This document summarizes Buscombe's theory of genre differentiation and applies it to analyze the opening scene of the film "This is England". It examines the icons present in four areas: location, appearance, tools, and miscellaneous. The location icons establish the film as British and set in the 1980s. Appearance icons show contrasting depictions of British people and foreshadow the film's portrayal. Tools icons symbolize patriotism. Miscellaneous icons like black and white footage and changing music/lighting hint at how the film may change over time.

1. Drama
This is England

2. Buscombes' Theory and
Semiotics
 Buscombe’s theory - a useful starting point when discussing genre. It states that
one genre is differentiated from another by the ICONS associated with it; that is,
the physical objects or symbols which we can see on the screen (or in the poster, in
this case.)
He identified four areas in which to look for these icons:
 Location – where the majority of the scenes are set
 Appearance (clothing, hair, tattoos…etc.)
 Tools (guns, cars, machines…etc.)
 Miscellaneous (anything else)
Semiotics is how certain messages are portrayed throughout the film using both the
signified and the signifier. These are important in indicating to the audience what genre
the film is.

3. Location
 The opening scene has no set location. The open set in
many different places because it contains key videos
from the 80’s. Some of these include Margret Thatcher,
the IRA holding a union jack, famous British TV shows.
This is important for setting the scene for the rest of the
movie because you can infer that the movie is British
and that is set in the 80’s. These such videos connote
strength, independence and everything linked to
Britain.

4. Appearance
 The appearance of the film opening shows how contrasting Britain
can be. This could be connote how the film shows to contrasting
types of people. This is the case in the film it shows 20 years old
skinheads make friends with a 12 year old boy. The appearance of
the opening scene changes dramatically with each with each
picture for example the picture after the IRA holding the union jack
is a video clip of riots which isn’t seen as particularly British. In
many of the video clips the mise en scene of the characters
clothes are contrasting for example Margaret Thatcher is wearing
a blue jacket with a golden broche, this contrasts to soldiers
wearing their army uniform. This is done by Shane Meadows to
foreshadow how the rest of the film will be portrayed however the
film is only portrayed in one perspective.

5. Tools
 The mise en scene for this opening scene is what you
connote patriotism for example things like flags; the
prime minister and Buckingham and the queen. This is
done by Shane Meadows to connote how the film is
going to symbolise being British but also symbolise
how to be proud to be British. An example of patriotism
within the film is when the young boy threatens an
Indian shop owner with a kife, this signifies patriotism in
very racist way but was seen as acceptable. The
camera angles used in this particular shot is a medium
shot to show off the union jack.

6. Miscellaneous
 Some of the shots, that are cut using a jump cut, have
been edited to be black and white which reflects that
flashback within the time period they are jumping to.
Also lighting changes from shot to shot signify how the
film may change throughout. The diegetic soundtrack
for the opening scene is a SKA song 54-46 was my
number, this is equally important in setting the scene
because in the subculture skinheads SKA was a big
part, you know that is diegetic because jump cuts show
the young boy listening to it.