Here is a analysis of an extract from Merlin:
Merlin is a British fantasy
adventure television program.
Stereotypically in such a production the characters of a higher class and/or
status would have more power physically and politically over those in the
middle and working classes. Social class and status in this extract is
represented the use of mise-en-scene,
camera shots and angles, editing and sound.
The extract starts with Merlin’s character walking into a
grand looking room in the castle and places a jar on the table, with curiosity
he picks up a handful of hay which is shaped as a doll and various other
objects in the room before being interrupted by a woman. Afterwards, he walks
into a town square where he meets King Arthur and they later go into a mock
battle. After Merlin defeats Arthur there is a mutual agreement to finish. A soupier
wizard then scolds Merlin for entertaining the battle.
Via the sound used in the extract the viewer can identify the
separate classes in two separate locations. The use of synchronous diegetic
sound in the class suggest luxury and exclusivity since the audience can hear
individual footsteps on the stone floor from a large distance away; however on
the street there are synchronous sounds of shouting and animal noises conveying
a bustling cramped location which distinguishes the working classes. Moreover,
when Merlin is in the castle there is eerie ominous, non-diegetic music
conveying the idea that Merlin, who is visibly lower class, does not belong in
the location hence juxtaposing it furthering the idea of an elitist location.
Perhaps him being so out of place foreshadows a bad occurrence later in the
episode due to the eerie music. Later in the extract at Merlin displays
self-pity due to the idea of have an unsubstantial position in life through the
dialogue, “If I don’t have magic then what have I got? I’m just a nobody and
always will be” this clarifies Merlin as a working class character who deems to
use ulterior means in order to gain a higher social position in society.
When Merlin is caught in the room in the castle, there is a
shot/reverse shot between Merlin and the woman, the shot length on the woman is
initially considerably longer than the length on merlin hence showing her
reaction and placing her in a position of higher authority as if Merlin was
doing something forbidden especially for his social class. Also, the
shot/reverse shot is filmed at the eye level of the woman conveying the idea of
dominance over the two characters. However when King Arthur and Merlin come
face to face in the street they are shot at the same eyelevel despite the
king’s supreme authority, perhaps this is because Merlin’s supernatural
abilities compensate for the lack of physical strength and power. In the
battle scene the pace is increased illustrating the strain between the two
contrasting classes, furthermore the 180-degree rule seems to be disobeyed
disorientating the audience causing them to question the outcome between the
tight battle, raising suspense. The battle appears so tight at the stereotype
of the king is played on enabling him to be very physically able hence is an even
match for Merlin’s supernatural powers, therefore the stereotype of a working
class citizen in challenged raising interest of the audience. During the action
there is parallel action occurring as a more experienced, superior wizard looks
down onto Merlin and Arthur whilst fighting. Not only does can the audience
forebode the future concerning how this wizard will react but also displays the
status of the wizard despite his human working class label proving that there
is a hierarchy within a separate subcultures of society.
The bottle that Merlin first puts down onto the desk acts,
in a way as a status symbol as it has allowed his entry into the upper class
castle so for this period he has a higher status then other supposedly ordinary
people. In addition, the initial aesthetic reaction of Merlin’s character is
his rugged and worn in clothes which connote poverty and a working class
background however as the extract progresses the people on the street who are
expected to be of a similar wealth to Merlin are wearing darker and duller
colours suggesting that Merlin is of a higher status within the working class. The
upper classes are easily distinguishable due to the rich and luxurious colours
and materials of clothing, their well groom appearance and good posture; which
was seen with the woman who interrupted Merlin. The king had sterling armour to
protect himself even on a regular day with regular people showing that he is
out of context on an ordinary street connoting power and a large field of
influence over ordinary people; and bodyguards who had similar attire which
enhance this point surrounded him. On another note, inside the castle there was
soft lighting sourced from stained glass windows which appeared to flatter the
castle and the people in it further connoting a superior section of society,
the lighting romanticed the scene glorifying the people in it. However on the
street there was harsher overly exposed daylight that the characters could not
manipulate unlike the power of those in the castle.
In the
extract, when Merlin is caught in the luxurious room by the woman, the camera
pans from the height of the woman up to a mid shot of Merlin, the shot seemed
rather awkward reflecting how out of place Merlin was in the castle let alone
in the room looking at items which didn’t belong to him. Later Merlin walks
down a corridor and onto the square there is a tracking shot used allowing the
audience to make a direct comparison in the minds between the differences in
classes each location connotes. In the case of king Arthur he is shot from a
low angle allowing making him appear physically larger and more dominating
which is reflected in his position of social hierarchy; when Merlin is shot
during their conversation a over the shoulder shot is used over Arthur’s
shoulder once again showing dominance between the two, also it replicates the
situation on the street perhaps the ordinary people want to take a glimpse at
the person who has attempted to confront the king, There is a close up of the
weapon which the king is given to throw to Merlin, the shot is slightly longer
then the previous shots emphasizing the focus of a Merlin as it may not be an
object he is familiar with due to his working class persona.
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