AS Media Studies PPQ - Monarch of the Glen [AGE]

MONARCH OF THE GLEN - AGE

1) Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs the representation of AGE using the following: 

      • camera shots, angle, movement and composition 
      • editing
      • sound
      • mise-en-scène. 

At the beginning of the extract we are immediately opened to the difference in costume in the characters, and age is represented in the clip through the different styles of outfits that the characters wear; for example it is shown the the more elderly farming characters are wearing more stereotypically older clothes, such as farming caps and tweed. The adults wear more modern clothes like jeans and jackets, and seem to have a more uniform way of dress that presents them as a more united and reliable source. Then the youngest member of cast shows a different style of dress, Amy, a sixteen year old girl, is shown to be wearing a yellow stop with a large design on it that shows off a lot of her chest area without being too revealing. She also wears a pendant and lightly coloured denim jeans. This presentation makes her very different from the other characters and more clearly identifies her and the representation of her age in the extract. Her difference from the other characters may also present age as a bad thing, as most of the elderly men are dressed similarly it may represent an eventual loss of identity as a consequence of age.

A medium shot, with an upwards angle is shown in the first presentation of Paul. Paul is a middle aged, adult man who makes a very strong presence in the upwards angle, as it shows his immediate supremacy. This is coupled with how the character is presented, as he has a level attitude and respectable set of dialogue that presents his age and position as an adult as one to be respected. This can be juxtaposed with how downwards angles are used to present Amy's inferiority in comparison to Paul. The two shots are placed sequencing one another, adding to the narrative and the flow of the story to present the two characters. The downwards angle may have also been used to present the naivety of Amy's persona and of her youth, and, on extension, how intellectually and maturely inferior she is in comparison to Paul.

The adults and elderly talk and present Amy, the youngest character, in a very condescending manner as is shown by their dialogue, ''vivid imagination... couldn't blame you...''. This presents the older characters in a superior manner to Amy, whose life seems to revolve and permeate around school. This creates a wide gap and alienation between the two generations, and shows us that the presentation of age in the extract is completely different throughout generations, as the youth are described condescendingly and distanced from the actual youth. This is in contrast with how maturely the adults of the extract are presented, as medium shots, and wide shots are used to show how they dominate the setting.

Pans are used within the extract, the camera moving from the left of the scene to the right of the scene to give an impression of movement in the shot. This flowing effect is used in a wide shot, which involves characters from all generations, from Paul, a middle aged man, to the elderly, and to Ewan, a young adult. I believe that this pan is used to show the everlasting transition and representation of age from youth to adult, and how all are tied in to one another and in sequence with one another. I believe that it is very effective in showing that, although there are some current tensions in the storyline with a youth conflicting with her elder peers, that it also demonstrates that characters from different age groups can coexist with one another peacefully.

The mise-en-scene in one scene, which is a confrontation regarding Amy involving Paul and Amy's headmaster, takes place in an environment that seems to be very adult and mature. I believe this is conveyed through the very royal colour scheme and furniture, which involves intricate, country based patterns, mahogany wood ornaments and trimmings and a primarily red and gold colour scheme. This environment presents the age of the characters and the serious manner of their situation, as the details of their setting is more commonly seen in an older generation, as these details would not normally be seen in a setting with younger individuals. This can be contrasted with the setting of Amy's bedroom. The mise-en-scene in the scene when Amy prepares to run away is particularly vital to the presentation of age in the extract. Her room has a white, red and pink theme, which, coupled with her younger age suggests a very innocent, pure and childish aspect to Amy due to the general stigma placed on these colours. It allows us to see the character of Amy a lot more sympathetically as, although she is experiencing problems in her life at the moment that seem overwhelming, she is really just a young girl who is confused, and does not mean to last out at her elder peers as we see her doing with Paul. She yells at him in the extract, and the dialogue is line that is very normally associated with angsty teenagers and their temper tantrums in modern pop culture, she shouts 'I hate you', which although may be an exaggeration at the time, shows the attitude of youth to their elders and the lack of respect in the presentation of age.

There are many 'over the shoulder' shots in which we see the other characters from teenager, Amy's, perspective. The upwards angle presents the adults in the scene as more intimidating and larger than they actually are, this contributes to the idea of Amy's demonised perspective of adults, and her reluctance to age. This may be seen as a stereotypical teenage reaction to scolding by an adult, and therefore we are given a taste of Amy's opinion in the shot, in this manner the shot type presents age as something negative.

Sound is vital in the presentation of age in this extract. In a scene involving a throng of elderly and middle aged farmers, there is a very light hearted, Irish-styled jig in the background. This creates the impression of a happy and contented environment, perhaps alluding to the idea that as one gets older age allows for a freer and more relaxed life style. Although, as the scene changes to Amy preparing to run away, the background music changes to a woodwind-based, very melancholy sounding track that helps convey the extreme emotions and confusion that Amy is feeling. This may present to us that Amy's age, Amy's youth, offers a more darker and confusing outlook on life, due to her growing up and a lot of stressful conditions and decisions are being presented to her. 
Another point of sound that is used is the dialogue. In general, Paul, whom is presented as a respected and mature adult man, has a very level tone of voice, and is very sensible and proper in his choice of words. This is coupled with the dietetic presentation of the headmaster and Amy's carer/guardian, he has a very sensible tone of voice and is usually quite polite in how he deals with Amy despite her rude attitude, this is also seen in Amy's carer, who is presented as a caring and worried person due to her panic shown when Amy disappears. All of these factors contribute to the presentation of age and adult life being one of emotion and positivity as we see a range of positive attitudes, such as sensibility, maturity, care, and politeness. This can be contrasted with the dialogue of Amy, who, as soon as she is encountered with a problem immediately becomes rude and hostile despite the characters around her whom are only trying to attend to her safety and offer her assistance in her problems. In conclusion to this point, the presentation of the age of the youth is one that is more negative due to the more gloomy and pessimistic attitudes shown.

In addition, lighting is another focal point in the extract that helps communicate the presentation of age and its polarities to the audience. The elderly of the extract are very normally seen in natural lighting, as they are presented outside, and this gives a positive impression to their age, this can be contrasted with Amy's unnatural lighting. When we first encounter her, she comes out of a home in which we cannot see the inside hall due to dark lighting. This is continued later on, in which Amy loses her temper inside a darkly coloured home, and in the scene where Amy is contemplating and preparing to run away, it is also presented inside with unnatural lighting.

Finally, the theme of education versus working life is vital to the presentation of age in the extract. This is shown by the permeated presence of farmyard equipment, such as tractors and pitchforks as well as the main setting being out on a country farm, and through non dietetic sound effects such as the bleating of sheep and engine sounds of cars and tractors. All of these images are very clearly tied to adult working life, as there is no member of youth that is shown explicitly with these elements of working life, and that is why, when it is revealed that Amy is a sixteen year old school girl, the cast of working men are shocked. This presents how age differs in terms of professions, and how, to this cast of adult men it is more normal for a teenager to be in education rather than working on a farm. It can be alluded that this is why Paul seems angry with Amy shortly after this reveal, and this image is further solidified as, for much of the rest of the extract the theme of education permeates the shots through dialogue.