Re done Hotel babylon essay

How is ethnicity represented in the clip from Hotel Babylon?

One way that ethnicity is presented in Hotel Babylon is through pity. We see this throughout the clip and the director uses this technique through a variety of ways, including positioning to make the audience sympathies with the migrant workers.

The director uses position from the start in Hotel Babylon, they make you feel like you are on the side of the migrant workers and that you should feel sorry for them. The use of the camera work going from Steadicam when the immigration officer comes in compared to when the receptionist gives the signal and it switches to handheld connotes the idea that there is a problem and you instantly fear for the workers. This feeling also occurs when Jacky, the seen to be organizer of the migrant workers finds out about the raid, there is instantly shouting and upheaval in the background which you can hear, this is diegetic sound. The sound of the upheaval enforces your assumption that this is a problem and again makes you pity the migrant workers as you know they may be in danger.

Another use of diegetic sound in this clip to illustrate pity is when the immigration officers emerge from the lift, we see and hear Ibrahim gasp, we obviously get from this that he is in danger and is not in a positive situation which positions us in an atmosphere of pity as the scene foreshadows what is going to happen to him.

Another way that they attempt to represent pity is through fast paced editing, this creates the representation of pity because the fast paced editing creates the impression that the situation is rushed, frantic and uncontrolled, which makes you feel pity as these elements connote to danger.

Another way that ethnicity is presented in this clip is through the contrast in power. Jacky who is the organizer is given significant power and has a set of keys and is seen to be responsible for the migrant workers, the fact that she is of Asian dissent often seen as wise, powerful and calm hence why the director has put her in a position of care.

The next significant show of power is the use of a tracking shot following the path of the immigration officer, the fact that we have to follow his actions demonstrates that he is of high importance of power because he controlled the situation as every shot on him is a Steadicam whereas any frame with migrant workers was handheld.

The next illustration of the contrast in power is using mise en scene, all of the migrant workers are in unprofessional uniform and in unskilled work because they are seen to have no choice, we see this when the diabetic female passes out in the basement and it appears that the black cleaner was originally a doctor prior to his migration, he exclaims ''I wasn't always a cleaner you know''. this juxtaposed with the fact that all the workers from non-ethnic minorities are in suits and more presentable uniform, this gives the representation that ethnic have no choice in their line of work meaning they have less power, these are called binary opposites.

Also before the ''raid'' happens the staff have no individuality or persona, this is the stereotype that immigrants are ''nobody's'' and have n real purpose, it is not until crisis when we start to see them as individuals like Zenab and Ibrahim. During the clip they use costume to identify the immigrant’s status.

Using theory to inform your interpretations and argument.

Task 1 

Not always negative

This Perkins assumption states that not all stereotypes are negative and they may not be derogative of a group of people. In Hotel Babylon we see this where the Male from Africa is actually a fully qualified doctor, this stereotype of people from Africa/Asia being trained medics and very involved with medicine is not negative.

Not always about minorities or the less powerful

This Perkins assumption states that not all stereotypes are about minorities or less powerful groups in society and that there are stereotypes about the wealthy and more powerful. An example of this in Hotel Babylon is where the White man is in the position of power as an immigration officer with the police.
Another famous stereotype not in Hotel Babylon is where the British are well spoken and drink tea, eat biscuits and play croquet.

Can be held about ones group

This Perkins assumption is that stereotypes can be about yourself or anyone. This basically means that stereotypes about your group in society help you see how you are viewed by everyone else, and may allow you to see yourself from someone else's perspective.

Not rigid or changing

This Perkins assumption is where she believes that stereotypes and common views can be changed and altered. An example of this in Hotel Babylon is again with the African male doctor. Years ago people would of seen migrants as stupid, or uneducated, however nowadays we see people who have moved from abroad es educated and in some cases, cleverer than us.

Not always false

This Perkins assumption is where sometimes stereotypes are actually correct. An example of this in Hotel Babylon is where all the migrant workers are in unskilled and low paid jobs, this stereotype is very common as society believes they may not be clever or skilled enough to have a skilled managerial job, hence why all the migrant workers are in unskilled and very low paid work.


Task 2

Festingers idea of 'cognitive dissonance' basically says that we seek out conformation of our beleifs and stereotypes.

if you take this into account of shows and dramas like Hotel Babylon which heavily relies on modern stereotypes you can understand his viewpoint.
With Hotel Babylon being so heavily populated with stereotypes it makes it easy for the viewer to understand and comprehend as they are the views that we understand. this makes it popular because there is no inconvenience with it so the viewer can just watch.

Adding to this, the show basically confirms all of our views, this will give the viewer satisfaction as they do not feel challenged but they feel agreed with. This is the same with Doc Martin where we are not challenged with the city vs countryside intellectual stereotype.

Task 3

How disability is reflected in TV dramas

Disability in TV dramas

Show: Inbetweeners

Network: Channel 4

On the air: 2008-2010

Character of interest: The disabled girl in the wheelchair.
Stereotype & representation: in this clip the disabled lady is represented in many ways. When Will and the other boys see Carly and her mates they are suddenly excited and attracted to them as Neil refers to one of them as 'Jugasourus Rex' which implies sexual attraction towards said females. However when Will aims to throw the Frisbee towards Carly and misses and actually hits the disabled girl,


Show: Breaking Bad

Network: AMC
On the Air: 2008-
Character of Interest: Walter White, Jr. (RJ Mitte), son of the chemistry teacher turned meth maker, who like the actor who plays him has cerebral palsy.

Stereotype & representation: During this show the cerebral paulsy lad is seen as troubled 

Show: The Bridge

Network: FX
On the Air: 2013-
Character of Interest: Sonya Cross (Diane Kruger), an El Paso police detective with Asperger syndrome.

Show: Covert Affairs
Network: USA
On the Air: 2010-
Character of Interest: Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham), a blind CIA analyst who's a tech whiz, a sidekick for the newbie agent played by Piper Perabo, and a chick magnet.

Show: Criminal Minds
Network: CBS
On the Air: 2005-
Character of Interest: Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), eccentric and multiple-degree-holding member of the team that profiles serial killers and other dangerous criminals.

Show: Glee
Network: Fox
On the Air: 2009-
Characters of Interest: Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), a glee-club member who uses a wheelchair; Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter), a cheerleader with Down syndrome.