The TV Drama 'Compulsion' presents various aspects such as camera shots, sound, editing and mis en scene to help contribute to Ethnicity. All of these different aspects help the audience to gain a better insight and understanding into the Indian culture displayed on screen.
In the five minute clip that we viewed in class, it showed an Indian Family having a party which is for their daughter who has just turned 25 years old. Her parents want her to marry an Indian man to follow their traditions and values, however, she rebels and has an affair with an English man at the party.
- Costumes - The costumes of the majority of guests at the party are Indian-orientated, consisting of lots of jewellery and colourful and traditional saries. This emphasises the Indian culture proving that they follow their religion in how to dress. The daughter had been studying at Cambridge University and some of her English friends attended the party. This enabled us to see the English culture and how they dressed. The girl was in a stylish dress and the man was dressed in a suit proving they are not associated with the Indian culture.
- Music/Sound - There are lots of examples of both diagetic and non-diagetic sound during the clip. The music being played throughout the party includes lots of instruments and would resemble Bollywood music. The music used has an element of elegance and sets the scene in the viewer's mind.
- Setting - The set of the party has been culturally decorated with religious ornaments and symbols. It looks very colourful and also helps set the scene in the viewer's mind.
- Names - The names of the Indian people immediately reinforce the emphasis on culture, as they are not English at all.
- Accents - It appeared that the older people of the Indian ethnicity had a stronger accent and were traditionally dressed. On the other hand, the younger Indian people possessed a standard British accent which proves she is multi-cultural. Additionally, her friends from Cambridge Uni illustrate this as well.
- Camera Shots - At the beginning of the clip there is an establishing shot displaying a big house. It would seem to the audience that the family live in a rich community. The clothing, setting, props and the drugs all reinforce this view. The drugs prove that the people involved can afford cocaine, additionally emphasising they are sophisticated and elegant.
Another shot that I noticed was, the Indian people were placed at the back of the shot and the English people were near the front of the camera shot, there was also a gap separating the different cultures. This shows the division of the two ethnic groups and shows the cultures are not fully integrated. The younger generations are, however the older generations are not.
Finally, there is a shot including Ray Winstone admiring the daughter who's party it was, this is a point of view shot, showing the image from his eyes.
Ray Winstone is usually known for his stereotypical gangster roles in different TV shows and films. The viewer is already aware of his traits and they can immediately make connotations. As his character provides the drugs, he succeeds in bringing the criminal World to the Indian community portraying class and wealth. This therefore displays a murky underworld as the Indian man asks for drugs.
In this episode of "Coronation Street", age is represented through various methods, for example, clothing, dialect, language and many more aspects.
- There is a young girl featured in the first few seconds of the clip, she is wearing pyjamas with bright colours and lairy patterns on them which is the type of bed clothes that you would expect to find a child in. This emphasises her youthfulness and immaturity.
- Additionally, there is an older woman featured in the same scene, her age is depcited by her old-fashioned hair style, bleak/dull clothing and her moany tone to her voice. All of these aspects reinforce her age, as she is moaning about her garden, it would seem she is very protective of it and she would be willing for an argument if anybody went against her will. This is an old-fashioned trait to admire and take pride in your garden.
- There is also a young boy in this clip, he appears to be around 17 years old - he shouts at his dad which displays his immaturity and demonstrates his juvenile ways as it is the type of actions you'd expect to see from a toddler having a tantrum.
- Additionally, there is an older man talking to "Natasha", he is wearing a tweed suit and uses R.P when he speaks, this presents him in a very formal manner telling the audience he is well-educated and gives the viewer an element of authority. His tone of voice talking to this younger woman makes him seem more superior and her seem not as educated and aware as he is. By her making a cup of tea for him displays who has the power.
- Finally, it is ironic as a younger police woman is talking to an older woman (who is being accused of a crime) and the camera angle is focused down onto the woman which reinforces the fact that she has committed a crime and done something wrong in society and displays to the audience that the police woman is more powerful and authorititive due to her high status.
Skins
Synopsis: The beautiful and elusive Effy is joined by her kooky best friend, Pandora. The guys are led by the irrepressible and irresponsible Cook, the daring and charismatic leader of the gang.
Soundscape:
- Diegetic Sound - lots of examples, such as Freddie's skateboard, traffic and doors slamming.
- Non-Diegetic Sound/ Incidental Music - theme tune music
- Ambient Sound - traffic
- Sound perspective
Camera Shots and Angles:
- Two Shot
- Establishing shot
- Extreme close up - recognise the character's emotions
- Medium Shit - display two characters having a conversation
- Over-The-Shoulder-Shot
- Point of View Shot - showing what the character sees in their eyes
- Close up
- Crane Shot
Editing:
- Jump cut
- Cross Fade
- Action Match
