Monday, 1 April 2013

Analysis of Representation in 'Youngers'

Series 1 Episode 1

Camera

  • Starts with a CU of person putting microphone on stand - can see the person is black
  • CU tracking shot of boy bringing cross up to mouth and kissing it - stereotypes of black african churches, but unstereotypical of young people who are usually presented as godless and lawless
  • CUs of boy rapping
  • Pan as someone adjusts sound controls
  • Wide framing of mother makes her seem out of touch with them and doesn't allow the audience to take her side
  • Titles white and black (perhaps showing the conflict between races), curvy font and colourful transition appeals to youthful audience
  • ELS Establishing shot showing hat they live in council flats
  • Zooming MS of rapper sitting on bed with lady in the background - sexually active, stereotypical teenager 
  • MCU OTS of girl looking in mirror - not looking at each other, don't really care
  • CU of laptop shows the radio station
  • CU of phone shows call from Josie - further indication that he's sleeping around
  • MLS of other boy alone in his room in the corner of the frame - emphasises how lonely he is
  • OTS CU of laptop shows him looking at same screen as his friend
  • LA of mother emphasises how high her expectations of him are
  • While mother is praying there are lots of MSs and MCUs of her kids showing them not really paying attention - young people stereotypically don't care
  • CUs of boys on wall nodding make them seem naive 
  • Car window - frame within a frame - they are trapped and can't walk away without taking to him, cuts them off from the camera - provides a sense of threat
  • Girl in background behind man - CU  of her face with his arm in the corner - he is oppressive

Editing

  • Montage editing of boy getting ready in front of microphone
  • Cutaway to someone in recording booth
  • Lots of short CUs
  • Montage editing of wide shots of council estate while radio plays
  • Soundbridge of mum saying 'we claim your victory... exam' from MLS of him looking worried to his brothers and sisters eating breakfast
  • Montage editing as they walk to school
  • Shot reverse shot as the two boys talk about their potential results

Sound

  • Starts with relatively quiet hip hop music in background - stereotypical you would expect black/young people to like
  • Boy starts to rap typical rap lyrics about 'girls', 'young star we're the future, brighter than a diamond' - sets up the pursuit of fame and a music career
  • 'We're south London's finest' - sets up location
  • Jiggling on door - doing something prohibited
  • Mum has African accent - the 'youngers' are second generation immigrants - 'send it to your cousin in Lagos'
  • Door slamming - mum's displeasure - audience can take the young people's side
  • Radio - youth, urban, street culture
  • 'You ain't my man' confirms that he's a player 
  • Sound bridge of mum speaking about his exam
  • Car sfx as it stops cuts across music - character's entrance is announced, powerful, scary

Mise En Scene

  • Boy wears chain, baggy clothes - stereotypical clothes for a young person
  • Dark blue colour scheme with yellow lights - slick, urban
  • This is undermined when the mother enters and her comfortable and non-fancy clothes and the home decor (eg photo) reveal that it is not a studio but their house
  • Pink bed - girl's house
  • Not wearing a shirt - they've just had sex
  • Beige furniture indicates they don't have much money to spend on decoration
  • breakfast bar and table are in foreground and background, showing how small their house is and how the boy feels trapped there
  • Boy rides bike - stereotype of young hoodlums riding bikes
  • Rows and layers of uniform flats shows the boredom of their surroundings
  • Blue shower curtain - man's flat, father and son are stereotypical males
  • Yellow jacket contrasts with rappers blue one - he isn't as stereotypically male, has hopes
  • Boys on wall all dressed in dark grey clothes, hoods up, hats on - stereotypically chavvy clothes, uniformity, don't want anything more with their lives, negativity - prepared just to sit around
  • Teenage girl with pregnant belly, big earrings, shiny silver jacket and scraped back hair - negative lower class stereotype
  • Red t-shirt - man is angry, voilent, tattoo - street thug

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