Media Main Task Evaluation - Question 2

2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The main social groups that are being represented are through gender and social status. We have a clear portrayal of men having the upper hand in this situation, and women having to obey the rules of the men. By having ‘Paolo’ always standing up shows how he has much more authority and power over ‘Babs’, and also by having ‘Paolo’ talking about working at the weekend shows how he is her boss, or is above her in the company immediately. Another way that we communicated that men have more authority over women, was the fact that ‘Babs’ crumbled when speaking to ‘Paolo’. This is partially due to the fact that she lacks confidence when talking to someone she is lusting after, but it also shows how men in the workplace intimidate women. The most obvious observation that shows how men are more superior to women is that fact that ‘Babs’ is seated the majority of the time, and ‘Paolo’ remains standing throughout. Social status is communicated through our main task, as the audience are able to identify that ‘Paolo’ is clearly higher up the social status ladder than ‘Babs’. This can be identified by the way he talks, and acts around ‘Babs’ and also through mise-en-scene. It becomes apparent to the audience that ‘Babs’ has the lower social status of the two characters for the same reasons, and also because of the fact that she is the hapless romantic, and people that are of a higher social status are generally more confident in those sort of situations. In comparison to ‘Babs’, ‘Paolo’ acts around her with a lot more confidence, and seems completely unphased by the fact that this woman is doing everything she possibly can to make him find her attractive. This gives the impression of a higher social status, because it makes the character seem as if he is used to women falling all over him all the time, showing that he is popular-unlike ‘Babs’.
‘Paolo’s higher social status is clearly shown through mise-en-scene, as his costume seems very smart and clean. His costume connotes a man that looks after himself and cares for his appearance, and his costume also makes him seem of a higher social status because of when he is in scenes with ‘Babs’. His smart attire connotes that ‘Paolo’ is reasonably wealthy, and connotes that maybe he owns the business that ‘Babs’ is working for. His costume also connotes that he is important within in the company, as does the first shot when we see ‘Paolo’. The fact that ‘Paolo’ is the first character seen during the tracking shot up the stairs connotes that he is powerful, and important-and when following him into the office, it is revealed that people are already working, showing that he is late. The importance of his position in the company is shown through lateness also, and how he can come in at whatever time he wants, and there isn’t a problem. ‘Babs’ is at the other end of the social ladder, and this becomes apparent through mise-en-scene aswell, due to her lack of colour co-ordination, and inability to look smart. ‘Paolo’ also shows his higher social status through how he acts, and the shot where he is shown throwing his coat at an assistant connotes that he is powerful and people do everything he asks-giving the audience a very ruthless first impression of ‘Paolo’. Also, the shot where ‘Paolo’ is shown looking very confused, but still trying to be polite, when ‘Babs’ is scaling the wall, shows how he feels that ‘Babs’ really isn’t like the sort of people he would usually socialise with-his facial expression connotes that he is uncomfortable, and thinks this woman is rather peculiar. It suggests that maybe ‘Paolo’ isn’t used to women trying to seduce him, because he is probably used to it being the other way round, and, as a result, he doesn’t understand what she is trying to do.