Feedback from representation of ethicity Essay

Representation of Ethnicity - Essay

How ethnicity is represented in the TV Drama 'Hotel Babylon'

 

   In both the mise-en-scene and camera work ethnicity is presented to show higher and lower status for different cultures. It also shows change in some characters personalities and how they use their ethnicity as an advantage.

A higher status for the black man in the suit is denoted in an over-the-shoulder shot when he is in dialogue with an old friend. Although, despite him doing well for himself it does show the change in his character going from a confident business man to the body language of an embarrassed person. The costume, voice and hair of his friend suggest that this is who he surrounded himself with therefore how he possibly used to act. The difference is that he is now dressed more formally than the other, suggesting he is doing well for himself but may be embarrassed in the eyes of the other, as his ethnicity is not stereotyped to a particular job like this, therefore he may have been afraid of what his friend would think of him.

Another representation of higher and lower status in ethnicity is shown from another over-the-head shot of the Chinese man in his hotel room sitting down, with two white maids standing up in front of him. This shot allows us to see the Chinese man’s point of view of the situation and signifies to the audience that he has control over the two white women, implying he has a higher status. Mise-en-scene also visualises representation in ethnicity of higher status in the Chinese man’s bedroom also, although instead it shows the setting. The man has an animal printed throw on the bed, signifying that he may be getting ready to be involved with sexual intercourses in the bed telling us the maids are there for a different reason. His positioning on the bed also implies to the audience that he is again in control over the whole situation.

In the first scene of the short clip, we see the black man who works in the hotel serving the white man resting in a deckchair by the poolside. The costumes and lighting connotes a large implication of higher and lower status. The lighting is directly focused on just the white man in this long-shot and we can see just his facial features and not the black man. Also, the white man is surrounded by the setting of white furniture, white walls and his costume is also white. Comparing this to the black man in his black suit costume, this shows the white man has the higher status due to the focus being all on him.

The use of lighting on hierarchy characters is used in another scene of when the white man and woman are having a conversation with the chef in the kitchen. We can see the white characters are presented with lighting shone directly onto their heads, whereas the Mexican man is not suggesting the white characters have the higher status.



Preliminary investigation into TV Drama

Investigating ethnicity in the TV Drama 'Hotel Babylon'

 

 

Camera work for representation of ethnicity in Hotel Babylon

 

1.

 

Camera shot or movement name:

     - Over-the-shoulder shot by the swimming pool

 

 

How ethnicity is represented:

     - Makes the black man in the suit seem embarrassed because he may not be stereotypically judged by his other black friend to work in such a formal job, his expression also points out he seems worried how his friend is going to visualise him now he has seen him in a more formal light

 

2.

Camera shot or movement name:
     - Point of view shot of the Chinese man in the bedroom

How ethnicity is represented:
     - Signifies the intimidation of the girls being forced into doing something for money, shows the chinese man has power over the two white females


 

 Mise-en-scene for representation of ethnicity in Hotel Babylon

 

1.

Mise-en-scene key term:
     - The black guys costume when he is wearing his suit standing next to the swimming pool, compared to the man lying down with his dressing gown on (body positioned lazily)

How ethnicity is represented:
     - Signifies the black guy is doing well for himself but stereotyping the black man is waiting upon the white man, possibly giving the impression white people are very snobby


2.

Mise-en-scene key term:
     - The setting of the bedroom the chinese person is staying

How ethnicity is represented:
     - Suggesting it is clean and well looked after, showing the white maids aren’t in there to clean but for another purpose, they break the rules to satisfy the chinese man so they can have some money. Viewing white women maids as having little respect for themselves and being controlled by the chinese man.

3.

Mise-en-scene key term:
     - Lighting spotlights the white female as she enters the kitchen

 
How ethnicity is represented:
     - Showing she have more power and control over the kitchen manager who is in the black outfit and is of a different ethnicity lower status in the hotel.
 
 

 

 



Establishing Shot Questions

- What is establishing?
 
Establishing is a shot in a film or video used at the beginning of a sequence to establish an overview of the scene that follows
 
- What kind of shots are typically used?
 
Usually a long or an extreme-long shot at the beginning of a sequence
 
- Why is establishing important?
 
Because it sets up the context for that scene
 
- How long (what duration) are establishing shots?
 
Around 3-5 seconds, not very long
 
- What are audience associations with establishing?
 
It could introduce a location the audience may be familiar with (using worldwide famous landmarks), tells them whether its hot or cold, introduces characters, provides the audience with more information about the genre of the film/video and what it's possibly going to be like or about
 
- How is establishing linked to genre?
 
Because it can introduce the genre by showing the setting, if it was a dark miserable setting it may be a horror/thriller/tragedy or if it was in a sunny field it could be romance/comedy/fairytale
 
- How does the soundtrack go with establishing?
 
The soundtrack could also be connected to the genre

Short Mise-en-scene Group Task

We were put into groups to come up with our own mise-en-scene plan. I was in a group with Alys and Lena. We came up with this plan during the lesson:

 



Mise-en-scene Homework

REPRESENTATION