Sexuality Stereotypes and Tessa Perkins

Grand Budapest Hotel

Mise-en-scene - Shameless

Shameless - Mise en scene 

Colour:

• The clip starts with some dull subdued colours, these are representative of lower class people as the colour relates to their lives relative lack of fulfilment. Be it financially or happiness. As a viewer we can see that the colours have started to change colour due to age and treatment, this could also indicate that they have little money to repaint the walls.  

• The colours on the males clothes also coincide with the colours of the decor. The relatively dark colours of this scene could be aiming to represent that he is bringing darkness to the family, it also emphasises what he is saying with could give the idea that he is drunk, this is usually associated and viewed as a 'dark' think. 

• The next scene shows us the rest of the family which are dressed in lighter more appealing colours, this is highly representative of the fact that they bring the light into the family that otherwise wouldn't have it, there are still reminders of their background though as, there is a solid grey wall, this is indicative that lower class people (we are indicated that these people are) struggle to get away from their backgrounds no matter how hard they try. 

• The baby is dressed in pink, this is generally viewed as a happy upbeat colour, which links to them (in this case specifically the baby) being the ones to bring happiness in an otherwise sad environment that a lower class household maybe. It is often stereotyped that lower class members of society hold on to certain things for happiness, one of such stereotyped items is a baby.

• Also noticeable is that they have a red front door, this could be perceived as danger, this is how these class of people are sometimes viewed. As danger is undesirable to people that could be the representation idea.

Costume:

• The father is wearing quite dirty and untidy clothing. This creates the idea that the father may not have a job since it is the morning and he is dressed very inappropriately for any kind of work. His type of clothing also also links with the idea that the family is lower class and they do not have a large some of income.

• The entire family, including the father, are wearing casual clothing. this again links to the idea of the family being lower class. Their clothing also looks cheap which suggests they do not have a lot of money, especially to spend on clothing.   

• The boys in this clip are wearing track suits. This fits the stereotypical image we have of teenagers who belong to a lower class family in a lower class society. Tracksuits are often what establishes a bad image for the person who wears them. However the tracksuits also signify a low standard of wealth within the family which links with the lower class status of the family.

• When the family are outside of their house, they encounter a man who is dressed in a suit. We are instantily able to see the contrast between the two social classes. It is clear that the man in the suit is some form of business man who belongs to the middle class level of society. 

Lighting

• The lighting in the clip is quite simple which matches the interior. This shows that they do not want to spend a lot of money on lighting and they want to stick to what they need. This can be used to show that they are lower class.
• They use a lot of natural lighting which could be seen to show that they do not care about other people judging them and they do not mind who they are. This shows that they do not worry about people judging them because they are lower class.
• There are curtains on the windows which could be used to show that they are seen to be outcasts from society. It shows that people do not want to include lower class people into society and they would rather ignore them and separate them.

Body Language/Posture

• The children are leaning on the table which shows that they are lower class. This is because lower class people are shown to have little manners and not leaning on the table is classed as manners. 
• The father is slouched over and he is not walking straight which may be used to show that he is drunk. By the action of him leaning over, this could be used to show that the weight of responsibly is on him and he struggles to cope with everyday life. This may be used to show that being lower class is hard for people and they have a lot to cope with.
• Most of the characters arms are crossed at various parts of the clip. This is used to show their anger and to show that they do not enjoy being lower class.  It may also be used to show that they are angry with the father for letting them become lower class and not doing anything about it.
• The teenager with the baby is cradling the baby tightly. This may be used to show that she is protecting the baby from being lower class and does not want the same for her baby when she is older.

Framing

• The dad is away from the family at the beginning of this clip. This may be used to show the father is not close with his children and do not have a good bond with them. This may be because his children do not like the fact that he is an alcoholic and doesn't work.
• The rest of the family are close together which show that they all have a close bond. This shows unity which is a stereotype for lower class people. The stereotype is that lower class families are close and strongly rely on each other.
• However, all of the family are standing together at the end which shows that they have become close again. This shows that they were able to overcome their differences and accept their father again.
• The table that the children are sitting around is covered in empty alcohol. This shows that the children are surrounded by his bad habits and have had to put up with them for their whole life. It could also be used to show that the alcohol is the center of the father's world and his children come after that.

