How does your media product represent particular social groups?
In my opening sequence I try to stick with the
obvious stereotypes. The first one that I stuck to was the British family in
the beginning and how they contrast massively from the Turkish people around
them in the market. The family look innocent and naïve like most other tourists
do, especially in films like mien where a kidnap happens as it highlights this.
Having the family look so vulnerable means that when the kidnap happens it
seems even worse as from the beginning they looked like victims. An even more
stereotypical representation is of the Turkish people in the market. Compared
to the tourists they look seedy and corrupt. The contrast is huge, as they
don’t look middle class, like the family, with their cheaper looking clothes
and the quality of the market that they are in. In other parts of Turkey this
representation wasn’t wholly right as there were richer parts as well, but
setting my opening sequence in a dodgy area meant that it was more likely for a
young girl to get kidnapped and from the outset that something bad will happen.
The kidnappers are also a stereotype as they are
foreign with a sleazy look that as soon as the viewer’s spot know that they
aren’t the good guys. This, when first shown on scene, that they are dodgy and
when they are able to lead Lucy away it is clear that they are evil. This is a
classic stereotype as in other films like Taken
the kidnapper is always foreign as well. Their accents as well highlight their
danger as it is always given that when in a foreign country you are cautious
when one of the locals who seem to be of a lower class talks to you, and like
the kidnapper does lure you away from the public. Having the main kidnapper
talk in a very strong accent brings attention again to the danger of him.
Finally, there is the stereotype of a young girl
who seems completely oblivious to the world around her and her parents who seem
more wise and cautious when in the market. The daughter is wearing quite
inappropriate clothing that shows that she wasn’t aware if the dangers that
Turkey held. From this it is clear that she is naïve, innocent and young, as
she is not yet experienced yet with the dangers when going away to countries
less developed then their own. Her clothing states that she does want the
attention but she attracts the wrong sort. However, on the other hand the
parents are represented oppositely. They seem more conscious of their
surroundings and the dangers that they hold. Mainly they stick together when
walking through the market and as they are adults they are already less likely
to be taken, unlike the daughter. These are obvious stereotypes as in most
movies the parents are always correct and more wise then the children. So when
Lucy is kidnapped you can see the panic of caring parents that is how most
parents would react. Having such stereotypical characters will draw the viewer
in as it is what they can relate to as they have seen similar movies like it
before, which have been successes, and hear about these stories on the news. If
I were to change these stereotypes around then I may lose potential viewers.
