On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
1.
2. AGE
I think that the representation of age in our opening
sequence is effective. Conventionally, within dramas the
plot is based around mature characters. Therefore,
because our sequence only features one character we
wanted them to be a middle aged man so that we could
reinforce a level of realism which is typical of a drama.
With our target audience being 15+ we thought that they
would be able to connect with his character more so, and
understand his personality traits. However, this new
feature of motion tracking introduces a ‘fresh’ approach
which will perhaps interest younger audiences. Our drama
is aimed towards a wide audience of different ages which
perhaps the majority of dramas may not be.
Another film which does something similar, is the film ‘Her’ where they add a quirky twist to
the typical romantic drama with the main character falling in love with a IOS. I think that by
incorporating a new element, younger audiences are gravitated towards something they
haven’t seen before. For our own opening we have combined the old narrative and taken a
new approach on the visual style: which I think fits to the needs for audiences of all ages!
3. LONLINESS AND ISOLATION
A main aspect of our opening was
trying to illustrate this loneliness and
isolation within our sequence and
characterisation. On the bases of our
film it is easy to gather he is very OCD
however underneath the surface this
lonely character is very much there and
we wanted that to become a main
feature of the film. I think that many
audiences can familiarise themselves
with feeling lonely which can hopefully
allow them to connect with his
character and sympathize with him:
which is conventional of a drama.
Some of my favourite films incorporate the theme of loneliness such as Lost in
Translation, Taxi Driver and Into the Wild. However, a prime example is the film Cast
Away where the film captures the heart breaking struggle of Chucks battle with survival
and human sanity. In particular, the scene where he finds comfort in a Volley ball called
Wilson who becomes his best friend: highlights the sheer loneliness he feels.
4. RACE
Our representation of race is White
British. The protagonist of Derek Miller
conforms to this stereotype as a well
educated and affluent male. However,
the theme of loneliness and isolation
allows his character to have far more
depth which subverts the stereotype that
White males are restrained.
We hope that his character doesn’t come across as arrogant or ‘rowdy’ which is
stereotypical of a White British male. But more so, someone who is quite introverted
and isolated with the outside world giving his character a likeable quality. We hope
that the audience can strive for Derek Miller to have a good outcome and be able to
empathise with him (typical of the Drama genre).
5. GENDER
Within Dramas, gender is wide spread containing both females and males. However in our
opening the only character and gender you see is a man . Throughout the sequence, you
see him dressed in a suit which attains a sense of masculinity. From an audiences
perspective we could hope that there might be a possible relationship which sparks up
which involves a female. We have conformed to a few drama stereotypes where a male
plays the lead role and this idea of ‘male domination’ is key.
For example:
- The Shawshank Redemption (!994)
-Forrest Gump (!994)
-The Godfather (1972)
6. SEXUALITY
Within our opening, we haven’t established a clear sexuality to whether he is
heterosexual and homosexual, but there are subtle hints within the opening that
suggest that he is straight. For example, him wearing the suit throughout the
sequence suggests he is quite masculine. Many drama films explore different
sexualities so there isn’t a typical stereotype in which our genre conforms too.
For example:
Milk (2009)
Harvey Milk becomes the first openly gay person to
be voted into public office in America. The film is
based off a true story about his journey living as a
gay man during the 70’s.
Titanic (1997)
In comparison, the film Titanic takes the
form of tragic love story between Jack
and Rose.
7. SOCIAL CLASS
From an audiences perspective, we gather that he is either middle or upper class due to
the setting and costume represents him as a wealthy man. Moreover, we get glimpses of
his office and his kitchen which reflect that he is middle class citizen. The idea that it is his
him living in this grand house suggests his wealth more so. Drama films can involve upper
and lower classes there aren’t really any boundaries when it comes to that
representation.