The short film, Inspire, portrays different representation theories throughout using the four micro elements: sound, mise en scene, camera angles and movements and editing.
The dominant ideology is presented visually throughout the film. Through the images and shots shown in the film, very negative stereotypical views are shown, such as the Muslim man being a threat or danger. However, this is contrasted by the voice over, in which the man directly addresses the audience in explaining how our traditional views on groups in society are not always right, and we may be inspired or impressed by the attitude and actions of someone we least expect. The voice over conforms to Gramsci's theory of Hegemony, in which he states that dominant ideology is represented the most and that because of its full representation, the dominant ideology is what people are more likely to believe. The utilisation of direct address in the voice over makes the audience feel as though they are guilty for the mis-representation of these minority groups, as we choose to believe the dominant ideology within our society.
Tessa Perkins theory that 'stereotypes are assumptions we make based on groups of people' is represented through the mise en scene in the film when the lady is on her laptop, looking at news articles with photographs of Muslim men, suggesting that they are a threat to our society. This conforms to Penkin's theory as it demonstrates how mainstream media can change our persecption of some groups in society, and how those persecptions may send us - as a population - into 'Moral Panic'. Moral Panic is Stan Cohen's theory that society and cultures are likely to experience moral panic if a group of individuals are defined as a threat to mainstream society. Therefore, in Inspire, when the woman sees the Muslim man at the train station, her first assumption is to see the man as a threat and that he will not give her any assistance due to the stories she has seen of his particular culture in the news. However, through the kindness demonstrated by the Muslim man, the film presents to its audience that sometimes mainstream media can mis-represent particular social groups, and therefore we should not always listen to what they present to be true. Dominant Ideology is also represented through the mise en scene of the film, as each of the characters are wearing traditional and stereotypical costumes for someone of their culture and ethnicity, which immediately conforms to the idea that people are what we stereotype them to be.
bell hook's theory that 'skin colour is a code' is represented through the utilisation of editing throughout the short film. The editing makes each story appear very seperating and contrasting - giving the characters their own individual story, however, the stories link through the mise en scene. The pace of the editing illustrates that the characters lives are very fast and chaotic, and may be very uneasy due to the mis-representation of their social group in society. This interpretation is possible as each of the characters are presented as being misunderstood and misjudged through each of the micro elements.
The homeless woman in the film appears to be objectified by the man who sits down next to him, hinting at John Berger's theory that 'men look and women appear'. This impression is demonstrated through the use of camera angles and movement, by clearly switching into a deep focus when the man sits down and showing him checking the woman out in a very sexual manner. This conforms to Berger's theory as it clearly demonstrates how men see women as a sexual object, and not a significant part of a film's narrative. The film also contrasts this theory, as none of the women in the film are zoomed in on or looked at by the camera in a sexual or desirous way, and they are not show to be very revealing clothes either, and have a key part in the film's narrative.
The overall message of the film is to consider the way in which you catergorise people and the effect that mis-representation can have upon particular groups in society. The film makes us reflect upon our own experiences with stereotyping and representation, as expressed by Giddens. Giddens' theory states that media texts give us the ability and motivation to rethink and reflect upon our own self narrative in relation to others. The film really emphasises that an individual may be a countertype of what you assume, and may change your opinion of that group as a whole; it makes the audience rethink and consider the way people are represented and mis-represented in the media.
Gauntlett's theory that 'media is a resource in which individuals use to think through their sense of self and modes of expression' also plays a role in the film. This is predominatly shown in the scene with the lady and the Muslim man in the station, as both we and the woman make a preassumption of the man and his intentions, but we all find ourselves suprised by his kindness. This puts pressure on the audience, attempting to make them feel guilty for any judgements they have made of others before even speaking to that person, with the hope that the audience will change their ways and stop doing this in order to prevent any negative stereotypes. This helps to create an identity for the film, and encourages the audience to take away the perceptions they believe is negative and to not listen to the dominant ideology as it is not always correct.
bell hook's theory that 'skin colour is a code' is represented through the utilisation of editing throughout the short film. The editing makes each story appear very seperating and contrasting - giving the characters their own individual story, however, the stories link through the mise en scene. The pace of the editing illustrates that the characters lives are very fast and chaotic, and may be very uneasy due to the mis-representation of their social group in society. This interpretation is possible as each of the characters are presented as being misunderstood and misjudged through each of the micro elements.
The homeless woman in the film appears to be objectified by the man who sits down next to him, hinting at John Berger's theory that 'men look and women appear'. This impression is demonstrated through the use of camera angles and movement, by clearly switching into a deep focus when the man sits down and showing him checking the woman out in a very sexual manner. This conforms to Berger's theory as it clearly demonstrates how men see women as a sexual object, and not a significant part of a film's narrative. The film also contrasts this theory, as none of the women in the film are zoomed in on or looked at by the camera in a sexual or desirous way, and they are not show to be very revealing clothes either, and have a key part in the film's narrative.
The overall message of the film is to consider the way in which you catergorise people and the effect that mis-representation can have upon particular groups in society. The film makes us reflect upon our own experiences with stereotyping and representation, as expressed by Giddens. Giddens' theory states that media texts give us the ability and motivation to rethink and reflect upon our own self narrative in relation to others. The film really emphasises that an individual may be a countertype of what you assume, and may change your opinion of that group as a whole; it makes the audience rethink and consider the way people are represented and mis-represented in the media.
Gauntlett's theory that 'media is a resource in which individuals use to think through their sense of self and modes of expression' also plays a role in the film. This is predominatly shown in the scene with the lady and the Muslim man in the station, as both we and the woman make a preassumption of the man and his intentions, but we all find ourselves suprised by his kindness. This puts pressure on the audience, attempting to make them feel guilty for any judgements they have made of others before even speaking to that person, with the hope that the audience will change their ways and stop doing this in order to prevent any negative stereotypes. This helps to create an identity for the film, and encourages the audience to take away the perceptions they believe is negative and to not listen to the dominant ideology as it is not always correct.
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