Downton Abbey representaion

Downton Abbey

 1.groups being represented

Lower Class

these two groups behave very differently, for example, the butlers are well dressed and presented. however, the maids and cooks don't wear as elegant clothing . their colors are more dull and faded and very rough. this represents their roles within the abbey. butlers speak to the lords and ladies of the house on so must be well dressed and presentable. the maids, however, aren't to be seen and so their attire is not as immaculate as the butlers because no sees them.

- Upper Class
has a strong authority and commands the scene. he is well dressed and calm, unlike the maids who scramble around the Abbey. he walks slowly with dignity and control. he shows his dominance when Carson(the butler) calls him "my lord".




2. Messages. do they confirm or challenge the media?

this show does challenge conventions of the media it shows that the elites have all the power and command all those that are below them. all that is below them must do everything in their power to make sure that the lords' lives are as comfortable as possible. so much so as to go out of there way to stop their own breakfast to attend to their masters. this show is a period drama and shows what the lives of the people of that time were like.

this was commonplace back then, however, and so this is challenges common ideals as everyone wants people to have fair pay and equal opportunities. we see that the maids and servants wake before the lords and prepare the house for them before they wake up. they even go as far as to iron the morning papers so that they aren't creased and look good. one of the maids opted to work in the dark because if she had opened the curtains she would have mad them dirty with her hands. this shows that they give up their own livelihoods to service those that are in power. this would not sit well with a majority of people in this present day

3. 4 Technical elements 
 -Sound
the music, in the beginning, represents the servants' lives as hectic and busy. the music is fast-paced and filled with lots of rising and falling notes with a piano playing short sharp notes. this represents the short quick movements that the maids have to make as they scurry around the house to meet the demands of their masters. The way the servants speak shows that they are a lower class as they speak fast and in a hurry, this is because they re trying to complete their jobs in time. meaning that even their own lives are interrupted for the service of their masters.
As we go further up the line the butlers have a more relaxed speech and can even crack some casual jokes amongst themselves this shows that they aren't as in demand as the maids but they're still quite low. 

however, when the upperclassman comes into the scene. the music slows and calms down it evidently becomes more controlled and almost follows the pattern of the lord walking down the stairs. it represents his high standing and that his life is calmer than that of his subordinates. the slow music represents his relaxed mood as he slowly drifts down the stairs. this directly contrasts his servants who would be almost running down the stairs. even the way he speaks shows his power and dominance, as he is completely relaxed and in control of the situation even though he is talking about a serious matter he is completely unphased and is more concentrated on the repercussions his speech isn't interrupted by bells or drowned out by other speaking in the background his voice is the dominant sound. 

 -Editing
the scenes with the lower ranking servants are jumpy and often cuts quickly between scenes. we are shown many different angles of the servants. the butlers, the maids, the cleaners and the head butler and head maid.we see them rush around the place jumping around to answer to the bells of their masters this mimics how the editing is done its choppy all over the place. However, at some points, it's just one continuous shot. this conveys that even though they may be the lower class they still are in high-class society. They tend to follow one character and jump to other characters as they walk by emphasizing that the place is busy. this begins to lighten as the butlers who are higher up the ranking come onto the screen. 
 however, for the lord of the house, it becomes very clear that he is definitely the highest ranking. the editing is slow and controlled. it gives the audience time to take in the fact that he is the lord of the house.

 -Camera

Camera angles portray the servants as crowded as we see in the kitchen scene where people are scurrying around to attend to the bells, all the people it at one table shoulder to shoulder. all the scenes with servants in them contain many people in them that crowd the scene and show that it's busy. The scene gradually thins out when the butlers come on screen to show that there is a progression in status. their shots are calmer and with fewer people in it.

when the higher classman enters the scene he is completely by himself and this shows he is in charge. the camera makes sure that he is in the shot completely even cutting out his dog. His camera angles are low as to force the audience to look up at him signifying that he is above us.as opposed to the maids and butlers who we all see at eye level or from above their shoulders.

-Mise en scene-

the maids and the and servants wear a drab uniform that shows that they have a lack of options in her life as to what they can wear as it's the same clothing over and over again. the rooms in which they sleep are dull and grey and not well lit. like their lives as they have no hope for a better future. 

The upper-classman have many options, in contrast, this is shown by the banquet breakfast presented to him after he comes down the stairs. the stairs are elegantly crafted and show beautiful pictures on the wall. the scenes are bright and cheerful and full of color.

the maids and servants carry around buckets and other tools, whilst the butlers carry food and the morning papers this shows that even what they do is up to the status as cleaning tools are dirty and clean up messes, whilst food is eaten and must be presented well.

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