This is England Trailer AnalysisBy Laura Messider

The institutional logos help identify the genre of film (social realist) as they are known for their involvement with these films. They are also independent British institutions suggesting the British social topic and location of the film as well as adhering to the low production budget conventions of this genre which has a niche audience.

This establishing shot show use of awards in order to widen its audience as social realist films generally have a niche (primary) audience. This therefore targets their second audience who are interested in the film for its awards. It also highlights the fact the is a British independent film due to the award again a convention of social realist films as they are usually produced by independent British institution (due to the niche audience therefore low box office profit) and explore British social problems.

This medium shot introduces the audience to the protagonist (Propps character types), this is evident by the use of shallow focus to emphasis the character and blur the background and background character. From his costume the audience can assume he is from a working class background due to the sport like jacket and ideology of ‘chav’s’. Also his facial expression suggests that he is innocent, vulnerable and naïve, a dominant ideology of children and convention of social realist films.

Establishing shot again reinforcing the idea of the working class, which the class often explored most in social realist films. The run down shop as well as the workers costume in which they are wearing jeans represents the idea of the working class not have enough money for expensive smart clothes and the shop represents the dominant ideology that they must work in butchers, fish shops and corner shop to make a living as and are often represented as run down as it is in this shot.

Again the idea of the working class is represented in this shot through the use of mise-en-scene with the house looking particular small with the living room and kitchen joined and the furniture and wall paper looks dull and inexpensive to adhere to the dominant ideology of the working class having little/no money. This is not particular clean another stereotype associated with the working class.

The female subjects costume and hair as well as the setting suggests the film is not set in current day with the film having a stereotypical 80’s look and style. Also the female subject is smoking a ideology linked with the working class as well as a suggestion of the time period as a dominant ideology of the working class in the 80’s was that they smoked a lot especially at home.

“I got picked on three times today all because of my trousers” This dialogue suggests bullying, judgement and isolation which is a subject conventionally explored in social realist films. Also “look at the size of ‘em” again represents the stereotype that the working class do not have enough money to get clothes that fit. Starts in disequilibrium subverts Tododv’s narrative theory.

“You talking to me?” this dialogue is often associated with ‘chav’s’ who are represented stereotypically as the working class and are often features or the subject of social realist films. There is also a clear juxtaposition or binary opposites (Levi Strauss) in class with this medium close-up showing the male subjects black suit, tie and hat representing his higher status due to more expensive costume.

Violence is a dominant ideology of the working class as they are often represented negatively for their violence ‘All men are violent’ by Earp and Katz. It is also a convention of social realist film to explore, show and represent the negative stereotype of working class violence. This is predominately most of their main focuses.

The intertitles help the audience flow and give hints to the plot which has not been explored through dialogue. This intertitle sets the location and time period. The majority of social realist films often explore social problems mainly within or around Britain. Therefore, this film follows conventions of social realist films as it explores social problems of this time.

A montage of archive footage including these four shots is used to establishing and reinforce the time period as well as allude the audience to social problems or events of the time ‘Ideological concerns of the time’ Fiske and Hartley. This films explores political views of the time (Another convention of social realist films) therefore, the last shot is of Margaret Thatcher to represent the political issues of the time. This is accompanied by asynchronous (happy) music from the time period.

This is then reinforced by a wide shot of violence against Thatcher in archive footage. This not only reinforce political and social issues of the time, but adhere’s to the convention of violence within social realist films. The music played is quite happy sounding therefore juxtaposing the image and reinforcing the stereotype that the working class are violent and do not care if others are hurt as dominant ideologies suggest they are violent and selfish.

This wide/long shot represents the protagonists isolation, loneliness as well as violence as he is throwing stones, again a dominant ideology of the working class and a convention of social realist films. The setting also represents the idea of working class as it is a run down area with bricks and building work rubbish left laying around, again a stereotypical setting for the working class.

This photo links to the idea of the protagonists isolation and loneliness as he is missing his father as well as linking to the idea that the social concerns of the time affected everyone somehow. It also sets up the idea of a single mother who has been left to look after the children, this not only adhere’s to the idea of women being subordinate housewives, but is an idea often explored in social realist films and a dominant ideology of the working class.

The mise-en-scene within this medium shot represents the idea of gang culture with the graffiti on the underpass wall, as well as the costume of the new male subject as this type of costume represents a 1980’s gang. This is a convention of social realist films as they often explore the theme of gang culture and violence. This could be linked to the ‘moral panic’ theory by Cohen as a fear for society is gangs and their violence. The handshake suggest this is the helper from Propps character types as it represents how he is trying to help the protagonist.

This idea of gang culture within the 80’s is carried on with the stereotype of the working class gangs of this time being all ‘skinheads’. Also all members are either drinking, smoking or littering with their finished can of beer. These actions are all dominant ideologies of gangs and the working class (‘moral panic’ by Cohen).

This medium shot not only reinforces the idea of smoking with the female subject smoking, but uses the ‘male gaze’ theory by Mulvey and ‘beauty myth’ theory by Wolf as the female subject is wearing lots of make-up and later revealed to have a short skirt on. This is emphasised by the mode of address of the protagonist as he is looking at her in admirations and almost desirably.

