I will be looking at how working class people are represented in the Channel 4 programme, Shameless. For this question I used the clip extract below from 0:00 to 1:56.
How is social class represented in the clip through the 4 micro elements?
From the very start we notice that the scene is set in and around a housing estate, which turns out to be located in Manchester. Various cuts of ariel views around the area establishes the setting of the programme and the characters lifestyle. The 'Jackwood Estate' Council flats are a cliché setting for lower class people. The unappealing sight of the towering tenements is typical of the rough area the show is set in and reminds the audience of the rough life stereotypes related to the working class people. The voiceover is of the main character, explaining in his rough mancunian, how he in fact enjoys his life living in the estate. This contrasts with the audiences view, as the life he is describing is some peoples idea of hell. His comically inaccurate portrayal of his life in the estate attempts to prove to us that life as lower class people is in fact how life should be. Through this we can sympathise with Frank Gallagher as we watch clips of his unorthodox approach to parenthood.
Frank, the main character, goes on to describe each of his kids, in which he cares for as a single parent.There mischevious behaviour allow Frank to see a bit of him in each of his children. Despite there chaotic life, he explains each of his children in a good light and quite comical, trying to pick out the positives rather than meantioning the quite obvious concerns. This show us that he manages to find positives despite his typically rough life. It can also tell us that he may have always lived in a flat, hence he doesnt know of the life he is potentially missing out on. Its also significant that he is a single parent. This gives the viewer an insight into Franks equally as tough past, and expands on the undesirable life he portrays from the viewers point of view. Its not hard to see that Frank does not seem a fit parent to bring up his four children, stumbling around the kitchen drunk, and a birds eye view of him lying on the floor surrounded by his mischievous children.
As the kids scatter out of the front door, we see a motorhome parked on the drive. This follows the stereotype of 'the rough family' that the mise en scene is trying to portray. Motorhomes are essentially a cheap alternative to a holiday abroad. This tells us that the Gallager family cannot affort such holidays, having to make do with the Great British holiday destinations.
As the voiceover continues to explain how great life is in the Jackwood estate, we see the entire community huddled around a fire, only to later find out it is in fact a car that is alight. This promotes the extreme views of the anarchy and chaotic lifestyle of lower class people, throwing empty beer cans to fuel the fire. Standing by the fire is Frank Gallager. He is shown in an eye-level shot to take a puff of his ciggarrette before gulping down the cheap booze in his other hand. This is yet more proof of his poor status, as ciggarette smoking is seem to be a conciquence of the lack of education about its affects, and drinking the only beer he can afford. He is seen behind the blaze from the fire in the foreground, portraying him as some kind of devilish and mischevious man.
The music throughout the opening scene is played by a flute, sounding like a tribal anthem. We get the sense that the people of the Jackwood estate are 'the tribe', gathering around the fire in typical tribal fashion. The neighbourhood seem collectively against the authority of the police, and may be seen as outsiders when compared to the majority of the population in the surrounding areas.
The police arrive later to the pleasure of Frank and his neighbours, their whaling sirens only adding to the mayhem The sense of authority from the arriving policemen seem to pose no threat to the residents of the estate, as all traces of order seem to be lost. This gives us the sense that this is one of many times that the authorities have arrived, of which the working class have become a custom to. They seem unphazed about getting into trouble and the conciquences it may bring. Although quite extreme examples, this can reflect the nature of the minority of lower and less well-off people in Britain. The opening sequence finishes by a wide angled shot showing the scattering neighborhood as the police move in, concluding the chaotic and riot like scene.
As shown, this scene can tell us a lot about the representation of social class especially that of the lower, working class.
Frank, the main character, goes on to describe each of his kids, in which he cares for as a single parent.There mischevious behaviour allow Frank to see a bit of him in each of his children. Despite there chaotic life, he explains each of his children in a good light and quite comical, trying to pick out the positives rather than meantioning the quite obvious concerns. This show us that he manages to find positives despite his typically rough life. It can also tell us that he may have always lived in a flat, hence he doesnt know of the life he is potentially missing out on. Its also significant that he is a single parent. This gives the viewer an insight into Franks equally as tough past, and expands on the undesirable life he portrays from the viewers point of view. Its not hard to see that Frank does not seem a fit parent to bring up his four children, stumbling around the kitchen drunk, and a birds eye view of him lying on the floor surrounded by his mischievous children.
As the kids scatter out of the front door, we see a motorhome parked on the drive. This follows the stereotype of 'the rough family' that the mise en scene is trying to portray. Motorhomes are essentially a cheap alternative to a holiday abroad. This tells us that the Gallager family cannot affort such holidays, having to make do with the Great British holiday destinations.
As the voiceover continues to explain how great life is in the Jackwood estate, we see the entire community huddled around a fire, only to later find out it is in fact a car that is alight. This promotes the extreme views of the anarchy and chaotic lifestyle of lower class people, throwing empty beer cans to fuel the fire. Standing by the fire is Frank Gallager. He is shown in an eye-level shot to take a puff of his ciggarrette before gulping down the cheap booze in his other hand. This is yet more proof of his poor status, as ciggarette smoking is seem to be a conciquence of the lack of education about its affects, and drinking the only beer he can afford. He is seen behind the blaze from the fire in the foreground, portraying him as some kind of devilish and mischevious man.
The music throughout the opening scene is played by a flute, sounding like a tribal anthem. We get the sense that the people of the Jackwood estate are 'the tribe', gathering around the fire in typical tribal fashion. The neighbourhood seem collectively against the authority of the police, and may be seen as outsiders when compared to the majority of the population in the surrounding areas.
The police arrive later to the pleasure of Frank and his neighbours, their whaling sirens only adding to the mayhem The sense of authority from the arriving policemen seem to pose no threat to the residents of the estate, as all traces of order seem to be lost. This gives us the sense that this is one of many times that the authorities have arrived, of which the working class have become a custom to. They seem unphazed about getting into trouble and the conciquences it may bring. Although quite extreme examples, this can reflect the nature of the minority of lower and less well-off people in Britain. The opening sequence finishes by a wide angled shot showing the scattering neighborhood as the police move in, concluding the chaotic and riot like scene.
As shown, this scene can tell us a lot about the representation of social class especially that of the lower, working class.
Detailed post describing the different effects each of the micro-elements show within the extract.
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