Representation of Disability via editing; The Street.

1. Representation of disability via editing – the
street
0 – 0.23
Millie and Jojo

2. Editing and representation of disability
In this case, the editing used in this short clip contributes to
fabricating a negative viewpoint of the disabled individual.
Different techniques provide the viewer with varied outlooks on
both characters and situations, enabling them to form their own
views on the circumstances.

3. 0 seconds
The scene opens with a setting of barbed
wire. This short clip has been placed at the
start of the scene to establish the setting.
The clip lasts for a total of 5 seconds,
before moving onto the next shot. This
section purposefully lacks any information
about characters with only subtle
connotations as to where the scene is set.
This leaves the audience to discover for
themselves, what they are expecting to
happen next.

4. 5 seconds
A matched cut occurs at 5 seconds,
which changes the scene from a blurred
background with a foreground of a
protective metal grid, to a blurred
background of a male through a glass
window, with a foreground of a metal
grid. This continuity of scenery
maintains a sense of unity within the
scene – insuring that the audience are
aware that the surroundings of the clip
have only marginally changed.

5. 6 seconds
At 6 seconds, a jump cut manoeuvres the
scene to focus on two male characters; one
on foot and one in a vehicle. This abrupt
switch from one scene to another alerts the
audience to the action which is about to
take place. The jerky cut could also act as a
warning for the scenario to come, as it
occurs just as the disabled character enters
the scene. This section also acts as a
cutaway shot, between the two very similar
shots beforehand, and after (5 seconds and
8 seconds).

6. 8 seconds
A second matched cut, which
corresponds to the edit at 5 seconds, is
used here to link the two scenarios
together. This averts the audience back
to the action which happened before
the interjecting cut. It creates a story,
and shows the significant impact of
the cut at 6 seconds – this could
represent the fast-paced feelings of
those whom are interacting with the
disabled character.

7. 9 seconds
The scene returns to the scenario
between the two males; one in the
vehicle and one on foot, with the use
of a jump cut. The dramatic and
sudden change of setting, again,
draws the attention of the audience to
the action within the scene. The
recurring use of jump cuts could
represent the danger that a character
(or audience member) may feel when
faced with a disfigured character –
such as this one.

8. 10 seconds
A motivated cut, at 10 seconds, is
used to reveal the face of the
disfigured character. The audience
were yet to view the character’s
disability until now, and so this
‘point of view’ shot has been
abruptly edited in to create a drastic
exposure of the extent of the
characters disfigurement. This sort
of cut could invite a sense of shock
into audience members, which
would negatively highlight the
male’s disability.

9. 11 seconds A third matched cut is used, to refer
back to the scene before the
disability of the lead character was
uncovered. This highlights the
‘normalcy’ of the situation between
the two men, before the audience
were aware of the character’s
disfigurement. This could show that
judgements cannot always reveal all
about somebody, as from behind,
this character appears to be the same
as the other characters featured in
the clip.

10. 12 seconds The clip jumps back to the view of the
lead character from the vehicle once
again, with the use of a matched cut –
which has a fast-paced cutting rhythm.
The use of abrupt editing creates an
unnerving feel to the scene, which could
be argued that it represents the awkward
feelings of the characters within the
scene whom are interacting with the
disfigured male. This could represent the
theory of Paul hunt, whom created the
idea that disabled people are the object
of curiosity or violence.

11. 14 seconds
The scene cuts to back to the view
of the male character behind the
shop door. The use of a matched
shot links this scene to the previous
one, at 8 seconds. This could also
be considered to be a reaction shot
– as we see the action from this
character develop, after witnessing
the scene unfold.