Throughout the clip from the series 'Waterloo Road' there is a clear representational issue of age, this is portrayed in various different ways; through humour and serious acting. Despite any humour used in the clip, there is a deliberate focus on age and representation.
Mise-en-Scene is the first area to which these representational issues are presented. The setting of the opening scene focuses on artificial lighting and a built up school background. This establishing the scene. The students all fit in with the environment, deliberately through use of uniform, suggesting they are fit with the norm and evidently similar to the other thousands of teenagers at the school. They are fit with their surroundings. The use of uniform may also suggest lack of authority and dominance within the school, a way of keeping things in order and reinforcing roles within the school ground.
The scene starts with a two-shot of the two young boys hiding something and acting mischievous. This immediately presents the characters as stereotypically troublesome and rebellious. The camera pans and follows foot steps essentially approaching the boys, suggesting this particular 'figure' is superior to the young boys. The boys are discussing in a panicking tone and are both unsure how to deal with the situation in a sensible manner. This represents the issue of peer pressure and trouble, which all teenagers will undoubtedly face at one point or another throughout their years. Youth is portrayed in a negative light here but further progresses to help the audience sympathise with the young boys through use of an unpleasant older dominant male. It is also suggested that the younger generation are over-looked and that mistakes in the older generations eyes are interpreted rather deliberate actions to cause trouble and mischief. This indicates the lack of attention and understanding towards younger and less dominant figures.
In the next scene, whilst the young male (George Sampson) is in conversation with the an older male figure, it is clear to see a connection between the two. The camera continuously switches between the two with mid close ups and over the shoulder shots. The older male in this scene being in complete contrast to the older male in the previous scene. George and the male figure seem to understand one another and it is made essential that the older man does not consider himself superior nor dominant over the young boy (George Sampson). It is also made apparent that the younger generation (George in this example) are easily persuaded if in favour to them. This purposely portrays an immature and childish light to youth, suggesting that younger characters are not mature enough to understand ands make reasonable decisions in situations without some form of reward, unlike the real world.
During the next scene there is a confrontation in the corridor and dispute between three characters. The camera uses close ups and over the shoulder shots to highlight emotions. This dispute indicates that the younger generation are incapable of handling emotions and suggests a rather immature side to the three in the way they chose to handle the situation. The scene then goes on to cover bullying as a representational issue. In this circumstance it is rather unusual as it is the male that is being bullied by the female. This supposedly indicates further that stereotypical assumptions are not always the norm and that in-fact bullying is an on going issue despite gender.
The last scene covers age as a representational issue in a different way. The scene focuses on portraying adults in a way that teenagers act through style of clothing. Through this scene it is implied that being a teenager is difficult and that the issues that arise within these ages should not be overlooked or bypassed because some consider them 'unimportant', as they are in-fact a key problem in todays society. The scene also further highlights the difference between age as it is considered absurd for a teacher to dress as a student would. Thus focusing on the stereotypical idea that the younger generation are unaware and immature and rather the older generations have to set an 'example'.
Evidently through the use of Mise-en-Scene, camera, editing and sound we are presented with the representation of youth being something which is troubled and vulnerable, and rather the older generation wise and all-knowing.
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