Class and Status

Class and Status

class-a set or category of things having some property or attribute in common and differentiated from others by kind, type, or quality.

status-relative social or professional position; standing.


Social classes can be subdivided into upper class, middle class and working class. The upper class individuals in a society are generally superior compared to the middle and working class. The middle class in usually inferior towards the upper class however superior over the working class. Overall, the working class is inferior towards the upper and middle class.

The role of work that an upper class individual usually takes is in high power such as a prime minister or president. The role of a middle class citizen takes is usually a role such as a banker. Finally the work a lower class take the working role of a tradesman.


The underclass is the lowest social stratum in a country or community, consisting of the poor and unemployed. 

How to analyse a TV drama

Upper class

• Mainly represented through the coverage of the monarchy,

• Seen as well bred and cultured,

• Represented through their accents, estates, and a taste for shooting and hunting,

• Usually represented in costume and period drama.

Working class

Presented in the stereotypical context of traditional working class communities such Eastenders and Corrie, Shameless

• Community values often praised but do not reflect reality

• Working class communities have declined with the collapse of traditional industries such as coal mining

• Often presented in the context of trouble, undesirable welfare scroungers, unable to cope with their delinquent children.

The middle class.

• Presented as educated and successful as well as able to cope with problems,

• Over represented in the media due to their lifestyle,

• Representation fits in with the hegemonic ideology of the dominant class in society,

• Representation justifies the existing class structure and inequalities by suggesting people need to become more competent and successful in order to cope with life.

Reiner (2007) and Young (2007)

• Media tends to portray the UK as a meritocratic society in which intelligence, talent and hard work are rewarded;

• Neo Marxists argue that this concept of meritocracy is in fact a myth as wealth rather than ability opens up the doors and access to Oxbridge and top jobs; 

Newman (2006)

 • Argues that the tabloid media dedicate a great deal of their content to examining the lives of another section of the wealthy elite,

• This dedication invites the audiences to admire the achievements of these celebrities

• Media over focuses on consumer items such as luxury cars, costly holiday spots and fashion accessories

An example celebrity they the tabloid media focus on would be Donald Trump. 

The media focuses on Donald Trump because of his extreme ideas and statements such as the idea of building the wall. Furthermore he's made 9 billion dollars worth of tax evasion through various means.

Representations of the working class • Newman (2006) argues that there are very few situation comedies, television or drama which focuses on the everyday lives of working class who constitute a significant section of society,

• Newman argues that when in the media working class are often depicted in a very non positive light dumb buffoons (Homer Simpson) and immature machos (Phil Mitchell),

• Butsch (1992) – working class portrayed as flawed individuals (benefit cheats, etc)

Fish tank and the underclass

The main character of the film Fish Tank is a general representation of the underclass of the British society. This is a generally a negative representation of the group.

Lawler (2005)

• Chav is used as a term of disgust and contempt,

• Argues that the media use the discriminatory and offensive language to vilify what they depict as a peasant underclass symbolised by stereotypical forms of appearance,

• Swale (2006) – usage of the term NEET (Not in Employment Education or Training),

• Newspapers suggest that those from the underclass are responsible for their own poverty.

How is class represented?

In the television show, Downton Abbey, the individual classes are easily differentiate d between one another through the means of camera shots, miseenscene, editing and sound. I will shortly explain how these factors affect a characters class and status.

Various character statuses are easily differentiated through the sound used within this television program. For example, as an upper class character enters the shot, classical music is generally played. Classical music generally connotes to upper class individuals since attendance to a classical orchestra is an upper class activity. Therefore the classical music edited clearly distinguishes the upper class characters.

Another example of sound used to distinguish the upper class to the lower class characters of this television show is the ambient sound used while the characters communicate. For example, there is near to no diegetic sound when the upper class family is indoors. This indicates that there is low activity from these characters. Therefore this differentiates the upper class characters from the lower class characters since they perform near to no tasks since they have other characters that do these tasks for them such as the maids of this television series.

Mise en scene is also used to differentiate the upper class characters from the lower class characters. For example, the wealthy home design with clear, white lighting indicates that the upper class characters own this home. This clearly connotes with Neo-Marxists belief that the mass media representations of social class tend to be hierarchy and wealth. Therefore along with this belief, this clearly depicts the division of social class between the upper and lower class characters.

