Representation of Gender, Doctor Who Clip

A clip containing representations of Disability

Another clip to analyse

In Thursday's lesson... In two groups, look at how Ethnicity is represented in the clip below...

You will need to discuss this in your groups, watch the clip multiple times and look at the four different aspects: Camera, editing, mis-en-scene and sound. Remember you are trying to describe what effect each of these has on the overall representation of ethnicity.

It may be an idea to give each person in your group an area to look at upon each viewing. After each viewing, stop and discuss your notes with each other and write down anything interesting that each of your group members have found.

We will feed back findings at the end of the lesson, so ensure you have a lot of notes to share.

A useful slideshow I found on the different areas of representation...

Representation edit

A recap of what you need to be considering when analysing a clip...

Here is a recap on exactly what you need to be looking at when analysing clips...

For the textual analysis it's important to tie in the 3 elements of a good answer. These are:
1- Identify the technical and stylistic elements but remember that they work together to create meaning.
2- Analyse the effect of these elements on the meaning.
3 - Link back to the idea of representation.


Technical and stylistic codes

Remember that TV drama wants to create two types of reality; REAL REALITY and ALTERNATIVE REALITY. The first is an attempt by programme makers to develop a feeling that you're watching something real and easily recognised. Eastenders, The Street and Shameless all fall into this category. The second includes shows like Dr Who, Being Human and Primeval. The category can effect the stylistic and technical elements found within the show. For example the Dr Who extract from last year's exam featured CGI, dramatic non-diegetic lighting effects, CGI transitions, futuristic costume and the like.

You must never just feature-spot. The examiner knows, for example, that it's a low angle long shot of a man running in a wood in the dark with the diegetic sound of men shouting off camera. What they want you to tell them is why you think it's there. What is the effect and impact of that combination of features to the overall representation in the clip? You have to think about the effects of these elements. It's worth reminding yourself of some of the elements you might find (all the glossaries I have given you) but remember the number of technical elements used in conventional British TV drama is limited.

Life on Mars Extract from our Lesson

Here is the extract of Life on Mars. Rewatch it a few times and make notes of anything else you notice on your second and third times of viewing:

Monarch of the Glen Extract, from Jan 2009 Exam

As discussed in lesson, the exam question will read similar to the following:

"With reference to the CAMERA, EDITING, SOUND AND MISE EN SCENE,

discuss how ........................ is represented in this clip."

The gap above will be filled with one of the following:

Age, Gender, Sexuality, Regional Identity, Physical ability/disability, Class/status, Ethnicity.

In the extract below, the exam board required the candidate to discuss how AGE was represented.

The exam board allows you to do the following:

• First screening: watch the extract; no notes are to be made this time.

• Second screening: watch the extract and make notes.

• There will be a brief break for note-making.

• Third and fourth screening: watch the extract and make notes.

We will watch this extract 4 times in class on Tuesday's lesson, and you will need to make notes on how camera, editing, sound and mis-en-scene aid in constructing the representation of age.

OCR Guide to Basic Camera Shots

These basic OCR Exam board information videos may be of help to you. They give information on camera shots and movements:

Camera Shots:

Camera Movements: