Monday, 10 December 2012

Re-write of Hotel Babylon

In this clip, we can clearly see that the representation of class and ethnicity is shown via the use of binary opposition. This is enhanced and portrayed via the use of camera, editing, sound and mise en scene.

The audience is first introduced to a hotel worker as he is suprised by two police officers dressed in uniform. As the audience we instantly recognise their significance as their uniform represents their power due to the nature of their job. In contrast to this, the worker is in a simple plain uniform, which although, should be associated with high class, compared to the power of the officers the worker seems of very little significance and of little class. This is shown via the use of digetic sound, as when the worker asks the officers if they are "allright", they reply that they are there to "stop anyone from getting out". The use of this dialouge demonstrated that they are of higher class than the worker, as they have the power to control who leaves the building. It also shows the worker is of a lower class and less authority because he does not further question the officers of their presence. If he was of a higher class however, he may have decided to question the police further. Non-digetic music is also played which creates an uneasy atmosphere as it is quite fast paced and rhythmatic. This makes the audience anticipate that this is a build up for something to happen.

Following into the next scene, this non digetic music continues, but becomes even more upbeat as another instrument is added which resembles the sound of a song from a spy movie. This further makes the audience feel that something of significance is going to occur, and due to the fact that this music changes as new characters are introduced, makes them believe that it will include these characters. It also makes the audience feel slightly negatively towards the immigration worker as the music creates a tense atomosphere between him and the reception worker. The use of mise en scene is used to also show a comparison between class and ethnicity. The main immigration worker wears a plain jumper and jacket, whilst the two men who accompany him are in a suit and tie. This questions who is the leader as we as the audience would expect them to be of higher class than the first immigration officer, however they are not which questions our believes of authority and what represents who is of higher class. The lighting in the reception is quite bright and a mixture of artificial and natural lighting, and the mise en scene shows to be of a posh area as there is a chandellier hanging from the ceilling which are known to be expensive. Therefore anyone associated with this scene would be considered to be in a high class and clean environment.

In comparison to this, when we are first introduced to Jackie, she appears to be hidden away below the floor of reception in a darkend office. Even though she is in a suit and appears to be of high authority as the two workers go to her to inform her, the fact she is in a darken room on a lower floor level represent that she is of a lower class. As she does not have the luxuries that we see in the reception such as a chanellier as lighting, but instead has simple lamps as use of light. The audience can see that she is a person of importance as she demonstrated leadership by warning the illegal workers that immigration has arrived. The use of digetic sound enables the audience to see that she can speak a variety of languages which shows she is highly educated which proves her to be of high status as she ushers the workers to get to the store cupboard. As the workers reach the store cupboard, the camera is positioned behind a metal grid. This appears to be like looking in on the scene from "behind bars" and gives the audience the feeling of hiding away, as if they themselves are trying to hide from the immigration officers. By making the audience feel threatend by the officers, they are made to feel scared and worried for the workers because they do not wish for them to get caught. The use of editing of cross cutting from the immigration workers to illegal workers creates a divide between high class and lower class. The immigration officers have longer screen time in which they seem calm and relaxed, where as the immigration workers have little time of screen yet the pace is fast and quick and they appear to be rushing to safety. This makes people of high class seem care free whilst those of lower class, in this case the immigration workers seem busy and frantic about their lives.

During the time in the store room, the use of camera enables the audience to create more of a connection with the characters. A zoom shot onto the faces of the people in the room clearly shows that they are worried and scared. This tells the audience that they are fearful of the immigration workers and know that they have high authority to take them away which portrays the immigration workers as antagonists. Whilst the workers in this clip are portrayed as the protagonists by being shown as vulnerable in the store room.  A zoom is also used to show the face of Jackie as she realises that Ibrahim is missing. This use of camera allows the audience to clearly see that Jackie is concerned at the fact that Ibrahim is not in the room, and demonstrates that she is the leader of everyone in the room as she feels realible for everyone there. Her clothes are also very different from the workers in the room. Jackie wears a suit with a red shirt which makes her stand out as bold and brave, where as the workers are in uniform which appears to be dull in colour and very bland. This choice of costume represents the workers as if they are slaves or prisoners due to wearing similar clothes and being in the same position.

At the end of the clip, whilst Jackie clears out Ibrahim's locker,the non-digetic sound of slow and mornful soft drums is played. The audience can clearly see the faces of the workers which are sad and in sorrow. Mixed with the non-digetic music, the audience are made to feel sympathy towards Ibrahim and the workers as they are sadden by the fact he was captured. This juxtaposes the fact that in reality, people would usually support the work that immigration workers do. However in this clip, the audience are made to feel the opposite towards them, and side with the illegal workers. Therefore challenging societies views on illegal workers and immigration officers.  The audience are also made to consider that even though the illegal workers appear to be of equal class and status, there is still a seperation between them in terms of race. This is shown by the use of a pan shot whilst they eat in the canteen. As there is a different, but same, ethnicity on each individual table, clearly showing a divide between them.

Overall this clip challenges the audiences views on immigration workers and illegal immigrants in terms of who is the antagonist and who is the protagonist. Where in society the audience may see the immigration officers as the protangonists, in this clip they are persuaded to believe that the illegal workers are the protangonists and the immigration workers the antagonists. Class and race is clearly defined as a binary opposition as there is  a clear divide between who is of high class and lower class as well as a seperation between ethnic groups.

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