2. Questions?
When looking into representations there are
specific questions that we have to be certain
to answer, these are as follows;
• Who/What is being represented?
• What themes and issues are being
explored?
• What are we made to feel?
3. How?
• The filmmaker will use micro elements to
encode a specific macro representations
in the narrative for the viewer.
• This then enables the viewer to decode
these constructed representation to
interpret meaning from the text.
4. Micro
There are specific codes and conventions when
looking at micro elements, such as;
• Narrative
• Character
• Technical
Under the category of technical micro elements there
are sub categories of
• Camera
• Sound
• Mise-en-scene
• Editing
5. Macro
• The micro elements all add up to build the
macro representations, these are as
follows;
• Individuals
• Types
• Groups
• Events
• Places
6. Macro – sub categories
• There are sub categories to the main 5 basis
categories of macro representation.
• There are sub categories such as;
• Gender
• Age
• Ethnicity
• Sexuality
• Class & status
• Physical ability/disability
• Regional identity
All of these elements can lead on to other
representations.
7. Who/What is being represented?
• In my intro micro elements from the technical
category of mise-en-scene are employed to
construct a specific representation of two social
types: a working class man and a woman of high
class. My intro contrasts between two different
social groups, however there is not much evidence
to prove this as I wanted to keep the sense of
mystery as a key elements. Even though I wanted
to do this I still made sure that there was a distinct
difference between there economic class. When
focussing on the man I wanted to make sure that I
showed his transformation so I had keep my
attention to detail when deciding on the costume.
8. How is this representation constructed?
• Technical category: mise-en-scene
Elements Man Woman Both
Make-up Rough haircut,
stubble.
Neutral.
Costume Vest, jeans –
Shirt, tie, suit jacket.
Long coat, smart
trouser, black boots.
Set design Tatty bathroom
Messy bedroom –
(unmade bed)
Clean bedroom –
(clean window seal)
Bright flowers –
(outside)
Props razor.
foaming brush.
Bowl of water.
Shaving foam.
Bag of old magazines.
Letter.
Photo.
Lighting Low key,. Bright, sunny.
Colour design Gloomy. Neutral.
9. Textual analysis questions 1
Questions Answers
Micro elements from which technical
category (camera, sound, mise-en-
scene, editing) are at work in the
extract?
In the extract micro elements from the
technical category of mise-en-scene
are employed.
What specific social type, group, event
or place is being represented?
They are employed to construct a
specific representation of a social
type, namely, a working class man.
Highlight the key representative are in
the extract (gender, age, sexuality
etc.)?
Social class and status is a key
representative are in the extract.
How are issues being explored in
relation to this key representative are?
Issues of lack in personal
maintenance which accompany the
transformation of a un kept man to a
smart business man are powerfully
depicted and explored.
10. Textual analysis questions 2
What specific technical elements are being
employed?
• Costume and makeup, set design, props,
lighting and colour design are all
employed.
11. Textual analysis questions 3
How do these technical elements construct a representation of a type?
• The male characters make up – stubble, un kept hair – is designed
to betray a representation of someone who is scruffy and doesn’t
take much pride in what they wear. This is also communicated
through costume – vest, jeans, trainers. However, this does change
as the male character then puts on a white shirt, tie and a suit jacket
which communicates to the audience that he is trying to look better,
this aspect is also shown through the course of when he is shaving.
In the set design – messy bedroom, clothes on the floor, dripping tap
in the bathroom, using a bowl instead of the sink – we recognise the
untidiness and lack of pride in how his lifestyle is, however this may
not be the case. Props in the form of a razor and a bowl of water
show the audience that by using the razor to shave his stubble, he is
trying to clean himself up. This is also communicated through the
action of him picking up his dirty clothes off of the bedroom floor.
12. Does the arrangement of technical elements
lead us to feel anything?
• The low key lighting in the male characters
bedroom helps to communicate the
thought that he may not have a bright life
and that it is quite dreary, this helps to
evoke a sense of sadness towards the
protagonist.
13. How do micro elements address issues
around the key representative area?
• In combination with each other these
micro elements address issues around the
key representative are of class and status,
by delivering to us a working class mans
lifestyle of being messy and out of place.
14. Micro to Macro
• The male characters make up – stubble, un kept hair – is designed to betray
a representation of someone who is scruffy and doesn’t take much pride in
what they wear. This is also communicated through costume – vest, jeans,
trainers. However, this does change as the male character then puts on a
white shirt, tie and a suit jacket which communicates to the audience that he
is trying to look better, this aspect is also shown through the course of when
he is shaving. In the set design – messy bedroom, clothes on the floor,
dripping tap in the bathroom, using a bowl instead of the sink – we
recognise the untidiness and lack of pride in how his lifestyle is, however
this may not be the case. Props in the form of a razor and a bowl of water
show the audience that by using the razor to shave his stubble, he is trying
to clean himself up. This is also communicated through the action of him
picking up his dirty clothes off of the bedroom floor. The low key lighting in
the male characters bedroom helps to communicate the thought that he
may not have a bright life and that it is quite dreary, this helps to evoke a
sense of sadness towards the protagonist. In combination with each other
these micro elements address issues around the key representative are of
class and status, by delivering to us a working class mans lifestyle of being
messy and out of place.
