Romeo and Juliet

How are the two gangs represented in the initial scene of Romeo and Juliet.


The gangs are represented through things such as Camera angles, Editing, Sound and Mise-en-scene.

For example the camera angles show things like high camera angles when Tybalt holds a gun to the small childs head. This showed how important the Capulet was and also the fact he is threatening to shoot a child shows that he is not a very nice person.

When the two gangs start to argue with eachother, the fast camera shots show the comparason between the two different types of gangs, showing their posture and their facial expressions, the Montague seemed quite worried and scared, where-as the Capulets seemed quite broad minded and sure of themselfs.

The title edits at the begingintroducing '' the boys'' gives of a kind of gang feel to the film already and when theres one gang theres always a bad gang aswell. Because we are introduced first to the Montague we already have a kind of ''bond'' as i would say as from the camera shot at the start where the audience feels as though we are being talked to by one of the gang members in the car.

The punky hippie kind of music that is played when the Montague are in the car seems quite happy and joyfull so it gives of a sence that the Montague are good guys and that they like to be with their friends and go on roadtrips and parties. Where as when we meet the capulets, the music changes intensively, it changed to a old western showdown type of music which could show signs of trouble and that it is not a safe place to be. It also shows that the Capulets are not very safe people to be around.

The way the Capulets get out of the car, not showing their faces is kind of scary as they are not showing their identity so we do not know what they look like, not showing their faces tell us that this ''gang'' could be quite mysterios and sly.

Even though we are not told who the ''bad boys'' and the ''good boys'' are but we can tell by what they are wearing, how they present themselfs and how the other group show their facial expressions when they meet.

Exam Question - Rocky

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representations of nationality and gender using the following:

• Camera shots, angles, movement and composition

• Editing

• Sound

• Mise-en-scene

Draco -

Dracos facial expressions vary from angry to emotionless and this could show how masculine he is and how serious his is about e fight. Although facial expressions normally show how someone is feeling so this is a disadvantage to the audience and intreges people into wha he might be thinking because it is not obvious by is face.

The camera shots are sometimes zoomed in o different parts of te males body, like his musclues and facial expressions that show anger. This can show how angry and feirce he is. It shows off the males body in its true presentation when working hard and training.

The fact that Draco is training in a gym and he has a instructor that is constantly telling him what to do can show how pushy his family and country could be towards him wining this fight.

The music being played as the shots of Draco are showed can represent how he is feeling, as the music seems quite intense and upbuilding this could show that he is nervous and scared but tis could link to why he is emotionless as he would not want show show if e is scared or nervous because e does not want to seem less ''hard'' or less ''manly'' to anyone.

Rocky -

Rocky is training in a homley environment around places like barns, homes and outdoor places. His family and friends are helping him out allot and seem happy with what he is doing so this could show how supportive his family and friends and even country are of his acheivements and this is motivating him to work ard rather then being pushed about.

The camera shots on Rocky of long shots like him dragging a man along on a chair through the snow, his doing pull ups in a homely environmet is showing were his is and how he is training him self, by himself. This could show ow capeable he is of training his body up so that he can do well in the fight. Him doing it on his own can show he is independant and can take control which steryotypically men like to do.

There is a shot of Rocky standing on top of a mountain shouting loudley, this can show how ready he is and the shouting on a mountain could be he wants to tell the whole contry he is ready and being on top of a mountain could show that he is not scared of anything ( this sows he could not be scared of Draco)