How does your production represent particular social groups
- 1. How does your production represent particular social groups?
- 2. How? Our final product represents multiple aspects of society and various different positions people can attain in the social hierarchy. As with most noirs, our product tends to represent far more of those who would be considered towards the bottom half of the social ladder and in turn could be considered controversial, thus paralleling classic Noir representations In this shot, the two detectives are shown to be of similar social status, with neither taking the lead and both walking side by side in the centre of the shot. This shows that they have both a mutual respect for each other and are both of equal social stature. The two are also seen wearing relatively formal attire suggesting that that they have fairly high positions in their workplace.
- 3. In this shot however, the equilibrium is slightly disturbed through dialogue where Janet states “do you want to remind me why you dragged me out here?”. This eludes to Eckhart’s seniority over Hill, and that he has some control over what she does. This would suggest that Eckhart has a slighter higher status than the female detective. However, the fact that Hill questions this shows that she is grasping for a way up that social ladder In these shots, Booth is seen looking quite forlorn and worse-for-wear suggesting he is on the lower rungs of the social ladder. The is also conveyed by the fact he is spending his time alone in the bar suggests he has no better use for his time. However, it is evident that he is not drunk meaning he still tries to save some face and not appear completely desolate
- 4. A clear comparison is demonstrated between both Booth and the Drunk man is made as he stumbles towards the bar. The drunk man’s costuming – mainly the scraggy tie – clearly shows his social position and displays him as degenerate who represents the bottom on the social hierarchy. This representation is reinforced later in the shot as the drunkard’s slumped posture could be seen that he doesn’t really care about anything and is quite lazy. Also, the fact that Booth is literally above him could elude to his both physical and social position over the drunk man. This also supports Booth’s position of ‘not-quite-the- bottom’ of the social hierarchy.
- 5. The social position of both the Police Detectives and of the disgruntled Booth is reinforced when the detectives enter, asserting their authority by forcing the drunken brawlers to their knees. This shot also portrays Booth as quite confident and steadfast due to the fact he is not backing down on the entrance of the 2 police detectives. This may suggest he was once of the same social status as the detectives. In this shot, Hill is seen to be obscured Eckhart’s gun. This juxtaposes her position in the past shots as she has always shared it with Jack, usually both in the same focus or position, suggesting they had a similar status, yet now she is both obscured and in the background, suggesting that Eckhart has both the control over the situation and a higher position than Janet
- 6. Janet’s lower position is reinforced in this shot when Jack Lowers her weapon for her. This shows that Jack is in control of the situation and that he is also more ‘in the know’ than her, furthering the idea that he is more superior to her. Janet’s confusion brings back the idea that she is willing to question her superiors, showing the fact she really attempts to make her way up the social ladder. Furthermore, Janet’s character challenges the common noir convention of women having a lack of authority, as she is a policewoman, one of the highest points of social authority. In this shot, Booth appears in the background, suggesting he is of a lower status to the woman in his office. However, the fact that she has gone to him for his service shows his importance in the greater society. In this scene, Jack shares some playful chat with Booth, alluding to the idea that they have had a past together, potentially sharing the same social status.
- 7. The most controversial of our characters – the femme fatale, Scarlett M#ulway – has social status that is left relatively ambiguous. Though she is seen her with an expensive, red dress, she may however have a less than legal job. This is left mainly to the audience’s imagination, and is never fully declared throughout the plot. Due to her unspecified status, Mulway remains unbound by any conventions, tropes or stereotypes of a certain single social position The femme fatale character is conventionally the personification of Laura Mulvey’s male gaze theory. This suggests that women in film and TV are only there to be objectified, and gazed at by males. In our production, we challenged this by giving Scarlett the intelligence and information to manipulate and control the protagonist detective. This also challenges the common convention of women being weak and submissive as Scarlett has the power in most scenes.