'How does the extract construct representations of social class?'

 'How does the extract construct representations of social class?' 
Throughout this extract this particular social class is represented through various micro elements such as editing and sound  this extract is a representation of the working class .
At first we watched the extract without sound ; without the audio we made various  assumptions about the characters who were  presented  for example in the opening scene the children attack their father we assume that  the father is the victim as the camera uses a high angled shot to show that his status is low and to highlight his lack of authority in addition a low angled shot of the children shows them towering over the father  ; as the children attacked him we could assume that the relationship between the father and children is not stable this is additionally emphasized by their immediate departure the camera movement is frantic which mimics their actions and state of mind at that moment we could additionally assume that the family is not tight nit as they scatter or separate in different directions  ; on their departure we are given a short glimpse of their front yard  in it we can see broken down washing machines  this could show the audience that  they do not have the money to repair the machine or that they are too lazy to move the machine to a scrap yard when we are shown short snippets of the children we can also see how run down the area that they live in is  . Already the working class has been depicted in an unflattering light this is accentuated in their gathering below the tower blocks; the tower blocks is a stereotypical area/ place of living  that is usually associated with the working class . Without sound we assume that they are up to no good as the camera pans around we are shown their expressions they seem happy and content destroying somebody's or someone's car committing a criminal offence when you see a big crowd like this it easy to feel intimidated  ;when the police approaches they show a lack of respect for authority by running around and even taunting the officers .


When we were shown the extract with sound our views on the characters were influenced and changed by the voice over we hear that the father has a cockney accent which could usually be associated with the working class . our first assumptions before hand was that the family was not tight nit  and the father does not have a good relationship with the children however the voice over counteracts this argument as he father expresses his approval of his children he even narrates that he is proud of them "because every single one of them reminds me of me " whether that is a good thing or not is left for the viewers to decide whilst watching the series . we are shown clips of his children as he telling the viewers some information about them ; we later find out that his is a lone parent as the mother has"disappeared into thin air " this  challenges basic representations of gender as the father is the lone parent, usually we would associate a lone parent family with a female character ; our first assumptions of the family is that they are not tight knit  however when they are towering over their father in the opening scene a sense of unity is displayed as their mother has left their father may not be in the right state of mind or condition to perform his fatherly functions which could mean that the children may have to stick together or look after one another in the mean while this is emphasized by one of the children coming to the aid of their brother when the father seems to want to attack him . the audio works well as it is comical as the audio does not match the visual in particular the scenes when he is talking about his children the voice over shows that he is happy in his present condition  .


When we are shown the community; even though the act they are performing  is illegal the voice over does not make the crime as  heinous  as it was perceived beforehand  the comunity seems unified and happy the camera pans round showing various expressions that they are enjoying themselves  the man describes them as fantastic neighbours  they do not seem as intimidating as beforehand this could show that they are not depressed in their situation though it may not be great . when the police arrive the non digetic sound changes it becomes more frantic and playful which makes the viewers less worried that something may happen to the characters this is also emphasized by the way they are running carefree and having a laugh about it .

How do the 2 extracts construct representations of social class? Refer to the micro-elements.

The first shot is an establishing shot it shows the viewers where the scenes shown are located it additionally shows the viewers what standard of living that they are acquiring . when we are shown the inside of the house we are introduced to 3 characters playing a family game console (Wii) one appears to be the father and the other two his sons the wii indicates to the viewers that they are well off  maybe from the middle class as they are able to afford the game console in the living room where they are playing the walls are littered with paintings which could also suggest that they are from / of the middle-class. in addition this family appears to be traditional as the boys are sticking with the father whilst the daughter is associating with the mother they are also together in the home and not in separate locations which could suggest that they may be portrayed as a tight knit family  . 


The mother and daughter are shown through cross cutting between the two scenes. the conversation between the mother and daughter reveals to us that the father is no longer working for some unknown reason .;and the mother is having to support the family for the mean while . this shows the audience that though they are from a privileged background problems still occur in their class like juggling work and time spent with children. on observing the kitchen it does not align with the décor or structure of the house you can tell that the kitchen has been renovated which could suggest to the audience that they have enough money to renovate the kitchen but  perhaps not enough to move into a bigger house .

The scene opens with Whitney coming across or interrupting an intimate occasion with the boy and girl we  can assume that there is some connection between the three of them from her emotional response of jealousy and disgust and from the fact that she is sad . this is further proved as the two pursue her once she has vacated the renovated garage and her saddened expression as she leaves  . from whitney's appearance you could assume that she is not from a middle-class background as her fashion sense is what you would usually associate with the stereotypical appearance of a chav . Whitney is not at home with her family like the teenager in out - numbered which could suggest to the viewers that her family is not as tight nit . another give away of their social background is their dialect and the way that they communicate .


when we meet the  married Asian couple  as viewers we immediately notice the difference in their speech which could suggest that they are living there but are from a different class background and may be struggling to fit in . like out - numbered the husband is not allowed to return to work for an unknown reason . the condition of their house shows that they are supported financially within reason . the wife is performing the stereotypical gender role of a woman by doing the laundry as her husband watches TV.