How age is represented on Monarch of the Glen
There are very different representations of age in Monarch of the Glen. The representation of young people is reasonably negative portraying them as liars and trouble makers. The middle age characters however are very positively represented being hard working people with good honest morals. Alternatively the eldest generation are represented with a high authority but also slightly run down and at their end.
The main representation of young people in the extract is through 16 year old Amy. When you are first introduced to her it is apparent through the mise en scene of her yellow top that she is carefree and lawless. Compared to the older farmers who are all wearing darker plainer clothes evoking that they are allot more serious and too busy with the responsibilities that they bare to be making time to buy and dress in vibrant different clothing. Being farmers this also portray the older generation as peaceful people who make an honest living and do not cause trouble
In the opening scene Amy claims to be able to use a car which is soon made to be apparent to be a lie when she is shown in the fixed camera position having trouble starting the car. Once she has finally got going the diegetic crash sound is used to emphasise that her ability as a driver is poor representing all young people as the stereo typical bad driver.
However the middle aged farmer Paul is represented as trusting when he believes Amy when she claimed to of passed her driving test first time. Once the scene is changed to the crash it is made apparent that this older generation are primarily concerned about the wellbeing of Amy and not the damage to their car. This demonstrates that the older generation have the right priorities in family coming first. A opposition to the younger generation made clear by Amy lying to them and only thinking about herself.
Once we are presented with the old professor it is made apparent through the representation of his suit and strict angry tone that he uses with Amy that old people command a higher authority and social status than that of the young.
The use of Ellipsis cutting straight from the crash scene to Paul and the headmaster in Pauls study discussing Amy emphasises that there are no other important factors than that of Amy. Once Paul finds out the severity of the lie Amy has told his annoyed and angered dialect combined with the quick cross cutting evokes how being lied to is allot more serious and hurtful to him than the younger generation would feel. This emphasises a higher level of morality within older generations than young.
Once punished the explosive diegetic dialogue ‘I hate you’ that Amy shouts at her family before running off emphasises her heightened level of emotions. This portrays teenagers as over emotional and self-centred compared to the older generation who demonstrate their care for each other equally. This is highlighted through the up-beat non diegetic music representing an honest happy life whilst they work. The mise en scene of all elderly characters working together helping to build a building of some sorts demonstrates their higher priority of the community and each other than one’s self. This in turn highlights how the older generation are more caring than that of the young.
Once Amy has run away the upwards pan from the open window evokes the stereotypical run away from home through the bedroom window that is always portrayed on TV. This evokes how all teenagers are generic and the same only following a crowd than actually demonstrating problems worthy of the severity of their actions. The teddy left in Amy’s room emphasises that although her pleas to be treated like an adult she is still an immature child that does not know what is best for her vindictive of all teenagers.
In the scene of work all older people are portrayed as hard working people who are getting the job done. However the one younger boy is shown trying to dig, instead of stamping his pitch fork into the ground correctly he is jumping in it. This emphasises his experience and playfulness evoking all young people are a negative impact on the work place,
Finally when the old lady has run down she is out of breath and panting. This demonstrates that all elderly people are at a stage in which they are run down and at an end there for not being much use anymore.
It is these things that define Monarch of the Glen as a show highly in favour of the middle age as these are their primary target audience. Yet not so much the elderly and gives a very negative view of the younger generation.
Camera Shots
Skins Scene Analysis
This is my video log on the scene i analyzed. Below you will also find a brief script of what i said. Enjoy!
The two beds in crowded un tidy room evokes that this is the living space for two people. The mess emphasises that they are not interested in tidiness and have other higher priorities. The beige colours of the room evoke that it is a neutral area where conflict is meant to be avoided between the sisters. The outfit on the bed evokes she is very worried about her appearance. Yellow around left bed evokes she is good one. Black bag on left evokes the worse one.
Hotel Babalon Analysis Extract
In Hotel Babylon the tension is created as the immigration service’s come looking. This is done effectively using fast paced non-diegetic music. When Jackie is hiding in the cupboard there is a low angle, pan forward, leading to a close up of her face. At this point, the non-diegetic fast pace music begins to play louder. This is effective as it highlights the fear and anxiety the characters feel.
The director has taken into consideration that immigrants that are caught by the police will be put in prison. This is signified by the camera shots used throughout the clip. For example, a medium long shot is filmed through metal bars, this symbolises prison as the characters on the other side of the gate rush to hide. This highlights what the immigrants in the drama are trying to escape from, not only are they trying to escape the police, but they are running from a life in prison, or being sent back to a place worse than prison. This is effective as the audience are able to understand the characters panic.
When the characters are trying to hide in the cupboard, the director uses symbolism to make the audience empathise with the characters. He does this with a low angle shot of Jackie trying to unlock the door. The diegetic noise of the rattling of the keys creates panic and symbolises how, if caught, the immigrants could spend their lives locked away. This mise en scene is used also, by using dark lighting to highlight the fear and how being caught will lead them to a dark life.
The show tries to create binary opposites between good and bad, the bad being the police and the good being the immigrants. This is interesting, as shows would not usually try to make the police look negative; however in this case they have. The noticeable division is shown with the editing styles. When the characters in the cupboard have just saved the woman’s life, there is a sense of calm and relief. However, then there is a fast cut to a scene with the police violently arresting an immigrant. This scene involved diegetic shouting over the sound of a hover. This is effective as it makes it clear to the audience who they should disagree with and who they should empathise with.
Another way the director has chose to imply how fearful the experience is, is with tension and mystery. Just as the immigrants in the cupboard begin to calm and there is a silence, it is interrupted by a loud knock at the door. The non-diegetic music is then played loudly, and a low angle, pan forward leads the audience to see the shocked and fearful expression on a woman’s face. The diegetic knock continues, implying the person on the other side is eager for an answer. This scene creates fear yet curiosity for the audience, as they wonder who it is.
