Disablity in TV Dramas

Defination: Someone who is lesser abled or is differently abled due to a mental or physical handicap.

Codes and Conventions

Codes:
Signs and symbols that you associate a certain genre with e.g. for horror, knife, mask, blood.

Conventions:
What you expect to happen within a certain genre.

All TV Dramas have the following ingredients:

• Characters - even particular kinds of characters e.g. at its most simple, good and bad characters.
• Stories - they all tell stories, whether those stories involve adventure, crime or romance and they often, but not always end happily.
• The stories are told against familiar backdrops  e.g. homes, police stations and offices (for crime dramas) most of which are created in studios. However most dramas use outside locations to create particular events.
• Camerawork - particular kinds of shots are used e.g. sequenced involving establishing shots followed by mid shots of characters, shot/reverse shots to show character interaction and in particular, close up to show emotions
• stories use dialogue to tell the stories. Occasionally monologues are built in 9as voice overs, a character telling a story)
• music is used yo punctuate the action, create effects (suspense, tension) and underline emotional moments
• Particular sub genres tend to have items which make them immediately identifiable - police cars, blue lights, operation theatres and scaples, triage/reception areas in hospitals. Icons of the genre, they symbolise the (sub)genre
• All TV dramas have parallel narratives.

Exemplar Paragraph

A final way in which representations of gender have been displayed is through camera work. For example the low angle looking down on the male in the whole illustrates his vulnerability and helpless position which displays him as subordinate. However a different low angle in conveying the tiger illustrates dominance of man and a hierarchy with the animal being lower. Establishing shots such as before the male jumps looking on in the long distant horizontal plane suggests his thoughts which leads to the male’s hasty decision. An extreme close up on the woman’s face when she’s been knocked down suggest demonstrates her fear and panic further suggesting the women’s weak position compared to the male. A pivot shot is used which creates the effect as the camera is on a fixed position that someone or something would be looking at them for example the dangerous tiger which overall represents vulnerability to the male and the woman.

Essay Editing

G322 Candidate Exemplar Response

Date: June 2010

Representation: Gender

Throughout the extract representations of gender are illustrates through various elements such as editing and sound. A mix of dominance and equality is produced through the extract however overall it is conveyed that women are physically subordinate compared to physically strong and stereotypically hegemonic male.

Representations of gender have been clearly illustrated throughout editing. For example a mix of pivot/panorama shots as well as fast tracking shots have been incorporated when the girl is trying to save and protect the male character. This illustrates the fast movement and action of the cut however it may also signify a chaotic environment where women struggle to take and maintain power. Another example of a tracking shot is portrayed when the male character is travelling down the rope. This editing however demonstrates to the audience the thought and power the character has from making a quick rational decision which is a stereotype of male behaviour. A long establishing shot is used which clearly signifies the three male characters in an equal line. The equal line personally connotes equality however as the majority of characters were male this illustrates women inferiorly in serious situations. Near the end of the extract one male in the process of saving a women from another dangerous man however the framing of the cut demonstrates representations of gender. For example the female protagonist was placed significantly behind the male which illustrates the girl’s subordination compared to the male.

The next element which produces representations of gender is through sound.

In one cut once the female had saved the male from the life threatening situation from the dialogue such as “Come on” with a high intensity, provoking the animal, suggests bravery and a strong masculinity. This dialogue may have been said as an attempt to regain status as he’s just been saved by a girl. At the start of the first cut a synchronisation from the strings is displayed when the music matches to the sombre or negative topic. “Let her go” by a different male suggest he may think of the male as being superior therefore shouldn’t have to run after her. In this scene within the barn one female protagonist was trying to bribe the male character through dialogue. Therefore this could represent woman being manipulative to convery power in antithesis to males who assert their power in a physical manner. “My best coat!” also creates representation of women such as an obsession of appearance and vanity. However positive representations towards woman are also portrayed. For example once one woman has undertaken the stressful experience the other female protagonist says “you okay” which suggests women to be expressive and caring in contrast to males who are minimal with their dialogue. The diegetic sound the dogs barking emphasise the bad situation of the woman conveying the woman’s vulnerability further. This is also emphasised by the harsh sound effects which build and sustain tension creating a climax.

The next factor which displays representations is through mise en scene. Expressions play a key role, for example when the blonde male is approached by the sabre toothed tiger his expression coveys fear leading to a sympathetic response from the audience however this contrasts greatly to the calm and collective expression of the girl, which suggests a swap in roles involving dominance. At the start of the scene the colour intensity is high on the male compared to the grainy background. This demonstrates the natural setting however focuses the attention on the male protagonist which could suggest male superiority. The females clothing (blonde) presents a male style which is in contrast to the stereotypes of a feminine woman, however another female character in the film is represented with a high pride in her appearance which conforms to the stereotype.

