The documentary analyzes how regional identity is portrayed in the TV show "Doc Martin" through techniques like camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene, and sound. The protagonist Doc Martin, who is from London, is framed to appear powerful and superior through close-ups and high camera angles. His formal clothing contrasts with the casual attire of the locals, reinforcing stereotypes of urban professionals versus rural laborers. The upbeat soundtrack and relaxed pace of rural scenes juxtapose Martin's frustration, implying city dwellers see countryside life as silly. Techniques like realistic editing legitimate these regional stereotypes for the audience.

1. Regional
Identity
Doc Martin Analysis

2. Regional Identity
 A representation and assumption based upon
where someone is from or currently lives, in
which their dialect, mannerisms and daily life
form apart of how they are portrayed and
considered within society.

3. Camerawork
 In regards to the framing within the piece, the character of Doc Martin’s
dominance within many of the frames, forms a sense of superiority. This
in correspondence with his often serious and irritated facial expressions,
has the effect of representing Londoners as rather serious and superior,
possessing leader like qualities, such as within the scene in which the
doctor demands for his surgery to be cleaned, in which his facial
expression dominate the majority of shots, emphasising his anger and
power within the scene, which is enhanced through the use of close ups
(which has the effect of drawing in the audience close to the protagonist
and thus resulting in his character dominating the majority of the frame.
This conforms to the idea that those from London are rather powerful and
look down upon those within more rural areas of the UK, as the use of
high angles when looking down upon the South-westerners, suggests that
he feels superior and perhaps more mentally capable than themselves.
Thus conforming to the stereotype that those within the South- west are
rather backward and less intelligent then that of someone form the busy,
forward thinking capital of London.

4. Editing
 The use of a rather slow pace has the effect of reflecting the rather relaxed and
carefree attitude of the south westerners within the extract. This conforms to the
stereotype that those within the south west live rather simplistic lives, somewhat
calming and far more rural in comparison to the fast paced atmosphere of more
urbanised areas, such as that of London. This is accomplished through the
consistent use of editing, focusing largely upon the use of cuts, which are pass
unnoticed by the audience. This is effective in forming a sense of verisimilitude which
conforms to the conventions of a TV drama, this being that in order to entice the
audience a sense of realism is formed. This calm atmosphere and pace has the
effect of enhancing the contrast between the Londoner of Doc Martin and the south
western locals, for example when walking hurriedly down the street, despite his own
quick pace of step the editing remains soft and unnoticeable, which is also enhanced
by the accompanying soundtrack, forming an overall sense of light-heartedness. This
has the effect of conforming to Strauss’ Theory of binary opposites, as the Londoner
is portrayed as somewhat of an outsider and out of tune with the relaxed lifestyle and
attitudes of the South West, which he has found himself surrounded by, yet continues
to oppose this demeanour by remaining serious and unamused. This realism formed
could be argued to link to Dyer’s theory of legitimising stereotypes, as this has the
effect of persuading audiences of the accuracy of the content that they are being
shown, thus internalising these ideas.

5. Mise en scene
 The use of costumes within the extract has the effect of conforming to Strauss’s theory of
binary opposites. For example Doc Martin’s formal wear or a sit and tie connotes a sense
of dignified formality. As well as possesses connotations of wealth and a high placing
upon the employment scale. This has the effect of representing Doc Martin as
stereotypical of a Londoner, this being that he is somewhat serious, as connoted through
his straight backed posture forming a sense of seriousness, which conforms to the
Londoner stereotype that Londoners are rather wealthy and proud of their high economic
standing. This in comparison to the representation of the south-westerners contrasts
greatly. For example the slouched demeanour of the father, connotes a sense of
careless, sloppiness and possibly laziness, this conforms to the idea that those within
rural areas of the UK live rather simplistic lives, which in comparison to the straight-
backed strictness of the Londoner protagonist of Doc Martin creates a sense of
juxtaposition and conforms to the idea that those within the South-west are not as
stressed or hectic in regards to the lives they lead. This juxtaposition between the two
has the effect of representing those from the rural, south-west as somewhat passive in
comparison to those form London. This is because their carefree attitude towards life has
the effect of connoting a sense of laziness in comparison to the Londoner of Doc Martin
whose alert demeanour connotes a sense of action and readiness. Also his standing
position in which he is looking down upon the sitting south westerners has the effect of
connoting a sense of dominance and superiority, that he may feel in regards to his
economic position as well as lifestyle, which could be argued to be more productive then
that of the South-westerners.

6. Sound
 The use of non-diegetic sound within the piece in correspondence with the Doctor’s frustration in
regards to the South-westerners laid back attitude towards his profession and firm, forms a sense of
comedy in and opposition within the piece. This is because the upbeat, light-heatedness of the
music, which alongside the wide shots of the doctor venturing through the village, a sense of peace
and simplicity is formed in regards to the lives of the south-western locals, which conforms to the
stereotype that south westerners are somewhat carefree, however also rather poor in regards to their
income, as connoted through the many establishing shots in correspondence to the non-diegetic
soundtrack, connoting a sense of rural isolation, and suggesting the locals to possess more labour
intensive jobs rather than office/skilled employment. However, this peace and happiness juxtaposes
greatly with the rather serious and sullen facial expression of the Doctor, therefore this has the effect
of portraying those who are used to living within urban areas as somewhat out of place and silly
when faced with living within the countryside. This has the effect of representing Londoner’s as
somewhat unimpressed by the serenity of rural living and perhaps regard themselves as somewhat
superior to those who dominate labour intensive work, rather than employment that requires a
degree. This superiority links to Hall’s theory of Dominant Ideology, this being that those who are of a
higher class (as connoted through the Doctor’s rather affluent dialect) as well as income (as
connoted through the Doctor’s out of place formal costume of a suit and tie) are regarded as
dominant and possessing more power than those within lower classes, such as that of the South-
westerners who are portrayed as less intelligent than the Doctor, as they are portrayed as
possessing somewhat simple work and a relaxed lifestyle, as enhanced by the somewhat comedic
soundtrack, perhaps also suggesting that those within the South-west are looked down upon and not
taken as seriously as those within urban areas. Thus forming a definite sense of superiority and
inferiority.