Hair and Make-Up

• The father has long, greasy, messy hair. This shows that he is not bothered by his appearance and does not put effort into his hair. It shows that he does not wash a lot as he has greasy hair. However, this may also mean that he is unable to afford shampoo which shows that he does not have enough money to buy basic items. The fact that his hair is like this shows that he does not have a job as this makes him look unprofessional and is not a hairstyle that people who work have.
• The girl who has a baby has her hair tied back into a bun. This shows that she does not have time to do her hair now that she has a baby. This hairstyle is also quite child-like which may be used to emphasis the fact that she is a teenage mother, which is a stereotype for lower class teenage girls. Her make-up is quite simplistic which reinforces these points. It could also show that even though she does not have much time, she still wants to make a little bit of effort with her appearance.
• Both of the teenage boys have shaven heads. This may show that they cannot afford to go the hair dressers as they are able to do this hairstyle themselves. This is also known to be how prisoners have their hair so links in with the boys being seen as dangerous. It may also be used to foreshadow their later life and where society thinks that they will end up because of their class.
• The little boy has quite long hair, like his father. This may be used to show that the boy is also going to end up being like his father, lower class. This shows the cycle which most lower class people find themselves in and unable to escape from.
• The business man has styles hair which shows that he is middle class. He has quite a formal style which shows that he has a good job.

Facial Expressions

• The fathers facial expressions are rather blank for the clip and he does not show a lot of expressions. This may show that he is used to living as lower class and it does not phase him anymore. It may also be used to show that he has lost hope and he does not feel as though he would ever be able to get out of him. He also looks as though he is drunk which portrays his alcoholism and his addiction, which is a stereotype of lower class people.
• Most of the time, the other characters look angry. This may be used to show that they are angry at the situation and how they are angry at the fact that they are lower class. This may also be used to show that they are angry at the fact that their dad is not doing anything to help them and they know they they will be stuck being lower class. 

Props

• There are a lot of empty alcohol bottles which show that the father may be addicted to alcohol. It also shows that they do not tidy the house often. This shows that they are not bothered about their surroundings and the place in which they live. It may also be used to show that they are lazy which shows why the father has not got a job.
• They have a lot of locks on the door which may show the kind of area they live in. This shows that they live in a place which has high crime rate, which is typically known to be a lower class area. This is as lower class people are stereotypically known to to be involved in crime and they are all seen to be criminals.
• There are pictures and drawings up on the wall. This shows how the family are close and how the house is family orientated. A stereotype of lower class people is the families are close and stick together. By images of the family being up on the wall, it shows how they are proud of their family and want to display their memorable moments. By the pictures being displayed on the walls, it shows how the father respects his children and want them to feel good about themselves.

Mise-en-scene analysis

Mise-en-scene analysis

Within this this single image, there are many factors of Mise-en-scene that possess a deeper meaning.

First of all is colour, there are multiple examples of colour in this single image and each example informs us of something about either the character or their surroundings. A starting point is how the women on the left links with the situation through colour. She is wearing a plain blue formal shirt whilst the table cloth and mats are also blue. This may suggest that she is responsible for setting the table and making the meal that they are currently eating. This also gives us ideas about her role with in the family and that she is the one who does all of the domestic work in the house. As well as the women linking with the table, both the parents blend into the background due to colour. They are both wearing dark coloured clothing which is of a similar colour scheme to the background behind them. This may suggest that they are of less importance in this specific scene and we are not meant to be focused upon them. The clothing of the young girl in the middle of the table is very brightly coloured compared to the rest of the people and items surrounding her. Bright colours may suggest she is of higher importance in this specific scene and that we are meant to avert our attention towards her. Finally, in terms of colour, the red flours in the middle of the tables may indicate that the young girl has poor mental state. This is because red is a colour that is often associated with evil or pain.

