Focus on Disability/Ability

1. What stereotypes are being represented? Positive or negative? 
The stereotype that is being represented in The Streets extract was a burns victim, who is seen as pitiful, unemployable, being unable to participant and a burden to some people. This is represented in a negative way as we can see that he is now being offered only minimum wage as he is now classed as disabled, and he also seems angry and upset because of the burns on his face as he is being treated unfairly and different to other people.


2. Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representations of disability using the following: 
Camerawork: There are many different camera shots used in the extract, two shot was used at the beginning on the clip when the two men were having conversation in the van. There was also many close ups used, and an example of this would be when the man helped the women when she dropped her shopping. It showed the audience his burn on his face to help us understand what has happened to him, which represents his disability. There was also another close up when he gets told that he is only going to get paid minimum wage as he is disabled, which then shows the audience that he is angry and shows his emotion. There is a long shot and tracking when the man is walking furiously down the street away from the woman after she screams when she see's him, this shows he is angery and we can see this in the way he is walking.  
Editing: There was only simple editing used in this clip, and cuts were the ones mainly used. Cuts are used throughout the clip to move the camera from one character to the next. Long shot duration was used at the beginning of the clip when the two men were in general conversation. This then turned into short short duration when they started to talk about the burns victim getting his old job back. This shows the audience his anger about getting minimum wage because of his disabilty, and also adds urgency and tension.
Sound: There was examples of diagetic and non diagetic sound throughout the clip. Examples of diagetic sound were the voices in the background whilst the two men were in conversation, and the sound of footsteps. This creates a realistic setting. The dialogue was also an example of diagetic sound, and this also represents the negative stereotype of disabled people as it tells the audience that he is now only going to get paid minimum wage as he is disabled, and that he is now being treated differently because of his accident. The man reacts badly, using bad language and an angry tone to his voice, showing his emotion. Non diagetic sound was also used in terms of the background music when he is walking down the street. This is parellel sound as it matches the mood in the scene, and also adds tension and leaves the audience wondering what is going to happen next.
Mise en scene: Costume was used to represent disability in a more positive way, as we can see the man is wearing normal, every day clothes, which is challenging the stereotype of him being useless, as it shows the audience he is able to do the same as everyone else. The casual, everyday clothes also adds realism to the clip. Make up is also used to make the burns on the mans face. They look very realistic, which may shock the audience. Props: The womans shopping bags were used to show the audience that the burns victim isnt useless and he is still a normal person who is trying to help. It also then creates the mood after he tries to help as she screams when she see's him. This is a big part in the clip as it then shows his anger about the way people are now treating him because of the burns.
Setting: This clip from The Streets is set in mainly three locations: the building sight, the street and the army recruitment centre. The scene in the building sight helps with the narrative as it sets the scene of the story.
Lighting: The lighting at the beginning of the scene is ambient (natural) as it is set outside. When in the recruitment centre artifical lighting is used, and shadows help light up the burns on his face.