This document evaluates how the opening sequence of a movie represents different social groups through its characters. It introduces the protagonist Jordan, a black middle-class man portrayed as the victim, challenging stereotypes. Maddy is another casually dressed, innocent character meant for audience empathy. In contrast, the criminal Sam is identified through a balaclava, gun, and leather jacket, invoking stereotypes of a threatening, dominant thug meant to be hated as the antagonist. The sequence thus represents some social groups in ways that oppose or follow common stereotypes.

1. E V A L U A T I O N Q U E S T I O N 2
How does your opening sequence represent
particular social groups?

2. Characters - Jordan
Protagonist is of black
ethnicity – challenges
stereotype that they are
mainly associated with
criminal activities
Protagonist is wearing casual
clothes – suggests that he is
middle class – which means
our target audience may
empathise with him.
Jordan is clearly not doing
anything criminal and is made
out to be the victim in this
attack, he is opposing the
criminals and therefore is
perceived as the protagonist.
Protagonist has a decent
laptop – clearly is not in
poverty – connotes upper
middle class social positioning.

3. Characters - Maddy
Maddy is also wearing casual
clothes, which allows the
audience to empathise with
her, as she is clearly an
innocent character – her
costume does not associate
her with any form of
criminality.
Maddy is represented as an
innocent female character,
and is the ‘damsel in distress’
character of our movie.
-Follows negative stereotype
that the female character is
always the one who is
portrayed as weak and is
always the hostage in this kind
of situation.

4. Characters - Sam
Balaclava
clearly connotes
a criminalistic
character
Gun suggests
the criminal has
power,
authority and
dominance over
the situation
Leather jacket
suggest thug-like
character, connotes
strength and
brutality. We did this
to ensure that the
criminal came across
as both rugged and
has reasoning for
committing this
crime.
Character is
unidentified but
is meant to be
hated
Follows the
stereotype that
the criminal is
the antagonist
Race
stereotypes are
reversed.