Discuss the representations of Regional Identity in the Clip Doc Martin- Essay

In the clip presented of the TV Drama Doc Martin there is a strong reference to the regional dialect of both the West Country (Cornwall and Devon) as well as the South.  The TV drama Doc Martin is set in a fictional town of Portwenn Cornwall and the male protagonist of the show Doc Martin comes from South England.  It can be inferred from Doc's job and persona that is from a middle upper classed background.

Firstly, the only editing used throughout the clip is jump cuts however they have not been utilised to create a fast paced series of events in the drama by using a series of quick jump cuts to cut between characters, locations and actions in a style that is prevalent to that of horror movies or action thrillers to help simulate to the audience the stress and tension of a dramatic situation.  Instead the jump cuts used possess a slow almost lethargic quality as they follow Doc through the small Cornish village of Portwenn as he goes about mundane tasks such as fixing a broken pipe and trying to return a lost dog to it's owner.  The slow paced editing techniques used helps to reinforce to the audience the mundaneness of the tasks which he is undertaking as well as to emphasise the traditional stereotypes that nothing exciting happens in the West country. 

Secondly, sound is used throughout out the piece explicitly throughout the piece in the form of accent and dialect throughout the piece which is represented in the strong Cornish accents used throughout the piece as well as the use of the local slang of "Bodmin" which Doc does not appear to understand.  The fact that Doc does not appear to  understand what is meant by the local slang emphasises the fact that he is new to the community and the area so does not fully understand the jokes featured.  A more implicit area in which sound is used is the back ground music of the piece, the piece features a slow drawling tempo which provides the viewer with connotations of the laziness and lethargy featured presently in common conceptions of the west country.  The slowness of the beat also represents the fact that people from the West country may have a slower  mind and therefore me less intellectually able.

Thirdly, camera angles are used to emphasise status through out the clip.  Close shots and mid shots are frequently employed to demonstrate to the viewer the regional stereotypes of the characters for example Doc Marten (the south) has short neat hair and a suit opposed to the plumbers (the west country) whom appear to be scruffy and one of whom is overweight which is a stereotype associated with lower class areas.  The camera also follows Doc Martin in a number of tracking shots as he walks briskly through the idyllic village of Portwenn.  

Lastly, mise en scene is used to represent status through various areas such as costume and lighting.  Costume is used to show status in various instances such as the use of the boiler suits on the plumbers, the fact that the boiler suits are  blue link the plumbers into the work sector of blue collar workers thus showing their lower status and lower middle class background a factor which is commonly associated with the west country.  This contrasts effectively with the outfit of Doc whom is a doctor and therefore a man of traditionally high intellect and middle upper class status.  Lighting is used to represent the dark sheltered minds of the people of the west country due to the dark dingy background of the doctors surgery compared to what would have been expected of the more modern methods of the south.

To conclude, regional identity is displayed throughout the piece through variety of elements such as lighting and mise en scene to create a successful contrast between regional identity and class status.


Additional paragraphs

Additionally make up is used throughout the clip to emphasise geographical and age based stereotypes.  The role of the stereotype is a key theory in media and the importance of this was put forward by Branston and Stafford which states that soaps rely heavily on Archetypes and Stereotypes, Dyer goes on to say that due to the fact that stereotypes are always power based only those who have the most power are always the ones whom put stereotypes in place.  A key stereotype linked with the west-country is that people tend to wear less makeup and are less appearance orientated in the older age demographics where as they tend to be more appearance orientated in the younger age demographics however this is still at a lesser extent than that of the same demographic in London.  The fact that the cabbage lady wears little makeup whilst the cream lady and the teacher both wear more makeup demonstrates that they are part of a higher class bracket and are mimicking their higher status counterparts in the South.

Moreover props are used throughout the piece to demonstrate different values of the west-country.  For example the cabbage cart symbolises the fact that a stereotype of the west-country is that the farm a lot.  Another key prop in the piece is the dog as when the dog id returned to the police station the viewer sees that their are few pressing matters for the police to attend to as the biggest issue at hand is that of the fact that there is a missing dog opposed to the kind of crime which is seen in Luther which is set in central London which is of a far more dangerous calibre. 

Doc Martin- Analysis

Editing:
-No fast paced editing to show slow pace of life in the west country.

Sound:
-Lazy beat follows Doc Martin as he goes about his urgent business around town to symbolise how everything moves slowly in small towns.


Camera:
-Doc Martin stands over plumber to show status.


