revision for the TV drama part of your exam

1. TV DRAMA

2. TV drama Exam Areas
1. Gender
2. Age
3. Ethnicity
4. Disability/ Ability
5. Regional identity
6. Sexuality
7. Status/ Class
Mise en Scene
Camera work
Editing
Sound
20 marks Explanation/ Analysis
Clear analysis of how the technical aspects are used to construct the particular representation.
Understanding of the constructed nature of representation.
20 marks Use of examples
Consistent evidence from the extract. Offers frequent relevant examples
10 marks Use of terminology
Frequent and accurate use of terminology

3. Camerawork
Shots and
Framing
Movement
Angles

4. Editing
Shot reverse shot
Eyeline match
Match on action/ Action match
Jump cut
Montage
Transitions- wipes/ dissolves/ fades
Positioning of shots-
Parallel edit
Graphic match

5. DESCRIBING SOUND
Volume
Loud/ Quiet
Tempo
Fast/ Slow
Pitch
High/ Low
Instruments
Drums
Violins
Trumpet

6. MISE EN SCENE
Costume
Suit- formality/
superior/ money
Maids uniform- service
Tracksuit- common/
relaxed/ youth
Lighting
Dim/ Bright
Natural/ Artificial
Colour
Connotations of colours
RED- danger or love
WHITE- purity
GREEN- life/ jealousy
PURPLE- superiority/royalty
BLACK- death
Setting
Where is it?
Buildings/ surroundings
Urban/ Rural
Casting
blonde, blue eyed tend to chosen for
“superior” roles, dark features for more
mysterious characters, larger actors for
jolly/fun characters
Symbolism in . . .

7. Within any social group there are issues which divide/
creating binary opposites
Opposing words
male and female
gay and straight
rich and poor
north and south
east and west
able and disabled
young and old
black and white
stable in control and
unstable/ destructive
naïve and wise
superior and inferior
strong and weak
positive and negative
good and bad
brave and scared
caring and mean

8. REMEMBER Key words for all
REPRESENTATION
• Connotation (deeper meaning to use, eg white
has connotations of innocence)
• Symbolic- a sign for something
• Conform or Re-inforce the stereotypical
• Subvert or Challenge image
• Dominant image
• Positive or Negative

9. Extra Marks
• Character types- Propp theory
- Villain/ Hero/ Helper etc
• Binary Opposites
- Good/ Bad, Young / Old etc
The close up shot is used to emphasis the mans
facial expression and perhaps highlight the scar on his
face. The aggressive look on his face and the scar
conforms to the stereotype of men as dominant and
powerful, but also the more negative stereotype of
violence. This also clearly establishes him as the
‘villain’ character, creating a clear binary opposite of
the ‘nice’ hero who we had seen earlier.
GENDER

10. Disability
Disability Stereotypes
1. Inspirations - Indomitable disabled person, aka "Super Cripple" overcomes
every challenge, "doesn't think of self as disabled" never asks for help, declines
accommodation of any kind, climbs Mt. Everest in a wheelchair with cheery smile
2. Deviant, Sinister and Evil - naturally crooked, operate outside normal rules of
nature and society, must be contained controlled or destroyed
3. Victims - vulnerable, weak, tragic object of violence and abuse
4. Exotic Freaks/ Clowns - generate feelings of horror, aversion, fear of difference,
embarrassment. Comic -laughable appearance, funny voices, the butt of jokes,
dumb and dumber, court jesters, fools
6. Pitiful and Sweet - pathetic, innocent, grateful for crumbs, sometimes speak
gentle words of extraordinary wisdom (especially if intellectually impaired) need to
be looked after, in film and fiction often finds miracle cure
SYMPATHY
7. Twisted and Bitter- chip on shoulder, whining, angry and difficult, taking out
inner hurt and rage on the world, okay to ignore their concerns, pointless trying
communicate with them
8. Burden and Outcast - costly, non-contributing burdens on society, can’t and
don’t "fit in" anywhere except amongst others of same kind - should be
segregated, institutionalized, provided with the bare minimum or euthanized
(better off dead anyway), preferably prevented from reproducing.
9. Non sexual - can never be in a relationship (unless partner is pervert or martyr)
10. Incapable of full participation in everyday life - nothing to do with how society
is built or organized, just can’t learn, earn, play, socialize, shop, travel, go to a
nightclub or use the phone (cause for unlimited astonishment if can do any of
above)
Stereotypes
Contemporary
Positive representation-
challenging preconceptions
How are people with disabilities portrayed?
Negative- condescending disability
stereotypes
Able bodied representation=
‘Normal’

