This document discusses the representation of social classes in the opening scenes of three films: Shaun of the Dead, Blood Diamond, and Inglorious Basterds. For Shaun of the Dead, the opening scene depicts working class and teenage social groups. In Blood Diamond, the opening focuses on depicting poor fishing communities along the coast of Africa. The opening of Inglorious Basterds initially seems to represent a higher social class through depicting an isolated farmhouse, but then shows the character engaging in manual labor, indicating he may be middle or lower class.

1. Task 9: Representation in films
Shaun Of the dead
Blood diamond
Inglorious Basterds

2. Shaun Of The Dead
Here, we see a member of staff pushing trolleys at a supermarket. We see he works at a
supermarket, this is clear by the amount of trolleys he is pushing and the uniform he is
wearing. Most supermarkets make their staff wear these types of clothes so that the
customers know he works there. As the shot is far away, no one can see his face which
shows that he is not as important as other workers or that middle class people are not as
important as higher class.
In the opening scene, there are various social groups included. In this scene, id say the social
group here is teenagers/youths and working class people. This is because of the clothes they
are wearing and the way they wear them, like hoodies up and just stereotypical clothes
teenagers wear. It is also set in a back alley or small street, also where teenagers are supposed
to hang out. It also shows a lower class as they are not at work and may live in bad areas.
Nearly every camera angle is shot from left to right as the camera moves but the main thing on
screen stays the same and in the same direction. This does not really add to the social classes of
the film as it is just a basic edit. Also, the shots are far away throughout so you cant see their
faces, this could mean that the characters are somewhat irrelevant . There is also a soundtrack in
the background but it has nothing to do with the social groupings, just something to accompany
the shots.
In this shot, everything which has been said changes. The camera zooms into the centre of
the screen instead of going left to right. This is because the 2 characters on screen are the
main people in the film and the audience need to know that. In the shot, we can tell that the
film will be about middle class and lower class people. There is a lot of rubbish everywhere
in the room and they both look as if they cant be bothered to do anything as they are sat on
a sofa and watching TV

3. Blood Diamond
The main social group which is very present in the opening sequence of Blood
diamond is poor people. The boats represent fishing men and woman who have
to collect their own food as they may not be able to get their own. As the start
of the film starts with the lighting being dark, it foreshadows the actual film.
Also, dark colours represent pain which the people on the boats could be feeling
as they are poor. The film seems to be set on the coast in Africa.
Again, this shot explores the social group. It shows the water with the same
type of boats in, a straw hut which really backs the idea of it being based in a
poor location and 2 characters who in previous shots, have had extreme close
ups on their faces. This mean that they are probably the main characters as they
are the first characters introduced to us. The clothing worn is scruffy and too big
which suggests they can only afford the things they need and not exactly what
fits.
There are a lot of different angles used but they don't exactly represent the
social group. They are probably used to engage the reader and to show
everything which happens in the village in which they live which does show
that they are poor people. Also, the range of shots tells the audience who in
the film is important, the 2 close ups of the worker and son are clearly 2 of the
main characters and thee are also a few slow, bottom to top shots to create a
sense of calmness.
The music used is very calm and peaceful and is not in English but presumably African, where the film is set. The calm idea
could be added as it sort of represents poorness as there are not many instruments used and is very basic which could
represent poor people as they don't have much and the things they do is basic as they lack money. The music flows very
well with the opening scene as it is calm and subtle. The editing in the opening scene does not link with the social group as
it just cuts to the next hot

4. Inglorious Bastards
Straight from the off, we see a field, cows, a little house in the middle of
nowhere and a few trees. For me, this represents the social group of the
higher class. The house is isolated and the house owner seems to own a
bunch of cattle. Cows cost a fair bit to maintain so this made me think of
higher class. Also, the field looks big which also indicates wealth.
There are many camera angles used within the opening sequence to give
the audience a sense of where the film is set and some of the characters
within the entirety of the film. There are a few close ups of the man and in
this shot, it shows him working with an axe, which indicates he's a hard
worker. In this case, he does not look like a higher class person as he is
wearing tattered, old and discoloured clothing, this could be as he works
hard everyday and only wears that or has lazy which is certainly associated
with lower or middle class people.
Throughout the opening sequence, various sounds are used at
different times. At this shot, a faint piano sound can be heard which
sounds quite peaceful and pianos are quite a luxury item which
links the social group but there is also shouting which creates a
sense of panic for the actor and audience. Also, there are enigma
codes at this point as we are wondering who everyone is, why they
live there etc. There is also dialog which sounds to be German.
I don't think the editing and camera angles do add
to the representation because for me it uses a lot
of techniques which other films use when thir
social group is lower class. For example, in a lot of
films, h main character has a lot of close ups on
their face near the start so the audience know they
are an influential person in the film.