The British Film Industry

Expressing Personality Traits Within Images

I was given the words cynical, domineering and self-centered. 

To express that the subject was cynical I used props such as a piece of paper with the words "THE END IS NEAR" written on it. This aimed to show how negative the person was and that they were expecting the worst to come. 

To show how they were domineering I added a second actor who was dressed in dark attire to show how they were below the main subject in status. This aimed to imply that they had power over the other being. To further suggest this I ensured that the person holding the pen expressed no remorse for the character who's head was in his arms. 

To show the third trait I made use of lighting which focuses on the main character to show how they were self-centered. This was further proved by the lack of consideration shown for the boy who looked upset.

Representation of Age

How is the representation of age constructed in this extract? 

The first two seconds include a close up of the elderly man's feet walking. This alone strikes fear into the two teenager boy's which is seen in the medium close up where the dialogue is hissed at one another. The authority the teacher has over the boys is portrayed by the proxemics as the boys are stood separated giving the impression they're being interrogated.  In addition, the stuttering to the man's question shows he they're afraid to anger him. The mise en scene shows the age of the characters as the elderly man is wearing a dull button up cardigan giving which presents the idea he is dressed to keep warm and look smart as opposed to following a trend which is what the teenagers appear to be doing. This is suggested by the variation in their uniform despite both attending the same school showing how they have each put in effort to enable themselves to appear as individuals. 

Age is further indicated by the the sarcasm the teacher uses in his dialogue revealing how he views himself as withholding a higher status as he chooses the direction the conversation follows and is able to be humorous but the boys must conform. The *click* paired with the imperitive "Give it." shows that the man does not want to mess around and disproves of poor behavior. The boys sheepishly returns the broken video camera into the man's hands implying that teenagers are impressionable.  

When the female teacher walks over to the three male characters she appears to, at first, have authority but her actions are soon undermined my the older man when he says "You did take out an insurance?" patronizingly as if he knew better. Here the idea that the elderly are wiser is constructed as his smug expression in the close up suggests he knows better. 

As the clip progresses the idea that teenagers gossip and cannot handle their emotions is portrayed. At 1.50m Amy walks into the medium long shot at says "Great...more people chatting about my family" suggesting her age group have been discussing it all day and getting involves in other peoples' business. When Amy lashes out verbally when the boy informs her of his presence if she ever needed to "talk" it implies she cannot cope and is unable to process her emotions or deal with situations maturely. 

At 2.43m when Ronan is seen walking late into class a proposal is suggested, "congratulations to the happy couple", to have taken place. Instantly the audience arrive at the opinion that they are too young and too unsure of themselves to complete such an act which is also shown by the close up on his fiance's face. 

4 minutes into the clip and a teacher is shown to be wearing typical teenage clothes which presents the idea that older people do not want to appear to be old and almost fear age. The music paired with the scene makes the action appear humorous and implies older generations not following the stereotype of dressing poorly is funny. 

Representation of Gender in 'Wire in the Blood'

Exam Question: How does the extract from 'Wire in the Blood' construct representations of gender?

Within the extract from Wire in the Blood it is shown that the two main characters, Alex and Tony, defy their gender stereotypes and do not conform to society's ideologies.

The beginning of the extract takes place is a solemn setting that appears to be the scene of a crime. The scene is so dark it appears to have a black and white filter applied. The colours contrast with the non conformity to the portrayal of the characters' biological determinism as the female has taken the leading role and is being authoritative and aggressive. The aggression is shown not only by the discourteous pointing of her finger but also by the scene being shot using a handheld camera which suggests haste and control. The dialogue shows she's aggressive when Tony says to Alex "you weren't questioning them, you were picking a fight!". As the scene continue Alex walks towards the camera and thus the proxemics imply she is of greater importance and status, therefore in a position to be authoritative. Also used to ensure Alex is the center of the audience's attention is not only that she's foregrounded but also the use of a medium-close up shot that blurs the environment around her and only shows her face and shoulders in detail which also draws the audience's attention onto Alex. Alex's appearance is rather conservative as she's wearing a turtleneck with a large coat wrapped around her, the connotations of this is that she gives little consideration for her exterior and is instead more focused on maintaining her role within her career. This subverts the stereotype of females evolving around their appearance as the lack of evident mise en scene allows the audience to focus more on the narrative. Inclusive in the portrayal of Alex being authoritative is the editing which uses straight cuts between shots no longer than ten seconds as she's delegating tasks to her colleagues "Talk to the neighbors, check for reports of domestic abuse..". Alex does not greet her peers and instead uses imperatives to avoid a reply as she seems confident of her position being above the people she's interacting with.

