1) Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of ETHNICITY using the following:
Ethnicity has been represented throughout television history in multiple ways. Ethnic minorities are often portrayed in a negative way as the positive aspects of the lives of ethnic minorities are missed for example cultural aspects, traditional values, livelihood and their contributions to society, which is suggested by Akinti (2003). Akinti believed that television often reflects a false and inaccurate view of ethnic minorities as the stereotype associates ethnic minorities with crime and underachievement in school. This is supported by Agbetu (2006) who said 'a Black person constructed in the media has three attributes: they are involved in criminality, involved in sports or involved in entertainment'. However, this representation of ethnicity is not always the case. The extract is taken from the American television drama series Treme, which is directed by Brad Anderson. Anderson uses cinematography, sounds, mise en scene and editing to represent ethnicity that goes against the way Akinti and Agbetu believe that ethnicity is typically represented in television.
Cinematography, including camera shots, angles, movement and composition, in an understated yet important method to strengthen the representation of ethnicity in the extract. The extract opens with an establishing shot of the neighbourhood in which the show is set. The lack of vegetation, wildlife and colour implies the neighbourhood is a poor one. Two young black people enter the frame and are walking along a path in this scene. This suggests that most black people live in poor, inadequate conditions and are represented as outsiders/ burdens in society as they are isolated to live in these poor areas. In the scene of the hospital clinic, a slow pan movement is used across the waiting room to establish the setting and immediately adds to the representation of ethnicity. It is clear that most patients waiting in the clinic are black or belong to an ethnic minority which is different to the white American majority. It is also worth noting that most of the doctors in this scene belong to the American majority. This adds to the representation of ethnicity as it implies that ethnic minorities must rely on the education of white individuals for their healthcare and this is diminishing to the minority. However this is contradicted by the use of long shots toward the end of the extract, in the scene that shows a black couple making clothes. This highlights the contributions of ethnic minorities to the community, which are often undermined. They make these clothes to raise money for others which defies the stereotype associated with ethnic minorities, that they take jobs and resources from society and do not give anything back.
Editing is used by Anderson to build a representation of ethnicity in the extract. The effective use of cross cutting throughout the extract allows the viewer to see the contrast between the lives of the ethnic minorities (black members of the community living on the outskirts in desolate conditions) and the American majority (white Americans living in luxury). Cross cutting is often used to establish multiple settings within one story, the setting are often compared or contrasted and in this extract they are clearly contrasted. For example we can contrast the shabby conditions which are associated with the black population are represented as less sophisticated than the conditions of luxury in which the white American majority live. The areas associated with each group is strategic as it reflects the stereotypes linked to their cultures. This begins the image of difference between the class and wealth of each group as the white American majority are elevated to an upper class status above the black minority. Seemingly, more value is placed on the American majority as their contributions are implied to be more recognised in the extract. However, the demeanour of the black individuals with the white individuals in terms of how they conduct themselves when working is important and notable. A long shot shows a white woman standing in a restaurant which cuts to a close up of the woman`s face to highlight her frustrated expression at the prospect of work. This is followed by cutting to a shot reverse shot sequence between two black people engaging in work with no expression and are instead conversing casually. This contrasts the stereotype that black people do not work as hard as the white majority. It emphasises their commitment to work and their community and therefor goes against the perspectives associated with the working black population.
Sound is used in the extract by Anderson to add to the representation that black people lack the sophistication that the white people possess. In one scene, a white woman says "you don't need to sell marijuana to get revenge". This builds a connection between the white majority and crimes of high profile. This is directly opposes the views of Watson (2008) who stated that the media stereotypes black people as potentially criminal. This also supports the view that large scale crimes are committed by white people in contrast to the smaller, less serious crimes associated with ethnic minorities. Anderson uses diegetic sounds such as relaxed, natural conversations, the accents and tones of the characters and the colloquialisms used by the characters. This shows that the black people tend to live alternate lives that deviate from traditional activities in society that white people are shown to participate in for example socialising over drinks. This representation of the ethnic minority is contrasted with the representation of the white majority through the dialogue set for the white characters. The sophisticated language "it is a contradiction in terms" elevated the upper class characters and adds to the representation of them as being well educated and well spoken. The fact that the doctor of the clinic is white adds to the representation of the white majority being educated and in a well paid job in contrast to the ethnic couple at the end of the scene making clothes in a presumably low paid job.
Anderson uses mise-en-scene to step beyond the stereotypical perspective created by the media that black people are associated with criminal activity and instead represents the ethnic minority as peaceful and civilized people as shown by their calm demeanour when working at the end of the extract to make clothes for others. This is majorly contrasted with the white American characters who are shown to be drinking and smoking while discussing criminal topics such as selling drugs. Furthermore, the costuming for both groups is very different as the white characters are dressed in elaborate clothing and expensive jewellery whereas the black characters are dressed in dirty, drab clothes. The costuming also adds to the representation of the white characters as being from the upper class and having more well paid jobs than the ethnic minority. Another factor of the mise-en-scene established by Anderson is the setting in which the characters live and how different they are. For example the black community are shown to live in squalid and poor conditions which differs from the lavish life style of the white Americans. The colour schemes set for each ethnic group is also very notable as they are so different. The white female characters are dressed in bright colours like pink, white and green in comparison to the male black characters wearing duller, more faded coloured costumes. The colour schemes of the background settings are also important. The brightly decorated living room which the white American characters are seen relaxing in adds to the representation of the ethnic majority as being more sophisticated. This is very different from the faded colours used in the background of scenes that focus on the ethnic minority, for example the dirty, dark coloured walls in the background of the last scene which shows a black couple working to make clothes.In conclusion, all of the methods used (camera angles, shots, movement, composition, sounds, editing and mise-en-scene) effectively represent ethnicity, stereotypes of ethnicities and the divisions of different ethnic groups. This extract mostly defies the negative stereotypes associated with ethnic minorities while also covering the necessity of both ethnic groups and their contributions to society.
