Tuesday, 13 December 2016

G322 TV DRAMA: MY MOTHER AND OTHER STRANGERS: CHRISTMAS PARTY

We return to Moy Beg for the Christmas Party on the airforce base in order to analyse the representation of regional identity:
  • Differences between American and Irish identity, shown through sound (accents of speech, vocabulary choices);  diegetic sound such as jitterbug, swing, Jingle Bells
  • American identity, shown through mise-en-scene (party costumes such as cowboy hats and airforce uniforms; the US flag; red, white and blue motifs, jeeps, affluence of having cookies, soda and candy, the towering Christmas tree and other luxuries); brassy blondes as opposed to mousy, natural Rose; colour and warmth of base compared to drab, dark pub and houses
  • Irish identity shown through sound (speech about Irish rights, heritage, history, ownership of land, forms of address that attempt to put the liaison officer in his place); awe of children as they gaze silent and open mouthed at party colours, Santa's sleigh and food
  • British identity of Mrs Rose Coyne seen through camerawork (CUs of Rose's face in haughty coldness as contrast to party spirit; concern on Captain Dreyfuss's face); her dialogue, vocabulary choices
  • Editing choices with shot/reverse shot as Irish intruder is brought before Captain Dreyfuss.