The TV drama clip ‘The Fear’ can be used to
construct representation of social class using features such as camera shots,
editing, Mise-en-scene and sound.
Throughout the clip, the social class difference
and the effect that it has on the characters changes. The clip starts by the
camera moving from left to right, in the direction of the two characters, which
has been shown by the tracking movement of the camera. This camera movement has
been used to make the audience look at the whole scene while it moves from left
to right, rather than just focus on a close up of a character. The long shot
being used by the camera is also affective for the same reason. It makes the audience
focus on everything in the shot, which is good for an opening scene in a clip
because the audience can identify the characters and the setting at the same
time. The social class is automatically assumed and explained in that shot,
this is because the props that is in the doctor’s reception. There are leather
chairs, wooden desks and chairs flat screen computers and big glass windows
which suggest that they doctors surgery and the people that work there are from
a high class.
The sound in the clip also represents the social
class. The first male character that appears in the clip; Ritchie, uses
dialogue towards the reception lady which suggests that he is more important
than her, although he is probably from a lower or even the same class as the
woman. He says “Looking for doctor Whiteing” and by him using a demanding deep
tone to his voice, makes Ritchie seem like a powerful and higher class
character. When the reception lady replies to Ritchie by saying, “Do you have
an appointment” in a soft but stern voice, it makes her then looks like the
powerful one by questioning him. Because there isn’t any non-diegetic sound and
there is just dialogue, it builds tension when the reception lady rebels
against the male character. More dialogue is continued when Ritchie replies,
“Just tell him its Ritchie”. The reception lady replied to Ritchie again by
saying “im afraid doctor Whiteing can’t see anyone without an appointment” and
then pauses to let Ritchie think but then adds “im afraid im ganna have to ask
you to remove your car”. This shows representation of class because the woman
who is the higher class is more dominating and demanding.
The
Mise-en-scene in both scenes; the reception area and then in the doctors room
both show representation of class. In the reception area the props such as the furniture
and the desk is all very modern and the costume of the receptionist is smart
and formal that represents her as a high class. Even though he is in a suit and
does look formal from his costume, the way he presents himself by picking up
the computer keyboard and going to swing to hit the woman if she didn’t let him
off moving his car is represented as violent and intimidating. This can make
Ritchie look like he is from a high class by bossing the reception woman about
but he can also be made to look weak because of how nasty he is. After Doctor
Whiteing comes to see what was happening, he saw Ritchie at reception and
caught him with the keyboard in his hand ready to swing at the woman he took
him into his own room to have a chat.
Editing has been used in this scene to represent
class. The camera movement goes back to the very first tracking of the view of
the whole reception area. The camera shot of Ritchie’s close up shot of his
face has been edited with a cut onto the long shot. This goes from making
Ritchie look powerful to looking small. The next shot that is shown of Ritchie
is the close up in the doctor’s room. This editing cut has been done from one
long shot to a close up to emphasize the facial expression. Because Ritchie’s
personality is aggressive but also jokey in a way, it shows that he is not from
the posh formal background unlike the receptionist who uses a formal tone of
voice and Doctor Whiteing who is also formal and dedicated to his job. You can
tell this from the dialogue: “What do you want Richie”. This is showing that he
thinks Ritchie is messing him around and taking up his time by joking and shows
he doesn’t want to speak to him. It represents class because the doctor is from
the upper class and is looking down onto Ritchie who seems to be wandering in
and annoying people.
In conclusion, social class has been represented in
this clip by the use of sound, Mise-en-scene, editing and camera shots. Camera
shots and angles gives effect by making the character look more or less
powerful which can represent their class; the higher class looking powerful.
The sound and dialogue plays a big part in the clip because the tone of voice
and what characters say to each other are different depending on the gender,
class and age.
