustling being trod on by people walking can be heard. When the inspectors bends down to the victim mysterious music begins to play which is non-diegetic. When the scene changes to the police station there is diegetic sound of Luther throwing a ball. Non-diegetic begins to play again which builds up tension.

Lighting - The clip starts off with natural light as the clip is filmed outside where the body has been found. The ligting then changes to commerical office ligting when the Inspectors as shown inside the police station.

Camera Work -

This is an over the shoulder but it is also a track camera movement because the audience follows behind him.

This image shows a point of view shot however, the camera movement zooms in on the victim.

This shows a close up of the victims head and her belongings around her that the murder has specifically put there.

It then goes on to use the camera movement tilt to move down the victims body.

This image shows a high angle shot.

This is a low angle shot. It presents the character as dominant or it could imply that she is  in charge of the team.

This shot is at eye level with the character which gives an impression that the audience is sitting down next to him.

Vera Clip

Subgenre-Crime

Sound - It begins with the sound of the radio whilst she is driving along at night. Once the body has been discovered and the detective is checking out the car there is muisc in the background to create a sense of mystery. We have digetic sounds such as the noises the main detective makes whilst walking. There is also the noise of running water in the river.

Lighting -  The lighting comes from the  flashing of the police lights also by the moonlight. The headlights on the cars are not on so it leaves the audience hanging onto what the police man has discovered in the grass. The audience only sees a certain part of the victim that the spotlight reveals.

Costumes -  We have the typical police jacket on the policeman who discovers the body.

Conventions - This clip is not very conventional as at the start we do not know that Vera is a detective as she is just driving along in her car and pulls over to see what the policeman is looking at. The audience only realises that she is a detective when she says 'your first time is it son' this implies that she is more experienced and has seen cases like this before so knows what to expect. Another part which helps us to realise that she has something to do with the police is when Vera starts looking in the car and then discovers tracks so she follows them to where they lead. There are also crime conventions in this clip such as the police uniform, the police car and the dead bodies.

Camera work -

How The Characters Are Represented In This Scene

A clip from Eastenders of Ian, Phil and Lucy

Phil - We immediately realise that Phil is the more dominant character as he burst through the door into Ian's house without being invited. He has an angry expression on his face and his body language is powerful and aggressive. Phil's voice is loud and he shouts at Ian. He exaggerates words such as 'buzzing'. His costume is black which signifies an enemy or the baddy. 

Ian - Ian's character seems wimpy and scared compared to Phil's. He also repeats words which imply this. He talks fast which suggests that he is anxious but also that he is worried about what phil will reply. Although he tries to shout there is a quiver in his voice. His body language comes across as weak and he also puts his hands up in front of him which suggests he is defending himself. Ian's face expressions show he is scared and nervous. His costume is plain and casual which implies that he is the victim.

Lucy - Her character is confident and she speaks her mind. Although she raises her voice she seems calm and as if Phil does not intimidate her. She is also cocky which is shown when she say, 'run home to your mummy.' At the end she looks at Ian and says what as if speaking her mind to a man twice the size is normal. Her body language  also suggests that she is confident as she has her arms crossed. 

Narrative - Phil is cross as Ian has been working with Archie against Phil and then he sold his own brother ben 'down the river'. However, Phil just thinks that Ian is trying to get back at him.

Camera Angles

When the camera shows Phil a low angle is used so that we look up at him. This makes him come across as dominant. 

They also use Over the shoulder shots to show Ian which could also be classed as reaction shots as they show his reactions and expressions to what Phil Is saying.

For Lucy they use shots that are at eye level. They do this because she is not a dominant or vulnerable character and is also younger than the other two characters.

At the end of the when Phil leaves the camera then lowers to show a two person shot of Lucy and Ian. 

Editing - There is not a lot of editing in this scene as it is a conversation between the characters. However, it does cut between person in order to show their response.

Sound - Diegetic sound is used at the beginning of the scene when Phil is shout at Ian from out side is house but we cannot see him. The banging of the door as Phil crashes through it is also diegetic sound.

Tv Drama Conventions

Eastenders

Name of Television Drama - Eastenders

Broadcaster - Eastenders is broadcasted by the BBC and is shown on television at 7.30pm Tuesday and Thursday and at 8.00pm on Monday and Friday.

Writer - Various writers

Director - Lorriane Newman

Producer - Various directors

Location - A church

Icons - Peggy Mitchell, she is very famous in easenders as she has been there a long time, also everyone knows her inconic pharses.

Dialogue - There is no voice overs it is just the characters speaking in a conversational style.

Characters - This clip contains good characters, it is about Billy and Honey's wedding. It also contains family and friends gathering at a church.

Stories - It is about a wedding so includes romance. After they get married Honey goes into labour. The story is filmed in a church, we can tell this because she is wearing a wedding dress  and there is a vicar.

Camera Work:

Here at the beginning of the clip we see a EXTREME CLOSE UP of the wedding rings, so we know straight away that the programme is going to be about a wedding.

Also in the clip they use a TWO SHOT of the character Minty and his date.

An OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT also features in the clip. It shows the vicar conducting the ceremony.

This screenshot shows A CLOSE UP SHOT but it can also be classed as A POINT OF VIEW SHOT  from either Honey the bride or Billy the groom.

Here we have the REACTION SHOT of Billy reacting to Honey going into labour.

There are not any Medium Shots because it is an intimate ceremony. There are no overhead or aerial shots. There also is no establishing shot because we have already know what the scene is about due to the extreme close up of the rings.

My screenshot analysis

My screenshot is from the 'Inbetweeners' series. It is in the sub genre 'teen drama' because it is a series about teenagers, that are about 18 or 19, at college and what they get up to outside of college.
We can see that the picture is from a club scene, as we can see the bottles of alcohol in the background. Also we can tell this because of the lighting which is dark but the bar is lit up by coloured lighting. The  characters are featured in the middle of the shot this tells us that they are the main characters which the series is based around. The people in the background are not looking at the camera and are just getting on with what they are doing, this suggests that they are not important. We can tell that they are  young adults rather than teenagers because they are smartly dressed and look a bit out of place. They also do not look like stereotypical teenagers.