1. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Throughout our product we constantly focused on how particular social groups
could be portrayed in order to develop understanding for the audience. Our first
scene shows gender to be represented in a stereotypical way as the first shot
shows the male in the foreground. [See 0:05] Males are also reinforced to be more
important through the use of mise-en-scene as the character wears a tie and shirt
in purple colours which connotes wise qualities. The use of setting and props also
reinforces the idea that the man is a detective, hence stronger, through the use of
the desk, file cabinet, telephone and the name plate. Through the use of framing,
we can also add to the idea that the character is stronger as the notice board
shows bright colours. Compared to the mother’s shot however, there is only a
white wall. Therefore the contrast in framing connotes ideas of gender being
represented in a stereotypical way.
Gender is continued to be represented this way through the female character
wearing black clothing. This connotes that she is grieving over the loss of her
missing daughter portraying she is weaker and more vulnerable. Whereas, the
detective is shot in more colourful clothes, and ultimately, in a higher position.
This can also link to our target audience as some people may be able to associate
what is she feeling through the lost of someone close to her. We established this
emotion through the close up [0:14]:
However, the mother closes the scene in a dramatic tone [0:34]. Therefore
this presents females are more dominant as the mise-en-scene reveals she is
more powerful through the use of her emotions. Her contrasting facial
expressions do in fact reveal she is strong and this represents females as a
social group as strong.
We maintained this stereotype to present social groups in a stereotypical
way. Therefore, the audience can familiarise themselves with our thriller.

2. After this, we introduced other characters and represent gender again in a
stereotypical way: male being dominant and females being weak. This is
shown through the contrasting body positions between the characters.
Through the framing the male shown to be is sitting down comfortably in a
typical office chair which connotes wealth and power. [1:00] He is also
holding a newspaper which shows information of the missing girl he has
captured. This symbolically portrays his sense of control and sinister
behaviour. [1:11]
In contrast to, the female is hand cuffed to a bed clearly conveying ideas of
weakness thus, portraying females as powerless. The fact this girl represents
the typical women through blonde hair also reinforces the idea of femininity
being defenceless as this is seen in typical thrillers. The mise-en-scene of her
white dress also connotes innocence and purity conveying ideas of the
stereotypical women.
This is representation of gender is then reinforced through the high
angle. By positioning the camera in this way reveals the females body
position: curled up and this connotes foetus like qualities. The fact she is
also holding on the bed indicates that she wants protection.
Gender is also represented in a
stereotypical way through the last
shot. By having the male cover most
of the shot up in black connotes in
sinister and controlling ways. Social
groups here have again been
presented to show women are
passive and males are dominant.