This however portrays the different roles and characteristics of women which may have changed in contemporary times. The props such as the heavy machinery emit connotations such as manual masculine feelings. However the female is in charge of the stereotypical male vehicle. Therefore this suggests equality and an improvement of women within jobs and status compared to the traditional domestic duties. Even though the women within the extract portray dominance through props, the male characters continually illustrate dominance. For example the males usage of the guns for example, the shot gun in the barn and the hand gun involving the key protagonists. This contrasts to how the brunette women displays authority by attempting blackmail. Overall this could suggest males and women are equally dominant although just portray it through different criteria.

A final way in which representations of gender have been displayed is through camera work. For example the low angle looking down on the male in the whole illustrates his vulnerability and helpless position which displays him as subordinate. However a different low angle in conveying the tiger illustrates dominance of man and a hierarchy with the animal being lower. Establishing shots such as before the male jumps looking on in the long distant horizontal plane suggests his thoughts which leads to the male’s hasty decision. An extreme close up on the woman’s face when she’s been knocked down suggest demonstrates her fear and panic further suggesting the women’s weak position compared to the male. A pivot shot is used which creates the effect as the camera is on a fixed position that someone or something would be looking at them for example the dangerous tiger which overall represents vulnerability to the male and the woman.

Overall the particular extract conveys elements of representation through various ways of media aspects. In conclusion a mix of equality is suggested overall, however the traditions where the male characters save the day are clearly presented. Although a mix of response from empathy juxtaposed to spite is displayed from the audience involving both genders.

                                                                                

Explanation/Analysis/Argument: 17 /20

Use of Example: 18 /20

Terminology:  6 /10

Merlin Essay

Camera Angles

The use of camera angles to show the difference in class and status within the clip from Merlin is shown at many different points throughout the clip.

The first time the camera angle is used to show class and status is when Merlin is leaving the castle and the camera goes from looking up at him when he is at the top of the castle steps to looking down at him when he is in the market. This use of camera angle is used to show the difference in classes between the two environments more than a change of class for the character as it shows how the public around Merlin in the scene would look at it.  They would see the castle as a higher class place within their town and anyone associated with the castle as higher classed, hence why they (and the camera) looked up when he was there. Once he left the castle and moves to the market it swaps to show the view of the people who live/work in the castle and how they would view the people in the market, looking down on them. Once Merlin is in the market, the camera shows him as the same status and height as the rest of the people there, this is a way of the using the camera to show that within this environment, he is seen as an equal.

The second part where camera angle is used to show class and status within this clip is when Merlin is fighting with the knight. When they are fighting Merlin ducks down a lot, hides and falls onto the floor whereas the knight constantly stands tall and looks down at Merlin. The camera uses a lot of over the shoulder shots during this point to show that the character is looking at the other as higher or lower (the majority being the knight looking at Merlin on the floor) this gives the audience once again the idea that Merlin is lower and also weaker than the knight.

Editing

The location starts off in a very old luxurious castle, one that must be owned by the king or someone very rich. Spooky dark corridors show its old and occasional big beams of light emphasise the fact it has big windows showing it must be a big castle. As Merlin is caught snooping around a very posh lady finds him. Straight away you can tell that she has more money than him by wearing a purple velvet dress, with her hair nicely pruned and covered in jewellery. This automatically shows the audience that Merlin shouldn’t be here and the lady that has found him is much higher above him. 

As the scene changes, Merlin walks down the steps from the front of the castle, this again shows how big the castle is in comparison to him and makes him seem very small. Furthermore the clothes that Merlin wears are old and bedraggled showing that he is a peasant, with scruffy hair and not being the cleanest of people the audience already get the impression that he’s a working boy and he doesn’t live in the best accommodation.

Finally we move onto the final main scene, ‘the fight scene’. The audience can automatically tell this scene is taking place in the peasant’s courtyard.  You can tell this because of the muddiness of the place, the people standing around are all peasant’s and all the props used like little market stalls where the peasant’s will trade there goods. As the person Merlin fights enters the peasant’s courtyard you can tell straight away that he’s not a peasant, mainly because of his costume. Covered in shining armour and blonder waving hair, with men stood behind him in the same costume you can tell that they belong with him and they’re his back-up. Whereas Merlin has a bedraggled woman standing behind him cowardly seeing what’s going on.