The lead male character, Tony, also opposes his gender stereotype by presenting a caring, submissive demeanor instead of society's ideal expectation for him to be masculine and dominating. Alex tells Tony "I need your input" . As this is discussed Tony continues to distance himself from Alex as an attempt to resist, however, his body still turns to face Alex out of suggested politeness, this shows hows he isn't taking control of the situation and that he is actually hurt by Alex. To express his feelings so openly is not what his gender's social construction suggests he'd do. Alex then replies "Tony...please.". Tony is then convinced and follows her instruction, "Send me the files". This insinuates Tony is easy to convince and is submissive to a woman. The shot reverse shot conversation shows the desperation Alex is portraying. The next scene shows Tony working endlessly trying to find out an incentive behind the crime he's supposedly investigating implying he's noticed how much Alex needs him which further suggests his caring persona. The music behind creates tension as the audience waits in anticipation for Tony to make sense of the situation he's evaluating. The portrayal this has of his gender is that he cares about the justice of the victims involves and that he's attempting to solve a mystery. Big close ups are used to show the depth in which Tony is analyzing the photographs which suggests he wants to work well for Alex as she told him she needs his "input". The mise en scene suggests Tony has just came home from work as he is still dressed in a shirt but has rolled up his sleeves and appears to be more relaxed as well as the cup of coffee he places down at the introduction to the scene suggests Tony calm and in his element. Tony is shown more evidently to be caring when he's "babysitting" Alex's son Ben. Tony asks "So...what happened to the Nanny?" which implies he cares about Alex and is concerned for Ben.  Ben and Tony are suggested to have just met because Ben is asking him questions about himself but despite it being a new relationship it seems to include a lot of trust already as Ben confides in Tony that his Mum is "lonely". During the conversation their two heads are laid close to each other implying they're both relaxed.

The behavior of Tony is contrasted with the other males' within the extract who portray men as violent and disloyal. This follows the stereotype society have constructed for their gender. When the bold man in the black jacket, which suggests danger, enters the house he puts on an act of concern, "you can't stay here, it's just not safe" which he then continues to inform them of the existence of damp which is actually used to lure in a resident of the assumed abandoned house who then gets his head smashed against the wall. Not only was betrayal shown by the man injuring someone he was pretending to care about, it's also shown by the lack of movement among the other people in the house who don't move to check on their peer. This, however, can imply the other residents fear the uninvited guest as they'd be in danger by moving closer to him. The scene starts with the diagetic sound of a door being opened along with the shouting of the intruder. This portrays confidence as he's confronting being within their own environment. The people living inside the house appear relaxed and are surrounded by bottles of drink and mess as if they're just squatting. Non-diagetic sound is also heard which expresses the fear that the men within the house can't as they're suggested to be putting on a front to not expose any weakness. The low key lighting paired with the short, quick straight cuts builds up the tension to when the intruder injures one of the men residing in the house.

Within the scene woman are also portrayed as the weaker gender when the man wearing the black coat uses "You ladies still here?" as an offence. The rhetorical question shows he's in charge and that as "ladies" they're below him and must succumb to his authority. The portrayal of gender within the gender doesn't tie to the expected binary opposites and instead shows different sides to each gender.

Gender Representation

Within Media gender is often represented through a set of characteristics and achievements of society's expectations of what a person with a particular gender should be or do. Despite more than two genders existing it is highly uncommon for film or TV to break out of the non binary gender conformity.

Analysis of Beyonce - If I Were A Boy

Beyonce is known to be a feminist and thus strives for equality between males and females within society. Through doing this she is also remodeling how each gender is portrayed which has allowed people to be more expressive within themselves. However, the song 'If I Were A Boy' stereotypes the male race and by doing this also limits them by insinuating all males do particular things.  

If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I’d roll outta bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I’d kick it with who I wanted
And I’d never get confronted for it.
'Cause they’d stick up for me.

The first verse, as shown above, implies that if the protagonist were "a boy" then she'd be able to just "roll outta bed" implying life was easy and without complications. Furthermore guys are suggested to not care about their presentation and therefore are able to "throw on what" they "wanted and go". This has the connotation of implying that there is the expectations for females to dress well and make an effort such as wearing make up. The next line, "Drink beer with the guys" is an act that society are insinuated to expect from a male and also that they are in groups almost like a pack of wolves which uses animal imagery but also implies they are predators which fits with the next line "and chase after girls" as if "girls" were the male gender's prey or possession.

