This document provides guidance on note taking for analyzing films in the genre of social realism. It identifies three key areas to focus on: genre, narrative, and representation. For each area, it lists conventions and techniques to look for, such as gritty realism, character archetypes and roles, and representations of specific groups. Students are advised to take notes in these areas during and after viewing and may need to watch the film multiple times to fully develop their analysis.

1. Guidance with note taking:
Remember there are three key areas of the Text you should be making notes on: Genre,
Narrative and Representation. The table below should be used as a guide to help you know
what things to make notes on and a reminder of some key Media language.
Genre: Social Realism Narrative Representation
Conventions: Character functions Groups:
Gritty Skinheads
Raw Structure: e.g. Circular, Youth
Realistic Stages... Men/Women
Makes a point Race/Ethnicity
Characters Enigma/Action codes
Archetypes? Characters:
Function/Role Themes – what is the film Shaun
Visual codes ‘about’? Combo
‘3 dimensional’ Woody
Representations of realism Visual style – camera and Shaun’s mum &Lol
Actors editing. Shot types to
Mise-en-scene represent different things or Also...
Script/Dialogue to position the audience Era – England in 1983
Ideology specifically. Violence
Issues Racism
Themes Narrative devices: e.g. Englishness
Binary oppositions Montage, Slo-mo, Working class life in
Flashback... that era

2. Throughout the screening you should be making notes but then expanding your notes as
soon as possible after you have seen each part of the film.
Even then you may want to watch the film another two or three times to make your notes as
comprehensive as possible. Ask me if you would like to see any part of the film again –
outside of lesson – to complete your notes.