Alongside colour, we are also able to identify features of facial expression and their meanings. Obviously since there is only three people in his particular image, there are three facial expressions but each one tells us a lot about each specific character. Firstly, the women on the left appears to be uncomfortable. She is staring at her husband  with a very blank but aggravated expression which may show unhappiness within their relationship. Next, the daughter in the middle. She, similar to her mother, has an annoyed/agitated look upon her face. She is starring directly at her father with this same expression which shows that she may be unhappy with what he has said. In contrast to the two females, the man has a much more joyful look about him. It appears that he is laughing which suggests that he is the only one that is having fun at the table.

In terms of framing, they are all in frame sat around the table. They are all sat separately with the parent at each end and the young girl sat directly in the middle. This gives us the idea that their is discomfort between the family and that the girl is caught in the middle of arguing between the parents. A second idea is that because the daughter appears to be quite sinister, the parents are aware of this and that is why they are sat as far away as possible from her.

Lighting is a key factor with in this image. It tells us a lot abut the characters and the scene. First off, the fact hat the girl is in the middle of the table and is being lit up by the candles may suggest that she is the light and soul of the family. As well as this, the two parents are sat within the darkness which suggests that their relationship is not a positive one. It also presents the idea that the girl is more important in this scene and the parents are not as important. Because the only light in the scene is created by candle light, it suggests that the only light and happiness with in the family will eventually die out.

Each character in this image posses their own body features/posture. The young girl in the middle has her elbows on the table may suggest that she has bad manors, especially since she is currently at the dinner table eating. In contrast to this, both of her parent's arms are positioned lower down with their elbows avoiding contact with the top of the table. This suggests that they have much better manors that their daughter. Both the daughter and her father are avoiding eye contact with the mother which suggests that she is emotionally rejected by the rest of the family. Finally, in terms of body posture, he father's fists are clenched. This is suggestive of the idea that the father is not presenting his true emotion upon his face. He appears to smiling ad enjoying himself yet his hands would suggest anger or rage.

There are only a few essential props within this scene. The first is the win bottle. It is located very close to the women which may suggest that she is a heavy drinker. This may be due to a failing relationship with her husband or the fact that it appears her daughter is rejecting her. The positioning of the flowers in front of the young girl give us the idea that she is the only life on the table but requires looking after. A lot of the items on the table appear to be crystal or glass, this suggests that the family is likely wealthy. 

The hair and makeup of the mother suggests that she may spend a considerable amount of time on making her self appealing. This can be identified by he short haircut and contrasting makeup. In contrast to this is the daughter in the middle. She has a very simple hairstyle (pony tail) and very simple makeup. This may suggest innocence however the bright red lip stick is quite sinister. The fact that she is wearing makeup at all may suggest that she is to act or at least appear as an adult. The man has a short and formal haircut which h may suggest that he is a business man. It is clear that his hair is receding which makes it clear that he may be under a lot of stress either due to his job or his family.

The final factor is clothing. Both of the parents are wearing very formal, plain and colourless clothing. Even though this may suggest that they are boring people or that they live a dull life, it may also hint at the idea that they possess a high quality of wealth. The clothing of the young girl is typical of a child. It is brightly coloured and very casual, especially compared to her parents. 

Ethnicity and Race

 

Class and Status

 

Regional identity stereotypes and counter types

Regional identity stereotypes and counter-types

 

Scottish:

There are many stereotypes associated with Scotland and the people that originate from there.

 

One of the most well-known stereotypes of the Scottish is alcohol. It is known worldwide that the Scotts are big fans of drinking.  This obsession of theirs is one of the first things that most people think of when we hear the word ‘Scotland’.  A prime example of this stereotype being put into action is Groundskeeper Willie from ‘The Simpsons’.  He is a keen drinker throughout the show and as a humorous characteristic; he always seems to be either slightly or heavily intoxicated.

However a counter-type to this is Amy Pond from Doctor Who. She is a full on Scott yet she seems to be an exception from this profound stereotype. It is very uncommon to see this character drinking alcohol and it is almost unheard throughout the show that the character is drunk. 

A second stereotype of Scottish people is that they are all predominantly ginger. There are many and many Scottish TV characters that possess red hair but I picked Amy Pond because she is very well known character that was part of one the biggest TV programs in the world.

A counter-type to this character is The Hound from the HBO series Game of Thrones.  This 6ft 6 warrior possesses a brown head of hair which is often usual amongst Scottish TV characters.