A characters appearance also clearly depicts the social classes within the characters. For example, the upper class characters wear clean, expensive clothing, and have clean haircuts. The upper class characters are generally dresses in this fashion since they can afford such luxuries. However, the lower working class characters wear more unclean clothing and do not have well maintained haircuts. This is because they cannot afford such luxuries. Therefore mise en scene can clearly differentiate social classes in this television series.

Camera shots also play a large role in depicting one social class to another in this television series. For example, low angle camera shots are used to identify the upper class characters. These low angle shots are used since the general trend is to look up to upper class individuals such as the Queen of England. Thus these low angle shots give such a point of view from what the general public would view in this television program.

Furthermore, high angle shots are used to depict the lower class characters of this series since the general public viewing this television series would also have the inclination of viewing these characters with such attitude. Therefore with the public’s attitude towards watching this series, high angle camera shots are used to depict a characters social class.

Finally, editing is used to depict the upper and lower class characters of this television series. The editing used to depict the different character class in this show. For example, in the sequences including the upper class characters, there are very few camera angle changes. This indicates that these upper class characters do not perform very much activity due to others performing physical tasks for them. Therefore the changes in camera angles can depict a characters social class.

Editing is further used to depict a characters social class such as the transition of sound. The transition of sound can easily influence the audience to predict weather.

Camera angles

Terminology

Theories of classes

The upper class theories generally apply to the Reiner (2007) and Young (2007)

• Media tends to portray the UK as a meritocratic society in which intelligence, talent and hard work are rewarded; 

• Neo Marxists argue that this concept of meritocracy is in fact a myth as wealth rather than ability opens up the doors and access to Oxbridge and top jobs; 

Lawler (2005) 

• Chav is used as a term of disgust and contempt, 

• Argues that the media use the discriminatory and offensive language to vilify what they depict as a peasant underclass symbolised by stereotypical forms of appearance,

Newman (2006)

 • Argues that the tabloid media dedicate a great deal of their content to examining the lives of another section of the wealthy elite, 

• This dedication invites the audiences to admire the achievements of these celebrities

• Media over focuses on consumer items such as luxury cars, costly holiday spots and fashion accessories

Sitcoms under representation

How is class and status represented in shameless?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOg9RNVFAXA

Class and status are clearly demonstrated in the TV series, Shameless. I will analyse the class and status of the television series through the sound, miss en scene, editing and camera shots that were used to produce this series. I will also link these factors to the appropriate theories presented by various people. I will finally conclude the general class represented in this extract and make a judgement on if it is fairly portrayed.

Sound is clearly used to depict what social class and status the characters are in. For example, in the opening sequences of this extract, percussive music is used for the introductive audio transition. Percussive music could associate with lower class instrumental standards rather than an instrument that uses tone such as an orchestra.  Therefore these lower class standards of instrumental music could correlate to the lower social class and status of these characters. 

Another example of sound that was used was the dialogue of the characters. The characters dialogue generally consists of slured speech and swear words. This range of vocabulary would be associated with the underclass social class and status. This could also relate back to Lawlers theory from 2005 which generally describes how media texts represent the underclass in forms of appearance. Therefore the characters dialogue is a form of appearance through speech and the vocabulary used clearly depicts the underclass social class and status of the characters.

Mise en Scene is also used to represent the characters social class and status such as the clothing used in the sequences of the extract. For example, Frank wears shabby clothes. This implies that he has a very low class and status since he cannot afford as many luxuries as other people. Therefore miss en scene clearly depicts Franks class and status being under class. Furthermore, the background of a normal bar can further depict the characters class and status since an average bar could imply that the customers could only pay for standard food and drink. Therefore the background clearly demonstrates the characters class and status.These examples could further relate to Newmans theory of media from 2006. This theory argues that when in the media working class are often depicted in a very non positive light dumb buffoons and immature machos such as Frank in this case from this extract. Therefore the Mise en Scene achieves what this theory suggests.