Mise-en-scene:
-Doc Martin doesn't understand local dialect (Bodmin).
-Small towns don't pay much respect to the rules (old Dr Sims).
-Everyone knows everyone and has an unnecessary need to greet everyone they see.
-Contrast of intelligence between Doc Martin (the south) and the others (Cornwall).
-Blue collar worker plumbers.

Regional dialect and stereotypes- Research

A video which demonstrates the variation of accents amongst the British Isles: 

A tour of the British Isles in accents

English:

-Posh accents.

-Drink a lot of tea.

-Fish and chips.

-Enjoy queuing.

-Obsessed with football.

The North:- Source material Shameless.

-Generally seen as lower or middle classed.

-Enjoy gravy.

-Drink a lot.

-Strong accent.

The South:

-Generally middle or upper classed.

-Seen as more expensive.

-Most commonly visited by tourists.

-Associated with London.

-Business people.

ESSEX: -Source material TOWIE.

-Seen as unintelligent.

-Orange spray tans.

-Teen drinking.

-Teen pregnancy.

Liverpool:- Source material Brookside.

-Heavily drawn eyebrows.

-Hair in rollers.

-Add an r to the beginning of words.

-Tracksuit.

-Shorthair cuts.

-Chavs.

-Fight.

Devon/Cornwall:

-Small minded.

-Unintelligent.

-Small towns.

-Close nit community.

Scotland:

-Wear kilts.

-Have red hair.

-Angry.

-Deep fried mars bars.

-Haggis.

Ireland:

-Drink a lot.

-Potatoes.

-Religious.

Wales:

-Sheep.

-Rugby.

-Rural areas.

Luther- Essay

The media production ‘Luther’, in the form of a TV crime drama, can have multiple theorists and theories applied to it. Specific theorists include those of Propp, Straus and Barthes.  

Firstly, Propp’s theory states that there a selection of character traits which have been commonly featured within media texts throughout time.  The character archetypes featured in the media text Luther include the anti-hero, helper, dispatcher and villain. The anti-hero of the drama is DCI John Luther whom fulfils his role as a police officer through a series of immoral acts. For instance, whilst Luther is on the side of the law he carries an illegal weapon that he could use if circumstances demanded nefarious behaviour. Furthermore, Luther also kidnaps a crime boss, George Cornelius, and handcuffed him to a radiator in an abandoned building in order to gain information on a case, which he was not to be involved in. The helper of the program is DS Emma Lane who aids the anti-hero, Luther, in his endeavours to solve the cannibal killer case and capture the criminal. For example, DS Emma Lane takes the law into her own hands when she steals Luther’s weapon and shoots the criminal in order to rescue a civilian family. Also, the dispatcher is Megan, the fake psychic, who drip-feeds Luther information that she has acquired through previous connections allowing Luther to complete a previously unfulfilled promise. Moreover, the villain of the episode is Steven Rose who is the serial killer responsible for the string of murders and cannibalism of the bodies. 

Secondly, Straus’ theory revolves heavily around opposites such as binary opposites between good and evil and conflicting moral characteristics represented in the anti-hero. Binary opposites bear a striking resemblance to the foil method; this discusses the way in which the audience learns more about both of the characters presented due to their differences exposing their characteristics. The most significant opposites present in the episodes are that of the criminals and the law enforcers, the anti-hero DCI John Luther and the criminals of each episode and finally, more implicitly, the conflicting opposites within Luther’s mind of morality and actions governed by his emotions.                           

Finally, Barthes’ theory describes narratives as “a ball of string” that “can be unravelled in either one or many ways”. Barthes created five narrative codes, three of which were featured heavily throughout the two episodes of ‘Luther’. The three theories depicted within the characters of the program most significantly are the Enigma code, Action code and the Semantic code. The first code is the Enigma code that refers to elements of the story that are not fully explained therefore creating a mystery for the audience to unravel. Additionally, this code works with the Action code to develop tension and engage the audience. For instance, examples of the enigma code within ‘Luther’, as a series, include the mystery surrounding Alice Morgan, her relation to the diamonds and how and why she died. Although, there is also another episode specific plot enigma code revolving around the acts of a deranged, cannibal, serial killer; the audience are unaware as to why the killer has contracted Cortard Delusion and why he devours the specific body parts from various victims. Furthermore, the Action code is also apparent within the media production ‘Luther’ for example the return of the character Luther was solely down to the fact that Alice Morgan died, the serial-killers murder of the first victim lead to an investigation involving Luther, the death of Theo leading to Emma’s somewhat immoral investigation into the murderer and Luther kidnapping a crime boss to receive information about Alice Morgan’s death resulted in him being targeted by hitmen. Also, the Semantic code is blood connoting death and the dismembering of bodies whilst the sudden death of the pigeon, which the first murder victim mistook for an intruder, foreshadowed and connoted the death of the victim. 

