Representations of Disability Essay

How does the extract construct representations of disability?

In the extract, representations of disability are presented through using various methods, such as sound, editing, mise-en-scene and camerawork. These develop the extract in the fact that they add extra information towards the audience as editing can convey feelings, camerawork can place focus on a frame and be used as a point of view shot on a character, mise-en-scene establishes the background and what is put into a scene of frame and sound is either diegetic or non-diegetic which provides the scene with a source that sets the mood or atmosphere.
Sound provides the extract mainly with how we infer character’s feelings. The hand-held shot portrays Eli walking along the bridge and the use of the diegetic music in the background infers his sense of panic as the beats from the distant music sound like a ‘heartbeat’. The low volume of the music emphasises that Eli is in trouble and perhaps no-one will be able to hear him as he is far away from public areas. In the scene of where the two brothers are in the toilets, softer voices are used to imply that the disabled brother is embarrassed because he needs to have a carer with him all of the time, even in places which are particularly private to him. Scene four represents patronisation through the girl’s laughter of when Eli falls on the floor, due to his condition, as he is the one on the floor whilst the girls are crowding around him. The first scene includes Christmas music that sets the scene as both the brothers start off with a normal brotherly relationship, but then ends with pity, through the brother telling the shop assistant about his condition, which is mirrored through the softer music.
Editing is quite rarely used in the extract as most of the representations are through sound or mise-en-scene. Scene four uses fast editing to express the anxiety that is caused from one of the girls spraying silly string on Eli. At the end of the scene, the editing slows down and this may be because Eli is no longer moving which is why the editing is no longer moving. To counter the idea that fast editing is used for conveying panic, quick editing is used in the last scene to highlight how competent the disabled brother is as he is ordering the people around him to help out, for example, he asks the couple to not crowd him as he will be fine.
Surroundings in a programme are significant as they can convey what someone’s personality is like. The scene of when the brothers are in the café presents an idea of their personalities as behind the disabled brother is a lifeguard ring to highlight that he needs saving and even further in the background are broken buildings to represent that he is broken, however, behind the non-disabled brother is a tree to portray that he is alive and well. Romance is inferred in the last scene as Eli gives an angle to the girl in the café, the angle signifies that he needs saving and that she is his saviour. Additionally, scene five illustrates the waitress giving the disabled brother a biscuit with his drink which could be first interpreted as though she is pitying him, however she then goes on to say that he is her tenth customer, yet still gives a biscuit to him as well.
The camera angles help to highlight how someone is feeling in that specific moment. The Dutch angle, in scene four, is used to present Eli as being disorientated, this positions the audience to regard that Eli is disabled as he is on the floor. In the same scene, when Eli falls down, the waitress dominates the frame which implies that she is the one that knows Eli and is educated about his illness. The use of the high angle in scene six, makes Eli look weak as the two men are looking down upon him, this represents the stereotype of disabled people as being weak.

Essay 1: Audience and Institution

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Doc Martin four scene sequence analysis

Analyse in detail all four sequences.

EAA- Explanation, analysis, argument (20 marks)

EG- Use of example (20 marks)

T- Terminology (10 marks)

The establishing shot is of an outdated doctor’s surgery, lacking many of the modern items one would expect to see, this cultural code immediately positions the audience to regard the countryside as ‘behind’ in terms of technology and other advancements- this is a common stereotype of the countryside. The use of a wide angle allows the audience to see the contrast between the suit wearing Doc Martin (who represents the ‘city’) and the two boiler suit wearing tradesman (who represent the ‘countryside’). Doc Martin is positioned higher in the frame, which could connote power and authority, whilst one of the two workers appear lazy; he is seated, overweight and eating. The room appears uncared for, it is lit using natural soft key lighting and through the use of mise en scene, we can see that there are boxes piled up.  To convey the action in the room, the pace of editing is progressively shortened to add to the increased tension and there are a series of medium shots to help portray this. 

The insert shot is of an old fashioned police office which infers an officer who is hoovering; this implies that he has time to do other things- there is not much crime in the countryside. Additionally, when Doc Martin enters the room, the police officer is conveyed as being shocked because there is some sort of action happening which is rare and the use of the cutting rate helps to illustrate this. The utility of a tilt emphasises the police officer's power, however, this is then ruined by Doc Martin overriding his power by ordering him, this could portray the binary opposite as usually, the police order people, not the citizens and the police officer is from the countryside and Doc Martin is from the city. Through the use of mise en scene, we can see the stereotype of people in the countryside being classed as ‘backwards’ as the scene highlights the lack of modernisation and the minimalistic theme.

The hand-held shot is used to convey Doc Martins sense of immediacy and it is a two person shot portraying his establishment of power over the woman, this   is highlighted through the way that Doc Martin is walking through the shot- forward to the front of the screen. The scene has high key lighting to engage the audience in the fact that the woman is flirting with Doc Martin. In the scene, the camera is using a track method which helps to follow the action that is going on where the woman is repeatedly trying to get Doc Martin’s attention. Through the use of mise en scene, the audience is able to see the typical background and noises of the countryside- the seagulls that are generalised to the seaside and the sea. The stereotype is reversed when we can see the woman with her car, this can be seen as unconventional as it is rare to have a car in the countryside.

The buffer shot is used to portray a view from a different perspective and is also utilised so that we can see who is talking over to Doc Martin, therefore, we can now see the reversed continuity of direction. In the scene, there are no significant camera movements that can be noticed as the scene is being filmed in just one place. However, at the end of the scene, the camera follows the action by using the pan method and establishes the background. There is high key lighting which is natural and produces a brightly lit set to help adjust the surroundings with what the audience can see. In the background of the scene, we can see a seagull that represents a dominant ideology of the scenery. The scene is done as a ‘oner shot’ as there is no editing which has been done. 


Reflection and Target:
I have not added in any of the four key themes in racial representations by Alvarado. I also could have mentioned some of the Roland Barthes techniques and unity and conflict. There is also not enough of the analysis for the sound and editing.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Questions

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