This high angle shot not along represent how the working class are stereotypically represented as inferior to middle and upper class, but the mise-en-scene (setting) again represents dominant ideologies of the run down working class areas with gangs using hidden away areas to graffiti, cause trouble and play football, which is seen as British sport. Also this adheres to O’Sullivan et al’s ‘gender roles social constructed’ theory as the male subjects are playing football and the female subjects watching this follows dominant ideologies of gender.

The England flag present a lot in the trailer not only to enforce the title and setting of the film, but to create polysemia as at could have two means. One is patriotism as it shows their love of their own a dominant ideology, but also more recently it is can be seen as racism and ‘thuggery’.

The iconography of the British flags and the polysemia created by these flags is carried on in the next shot. Also the mise-en-scene represents the working class with caravan’s set out in the middle of a field a dominant ideology of gypsies again linking back to the idea of low income, violence and poor lifestyle. Also the cars shown via the wide shot again help establish time period as these are stereotypical cars of the 80’s.

In this shot the audience is first introduced to the character they assume is the antagonist (Propps character types), due to the dialogue from the helper: “I’ve got someone I want you to meet”, as well as they change in music and tone of the trailer. This allows the audience to understand ‘who is good and who is bad’ theory by O’Sullivan et al.The cross on his forehead connotes religion, which goes against his actions as he is violent (later creating a weapon and threating a shopkeeper). This further reinforces him as the antagonist as his actions go against his beliefs.

Use of star to draw in the secondary audience who may like the director’s previous works, therefore may watch this film as they like the director and his films.

The reference to alcohol and underage drinking links to the dominant ideology of gangs who stereotypically always alcohol particularly when underage and therefore do not follow the law. This is negative representation of youth as they are all stereotypical viewed as underage drinkers.

The weapon connotes violence and again follows the dominant ideology of the working class being violent another negative representation. It also follows Earp and Katz’s ‘All men are violent’ theory as we only see the male subjects being violent and carrying weapons this could also link the ‘social constructed gender roles’ by O’Sullivan et al as it shows men as the more dominant violent sex in juxtaposition to the female subjects earlier in the trailer.

The idea of stealing also links back to the stereotypical representation of the working class having lower incomes and poorer illegal lifestyles. This dominant ideological is generally conformed to in social realist films. Enigma codes by Barthes is evident as the audience doesn’t know why the protagonist is stealing these items and they never learn if the shopkeeper was hurt.

“There’s hundreds of unemployed out there” this use of voiceover adheres Cohen’s ‘moral panic’ theme as unemployed was and still is a social fear. Social realist films often explore the idea of the working/lower class who are either unemployed or earn minimum wage as it is a social issue.

The England flag again creates polysemia as the audience doesn’t not know (enigma code) if it is being used as a symbol of patriotism or racism. Both these ideas adhere to the dominant ideologies of the working class as they are represented as very proud of their country therefore patriotic, this causes them to be racist against other ethnicities.

Racism and violence is shown in this scene through the binary opposites (Levi Strauss) of the two male characters. The antagonist (white subject) is looking down on the other character suggesting his dominance. This idea links to the dominant ideologies of both race and the working class (as they are stereotypically racist and violent) in the media.

The graffiti connotes gang culture again a key convention of social realist films. As well as linking to the ‘moral panic’ theory by Cohen as society is afraid of gangs and their actions including the iconography of graffiti. This shot also creates enigma codes (Barthes) as the audience doesn’t know what they are writing and never learns this in the trailer.

Violence and vandalism another iconography of gang culture and a convention of social realist films to explore these themes. Also links to ‘all men are violent’ theory by Earp and Katz as it is a male subject committing the offence.

Use of awards again attract a secondary audience as they may wish to watch the film due to its success in awards. They believe it must be a good film as it has won awards.

Similarly use of reviews also attract a secondary audience as they may encourage the audience to see the film as well known or trusted critics have stated “it’s a must see” or like this quote “stunning and unforgettable. A work of art”. Social realist films heavily rely on use of awards, stars (if they have the production budget) and reviews as they only have a niche audience, therefore need to attract a secondary audience to widen their demographic.

The direct mode of address and depressed facial expression of the protagonist help create visceral feelings. This attracts the audience as they already feel an connections with the protagonist. Title uses the UK flag colours showing good anchorage with theme. The trailer ends in disequilibrium adhering to Todorov’s narrative theory and creates enigma codes as the audience doesn’t know what has happened or is going to happen to the protagonist. This leaves the audience wanting more, therefore encouraging them to watch the full film to find out the rest.

• Website address allows audiences to find out more about the film links to Blumler and Katz social interaction strand of the ‘uses and gratifications’ theory. This attracts the audience as they can become more active and involved with the film.

• The Institutional logo’s of the British independent institutions like Film 4 typically produce this low budget, low grossing genre. Therefore, help the audience to identify the genre of film.

Stuart Hall’s – Reception Model• Preferred reading – Audience who can identify or relate to the social issues or

characters (personal identity Blumler and Katz’s ‘Uses and Gratifications’ theory) either because they were alive during Thatcher’s rule, therefore middle-aged audience or they are in the working class category, therefore the working class audience.

• Negotiated reading – A young audience who would not have been alive during Thatcher’s rule in particular a young audience from a middle or upper class background.

• Oppositional reading – A working class audience who may not like the stereotypical representation of the working class being violent, racist and committing crime as this social realist film adheres the these dominant ideologies.