AS level media

1. Question Two.
In my title and opening sequence I have represented the following social groups:
● 6 – 10 year old girls
● The costume of Florence relates to her social group as she is wearing patterned and
colourful clothing which is typical for someone who is a child. (1) Her clothes are also
conventional e.g. Wellies and raincoat. This shows that she is looked after like a child as
children as seen as vulnerable so they need protecting.
● However, Grace wears dark clothing that is simple. Her clothing resembles that of an
adult as there are no bright patterns or colours. This is so that the audience sees her as
more grown up; her clothes are a representation of her maturity. (2) The dark clothing
also creates the mystery of Grace’s character, when she disappears. It makes the
audience ask if she’s ever really there.
●
● The lighting I used contradicts the social group of children as children are generally
represented as bright and colourful. My opening sequence has a lack of lighting and a
naturalistic colour scheme this tells the viewer that, even though the protagonists are
children, it is not a children’s film. (3)
●
● Since the children are outside there is a lack of props. However I purposely did not
include any outdoor toys in the sequence to contrast the stereotype that children always
play with toys. Furthermore, the protagonists hardly speak in my sequence. This implies
that they are well behaved children.
●
● I have used a lot of close ups in emotional moments, this allows the audience to have
empathy as they can clearly see Florence’s expression. (4) I have also used wide shots
in some moments where I felt it was necessary to emphasis Florence’s loneliness. This
represents Florence as a child as she is seen as expressive yet vulnerable and even
innocent. I have also used a couple of high angle shots from Grace’s point of view; this
implies that Grace has power over Florence which we can tell as she is older. In the
social group of children, older children are seen as superior and authoritative.
●
● In the beginning of the sequence we see that Florence fits the child stereotype as her
body language is giddy and fidgety. However we also see that when she has lost Grace
she is uncomfortable. She doesn’t know how to hold her body as she is confused and a
child would not know what to do in that situation. This is contrasted by Grace’s confident
posture, which presents her as more mature.
●
● Florence is seen trying to give eye contact to Grace, however Grace is distant. This tells
us that she is distracted. This fits the stereotype of child who can become easily
distracted. Whereas, we know that Grace is not like a stereotypical child, therefore it is
implied that she is hiding something from Florence. Florence’s need to maintain eye

2. contact tells us that she need support when she is unsure, this proves that she fits the
stereotype of a child, since children are dependant.
● The opening sequence to the film ‘My Girl’ shares many aspects of mine. We see how
Vada wears mature clothing and speaks in a mature way even though she is a child, just
as Grace represents through her clothing and body language.
(1) (2)
(3) (4)
(5) (6)

3. (7) (8)
(9) (10)
(11) (12)
● 16 - 24 year old girl
The costume of the older girl represents mainstream fashion. This is a stereotype of her age
group as young adults are likely to want to fit in with the latest trends to be popular. Young
adults are stereotypically self-conscious and insecure, so wearing the current trends can give
this age group confidence. However, I have also challenged this. The actress’ outfit stands out
which shows that her style is also very original. (12) This tells the audience that she is
independent and a fairly confident person. I have portrayed this through costume to show that
the girl has grown up with hardly any friends and has only had herself to inspire her. Not being
in stereotypical clique means that she isn’t afraid to express her own style, and her self-inflicted
isolation is a result of the loss of her older sister, therefore her inability to become attached or
form close bonds with friends. (6)
The lighting in these shot represents a teenager as it is dimly lit. There is a reddish glow from
the lava lamp which portrays a moody atmosphere and symbolises the passion that she felt for
her sister. This further represents a young adult as they are stereotypically emotional and this is
reflected through the lighting. (7)
The keys in these shots show that she is a young adult as they represent independence and
reliability; many young adults have keys to the home that they share with their parents.
Furthermore, the books symbolise that she is an introvert. This is a stereotype used within
teenagers. These books are important to the scene as they give the audience a sense of her
personality. We also see the character find a locket in her pocket, the locket symbolises the
emotional connection that she has with her sister. This proves her age as she The lava lamp is

4. also important as it is a prop that is commonly seen in teenager’s rooms. It also affects the
lighting to change the room’s atmosphere. Many teenagers and young adults have dimly lit
rooms to express their emotions. (8)
The angles generally point up to the actor. This represents how she has grown up from the little
girl. The girl is looking back on her experience from when she was younger. Therefore the
camera angle represents how much she has grown and contrasts with the angles of the little
girl, which proves that they are the same person, just different ages. (9)
We can tell that the girl is a young adult as she walks around slowly, which gives the impression
of laziness. This is a stereotype of teenagers and young adults. Her facial expressions imply
that she is holding back emotion; this is something that a teenager would do as they may be
embarrassed to express feelings. (10)
The girl in the scene maintains eye contact with the locket once she sees it for the first time.
This shows her emotional connection with the prop. She cannot take her eyes off of the locket,
this shows that the locket has control over her emotions and it brings back memories. (11)