Evaluation of Representation of Social Groups

Evaluation of Representation of Men

Our cast is a heist film, with an all-male cast, as is very common with this genre of film. As our piece has an all male cast the representations are mainly focused around men.

There is in our piece a common convention of a traditionally 'feminine' role being played by a male actor.

This can be classed as a more stereotypically female representation because the ‘damsel in distress’ or the one who needs assistance the most is often a woman.

The character Jessie Attica, in the film Takers is the one who fills this role. He is the one in the film who ends up in trouble and almost getting caught by the police.

In our piece Caleb plays the same stereotype, he gets singled out more because he is the youngest (the same in takers) and he is in need of reassurance to make sure he stays on task.

He also makes a big mistake by setting the alarm off in the building, almost getting the team caught, and turns up late.

This fits in with the stereotype of the feminine role because it’s common in film genres such as ours, that the women is the one who is always in need of assistance or reassurance of her role in the film.

You could argue that by having a male taking this role, we are breaking stereotypes and broadening traditional gender roles.

However, as pointed out, we have an all male cast so this role is filled by a man by necessity.

Thornham would argue that the fact that we notice that it is a man in this role actually reinforces the fact that it is traditionally a feminine role, when it would receive little comment.

Creating Representations through Roles

The Weak Link

Elements such as mise-en-scéne and camera angles and movements help to create this stereotypical role in our piece.

The use of actor creates a sense of vulnerability as our actor is young; this gives the impression that he may make mistakes because he is inexperienced.

Also close up shots such as below, along with the dialogue used show how he is singled out more, and is in fact the ’weak link’ within the group.

Our use of editing during the rooftop conversation scene show how Caleb’s character has no authority and is the one character who almost ruins it for the whole team.

This is done through our shot-reverse-shot sequence.

The focus is mainly on the boss and his talking to Caleb, this use of screen time shows authority and power over Caleb’s character.

His position of relative weakness and isolation in the group means that this is a negative representation; suggests that to be a 'real' man, you need to be accepted and cannot make mistakes.

Caleb rooftop scene

Chris Brown (Jessie Attica) chase scene

The Weapons Expert

 

Another stereotype that’s common in the heist genre is the‘weapons expert’. This character shows power not through dialogue or screen type necessarily, but more through his skills and his abilities with weapons.

As in our piece my character is the one with the gun and the only one to be seen with any kind of weapon, this creates shorthand to the representation of power.

 

My character is toward the end of the two minutes shown to have a gun, and because of this one particular shot he gains power over all other characters except the boss.

 

Through the use of a close up shot we see where my character gains his power; my character is cocking the gun in a way that seems like he has done it before.

 

This is the same in the 'Takers' movie where the character Jake Attica also gains authority and power in the scene through holding the gun in a particular way to show confidence and experience.

 

 

Jordan  AKA - weapons expert

Micheal Ealy AKA - weapons expert

The Boss

The boss will always be shown to have the most power because he is the leader of a group of men that in some ways can be seen as a gang.

Stereotypically the group of males in a heist film coming together in a heist movie are always going to have a lot of power.

And are seen to come together to cause some kind of trouble (gangs) and when it comes to their leader he will still be represented stereotypically as the one character with the ability to hold the group together and harness this power.

In our piece represented by the hat (not taking it off shows lack of subservience) and the amount of screen time. Boss dominated opening. First seen in low shot of feet walking up stairs - traditionally connotes a person to be reckoned with.

Hat and waistcoat

Low angle - mystery

Summarising Our Representations

Adorno believes that stereotyping of characters is necessary in art forms such as film, as it creates a shorthand of meaning that can be conveyed in a quick and more efficient way to the audience.

As our piece is only two minutes in duration it was very necessary to do this use of stereotyping characters as we wanted to get the characters across to the audience.

The representation of each character is also hard to present to an audience in a heist film unless you are using the common character stereotypes.

As we have an all male cast, men in our film necessarily are represented in a number of ways as they have to play all the narrative roles.

However, some roles are clearly presented as more desirable and the representation therefore more positive e.g. boss, weapon's expert.

Therefore our representations tend to reinforce the idea that these roles are the most aspirational for men.