• camera shots, angle, movement and composition
• editing
• sound
• mise-en-scène.
• sound
• mise-en-scène.
Cinematography, including camera shots, angles, movement and composition, in an understated yet important method to strengthen the representation of ethnicity in the extract. The extract opens with an establishing shot of the neighbourhood in which the show is set. The lack of vegetation, wildlife and colour implies the neighbourhood is a poor one. Two young black people enter the frame and are walking along a path in this scene. This suggests that most black people live in poor, inadequate conditions and are represented as outsiders/ burdens in society as they are isolated to live in these poor areas. In the scene of the hospital clinic, a slow pan movement is used across the waiting room to establish the setting and immediately adds to the representation of ethnicity. It is clear that most patients waiting in the clinic are black or belong to an ethnic minority which is different to the white American majority. It is also worth noting that most of the doctors in this scene belong to the American majority. This adds to the representation of ethnicity as it implies that ethnic minorities must rely on the education of white individuals for their healthcare and this is diminishing to the minority. However this is contradicted by the use of long shots toward the end of the extract, in the scene that shows a black couple making clothes. This highlights the contributions of ethnic minorities to the community, which are often undermined. They make these clothes to raise money for others which defies the stereotype associated with ethnic minorities, that they take jobs and resources from society and do not give anything back.
Editing is used by Anderson to build a representation of ethnicity in the extract. The effective use of cross cutting throughout the extract allows the viewer to see the contrast between the lives of the ethnic minorities (black members of the community living on the outskirts in desolate conditions) and the American majority (white Americans living in luxury). Cross cutting is often used to establish multiple settings within one story, the setting are often compared or contrasted and in this extract they are clearly contrasted. For example we can contrast the shabby conditions which are associated with the black population are represented as less sophisticated than the conditions of luxury in which the white American majority live. The areas associated with each group is strategic as it reflects the stereotypes linked to their cultures. This begins the image of difference between the class and wealth of each group as the white American majority are elevated to an upper class status above the black minority. Seemingly, more value is placed on the American majority as their contributions are implied to be more recognised in the extract. However, the demeanour of the black individuals with the white individuals in terms of how they conduct themselves when working is important and notable. A long shot shows a white woman standing in a restaurant which cuts to a close up of the woman`s face to highlight her frustrated expression at the prospect of work. This is followed by cutting to a shot reverse shot sequence between two black people engaging in work with no expression and are instead conversing casually. This contrasts the stereotype that black people do not work as hard as the white majority. It emphasises their commitment to work and their community and therefor goes against the perspectives associated with the working black population.
Sound is used in the extract by Anderson to add to the representation that black people lack the sophistication that the white people possess. In one scene, a white woman says "you don't need to sell marijuana to get revenge". This builds a connection between the white majority and crimes of high profile. This is directly opposes the views of Watson (2008) who stated that the media stereotypes black people as potentially criminal. This also supports the view that large scale crimes are committed by white people in contrast to the smaller, less serious crimes associated with ethnic minorities. Anderson uses diegetic sounds such as relaxed, natural conversations, the accents and tones of the characters and the colloquialisms used by the characters. This shows that the black people tend to live alternate lives that deviate from traditional activities in society that white people are shown to participate in for example socialising over drinks. This representation of the ethnic minority is contrasted with the representation of the white majority through the dialogue set for the white characters. The sophisticated language "it is a contradiction in terms" elevated the upper class characters and adds to the representation of them as being well educated and well spoken. The fact that the doctor of the clinic is white adds to the representation of the white majority being educated and in a well paid job in contrast to the ethnic couple at the end of the scene making clothes in a presumably low paid job.
Anderson uses mise-en-scene to step beyond the stereotypical perspective created by the media that black people are associated with criminal activity and instead represents the ethnic minority as peaceful and civilized people as shown by their calm demeanour when working at the end of the extract to make clothes for others. This is majorly contrasted with the white American characters who are shown to be drinking and smoking while discussing criminal topics such as selling drugs. Furthermore, the costuming for both groups is very different as the white characters are dressed in elaborate clothing and expensive jewellery whereas the black characters are dressed in dirty, drab clothes. The costuming also adds to the representation of the white characters as being from the upper class and having more well paid jobs than the ethnic minority. Another factor of the mise-en-scene established by Anderson is the setting in which the characters live and how different they are. For example the black community are shown to live in squalid and poor conditions which differs from the lavish life style of the white Americans. The colour schemes set for each ethnic group is also very notable as they are so different. The white female characters are dressed in bright colours like pink, white and green in comparison to the male black characters wearing duller, more faded coloured costumes. The colour schemes of the background settings are also important. The brightly decorated living room which the white American characters are seen relaxing in adds to the representation of the ethnic majority as being more sophisticated. This is very different from the faded colours used in the background of scenes that focus on the ethnic minority, for example the dirty, dark coloured walls in the background of the last scene which shows a black couple working to make clothes.In conclusion, all of the methods used (camera angles, shots, movement, composition, sounds, editing and mise-en-scene) effectively represent ethnicity, stereotypes of ethnicities and the divisions of different ethnic groups. This extract mostly defies the negative stereotypes associated with ethnic minorities while also covering the necessity of both ethnic groups and their contributions to society.
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