Thursday, 6 October 2011

Archie and Janine take over the Queen Vic.

This clip shows Archie Mitchell and Janine Butcher taking over the Queen Vic pub, during one christmas episode on tv soap drama - Eastenders.
This clip starts with a close up, establishing shot of the Mitchellls sign that used to hang above the pub door. This is an establishing shot because it is no longer above the door, meaning they are no longer the owners/landlords. The camera then tilts up to show peggy walk into the room for what the audience assumes is the last time. The tilt up is important to the scene because it allows the audience to see all of her costume. Her costume is important for the audience to see, because all though she's getting thrown out on the streets on christmas, she's still determined to keep her glamourous image (fur coat, sequin top etc). This is because the audience is watching her being stripped of everything she has (the pub being a huge aspect of her image) and because of her strong character she has to connotate and appear to everyone else that everything is fine, and she's still the same Peggy Mitchell everyone respects, knows, and loves.
The next shot is one that includes the christmas tree, this again contrasts the happy occasion of christmas with the sad reality that they're getting thrown out of their home. It also makes the audience feel like because the camera is almost hidden behind the tree, that we're getting a secret insight into a private, emotional and significant moment of the characters life- which increases the audiences sympathy. Peggy then turns off the lights which connotates that it's the end off her and the Queen Vic. It's very important that the audience saw her turn off the light as she is not only an iconic character, but she was the landlady and is strongly associated by the audience with the Queen Vic pub.
Towards the end of this clip, we can hear both diegetic and non diegetic sound. Examples of the diegetic sound we can hear are mumbled voices in the background, speech, and music faintly in the distance. This music slowly builds up in volume, until the end, when it becomes non diegetic sound. The song being played it very ironic 'have a very mary christmas' as this is a happy song, and the Mitchells clearly aren't going to have a very happy christmas this year.

1 comment:

  1. Good observations of how mise en scene, setting and costume can be used alongside camera shots ands movements to represent character in a particular way. These methods are used to manipulate the viewer's feelings. (+)

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