In the extract of Hotel Babylon, representation of ethnicity is constructed with the help camera angles, mise en scene, editing and sound.
In the opening scene of the extract, mise en scene is used to show us a white male with a suit on being talked to by two men in uniform who appear to be police officers. A semic code is then used to portray to the audience that this man is the owner of the hotel because of the clothes he is wearing and his attitude towards the police officers as he appears to be controlling man which suits the owner of a hotel. We can tell that he is high up in the hierarchy of his workplace which fits the stereotype of white males being wealthy and having good jobs.
The following scene shows lots of illegal working racing around to try and get hidden. Dramatic, intense music is included to portray the workers panic and hurry to hide and not be found. Quick editing is used to cut between different people trying to find a hiding spot to increase the feeling of urgency. There appears to be conflict between the two races as the white officers are entering to find the non-white workers and take them away as they don't have the authority to be doing what they're doing. This is a stereotype as there is conflict between the races.
In the following scene an action code is used when a woman faints due to her diabetes. A black male immediately helps her out, this is a countertype as black males are usually portrayed as only caring about themselves and a bit thuggish but he is caring and helps her out.
In the next scene, a black male cleaner is captured by the white officers. This meets the stereotype of black people being criminals as during a mid shot we can see that the white man is in charge and the black male has clearly been captured. Also he meets the stereotype of black people being pitied or pitiful as we are made to feel sorry for him in this circumstance.
In conclusion, ethnicity stereotypes are massively used in this extract through the use of camera work, mise en scene, editing and sound to show the storyline that white males and coming into the hotel to capture the black workers.
EAA = 10
ReplyDeleteEG = 11
T = 5
TOTAL = 26
You are linking your points to representations of ethnicity, and explaining how they meet/challenge stereotypes. It is pleasing to see that you are starting to use Barthes' codes in your work.
EBI: This response is not detailed enough. You need more information about the camera work and the mise-en-scene in particular.
Use more key terms e.g. you write that an action code is used to show the woman fainting, however, you miss the opportunity to mention the type of shot that is used to capture it, or the angle of the camera at this point. Towards the end of this response, you describe the action, without mentioning anything about the four areas of textual analysis. You need to be analytical and technical. Separate your response into the four areas of textual analysis to ensure that you do this. Use your glossary to help you to be specific about the techniques that you are seeing.