Discuss the ways in which the extract uses camera shots, editing, sound, Mise-en-scene to construct representation of different generation

In the clip of ‘Some Girls’, the representation of different generations is presented through camera shots, Mise-en-scene, camera shots, editing and sound.

During the clip, camera shots played a big part in representing the different generations.  In the scene where Viva and her dad and P.E teacher are arguing about her getting a new brother or sister, a over the shoulder shot has been used to give effect of looking at the whole family. The Mise-en-scene shows the different generations of the family, by the way they are standing and how the woman (p.e teacher) gets up of the chair and goes and sits with her partner. Viva also points at the adults and shouts ‘Why?!’ when she finds out about the adults having a baby. Her standing up and shouting whilst they are sitting down shows that Viva is taking over and being the responsible one of the household.

Throughout the clip, it shows that the generations are in conflict with each other, which is like the stereotypical teenager and parent relationship.  The dialogue that constructs the representation of different generation shows the stereotype clearly. Viva is being responsible by saying “your ganna have to get rid of it!” when she hears the news about the new baby. It shows the role of a parents being shown by a teenager, which constructs representation different to the normal stereotypical teenager that isn’t really bothered.  Whilst the conversation about the baby is occurring, the camera shots when Viva is talking are close ups on her face. This has been done so her facial expressions are shown and are effective, especially when she was speaking. It also gives the impression to the audience that nothing else in the Mise-en-scene background is important and that only Viva is talking.

After the scene of the baby talk, and when Viva storms out the room, the diegetic sound of upbeat high-pitched music has been added to create effect and shows representation of the evil step mums mood; happy that she’s moving out. When Viva is packing her bag to go to her friends, the things she grabs to put in her bag have been emphasized with a close up shot. Editing has been used to only show the important shots. A ‘cut’ has been used whilst Viva was packing her bags; one shot has instantly been replaced by another, this constructs representation of how Viva is feeling which is not thinking straight, and that her emotions are being replaced and are changing all the time. It could also imply that Viva’s dad is replacing Viva with his new partner quickly, just like the editing shots. 

The Mise-en-scene represents different generations again in the scene in Viva’s home. At first when she comes home, her dad is sitting on the sofa playing a game on his phone whilst she goes to get food from the kitchen. Throughout the conversation in the kitchen, her dad continues to play on his phone just like a stereotypical teenager and the daughter looks down to her dad and complains. The dialogue used from her dad “you know where the kitchen is”, is showing the male character as lazy and represents the different generations as child dominated, which is not usually a typical household.

The ‘evil step mother’ character; Anna, her camera shot has been edited for effect. When she comes out of the bathroom in her dressing gown, and waves her hair around, a slight slow motion effect has been put on to emphasize her looks in front of her boyfriend and trying to copy the stereotypical models on TV. She shows parts of the ‘evil step mother’ character towards Viva, with the Mise-en-scene, when Viva leaves the house and Anna does a sly wave that only Viva can see, leaving her dad and brother Jamie to continue their video game.

In conclusion, the main way in which the clip ‘Some girls’ constructs representation of different generations is with the Mise-en-scene. The position that the characters are situated in the scene, such as the parents lounging around the sofa whilst Viva is in the kitchen. It is the main technique because it’s where the different generations are and shows the relationship between them all.  The camera shot is the next main technique because the shots emphasize what the audience should mainly focus on. Sound and editing lso construct representation of the different generations in the clip, but the Mise-en-scene constructs the representation the most.