OCR Y12 Lesson

1. LO: To deconstruct an extract of a TV Drama in
terms of it representation of class and status

2.  Class is a social construct.
 a system of ordering society
whereby people are divided into
sets based on perceived social or
economic status.
 Status: the position of an
individual in relation to another or
others, especially in regard to
social or professional standing.

3.  The new classes are defined as:
 Elite - the most privileged group in the UK, distinct from the other six classes
through its wealth. This group has the highest levels of all three capitals
 Established middle class - the second wealthiest, scoring highly on all three
capitals. The largest and most gregarious group, scoring second highest for
cultural capital
 Technical middle class - a small, distinctive new class group which is prosperous
but scores low for social and cultural capital. Distinguished by its social isolation
and cultural apathy
 New affluent workers - a young class group which is socially and culturally
active, with middling levels of economic capital
 Traditional working class - scores low on all forms of capital, but is not
completely deprived. Its members have reasonably high house values,
explained by this group having the oldest average age at 66
 Emergent service workers - a new, young, urban group which is relatively poor
but has high social and cultural capital
 Precariat, or precarious proletariat - the poorest, most deprived class, scoring
low for social and cultural capital
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22007058

4.  Upper Classes (eg Made in
Chelsea) – often shown as rich,
clever, snobby, very posh
 Middle Classes (eg My Family)–
often shown as “normal”, good
family values, well behaved
 Working Classes (eg Coronation
Street) – often shown as poorer,
less happy, less intelligent, but with
strong community links
 Lower / Under Classes (eg
Shameless) – often shown as being
criminals, no family values, no
community links, bad parents etc

5.  Which social classes are being
represented in this extract?
 How are the being represented?
 CAM SAMC
 Editing
 Sound
 Mise-en-scene http://www.bbc.co.uk/ip
layer/episode/b050bcbt/
eastenders-19012015

6.  http://www.channel4.com/progra
mmes/educating-binky/on-
demand/59778-006
Which social classes are being represented in
this extract?
How are the being represented?
CAM SAMC
Editing
Sound
Mise-en-scene

7.  http://www.dailymotion.com/vide
o/xsdasw_outnumbered-s01-
e01_shortfilms
Which social classes are being represented in
this extract?
How are the being represented?
CAM SAMC
Editing
Sound
Mise-en-scene

8.  http://www.channel4.com/progra
mmes/shameless/on-
demand/52023-002

9.  How was media language used to
represent social class and status in
Eastenders OR Outnumbered OR
Shameless? Were the
representations stereotypical?
 Explain your response.