Practice exam question

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of ethnicity using the following:
camera
shots
angle
movement and composition
Mise-en-scene
editing
sound

In this essay i will be analysing the extract from Hotel Babylon and identify how ethnicity is represented. I will be demonstrating if, and how, the extract uses stereotypes and applies Levi-Strauss' concept of binary oppositions and hegemony. Finally, i will determine if the extract conforms to or challenges hegemony. I will be doing this with reference to camera, sound, editing and mise-en-scene.

Firstly the scene used several camera shots that represented ethnicity. The scene started off with a low angle shot on the black worker, this showed that he wasn't as important as the white lady, who was the manager of the hotel. It made the black man seem as if he was the there to just abide by the rules of the whites. As the scene carried on we saw a close up shot of the asian worker, we can see that she was alarmed after finding out that the police had arrived. This represents ethnicity as a lot of ethnic minorities may feel intimidated by the police, and may feel that they do not belong in such environments. When the workers were then all shoved into a room, there was a low angle produced. This showed us as the audience that they were vulnerable, as that there lives were at risk. This therefore represented ethnicity as many ethnic minorities struggle to survive due to many factors, including financial, emotional barriers etc. The final shot was a PAN shot where the manager, a white lady had clicked her fingers and the camera had turned to the worker Gino. This scene had mainly represented ethnicity as it showed us that many ethnic minorities abide by higher authority. As a stereotype the people in charge are usually white, this tells us that people like Gino may abide white people due to the fact that they think they have to.

The sounds produced in the clip had also affected the way in which ethnicity was represented. Firstly a different language was spoken by all the asian and black workers. This represented ethnicity, as it showed us that the ethnic minorities were different. Not only that but they are more independent as they were prepared and ready for when the police did arrive. After one of the workers were taken away, his locker was cleaned. Sad music was then played, this helped to give a good impact of what had just happened and represented ethnicity, as this happens often in society and leaves a big impact on many peoples lives. At the end of the clip we finish off seeing the workers eating and hear the sounds of knifes and forks clashing. This could be related back to the sounds of slavery and so represents ethnicity, as many blacks went through tough times of slavery. The scenes also relate back to slavery, as the different ethnic minorities working at the hotel were pushed around and made to work in kitchens etc.

Mise-en-scene also played a major role in representing ethnicity. For example the clothes worn by the workers looked similar to the clothes that people would wear in prison. This represented ethnicity as it made the different ethnic minority groups look like they were working or even forced to work, just to make a living. The white men who had entered the hotel, also wore suits this showed the audience the difference between the different races. With the whites as more working-class and the blacks/asians as low working-class.

Editing also represented ethnicity, there was a match to action at the point where the worker had asked for jam. This not only showed that the whites had underestimated the black man, as he showed his intelligence, but it also showed that things maybe changing now. Society may finally be accepting the fact that there is a wider range of ethnicity now, and that not white men/women should have higher authority to run things.