The camera shots used also demonstrates the characters class and status. For example, consistent high angle camera shots show the lower class characters. This could imply that the lower class characters are looked down upon such as Frank in this extract. Therefore Frank is shown to have a lower class and status through the camera angles used. This is also associated with Butsch's theory of 1992, being that the working class is portrayed as flawed individuals. These individuals' flaws include not working or in education and/or living on benefits. This theory clearly relates with the camera angles and shots represented in the television series since they both attempt to influence the audience with the same message of the characters being under class individuals.

The editing used also demonstrates the characters class and status. For example, there have been very fast paced cuts between camera angles during the characters conversation and actions. This could imply that the characters are in a working class since there is constant activity between them, shown through the constant change of camera angles. This could possibly be also in relation to Reiner and Young's theory of 2007 being that the media tends to portray the UK as a meritocratic society in which intelligence, talent and hard work are rewarded. Therefore the constant work of the working class characters are then in theory rewarded after the work done in the appropriate way. Therefore the higher rate of camera angles being changed would imply that more work would be achieved meaning that a reward would be given/earned.

In conclusion to this extract, the characters of this extract of Shameless are generally portrayed as working or under class individuals such as Frank through the factors of sound, mise en scene, camera shots and editing. I believe that this was fairly portrayed to a certain extent since there is only a fraction of the UK population living in such circumstances. However, with most television dramas, this may be taken literally and the audience would finally associate all individuals that live in the UK with the character class and status from this extract of Shameless.

Revised:

Class and status are clearly demonstrated in the TV series, Shameless. I will analyse the class and status of the television series through the sound, miss en scene, editing and camera shots that were used to produce this series. I will also link these factors to the appropriate theories presented by various people. I will finally conclude the general class represented in this extract and make a judgement on if it is fairly portrayed.

Sound is clearly used to depict what social class and status the characters are in. For example, in the opening sequences of this extract, percussive music is used for the introductive audio transition. Percussive music could associate with lower class instrumental standards rather than an instrument that uses tone such as an orchestra.  Therefore these lower class standards of instrumental music could correlate to the lower social class and status of the characters of the extract such as Frank.

Another example of sound that was used was the dialogue of the characters. Franks dialogue generally consists of slurred speech and swear words. This range of vocabulary would be associated with the underclass social class and status. This could also relate back to Hayward and Yar associating Frank with being a ‘chav’. A ‘chav’ is a term generally used to identify people that have this general speech of swear words.

Mise en Scene is also used to represent the characters social class and status such as the clothing used in the sequences of the extract. For example, Frank wears shabby clothes. This implies that he has a very low class and status since he cannot afford as many luxuries as other people. Therefore miss en scene depicts Frank as underclass. Furthermore, the background of a normal bar can further depict the characters class and status since an average bar could imply that the customers could only pay for standard food and drink. Therefore the background clearly demonstrates the characters class and status. These examples could further relate to Newmans theory of media from 2006. This theory argues that when in the media working class are often depicted in a very non positive light dumb buffoons and immature machos such as Frank in this case from this extract. Therefore the Mise en Scene achieves what this theory suggests.

The camera shots used also demonstrate the characters class and status. For example, consistent high angle camera shots show the lower class characters. This could imply that the lower class characters are looked down upon such as Frank in this extract at (13:30). Therefore Frank is shown to have a lower class and status through the high angle camera shots used. This is also associated with Butsch's theory of 1992, being that the working class is portrayed as flawed individuals. These individuals' flaws include not working or in education and/or living on benefits. This theory clearly relates with the high angle camera shots represented in the television series since they both attempt to influence the audience with the same message of the characters being under class individuals.

The editing used also demonstrates the characters class and status. For example, there have been very fast paced cuts between camera angles during the characters conversation and actions. This high level of activity is caused by the poor living conditions that the characters live so they work to achieve a better lifestyle. This could imply that the characters are in a working class since there is constant activity between them, shown through the constant change of camera angles. This is related to McKendricks theory of 2008 which paints the picture of poverty in an entertaining light.

In conclusion to this extract, the characters of this extract of Shameless are generally portrayed as working or under class individuals such as Frank through the factors of sound, mise en scene, camera shots and editing. I believe that this was fairly portrayed to a certain extent since there is only a fraction of the UK population living in such circumstances. However, with most television dramas, this may be taken literally and the audience would finally associate all individuals that live in the UK with the character class and status from this extract of Shameless.