This document analyzes how various film techniques are used to represent social groups and conform to stereotypes. It discusses how the female protagonist is presented through lighting, camera angles, costumes and editing to portray her as vulnerable and weak, conforming to gender stereotypes. The male antagonist is similarly analyzed as being portrayed as dark, powerful and threatening through techniques like lighting and camera angles, conforming to stereotypes of masculinity. The document examines these representations of gender, as well as how class stereotypes are both conformed to and challenged in the portrayal of the working-class protagonist.

1. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
Elliot Stahlmann 5214
Key for annotations:
Mise-en-scene
Camera shots/angles and movement
Sound
Editing
Sound and editing

2. High low-angle shot: introduces
the character as inferior or
vulnerable. Conforms to
stereotypes of women as playing
the damsel in distress and as
being victims and being
vulnerable in society
Costume: black hoodie and white t-shirt. Connotes that she
is youthful and young. The use of white projects a sense of
innocence whilst the black emphasis that she is not pure
and hints towards the trauma she has experienced and the
detrimental effects it has had. Conforms to the stereotype of
young people as being innocent and vulnerable and so
presents this concept to the audience.
Low lighting suggests
that she is weak and
this conforms to
stereotypes of women
as being so
Quick-cuts between the
action of the flashbacks and
the coffee shop is
uncomfortable to watch and
presents the issue of
psychological damage. This
evokes a sense of unease
and presents the character
as weak, thereby
conforming to stereotypes
of women as weaker and
vulnerable and hence
presenting women as being
subject to male dominance
in patriarchal society
Positioning and movement of
the protagonist character –
she gazes outside whilst in
shadow and her face, in this
shot, remains unseen to the
audience. This, combined with
her generic costume for a
teenage girl presents the
theme of teenage angst and
the use of lighting and editing
conforms to stereotypes of
this where the youthful are
presented as facing personal
troubles and as being subject
to power as being inferior. This
scene represents teenagers as
weak and troubled and
conforms to these stereotypes.
No diegetic sound, only non-
diegetic sound of crowds and
the soundtrack. This draws
attention to the visuals such as
the fact that there is no
dialogue as she is thinking.
This represents her as
intelligent and kind which
conforms to stereotypes of
women as being clever and
good-hearted but challenges
stereotypes of youths in
hoodies as being angry and
troublesome as she is sitting
calmly. This therefore presents
women as smart and kind, and
youths as calm and non-
violent.
Positioning: the protagonist remains looking
outside until later. This introduction of the
character presents teenagers as secretive
and mysterious which conforms to
stereotypes of teenagers as being so
Soundtrack of the piano foreshadows danger and establishes and eerie
tone. Thus, conforming to stereotypes of women and teenagers as being
vulnerable and in danger
Composition of the shot where the head is placed at the
upper left cross-section draws attention to her feminine
features such as long hair and pale skin. This conforms to
stereotypes of women as being beautiful and caring about
their appearance whilst her average costume challenges this
as she is not wearing anything especially extravagant or
pretty

3. Composition of shot where the framing breaks the rule of
thirds evokes a sense of unease and presents the older male
antagonist as powerful and dominant which conforms to
stereotypes of older people and males as being superior and
authoritative within patriarchal democratic society
His dark coloured hoodie and use
of costume such as the mask
present males as evil and connote
mysterious which conforms to
stereotypes of men as portraying
villains and being enigmatic
The single key
light on the face
creates shadow
around and
behind the male
protagonist which
conforms to
stereotypes of
males as being evil
and manipulating
as the shadows
presents the
antagonist as dark
Low high-angle shot connotes
that he is dominant and
authoritative. From the point
of view of the protagonist, this
suggest that she is inferior to
him and subject to his power
and control
Non-diegetic sound of a drone
whine connotes fear and danger
and conforms to stereotypes of
men as being dangerous by
representing the male
antagonist as threatening
Quick-cut and basic transition establishes a fast-paced
and dangerous atmosphere – presenting males as
dangerous and violent which conforms to stereotypes of
men as villainous and malice
Key-lighting creates shadow and the female protagonist is
in more light than the male antagonist. This presents men
as being more evil and darker than women and women
are presented as vulnerable and powerless. This conforms
to gender stereotypes such as those that assume women
are weaker and men are superior to women.
Facial expression presents female
as depressed or upset which
challenges the stereotype of
women as being happy and
cheerful as she is represented as
being quite the opposite

4. Quick-cut transitions and static transitions
establish danger and a sense of fear as they are
fast-paced and capture a sense of action. This
presents the female protagonist as being in
danger and threatened by the male antagonist
which conforms to gender stereotypes as males
are often seen as more powerful and dangerous
and women as vulnerable
The use of shadows and facial expression
suggest that the protagonist is unhappy and
so this presents male-to-female relationships
as negative and patriarchal which both
challenges and conforms to stereotypes of
men and women and their relationships.
This is because heterosexual relationships
are often seen as happy and good but this
conflicts with such ideals. Again, this also
presents that the relationships are
patriarchal which conforms to stereotypes of
heterosexual relationships as men are
usually seen as being in charge and being
dominant to women in relationships
Diegetic sound of
the protagonist
panting conforms
to stereotypes of
women as being
weaker and
represent the
female protagonist
as being in danger
and vulnerable
Diegetic sound of static during transition between shots evokes a sense of confusion and
vulnerability. This conforms to stereotypes of women as being vulnerable and subject to
the power of man. It also presents the protagonist as helpless which also conforms to
stereotypes of women as being vulnerable and in danger. However, the fact that it
represents the protagonist as being confused challenges stereotypes of women as being
intelligent but conforms to stereotypes by presenting teenagers as stupid and helpless to
their angst and problems
The use of composition and movement where the
protagonist looks directly at the camera and is central to the
shot projects a sense of power and connotes that perhaps
she is dominant which challenges stereotypes of women
and young people as being vulnerable as t represents them
as powerful and superior and in control
Very high low-angle shot creates a sense of vulnerability
and presents the protagonist as being a victim and hence
conforms to stereotypes of women and teens as being
vulnerable and obedient to power and control

5. Her sad expression presents the working-class as being
troubled which is common stereotype of the working-
class in capitalist society. This hence conforms to this
stereotype. What’s more, the shadow and lighting evoke
a sense of danger and vulnerability which thus presents
the working class as vulnerable and threatened.
Costume also suggest that she is of a low status as
she is wearing average cheap clothing for a teenage
girl. This conforms to stereotypes of low status
people as they stereotypically have low status jobs
and hence can afford less extravagant expensive
clothing.
No diegetic sound presents the working-class
protagonist as boring and of too little intelligence to
start a conversation. This conforms to the stereotype of
low status working-class citizens as being dull and
stupid
Use of non-diegetic
sound of the crowd
walla presents the
protagonist as shy
and lonely which is a
common stereotype
of the working-class
and low status as
they are often
portrayed as
average, run-of-the-
mill characters who
fade into the
background
Low high-angle shots connote that the working class are inferior and subject to
being dominated which conforms to the common stereotypes of the working-
class as being of lower status and thus have less power and control
Mask evokes danger and suspicion. This conforms to
stereotypes of the working-class as they are often seen as
dangerous and are stereotypically seen as threatening
Low high-angle shot of antagonist presents him as
powerful which challenges common stereotypes of the
working-class as being inferior and obedient