Sunday, 23 March 2014

Game Of Thrones extract - how class is represented


In this sequence from Game Of Thrones, different micro features combine together to portray a representation of class; which both challenges and adheres to the typical stereotypes.

The clip begins in the company of only upper class people. This can be shown by their outfits and the long shots showing which keep focus on every aspect showing that the interaction and the people are important. The lighting is also natural but quite bright which highlights their importance.


The scene then cuts to some upper class people walking through the streets and surrounded by lower class people. There is a low angle shot on the lower class people and a high angle shot juxtaposed on King Joffery and his people. This is a counter stereotype as it suggests that the lower class have the most power in this situation and King Joffery, although superior in title, is weaker and vulnerable. This counteracts the usual stereotype of a higher class having all the power. The diegetic sound is also more prominent with the arrival of people from the lower class. They chant and mock the king; which shows their lack of respect for authority and is also quite un-stereotypical. The lack of dialogue between the upper class and the prevalent dialogue when the lower class people are there suggests that the lower class have a sense of community and communication whereas the upper class are more preserved and have a lack of integration.


There is also a shift in atmosphere when the lower class citizens come into the scene as they are all quite angry and violent which re-enforces the stereotype that they are quite savage and cannot control their emotions. This is also supported by the fight that they started in which the shots then become shorter and more fast paced. During this time, there, there is a range of different shots used. When the upper class are shown, it is mostly with close ups and medium close ups to show their faces and suggests the importance of their emotions and responses to the events. This is different to when the lower class are shown in mostly long shots and medium shots which suggests that their emotions are not as important and allows the viewer to focus mainly on their actions when they're rebelling which suggests them to be savage and incapable of emotion.


Throughout this scene, the representation of class has stuck to stereotypes but has also criticized them. It shows the authority of the upper class but also lower class challenging this with their lack of respect. The fact that the upper class dominates most of the screen time also suggests that they are more important than the lower class; which sticks with the current stereotype.



No comments:

Post a Comment