Doc Martin extract essay

Discuss the Ways the Extract Constructs Representations of Regional Identity

Doc Martin- Discuss the ways the extract constructs representations of regional identity

Discuss the ways the extract constructs representations of regional identity.

• Camera/angles/movement
• Sound
• Editing
• Mise-en scene

Notes

• Cornish- Often shown as being 'backwards', living in rural areas or working on farms
• London- Rich, posh, snobby, upper class
• Establishing shot at beginning shows setting and characters in frame
• Outfits vary, deep focus allows us to see the costumes clearly
• Working class workers
• Middle class doctor
• Lighting encourages the look of working class (manual labour)
• Low angle shot proves that Doc Martin is a higher status
• Visually see the sink which emphasises what the workers are doing (action code)
• One of the workers (son), is an unconventional character who goes against the stereotype
• Music is sleepy sounding which shows the village is quiet and calm
• When the water bursts, it shows they can't handle stress as they can't deal with it but Doc Martin can which shows he is from a different background
• Close up of his face as he shouts which shows his commanding nature as he is from a different background
• Long shot of him walking with dog which shows his clothing compared to villagers with basic clothes (semic code)
• Over the shoulder shot 
• Mid shot 
• Shot reverse shot shows fast paced editing 
• Tracking shot follows person

Example of tv dramas that represent regional identity

Doc Martin- Set in a rural Cornish village/ shown as being backwards and living in rural areas



Downton Abbey- A very wealthy family living in a large castle like house/very rich, posh, happy, living in castles and being very “royal.”

Shameless- Set in Manchester on a Chatsworth council estate/ Portrayed as being uneducated, chavs and criminals 

Happy Valley- Shown as living in the Calder Valley in Yorkshire/ Portrayed as living in the rural countryside


Stella- A simple job that doesn't require much labour as she may be seen a less intelligent. As well as being set in a rural town in Wales/ Often shown as being less intelligent and living in the countryside

Representation of regional identity

• Refers to here in the UK someone is from
• Refers to areas such as 'north' or 'south', and country 'England' or 'Scotland' and cities such as 'London' or 'Manchester'

•Scottish – often shown as being money obsessed, won’t pay for anything, drinks a lot of alcohol, loves the outdoors, wears kilts, eats haggis, quite aggressive and violent

 

•Welsh –Often shown as living in the middle of the countryside, less intelligent, good at singing (Male voice choirs),with people making jokes about them “shagging sheep”

 

• Irish – often shown as living in the countryside, working in rural areas such as farms, being very religious, being good at dancing and singing (love a good craic), very friendly but less intelligent

 

• English – often shown as being racist (think St George cross on houses or cars), obsessed with beer and football living in London. Sometimes the stereotype goes in the opposite direction of showing English people as very rich, posh, happy, living in castles and being very “royal.”

 

•London – There are two main stereotypes of Londoners. One is that they are often shown as being rich, posh, snobby, upper class, Hugh Grant types from central or west london. The other is that they often shown as being from north, east or south London, poor, common, lower class, criminalistic, violent “Kidulthood” style

 

•Manchester / Newcastle / Liverpool – Often shown as being “chavs”, wearing fake designer labels, or tracksuits, drinking a lot, being aggressive, uneducated, criminals

 

• Essex – often shown as being glamorous but cheap, footballer’s wives, lots of partying, being quite stupid

 

•Yorkshire – Often shown as living in rural countryside, with rolling hills and cobbled streets, being quite old fashioned (despite Yorkshire being the biggest county and containing large cities such as: Leeds, York and Sheffield)

 

•Cornwall / Somerset – Often shown as being “backwards”, living in rural areas, working on farms

 

•South England – often shown as being the centre of culture, modern, classy, clever, sunny, richer, doing middle class jobs where one dresses smartly

 

•North England – often shown as being poorer, bad weather, lower class, aggressive, less culture, less clever, doing working class jobs such as builders etc