This document summarizes how a media product represents social groups through its characters. The protagonist, Iby, is a 23-year-old reformed ex-convict from an urban area trying to escape gangs and poverty for his family. The antagonist, Jordan, is a wealthy white male gangster who uses guns and flashy cars. Iby's wife is portrayed as vulnerable due to her involvement with Iby and danger from gang crime; she is sexualized through close-ups and short skirts. Overall, the characters represent the social groups of troubled urban youth trying to reform and gang members who commit crime to maintain their lavish lifestyle.

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AS Media Evaluation Question
Two: By Olivia Gracey
How does your
Media product
represent particular
social groups?

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Protagonist
 We have used these particular media products to illustrate
the common problems in todays society. Our protagonist Iby
is portrayed a a young troubled male around the age of 23,
as he discusses in his monologue to begin; he has just
reformed himself from prison and has decided to live for just
his wife and child. As the beginning of the opening sequence
establishes the setting as an urban surrounding, we wanted
to link the idea of a young male finding it difficult to break his
poverty cycle and escape the gangs that are stereotypically
found in inner-city areas. For the audience, some may be
able to relate to this idea of reforming themselves for their
families- this creates escapism for those who either wish to
escape the same life our character lived or who have
conformed to the same rehabilitation. We have used a largely
built actor to signify his power as well as an actor who is
young looking to signify the young ages some boys join the
gangs and end up in prison. Iby is a coloured youth who has
already been highlighted to be part of a gang, we wanted to
keep this stereotype of ethnic youths being involved in crime
so the genre can he highlighted clearly.
• Built up area- inner city
crime
• Grey tracksuit- ‘Chavs’
and gangs- lower social
standards
• Up to date phone- still
living with the past of his
riches being in the gang
• Smoking cigarette-
substance abuse which
make be relatable to the
audience

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Antagonist
 Our antagonist Jordan is a large white
male in much richer clothing than Iby
which may suggest the stereotype of
whites being seen as superior. We
showed Jordan in many shots with a gun
to portray him as a gangster with access
to weapons where as Iby is seen with
none which gives our antagonist an
advantage, we wanted to highlight gun
crime as a common problem in inner city
areas and that many youths of today can
relate to the troubles of weapons to
settle disputes. We decided to use
darker clothing on Jordan to help
differentiate the difference between good
and bad.
• Gun held in typical gangster style-
accuracy which suggests he knows
what he's doing and done previously
• Flash sports car to allow the
audience who know gangs to relate
to the lavish lifestyle gangsters live
• Darker richer clothing may connote
he uses crime to get what he wants

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Iby’s Wife (Female Character)
 Our female actor who plays Iby’s wife is
seen as the ‘Princess’ according to
Todorov’s theory. We wanted to highlight the
vulnerability of females being involved with
men in gangs, as this is an inner city we
wanted to show the danger of this
involvement which may be relatable to
female audience members who have been
placed in danger because of gang crime.
We portrayed through extreme close ups
and the only high angle shots that she is
seen as below and a ‘piece of meat’ hence
the title. Shorter skirt is used in costuming to
make her a sexual object, a child at a young
age with the protagonist again makes the
situation relatable to underage pregnancies
and audience members who may be able to
relate to not having a male figure around as
their parent is in prison.

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Overall
 The overall evaluation of my opening sequence represents
social groups and how the characters in the sequence
represent certain archetypes. We wanted to portray two types
of groups, the young males who want to leave the deprived
lifestyle they live and conform to the norms of society, the other
group is the troubled gang members who are happy to conform
to crime. These groups can be relatable to the audience as
they have been represented throughout on a large scale from
crime to ethnicity. I have also tried to incorporate as many
stereotypes as possible such as the vulnerability of a female
who needs saving or is used as a ransom. We wanted to
highlight also the sexual objectification of females and how
short skirts and bondage can degrade females.