Binary opposites are presented in the extract from Downton
Abbey. The upper class are presented as being wealthy, well ‘bread’, well-spoken
and arrogant. However, in contrast to this, the working class are presented as
having little money, cheap/uniformed clothing and regional accents. The extract
deconstructs the divide between the classes and highlights common stereotypes
of the groups.
Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene
In the opening scene of the extract, the audience is presented with two female characters. The characters are dressed in expensive looking clothing which suggests that they are from the upper class. The directer may have decided to dress them in this way to conform to the stereotype that people from the upper class are wealthy and 'well bread' because dressing in this way alludes wealth. It also suggests that these women have money to spend on luxury items and looking 'good' which indicates that people from the upper class care about keeping up appearances.
The director uses symbolic codes in the opening scene to highlight the wealth of the women. The colour gold is used in the furniture scheme to exaggerate the expensive home that the women are in. Gold connotes riches and money which supports the stereotype that people from the upper class are wealthy and can afford luxury items/decor.
In contrast to this, the women who comes into the room in the first scene is presented as being from a lower class. Her clothing is significantly less expensive looking and she's also in what appears to be a maids uniform. This supports the stereotype that people from the working class have little money as they work in either domestic/manual jobs and cannot afford to buy expensive clothing.
Camera shots, angels, movement and composition.
In first scene the two women are presented using a mid shot. They are both shown from the same angel which could suggest that the women have the same authority as each other and are in the same class.
In the second scene from the extract, when the maid is stood in the bathroom, the camera zooms in on her facial expression. The women (who it is suggested to be from the lower class) has an angry/plotting look on her face. When the camera zooms in on this is emphasises a stereotype of the lower classes that they are always 'up to no good' as her facial expression is a semic code for her doing something she shouldn't.
The clip is then cut and the audience is presented with a shallow focus shot of some flowers which then refocuses to the man playing the piano behind him. This camera shot highlights that the family that live in this house want to make the house look pretty and also that they have the money to spend on buying decorative items such as flowers. Here, the director is depicting how the upper class are able to spend money on nice things which suggests that they are wealthy.
In the opening scene for part two of the extract, the audience is presented with an establishing shot of stately home where the extract is set. It may be interpreted that the people who live in this house have inherited it as this used to happen regularly in the past. This highlights a common stereotype that people from the upper class are rich due to inheriting money and not by earning it themselves.
Sound
Sound is another way that class and status is represented. At around 2 minutes into the clip, along side the closeup shot of the maid, we are presented with non-diegetic music. In the opening scene, non diegetic sound is played which sounds like birds tweeting which suggests that the house is in the countryside. This implies that the house is owned by the upper classes as a common stereotype for the upper classes is to live in big stately homes in the rural areas. It could be interpreted that the music has been added in to add tension and highlight how the working class women is behaving in a way she shouldn't. This suggests that working class people are sneaky which may be linked to that fact they don't have much money so it may imply that they are plotting to get more money. It also suggests that people from working classes has low/no morals in comparison the the upper classes who stereotypically do.
Editing
The representation of the classes can be deconstructed further by the use of editing. This extract uses continuity editing to keep the drama moving and the audience engaged. In the fight scene near the end of the extract, the editing is very fast paced (fast-paced editing) and the shot is cut quickly to emphasize the action taking place. This fight appears to take place between two men from middle-working classes which contributes to their representation as it suggests that they are easier to anger and less rational then those from the upper classes. It also suggests that they are more violents which leads to the stereotype of working class people being criminals.
To conclude, camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene all contribute significantly to how the different classes are presented as the upper classes are presented more positively whereas the lower classes are presented in a more negative light.
The director uses symbolic codes in the opening scene to highlight the wealth of the women. The colour gold is used in the furniture scheme to exaggerate the expensive home that the women are in. Gold connotes riches and money which supports the stereotype that people from the upper class are wealthy and can afford luxury items/decor.
In contrast to this, the women who comes into the room in the first scene is presented as being from a lower class. Her clothing is significantly less expensive looking and she's also in what appears to be a maids uniform. This supports the stereotype that people from the working class have little money as they work in either domestic/manual jobs and cannot afford to buy expensive clothing.
Camera shots, angels, movement and composition.
In first scene the two women are presented using a mid shot. They are both shown from the same angel which could suggest that the women have the same authority as each other and are in the same class.
In the second scene from the extract, when the maid is stood in the bathroom, the camera zooms in on her facial expression. The women (who it is suggested to be from the lower class) has an angry/plotting look on her face. When the camera zooms in on this is emphasises a stereotype of the lower classes that they are always 'up to no good' as her facial expression is a semic code for her doing something she shouldn't.
The clip is then cut and the audience is presented with a shallow focus shot of some flowers which then refocuses to the man playing the piano behind him. This camera shot highlights that the family that live in this house want to make the house look pretty and also that they have the money to spend on buying decorative items such as flowers. Here, the director is depicting how the upper class are able to spend money on nice things which suggests that they are wealthy.
In the opening scene for part two of the extract, the audience is presented with an establishing shot of stately home where the extract is set. It may be interpreted that the people who live in this house have inherited it as this used to happen regularly in the past. This highlights a common stereotype that people from the upper class are rich due to inheriting money and not by earning it themselves.
Sound
Sound is another way that class and status is represented. At around 2 minutes into the clip, along side the closeup shot of the maid, we are presented with non-diegetic music. In the opening scene, non diegetic sound is played which sounds like birds tweeting which suggests that the house is in the countryside. This implies that the house is owned by the upper classes as a common stereotype for the upper classes is to live in big stately homes in the rural areas. It could be interpreted that the music has been added in to add tension and highlight how the working class women is behaving in a way she shouldn't. This suggests that working class people are sneaky which may be linked to that fact they don't have much money so it may imply that they are plotting to get more money. It also suggests that people from working classes has low/no morals in comparison the the upper classes who stereotypically do.
Editing
The representation of the classes can be deconstructed further by the use of editing. This extract uses continuity editing to keep the drama moving and the audience engaged. In the fight scene near the end of the extract, the editing is very fast paced (fast-paced editing) and the shot is cut quickly to emphasize the action taking place. This fight appears to take place between two men from middle-working classes which contributes to their representation as it suggests that they are easier to anger and less rational then those from the upper classes. It also suggests that they are more violents which leads to the stereotype of working class people being criminals.
To conclude, camera shots, editing, sound and mise-en-scene all contribute significantly to how the different classes are presented as the upper classes are presented more positively whereas the lower classes are presented in a more negative light.
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