11. Sexuality/ Sexual orientation
How do you determine someone’s sexuality?
How do tv directors construct/ convey a
characters sexuality in a production?
Within both genders there tend to be binary
opposites shown within the relationship.
Has become more socially acceptable on TV now
Stereotypes
Contemporary
Feminine qualities
‘Camp’ Tight tops
Sensitive Emotional
Caring Vain
‘Out the closet’
Personal grooming
Musical Makeup
Hair down
Masculine qualities
‘Butch’ Strong
Tough
Confrontational
Less attractive or
bothered about
appearance
Slobbish
Plain- no makeup
Hair back
Fiesty and loud
Extremes/
Negative
Homosexual
Gay/ lesbian
Unacceptable
to some
Causing social
friction
-Religion
-Culture
Heterosexual
Straight
More socially
accepted
‘normal’
Expected
Religiously
correct

12. Gender
Gender normally self explanatory- self evident
You can see what gender someone is
Representation comes from characterisation,
decision to conform or subvert social stereotypes
Stereotypes
Feminine qualities
Maternal
Nurturing
Kitchen/ Wife
Emotional
Dependant/ inferior
Vulnerable/ weak
Masculine qualities
Strong/ tough/ brave
Aggressive
Narrow minded
Sporting
Ignorant
Safety/ Superior
Extremes
Dominant
powerful men
Submissive
and
suppressed
women

13. Social class and Status
How do you determine someone’s ‘social class’?
Talk
Education
Money- (shown through clothes and setting etc)
Residence
Occupation
Hobbies
Views
Social mobility - (moving between class)
Stereotypes
Contemporary
Middle class/ Upper class
(posh)
Yuppie
Nouveau Riche (new rich)
Stuck up/ Snobby
Thinks they are superior
Guardian reader
Suit/ Formal
Working Class
(common)
Chav
White trash
White van man
Sun reader
Loyal (to own)
Tracksuit/ informal
Extremes/
Period
Drama
Monarchy
Royalty
Wealth
Power
Extremes/
Period
Drama
Peasants
Poverty
Struggle
Oppression

14. Regional Identity
How do you determine someone’s ‘regional
identity’?
Talk- accents
Residence
Rural/ urban
Behaviour/ Beliefs
Class
Northerners
-Liverpool/ Newcastle/ Blackpool/ Manchester
Talk with an accent/ Unemployed
Racist/ Love football/ Football hooligans/ Chavs
Burberry/ Very short skirts even in winter and tall boots,
Fake tan/Lots of makeup
Smoking/Nightclubs/ Hoop earrings
Techno/ rave/Binge drinking
Men wearing tracksuits and reebok trainers
Violence and fighting/ BNP / EDL
Humour, making jokes, being funny
-West Country/ Yorkshire/ Wales
Farmers/ Love Cornish pasties
Ride tractors/ Have animals/Rich or well off
Old-fashioned clothes and wellies/ Stupid
Sheep dogs/ Racist
Shotguns/ Go to village pubs/Go hunting
Make their own food and wine/beer
Chew barley or straws/ Wear dungarees
This variety is reflected in the
spectrum of accents spoken
Southeners
-Cockneys- poorer working class Londoners
Black cabs/ Markets
Pubs/Mechanics shops/ Cafes
Bangers and mash/ Fish and chips
Living in flats, estates
Migrant workers/ Corner shops- Asian
The Olympics
Gangs/ Messy streets
Graffiti, pollution/ Knife crime
-Richer middle class Londoners
Theatre/ Harrods
Care about money/ Chauffeurs/ Suit wearing
Horse riding, polo/ West end/ Shopping malls
Penthouse apartments, Chelsea/ Champagne
-Essex
Designer brands (fake designer brands)
Blonde hair, bimbos/ Uneducated
Bitching, gossiping/ Materialistic
WAGs/ Sex
Lots of marriage and divorce/ Fake tan
Living the high life, partying
Gambling /Rugby, golf
Cheerleaders/ Plastic surgery
Horse riding/ Horse racing
Getting really dressed up/ Nice cars
North and South divide