 

 

 

Liverpool:

A large stereotype of people from Liverpool is that they are members of the working class; this is usually represented through Mise-èn-scene and their dialect. We often stereotype people who come from Liverpool as those who wear cheap clothing such as tracksuits and who swear a lot and religiously use slang.  Two TV programs that would show these stereotypes are Benefit Street and Brookside.

A countertype to this would be the comedian John Bishop. Although, strictly speaking, Bishop is not a TV character, he does act as a clear opposite to these stereotypes as he is mostly seen wearing smart clothing such as a suit and during his stand up comedy shows, he very rarely uses slang. However one stereotype that John Bishop does play up to is the fact that he supports Liverpool Football Club. This is a common stereotype for those who come from the Merseyside.

Newcastle:

A widely spread stereotype of ‘Geordies’, specifically females, is that they use a heavy amount of make-up and fake tan. A TV show that contains multiple female Geordies that wear a large amount of make-up is Geordie Shore.  

Another stereotype of Geordies is that they wear a lot of black and white. This is often linked to the classic colours of the football club Newcastle United. Again this stereotype can be seen in the show Geordie Shore.

 

 

 

Yorkshire:

One of the most common stereotypes of someone who is from Yorkshire is their dress sense. We often associate, specifically males, from Yorkshire as people who wear flat peaked caps alongside some form of tweed jacket or coat. This combines with another stereotype, which is that we often all people from Yorkshire as farmers since their general surroundings is the countryside.  Another stereotype of people from Yorkshire and how they behave is the food that they eat. We often associate them as people who eat foods included with in a Sunday dinner, especially Yorkshire pudding.

 

Birmingham:

A common stereotype of ‘Brummies’ is that they are predominantly working class and sometimes-violent individuals. These stereotypes mainly arise from the surroundings that they live in. Many people know Birmingham as a rough area that mostly contains small houses and a high rate of crime. Linked to the distinctive accent of the Birmingham population, another wide spread stereotype is that Brummies are not the most intelligent.

 

Welsh:

A widely spread stereotype of the Welsh population is they are all big fans of Rugby, especially the men. This is largely due to the fact that Rugby is the sport that the Welsh are best at. An example of this is Liam from the MTV show ‘The Valleys’. Another well known but highly controversial stereotype of the Welsh is that they are overly fond of sheep. It is believed that some of the Welsh population engages in sexual activities with sheep however this is not a known fact.

 

Irish:

One of the main stereotypes of the Irish is that they are heavy drinkers. A clear representation of this stereotype is Father Jack Hackett from Father Ted. One of his few single worded catch phrases is literally “drink!” He is an alcoholic who is intoxicated almost 100% of the time. A counter type to this would be another character from the same show, Father Dougal. He is virtually never seen drinking alcohol throughout the whole show. Another stereotype of the Irish is that they all have ginger hair however this is obviously not true. A countertype to this again is Father Ted. None of the main characters in the show have ginger hair.

 

London:

There are often two views upon London and it’s residents. One view is of the much more wealthy areas. Most people think that the people that live in these much richer areas as posh, wellspoken and well mannered. Whilst this may be true in some cases, it is not always. The other views we gain of people from London are from the poorer areas of London. We often associate these areas with high rates of crime and vandalism. Many people also believe that people who live in these areas are thuggish and ill mannered. This again is true in many situations but not all.

 

Essex:

A very common stereotype nower days about people from Essex is that they severally lack intelligence. This stereotype has emerged partly due to the ITV show The Only Way Is Essex. An example of this would be any of the people in TOWIE. Another stereotype of the population of Essex is that they are all heavily coated in fake tan. Both the men and women in TOWIE are examples of this. Specifically regarding the women of Essex, many people associate ‘Vijazzles’ with Essex.  This stereotype again has mainly been brought about from The Only Way Is Essex.

 

Cornwall:

A very common stereotype of people from Cornwall is that they are ‘backwards’ meaning that they are behind in society and are different from most places. As well as this, a very controversial stereotype of those from Cornwall is that they are inbred. This is obviously not the truth but still is widely believed.