Media Evaluation Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?


Our film opening focusses on lives of teenagers aged 16-19 due to our teenage dominated cast. Within this, it focusses on white, middle class males, shown through the accents, clothing and overall image. We chose these characters personalities carefully to help portray a certain image and perception of their social group.




This is our comparison of our protagonist, Tyler, with Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter:

Similarities:

• Pushy and domineering
• Sly
• Unclear of his intentions
• Blonde (ish) hair
• Inconsiderate
• Intimidating
• Wants to get his own way
• Become less prickly as the film goes on (Tyler in the present day)
• Represent a sense of malevolence

Differences:

• Malfoy uses group pressure and status
• Tyler's clothes are quite difference to those of Malfoy's
• Malfoy is of extreme upper class, Tyler is much more Middle Class
• Tyler is a protagonist, Malfoy is an antagonist

We decided to use this character since it worked very well as a suspicious character, making the view feel unsure if Tyler was really Ewan's friend of if he was just bluffing. This also creates tensions between the two very different personalities of each character, increasing the suspense of the opening, not only through the story line but also through the relationship between the two characters. This fits well with the genre conventions since in many thrillers consistof two characters, usually with different personalities. This is seen in films such as Seven, Dead Man's Shoes etc.


This is our comparison of Ewan with Anthony from Dead Man's Shoes:

Similarities:

• Both are shown as the weaker character out of the two main protagonists
• Their clothes both represent death - Ewan's pristine white shirt symbolises that he is already dead, seen as an angel. Anthony is shown in all black, showing death as well.
• Prevalent innocence
• Both show the naiveties of the young
• Follow the orders of their friend
• Both overshadowed by the other character
• Vulnerable/weak
• Neither seen as having a high status or class

Differences:

• Weaknesses presented in different ways, Anthony is disabled and Ewan is just very uneasy of where they are.
• Ewan's clothing presents a more middle class identity. Anthony's clothing is more working class
• Ewan becomes increasingly annoyed with Tyler, Anthony is obedient to Richard
• Ewan's killer is illusive, we know who killed Anthony

We decided to use this character since it portrayed a different kind of personality to Tyler. Ewan's concern about going to the abandoned building sets us up for the action that will take place there. It also adds more suspicion to Tyler since we are unsure of why he is so desperate to go there, and why he gets angry when Ewan wants to leave. Ewan promotes a more innocent and favoured character as he dies innocently, as far as we know. This leads the viewer to wonder about Tyler's connection to the death.