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.