All aspects of film form including narrative contribute to the representations of cultures and societies (gender, ethnicity and age) including the ideological nature of those representations.

Ideology: a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

Films create meaning and creates response though mise en scene, cinematography, sound, editing and performance.

Performance

• Age
• Ethicity
• Costume
• Facial expressions
• Body language/ gestures

Stereotype: A widely held, fixed and oversimplifies image of belief of a particular type of person or thing. For example, all black people are criminals.

Countertype: An attempt to create an opposite, or different idea or view compared to their stereotype that is already in place, for example a black or female president instead of a white man.

Sarah Connor Representation

Sarah Connor was a stereotypical American, girl next door waitress at the start of the film (terminator 1). She is presented as weak, frantic and slightly unbothered as she is bad at her waitress job, seen when she spills drinks and gets orders mixed up.

In the follow up movie (Terminator 2) Sarah becomes a countertype and her new character almost juxtaposes her previous role as she is now shown as a fearless heroine, she has gained a lot of strength and confidence and is no longer the innocent waitress viewers have previously seen.

Trainspotting Representation

WHO IS DOING THE REPRESENTATION?

Danny Boyle, the director

WHO IS BEING REPRESENTED ? (Identify specific social groups)

Drug addicts (specifically heroin addicts), Scottish white males, younger generation

WHAT SOCIAL GROUPS ARE OMITTED FROM THE REPRESENTATIONS?

Characters of colour, upper class, non-addicts, diverse women

WHAT MESSAGES ABOUT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS ARE BEING CONVEYED?

That drug addicts are negative and irresponsible (seen when the baby dies of neglect as everyone was too high). The little amount of women are presented as promiscuous.

WHICH CHARACTERS OR SOCIAL GROUPS HAVE POWER WITHIN THE REPRESENTATIONS?

In the film the male characters predominantly have more control over the female characters as they are only shown in relation to the men. Overall, there is little control between the different generations of the characters as they are rarely shown. However, when Renton overdoses his parents do take control and lock him in his room but this is one of the few signs of control.

DO THE CHARACTERS ADHERE TO OR CHALLENGE STEREOTYPES?

They adhere to stereotypes as the characters all present addiction accurately, as well as the women in the film conforming to the gender stereotypes of the time period.

ARE THE CHARACTERS TYPICAL OF FILMS IN THAT GENRE?

The genre of the film is dark comedy and because of the many young male characters I think they do fit the genre as their humour and stories are quite similar

WHAT DO REPRESENTATIONS TELL AUDIENCES ABOUT SOCIETY AT THE TIME THE FILM WAS MADE AND/OR SET?

That there was a lot of drug use between that stereotype of person when the film was set. For example, many drug addicts such as Renton, his friends and in Scotland.

HOW ARE ELEMENTS OF FILM FORM (MISE EN SCENE/PERFORMANCE/SOUND/EDITING/CINEMATOGRAPHY) BEING USED TO CONTRUCT THE REPRESENTATIONS?

Film form is cleverly used during Renton’s withdrawal from heroin after his overdose. He experiences vivid hallucinations which have been well edited and the matching sound used to put them into Renton’s head as they experience the sights and sounds he does. This creates sympathy for Renton as the use of film form creates a clear representation of heroin withdrawal.