This document provides an analysis of the short film "Wasp" directed by Andrea Arnold in 2003. It summarizes the film's portrayal of social issues like poverty faced by single mothers in working class communities. Through the character Zoe, the film shows the struggles and sacrifices single parents make to care for their children with little money and support. It addresses themes like gender roles and social class through its portrayal of characters and setting in Dartford, England. The analysis examines how the film realistically captures the hardships of working class life at the time through Zoe's situation.

1. WASP
ANALYSIS

2. Denotation Connotations
Subject matter
What social issues
does the film
address?
The short film addresses major social
issues from the era – such as
poverty. This is shown through the
main characters (zoe) family.
In a desperate attempt to make sure
Dave still wants to go on a date with
her, Zoe lies and says the children
aren’t hers, and she is just babysitting
them. When she can’t find anyone to
look after the children, she leaves
them outside the pub during her date.
This subsequently led to Dave finding
out.
Through this, we can see the shame
Zoe feels about being a single and
un-wealthy parent. This also shows
that risks have to be taken in order
for the young mother to be able to live
her life and do what’s best for her
children. During her pub date Zoe
says that she’ll eventually tell Dave
her situation, this implies that she
feels he may be scared off by the fact
she has children, and wants to wait
until there is a certain romance.
Tone
In what ways is
the film realistic
or escapist?
The bread bin has mouldy, inedible
bread.
Before meeting Dave, Zoe is
barefoot, yet when she is aware she
is going on a date, she wears a more
revealing outfit with high heels.
Shows that she can barely afford to
feed her children; a struggle that
many single parents faced in the
early 2000’s to present day.
Zoe will do anything to impress the
man she fancies.

3. Denotation Connotations
Change agency
In what ways is the film
raising awareness and/
or campaigning for
change?
Zoe still tries to do her best for
her children.
Dave calls her a “modern day
woman” when saying to get the
first round.
Dave goes on to buy food for her
and the children at the local chip
shop.
She confronts a parent as their child
has bullied hers. Although not done in
the most plausible way, she had her
child’s best interests at heart. As well
as this, when she had no edible food,
so missed out herself and gave her
children sugar. This shows that the
working class struggle to survive with
a lack of basic necessities.
Zoe has to scrimp and scrape to be
able to afford a drink for Dave, herself
and for her children. She then puts her
children first and gets them food and
herself a cheaper drink she doesn’t
necessarily want.
In the end, Dave doesn’t mind that Zoe
is a single parent, and goes out of his
way to make sure her children are fed
even though he doesn’t have much
himself.

4. Denotation Connotation
Social Class
How does the film
position working/ middle/
upper class people?
The children have old
clothes on, Zoe has no
shoes and the baby
hasn’t got a nappy on.
The eldest daughter
takes matters into her
own hands and resorts
to feeding the other
children with ribs
dropped on the floor.
The area they live in in
Dartford is in a poor
condition.
Even though she appears very poor, Zoe
has found a way to somewhat clothe her
children better than herself, as she
wears no shoes. The baby not wearing a
nappy also emphasises the way the
working class can’t get by without basic
necessities.
Although this gets her in trouble, she
has to think of ways to help her mother
and siblings as she knows Zoe doesn’t
have enough money to feed them.
The houses in the area all appear too
old and mistreated to house people. The
families that live in them also appear to
represent the stereotypical aspects of
the working class.

5. Representations
In what ways are characters
portrayed in terms of their:
Denotations Connotations
Race All of the characters
featured are of
white ethnicity.
The area could be a low working class area of mainly
white people. This could link to the common stereotype
that white people are trashy.
Gender Zoe is a single
mother to three
daughters.
Dave asks Zoe to
buy first round of
drinks on their date.
After the fight between the parents, Zoe counts down for
the girls to turn around and give a middle finger. This
would be seen as a vulgar signal, and even more so
coming from young girls.
Dave making Zoe pay for the first round shows the
progression of feminism, as stereotypically, the man
would be the one providing for the women.
Religion - -
Sexuality The daughters are
aware of their
mothers romance
with Dave.
The youngest daughter asks Zoe; “are you going to have
sex with Dave?” This shows the children don’t see this as
x-rated conversation and have been brought up around
that type of discussion.
Regional identity The short film is set
in Dartford where
the people appear
to be chavs.
The clothes the characters wear are all tattered and the
streets are left unclean, creating the illusion that the
people don’t care for living standards.

6. Denotations Connotations
Casting
Does the film use
famous or
unknown actors?
The film uses known
actors, however
they’re not as
famous as those in
popular movies.
Danny Dyer has featured in many programmes
since the release of the short film. His most
notable rolls include portraying ‘Mick’ in
Eastenders.
Natalie Press had few rolls before the film, such as
a short appearance on Holby City in 2001.
Budget
What is the level
of finance behind
the production?
£33,000
Audience
What is the
demographic
profile of the films
target audience?
The film is directed
at working class
people of any age,
however young
working class would
be more plausible.
This would be the leading target audience as they
could potentially find the story line relatable. This
could be to the extent of single parenting or just
general relating to the situations.
Director
Who is the
director and what
does s/he say
about the film?
Andrea Arnold Andrea Arnold wants the audience to understand
the strength of a single mother in what was a
common working class society. By setting the story
in her hometown, she can give an accurate
representation of daily life.
Institutions
Which companies
are involved in
making the film?
Film 4