Class and Status

Within this media clip, the representation of class and status can found. By deconstructing the clip, we are able to anaylse these representations and understand the way in which the characters have been classified in terms of class and status.

Immediately - as soon as the clip starts we discover that the two youths have a child. We know this because of the narrative that can be heard. This sound is diegetic and synchronous due to the fact that it is part of the storyline and can be heard on screen. The narrative indicates that the two are arguing about their child together. The working class are typically associated with having loads of children or having children at a young age. This demonstrates that the two are in the working class category as they follow the stereotypical behaviour of the working class. We also hear a gunshot within the scene when Maxine gets shot by the lad. This sound is diegetic as it is part of the storyline but asynchronous as we do need see him actually shooting her on the screen - just the reaction and sound of the gun. The fact that the lad had a gun is something that is associated with violence and crime. It is stereotypical for the working class to be the most likely to carry a gun for uses of crime. Although the upper class have guns, they only use them for hunting rather than shooting other people. This is a clear demonstration at the fact that the lad is working class. When the lad is walking down the street, we hear police sirens and the police officer shouting demands. Both of these sounds are synchronous and diegetic. The fact that the lad listened to the armed police officer indicates a sense of high status. This is due to the fact that the lad obeyed the rules of the police officer and therefore indicates authority from the police officer.

The clothing indicates to the audience the class and status of the characters involved. The young couple at the beginning of the clip demonstrate the working class. We know this because it is common to see those who're unemployed or in poverty wearing jewellery that can be seen easily. The fact that the girl is wearing big hooped earrings and the lad is wearing a gold chain around his neck indicates that they're working class as it is associated with those in that category to be seen wearing accessories like that. The fact that the lad has a gun indicates that he is a lower class as it is commonly associated with people who're involved in crimes and drugs dealing. The other people within the clip to have guns are the police. The difference between the size and capacity of the guns that the police have compared to the gun that the lad has indicates that the police have more power than him and therefore have the authority over him. Thus demonstrating that the police are of a higher status than the young lad. The use of police cars, guns and police officers indicates a sense of realism within the scene. This makes the audience see that the police are more powerful than the lad and therefore can detain him. 

The short cuts during the shooting scene indicate a sense of fast pace. This fast pace therefore highlights the overall appearance of the scene. The fast pace allows for the audience to see the reaction of both of the girls to the way in which the lad is behaving. The fact that she is encouraging him further also demonstrates that they're argumentative and that she doesn't care if it goes wrong. The short cuts also allow for the audience to see how they behave around one another. The fact that the girl is seen to be arguing with him even though she knows he has a gun in one of the shots shows the audience that she is a lower class as she isn't thinking about her own personal safety - just ensuring that she wins the argument against him. 

When the young lad is seen to be walking down the street and the police turn up, the shots used make the audience feel like they are against the young lad and his behaviour prior to that scene. The shots shown indicate that the cameraman is behind the police officers and therefore captures some of their blurred bodies in the shots. By doing this, it allows for the audience to feel like they have status over the young lad - much like the police officers. Although the police officers have a higher status than the young lad, they are still considered working class and middle class as they work in the police force but have that sense of authority in which the boy doesn't have.