To conclude, multiple theories can be applied to the media production of ‘Luther’.

Bathes' Narrative Codes

The 5 codes are:
-Hermeneutic / Enigma code
-Poairetic / Action code
-Semantic code
-Symbolic code
-Referential / Cultural code

Enigma code
You don't truly know what is going on until the final scene where all of the loose ends of the story are tied up and all of the questions are answered. 

Proairetic code
Builds tension referring to any other action or event which indicates something else is going to happen and forces the reader to guess what will happen next.

Semantic code
Refers to connotation within the story which adds meaning.  It is any element of the text which suggests an additional meaning.

Symbolic code
Similar to the semantic code but with deeper and broader meanings.  Often used in the antithesis.

Cultural code
Anything which cannot be challenged and is assumed to be true (canonically correct).

Christmas essay task- Youth representation in Qaudrophenia

How does media represent youth in the media text Quadrophenia?

Quadrophenia is a British film set in 1960’s England which focuses on the violent disputes between two of the rival sub-cultures of the time, Mods and Rockers.  The protagonist of the film is Jimmy a young Mod who struggles with the heavy stigma that his subculture creates.    The media text provides the viewer with a unique insight of the way that the youth of the 60’s were shaped through their need to rebel against society in their subcultures a cultural issue which is still taking place in the world today in varying ways.

The representation of the youth in Quadrophenia is heavily biased. The biased nature of the depiction of youth is explicitly portrayed in the way in which Jimmy is treated by his parents specifically in the way that they call his behaviour “unnatural” at the start of the film and his father later goes on to accuse him of being “schizophrenic”.  The derogative, harsh and insulting tone of the comments make Jimmy feel isolated from the conformist society which he lives in and heightens his need to fit into the false family network which he finds in the mods.  

The intense desire to fit into a sub-culture can be seen in Hebdige’s theory of youth being fun/youth being trouble.  The theory is largely centred around the idea that subcultures can rebel against society through a sense of unique style.  This rebellion through style can be see frequently in Quadrophenia through the way in which both the Mods and Rockers dress.  The Mod subculture features smart clothes and mopeds however both of these social acceptable items have been personalised to stop them from conforming to societies ideals.  On the other hand Rockers present themselves in leather outfits with motorbikes this makes them appear to be threatening to society leading to people fearing them.  The unique style choices of both groups serve to create a type of tribal false family amongst the subcultures as well as a primal sense of rivalry and a desire to fight the opposing subculture.

The desire to fit in to his subculture combined with the negative views of the adults around him also links to Wilkins theory the Deviancy Amplification Spiral .  Wilkins theory states that the more the deviant group is presented in a negative way and are as a result alienated by the conformist society the more likely the deviants are to act in a way which the conformist society deems to be more negative for example taking part in more crime or illegal activities.  Jimmy’s Deviancy Amplification Spiral is presented to the audience in the way that after he attends the riots at Brighton he develops a desire to become the idealised Mod that the media has created in the form of Spike.  This spiral leads him to being kicked out of his house, quitting his job, buying a large amount of drugs, losing his friends and losing his romantic interest before getting on a train to Brighton where upon realising that his idol Spike is working at a hotel and is subsequently not living out his wild fantasies of Mod rebellion.  After discovering the facade of his idol Jimmy steals Spikes moped and proceeds to drive it off of a cliff destroying the moped as well as everything which it symbolises for Jimmy.

The theory of deviancy amplification spiral can be directly linked to Cohens theory.  Cohens theory states that deviant groups can be viewed as folk devils whom present a threat to public order and conformist social values.  The negative stigma which surrounds Jimmy as a result of violence between Mods and Rockers leads Jimmy to refuse help to an old friend of his, Kevin who is being attacked by Mods after a gang of Rockers attacked a Mod friend of Jimmy’s named Spider.  

In conclusion societies negatively biased views of youth creates folk devils which subsequently leads to deviancy amplification spirals which ultimately leads to a negative impact of the psychological state of the youth leading to problems in their later lives.  These points are clearly illustrated in the time line of Jimmy’s events in the media text Quadrophenia.  This is clearly presented in the way that Jimmy’s behaviour visibly worsens after every instance that he is represented negatively by the adults in the film.