The verse continues, "I'd kick it with who I wanted And I'd never get confronted for it." which suggest men can have sex with who they want but when the woman's a protagonist she DOES get "confronted for it" which explores the idea of double standards existing where it's accepted for one gender to complete an act but is frowned upon for the binary opposite to do the same thing, such as sex. The protagonist implies it's not only accepted for men to "kick it" with who they want but they're also offered support by their peers who are said to "stick up" for each other which again presents the idea of men being in packs.

Below is an extract from the chorus.
I’d listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he’s taken you for granted
The protagonist began to speak of the things they'd do differently if they were a boy. "I'd listen to her" shows how men are stereotyped to be a gender that don't "listen" and that despite the "how it hurts" their partner they continue as if insinuating males had no remorse. Later the chorus includes "he's taken you for granted" which suggests men are expected to not respect their partners and instead don't see their relationship as important.

The next verse includes "I'd put myself first" which therefore presents the idea that this is what a man may do. Previous to this the idea of a male cheating was portrayed and despite being unfaithful the man is suggested to still expect his partner to "be faithful" which again shows double standards. The idea that a female would always be faithful is implied "'Cause I know that she’d be faithful"  as the word "know" suggests certainty that she'd be "Waitin’ for me to come home" as if the world evolves around her partner. 

The bridge includes the lyrics:
It’s a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I’d forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong
The idea that the male has to "come back" after taking it for "granted" the first time implies that males are flippant but also have to lose something before they realize they should respect someone whilst they're with them. To put down the "hurt" the partner was feeling and "Say it's just a mistake" suggest they're not understanding or sympathetic over other peoples' feelings. Furthermore the expectation that someone "would wait for you" implies they feel they are superior and worth waiting around for. The protagonist then goes against this idea and says "You thought wrong" which suggests some men are disillusioned. 

But you’re just a boy
You don’t understand
Yeah, you don’t understand, oh
How it feels to love a girl someday
You wish you were a better man
You don’t listen to her
You don’t care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
'Cause you’ve taken her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
The last verse belittles the idea of being a "boy" by using the word "just" before as if it isn't anything to be proud of. "You don't understand" suggests that because he is nothing more than "just a boy" he is unable to grasp the concept of respect and is almost enabling him to get away with it because she expects nothing more. It further implies that they'll never know "How it feels to love a girl" because they're unqualified to succeed such a thing. "You wish you were a better man" explored the difference between a man and a boy which insinuates he is not yet matured and when he's a man maybe he'll be "better".

The song 'If I Were A Boy' presents a very negative portrayal of how males act and can be viewed as biased depending on the conditions it was written under or could only be correct for one member of the male race. 

Analysis of Lily Allen - Hard Out Here

The song's first verse:
I suppose I should tell you what this bitch is thinking
You'll find me in the studio and not in the kitchen
I won't be bragging 'bout my cars or talking 'bout my chains
Don't need to shake my ass for you 'cause I've got a brainThe idea that a female is a bitch if she goes against social norms is presented in the opening line. By the singer saying that you're more liable to find her "in the studio" meaning she's working and making money whilst being independent instead of being in the "kitchen" which is what women have been stereotyped to feel is their position in the household. The next line the protagonist tells the audience that she "won't be bragging" showing that she is self-fulfilled and doesn't need approval or acceptance from others. The verse continue, "Don't need to shake my ass for you 'cause I've got a brain". Not only does this positively impact the female audience by implying they don't need to be objectified to be respected but it also give negative connotations as the singer is saying if you have a "brain" you won't "shake" your "ass". This limits what the female gender can do because realistically someone should be able to do what they want with their body and not be objectified providing it isn't harming anyone else.If I told you 'bout my sex life, you'd call me a slut
When boys be talking about their bitches, no one's making a fuss
Double standards are then presented where by a female having a "sex life" means she's a "slut" but when "boys be talking about their bitches, no one's making a fuss" despite using the word "bitches" and thus dehumanizing their sexual partners.

The finishing line of the the bridge, "Forget your balls and grow a pair of tits" implies it's better to be a female and therefore not only goes against feminism and equality between genders but it also degrades the male so far as to convince them to change genders.
The chorus includes the line "It's hard out here for a bitch" being repeated several times implying it's importance. The idea of a powerful woman trying to break our of the stereotypes society has forced upon her has once again labelled her as a "bitch" for doing so.
If you're not a size six, then you're not good looking
Well, you better be rich, or be real good at cooking
You should probably lose some weight 'cause we can't see your bones
You should probably fix your face or you'll end up on your ownThe verse presents the idea of the idealistic woman and that do be "good looking" you have to be a "size six" suggesting larger or even skinnier people aren't attractive. This demeaning expectation is almost impossible and unhealthy for certain people to even attempt to achieve and therefore it insinuates that being attractive is extremely important especially if you want to have a partner because you'll "end up on your own" if you're not a certain size. 

