Class

In the advert above, of the UK TV drama Shameless, we can see the different levels of class in this advert, you can see that it's based around christmas, and that the characters are having christmas dinner. We can see that the setting is a run down pub, and that it's not a modern place. We can see that the table is broken, and that there is a large amount of alcohol and cans, there is also loads of mess. This gives off the impression that the place is dirty, and that the location is in a much more poorer area. The characters in the advert, are all doing something rebellious which makes the advert looks chaotic. All the characters are dressed grubby, and look like they're not too clean. The main character in the middle, specifically looks drunk and disorderly, this gives off the impression that the characters are "chavs" and not from a well advantaged background. The main character looks shabby as his hair is long, and greasy, we can see his beard is long, and that he is lunged over the table, as if he's drunk, or high. The dog in front of the table is eating the turkey, and the happy christmas sign, has been torn in half, making it look like the christmas was a disaster, and that the family is uncontrollable. The colour schemes are bright and loud, it makes the characters look cheap, and unorganised. The poster overall shows that this family are not a rich, and are much poorer.























All the characters in this advert, are smartly dressed, they are all well clothed and look healthy. This represents that the people in the advert are wealthy, and look well off. The scene looks neat, the grass is cut short and is looks smart, and the building in the background shows a well looked after building, and that it set in the early 1900's. It gives a brief insight into this time period, and the dog at the front is calm, and lying down, showing that it is trained, where as in the other poster, it is eating the turkey. The facial expressions are either smiling, or look proud, this again hints that they are well off, and are happy, due to their lifestyle. The characters hair is also clean looking, all the males have a clean shave showing how well looked after they are. The characters are dressed in formal clothes, however are dressed in clothes from a older time period. Overall the colours of the poster, are neutral, and look posh. The poster overall, makes the characters look posh, and wealthier.


Keith Gandal's 2007 theory, Gandal states that lower class people are portrayed as a; "Cultural other," through fashions that deviate from the middle and upper classes.

Medhurst's 1998 theory; "They are awful because they are not like us," (the us being the middle class producers of media texts) is also relevant here because mise-en-scene is taken to the extreme to make the stars look very different (poorer and more edgy) than more stereotypical middle class conservative fashions. In terms of Medhurst and Marxist theory, it could also be said that working class people are made to look 'awful' because they are stereotyped to look more prone to; drinking, unemployment, being un-reliable and criminal behaviour.













This ties in with the theories of Richard Butsch (1992) who says working class males in the media are presented as; "Incompetent and ineffectual, often a buffoon, well-intentioned but dumb. In almost all working-class series, the male is flawed, some more than others...he fails in his role as a father and husband, is lovable but not respected."  This ties in with the stereotypical rock-&-roll image of male rock stars, who are often in the news for cheating on their partners, violence, drunken buffoon behaviour but are still 'loveable' because they have some talent or some likeable qualities. This appeals to young working class males and females because it makes the stars seem human, like them. 









Keith Gandal's, in 2007 he said that target audiences are drawn in by the; "Sentimental rags-to-riches story,"

Shameless essay: 

There is a clear difference between the different types of classes, the upper class are seen as wealthy, posh, and look down on others, however the lower class are seen as much more poorer, and are the people who get looked down on. Though out the media you can see how poorer people are portrayed they're seen as benefit scroungers, anti-social and dirty. This is the typical stereotype of people from a lower class. 

The opening scene shows  male character walking from a shabby, run down, estate, the character is dressed scruffy and greasy hair. There is a tracking shot of the character as he continues to walk down the road. It shows an over the shoulder shot, as the character is knocking on the door. The character enters a house that is much more neater, and you can see clearly that the characters in the house are better off financially than him. This would support Gandal's theory that the lower class are the "cultural other." It shows a one two shot, then of two characters talking, it shows how the female character looks healthier, as she's dressed neatly, with jewelled earnings, and clean tidy hair. This shows the difference between the two characters backgrounds, and how one has more wealth than the other. It then shows a long shot, of the two characters sitting together, but also showing off the scene, we can see the house looks big, and has expensive ornaments in the cabinet behind the male, this also shows off the families wealth. This would portray the male character as poor, agreeing with Medhurst's theory "they are awful because they are not like us." However the male goes against the stereotypical views, that poor people are not as intelligent, and Richard Butsch's theory that working class in the media are represented as "often a buffoon." As he's doing homework for the wealthier female, and explaining how things work. 

It then shows a high angle of the female character as she's crawling under the table, to approach the male, this shows that she's less powerful, and vulnerable. It then shows a close up of the male characters face, showing his facial expressions as she's undoing his trousers. It continues with a eyeline match shot. It shows an over the shoulder shot of the mother, showing the commotion in the background. It then shows a high angle shot of the female character, as she appears again. It shows a close up of the characters face, and again, a low angle of the female. It then shows a medium close up, of the male character showing his facial expressions. It shows the male's bedroom, we can see it's untidy and over crowded, as it has multiple beds, the boy changes his pants, showing a mid shot of his backside. This shows how much poorer the family is, and supports Medhurst's theory again of "they are awful because they are not like us."