Throughout the Merlin extract there are many examples of Rich and Poor people. This is can be shown through the use of editing. The opening scene in Merlin starts off with Merlin in a room the camera pace starts off slow but gradually gets faster cutting back and forth to what Merlin is looking at, this is use of match on action. This match on action is also shown with an eyeline shot, him looking at objects could show his alienness to these different objects to show that he has never seen extravagant things before. Merlin is acting suspicious this is emphasised by the fast pace cutting back and forth this makes the audience suspect that Merlin is not supposed to be in the castle, connoting his lower status. Merlin seems to be intruding the castle this makes us think that Merlin is from a lower class background as he is sneaking around. The suspense is brought up to a climax when the royal woman enters the room. The shots on the royal woman is long shots, this gives us as an audience a clue of her royal status and importance in comparison to him who has shorter shots showing his status. This suspense was shown by the camera pace gradually getting faster and faster. This fast pace shows the importance of the royal woman furthermore this is emphasised by the music working in action with the fast pace. As Merlin exits the castle the editing slows down, this shows he is in his own social class.   

There are many variations of sound in this clip, we start with some low, dark sounds which set the mood and give an indication that the character, Merlin, is possibly doing something he shouldn’t be.

There are shadowy, dark almost ghost like whispers which are showing that there may be something sinister around or that Merlin may be in danger.

Sound

When the old woman comes into the room there is a sudden crescendo in sound which indicates that there should be suspense, when she enters the room the music in the background stops, this may indicate her higher class than Merlin and that she is more powerful than him, also it may have stopped because Merlin may have in fact been caught in a place he should not have been in.

When the old woman looks into the mirror, you see an old woman, to me this signals that something may be wrong because she is possibly pretending to be the younger woman, a witch, perhaps? The sudden shivering sounds show the audience that there may be something wrong; it may also be signalling that Merlin is in danger.

As Merlin leaves the room, there is no music whilst he is in the courtyard or the streets, just many Diegetic sounds such as the horse and carts and the bustling streets, it sets the mood even more and has a happy, natural scene.

When the fight begins, there is exciting, happy music going on in the background, this shows that Merlin and the Knight are just playing around and it’s not going to be a bloody and dangerous fight between the two, they are even, possibly, friends that are having a bit of a humorous fight.

But when the sounds of the weapons crash onto the tables and smash things, the sounds are loud and powerful, showing that Merlin may possibly be in serious danger if it were to be an actual fight.

Mise en scene

The location starts off in a very old luxurious castle, one that must be owned by the king or someone very rich. Spooky dark corridors show its old and occasional big beams of light emphasise the fact it has big windows showing it must be a big castle. As Merlin is caught snooping around a very posh lady finds him. Straight away you can tell that she has more money than him by wearing a purple velvet dress, with her hair nicely pruned and covered in jewellery. This automatically shows the audience that Merlin shouldn’t be here and the lady that has found him is much higher above him. 

As the scene changes, Merlin walks down the steps from the front of the castle, this again shows how big the castle is in comparison to him and makes him seem very small. Furthermore the clothes that Merlin wears are old and bedraggled showing that he is a peasant, with scruffy hair and not being the cleanest of people the audience already get the impression that he’s a working boy and he doesn’t live in the best accommodation.

Finally we move onto the final main scene, ‘the fight scene’. The audience can automatically tell this scene is taking place in the peasant’s courtyard.  You can tell this because of the muddiness of the place, the people standing around are all peasant’s and all the props used like little market stalls where the peasant’s will trade there goods. As the person Merlin fights enters the peasant’s courtyard you can tell straight away that he’s not a peasant, mainly because of his costume. Covered in shining armour and blonder waving hair, with men stood behind him in the same costume you can tell that they belong with him and they’re his back-up. Whereas Merlin has a bedraggled woman standing behind him cowardly seeing what’s going on.

Merlin - SOUND

Sound has the power to create certain moods, to create character, can signal events that are about to happen and to muniplate audiences.

Sound has 3 sections

• Human voice
• Sound effects
• Music

These create a balence of realism to make the audience believe what's on screen.

Sound has two sections

• Diegetic (talking, phones ringing, footsteps)
• None- diegetic (music) (foley sound - sound effects of every day sounds)

Voice over - someone explaining what is happeneing within the drama
Direct Address - when the characters on screen dirctly address the audience
Incidental Music - helps to provoke emotion for the audience
Dissonant Music - music to show an approching menace or disaster
Parallel sound - music the audience expects to hear
Contrapunal sound - music the audience doesn't expect to hear
Sting - a louder crescendo which enhances the drama of a current situation
Verisimilitude: the believeable logic of the texts world (which appears real)
Diegesis: the world of the TV programme , this is what we see on screen 
Ambient sound - natural asound occuring there they are filming (wind, trees blowing, birds)