15. Age
Age- self evident if someone is old or young
CHILDHOOD
Innocent/ Cute/ Playful/ Happy/ Cheeky/ Funny
Childish, Cry babies, Uncontrollable
Attention-seeking, Annoying, Stubborn
Messy, Mischievous ,Badly behaved, A burden
Middle Aged/ Adults
Responsible/ Breadwinners
Married
Social life (parties, clubbing) (dinner parties, picnics)
Experienced/wise
Caring/maternal
Domestic (concerned with houses, decoration, holidays
etc)
Workaholics/ Bossy
Annoying (to younger people)
Depressed/ Lonely/isolated
Bitter about getting old
Drunk(?)
Boring/ Nags
Stereotypes
BINARY OPPOSITES
GRUMPY– vibrant energetic, carefree
BURDEN – Striving for independence
COMPLAINING, CRITICAL –
adaptable, take things in their stride
JUDGEMENTAL- accepting, open
minded
NOSEY - curious
MOODY/STROPPY/DEPRESSED- happy,
sweet, kind
STUBBORN understanding
CRIMINALS- law abiding, victim
INEXPERIENCED – wise
VAIN, CONCERNED WITH APPEARANCES
REBELS – loyal, conformist, follow the rules.
AGGRESSIVE VIOLENT – calm, gentle,
passive, weak, pacifists
SPOILT SELFISH – generous, giving, caring
INCONSIDERATE – caring, loving

16. Adolescence/teenage years
Positive:
Involved in positive social groups
Youth centers
Socialising more than others
Hardworking students
New to romance/ sweet and innocent
Part time jobs
Voluntary work
Taking part in extra-curricular activity
The future, the next generation
Clever- In education
Daring
Enterprising
Activities
Clubbing
Socialising
Playing computer games
Into technology
Into music
Negative:
STIs / sexually irresponsible behaviour
horny
ASBOS
Involved in gangs
Lazy
Always on Facebook or other social networks
Not concentrating on schoolwork
Involved in drugs / illegal activity
Drug dealing
Rude, violent, criminal damage
Suffering from the mistakes of the previous
generation
Angry, prejudiced, racist
Stereotype other people
Obesity, junk food eating
Anorexia, mood swings, anaemic
Laughing hysterically, hyperactive
Scary or a threat to others
Faking ID
Illegal downloads
Watching over-18 movies

17. Pensioners
Positive:
Old-fashioned perfume
Wear vintage clothing/ old fashioned
Experienced/ Wise
Sweet, Smiley, Kind
Jolly
Knit
Growing beards
Giving, generous, Charitable
Old-fashioned values
Play bingo
Modest in personality
Dress modestly
Religious
Negative:
Smelly
In care homes
Shaky
Walking sticks
Dependent
Weak
No teeth
Slow
Stereotype others
Judgmental
Shouting
Croaky voices
Wrinkly
Old-fashioned
Don’t like young people, might be afraid or
feel intimidated
No style/ Don’t care how they look
Eyesight and hearing problems
Illness - Arthritis
Vulnerable

18. Ethnicity
How do you represent
someone’s ethnicity?
Race
Culture
Background/ Country
Immigrants
Segregation/ integration?
Ask yourself, has the director
chosen to subvert the Ethnic
stereotypes or conform to
them?
Does it show equality? Or
One group to be more
positive/ powerful than
another?
Remember it will be a British
TV Drama
Food/ Occupations/ Clothes can
all be linked to ethnic
stereotypes
Social stereotypes
Social Stereotypes
Black – suffer from a history of negative representation as a
result of slavery and inequality
Religious values/ Aggressive/ Loud/ Confident- Outspoken
Funny/ comical/ Feisty women
Destructive family units/ separated /Absent fathers?
Crime/ Gangs- derives from American images/ rap etc
Asian-
Family orientated/ Marriage- arranged?/ Large families
Strong religious views and beliefs? Extremists?
Value education- derives from the lack of free education in
most eastern countries
Pushy/ Oppressive men/ Dominant family values
White
Superior/ Power/ Dominant ethnic group
Divided by ‘Class differences’
Immigrants
Vulnerable/ undercover/ fear of being caught/ illegal
Opportunity/ Naivety/ Hopeful/ Lost/

19. Remember
1.Say what was used, identify the cam shot,
editing technique, sound etc and say what it does
ie, CU allows you focus on her facial expression,
long shot you can clearly see the costume choices/
setting
2. then say what that shows- what message/ meaning
is given to the audience about that particular
persons class / gender
persons sexuality / age
where that person come from / their ethnicity
their physical ability