Monday 12 September 2016

BOMBS, BANGS AND BAD, BAD BOYS

Representations of masculinity in The Night Manager
In your summer exam, you will watch a TV drama extract four times and write about how representations are constructed. The extract will be from UK or US television, about 5 minutes long. You will have time to make notes between screenings. The question will have a focus (such as gender, age, class and status, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or regional identity. 
The question will look like this:
Answer the question below, with detailed reference to specific examples from the extract only. 

1 Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of age using the following:

• Camera shots, angles, movement and composition

 • Editing

• Sound
 • Mise en scène

 In today's lesson, we look at how representations of gender are constructed in The Night Manager. We view the trailer here then watch parts of episode 1 in class. 
To achieve a level 4 mark, you need to be systematic in your written analysis. You should think of each point that you make as made up of three parts, as this is how the examiner will award marks:
  • identify terminology (eg. "There are two types of close-up shots of Roper in the opening scene when he is presenting a lecture with slides to a respectful audience who do not know about his secret work as an arms dealer.")
  • specific example (eg. "One type of close-up features black and white stills of two-shots, with Roper holding foreign children in his arms as he smiles directly and frankly at the camera, followed by group shots, where Roper has his arm wrapped around a member of the local community in a friendly embrace, again smiling widely. The second type of close up is live action shots of Roper addressing the lecture hall, looking sincere, serious and committed as he describes his charity work with refugees.")
  • explanation, analysis, argument (eg. "The effect of these shots is to position him as a caring philanthropist who protects and nurtures the community, especially combined with the speech he gives, referring to his role as philanthropist, entrepreneur, innovator., especially his final close-up  where he talks about 'lifting up his fellow man. Mid shots allow for the significance of his hand gestures to emphasise his earnestness and sincerity.")


We read the Media Magazine article on how representations of men are constructed in The Night Manager.