Don't you want to have somebody who objectifies you?
Have you thought about your butt? Who's gonna tear it in two?
We've never had it so good, uh-huh, we're out of the woods
And if you can't detect the sarcasm, you've misunderstood
The singer begins to find "sarcasm" in the things women are expected to want such as being "objectified" and someone who tears "your butt" in "two". The graphic imagery enables the audience to find the "sarcasm" and if you're given these things then you're supposed to be grateful as if you've "never had it so good".

Inequality promises that it's here to stay
Always trust the injustice 'cause it's not going away
The song is closed off by the two lines above which are repeated for effect where the audience is reminded of the "Inequality" which the song has exploited. The "injustice" presented is said to not be "going away". However, the song has a positive effect of encouraging genders to break out from the ideals of society.

Rick Ross - Trilla

The word "Trilla" is a cross between the worlds "true" and "real". The song starts by Rick Ross crediting a list of influential people within his life. The song is introduced by the line "With kush and lean on my breath" which implies its a commendable thing to use illegal drugs and drink. The demeanor Rick Ross is attempting to portray is that he is "The big boss" and is leaving up to the male stereotype to take a dominating position. An example of who Rick Ross is shouting out to is "Brown Lee" because he's "slangin in H-Town" so he's admiring people because they're dealing heroin.In the strip club with 50 gram is all ya know
Shout out to Boobie Boys, young drug dealers
The lines above imply that being rich is all these people know and once again he's applauding "drug dealers" despite them being "young". The idolization of these people initially looks negative as if the business Rick Ross is in is committing crimes and whilst analyzing the lyrics its evident that all the people mentioned are males and that they're the people boys should be idolizing.  

Sound and Music

Sound and music are used within film to reinforce the atmosphere of the scene. This therefore enhances the audience's emotional experience by suggesting a character's thoughts and feelings by the genre of music or type of sound. Furthermore, sound and music can be used to build a sense of continuity by using techniques such as sound bridges which allow two scenes to run seamlessly from one to the other. 

Diegetic sound refers the sound within a scene. Despite not being able to see the source of the sound, as long as it's relative to the scene, it can still be diagetic. 

Non-Diegetic sound is sound that comes from another scene, like when sound bridges are used, where they do not relate to the action within the current frame. Theme songs and voice overs are also examples of non-diegetic sound.

When the sound is from a contrapuntal source it makes the sound track contradict the image track and can be used to give a humorous effect. 

Camera Angles

Extreme Long Shot/ Expository Shot

This shot can be taken from as far as a quarter of a mile away and is commonly used to introduce a scene as it usually features the exterior of a building and thus sets the scene very effectively. 

Long Shot

Features the entire human body, from the top of the subject's head to the bottom of their feet which sit at the edge of the frame. Despite the main focus being on the character, background details still emerge.

Medium Long Shot

Also known as a three-quarter shot, this includes the subject from the knees up and is used to show the subject in relation to its surroundings. 

Medium Shot

This shot is usually used when there is dialogue and features the subject from the waist up.

Medium Close Up

This enables the audience to focus on the subject by framing their head and cutting off the shot at their chest. This therefore reveals only a bit of the surrounding environment and allows emotion to be perceived with more clarity. This is usually used in documentaries.

Close Up

This frame shows little background and concentrates solely on the subject's face or a very specific detail. Everything apart from the face is a blur.

Big Close Up

This includes incorporating the eyes and mouth within the frame but not the entire face.

Extreme Close Up
This can sometimes focus on detail that the audience wouldn't notice without the use of this shot but can also just focus on a particular feature on a subject's face, such as an eye.

Low Angle

This adds a sense of confusion to a viewer and makes them feel powerless within the action of a scene. Due to the position of the shot, the background will usually just be the sky or the ceiling. The object of the frame will also appear to be taller, thus making the viewer feel even more inferior. 

Canted Angle

To suggest instability the camera is sometimes tilted as opposed to being placed horizontally. The effect this has is unifying the character with the viewer as it's usually used for point of view shots and thus shows what is happening from the subject's eye shot.

Worm's Eye View

This is a shot from below and is the opposite of a bird's eye view. It is commonly used to give a third perspective and gives the effect that the object is taller than it actually is.

High Angle

Despit not being as extreme as a bird's eye view the frame still allows an overview of the scene to be seen as the camera is elevated above the action. This frame is used to make the object seem smaller and less significant. 

Bird's Eye View

This shot is taken from an aerial position and looks down on the action. This shows where particular things are within a scene and can be used to introduce action.