'How does the extract construct representations of social class?

Social classes are represented in many ways by the use of micro elements. These elements include camera angle, shots and position, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.
The shameless tv drama constructs an image of a working class community from the start as the episode begins with an establishing shot of the area where the family live in. From looking at this screengrab, you can clearly see that the family live in a council estate which is a common habitat of the working class who seem to rely on governments help. This is a stereotypical view of working class people which was deliberately put in by the producer and director of Shameless. We can also assume that the people living in the estate are not affluent and cannot afford their own house, further emphasising the working class of the residents and characters in Shameless. All of this is a negative representation of the working class.

The voiceover from the man, we assume is the main character, is the father called Frank. He is represented to be in the working class through the clothing he wears which seems tattered and unclean. His look is also scruffy which is common amongst working class citizens and he is a lone parent with kids, another stereotype of a working class person.

The scene of the father Frank being knocked to the floor by his kids represent the family to be divided as we see the father on the floor on his own positioned in the centre of the frame with the childrens heads surrounding him, who seem to fear Frank. We then have a point of view shot from Frank, showing the expressions of the kids. Frank is left alone in the centre of the frame in a birds eye view shot, which creates a subordinate representation of him as a father as he was beaten to the floor by his kids. However, another perception could be that Frank is dominant in the family because the kids run away from him, showing authority or emphasising the fear in the relationship between kids and father.

The waste outside their yard shows the lack of care towards their house as it is evident that it is piling up. We can assume that they do not have the finance to remove the waste products, which is a negative working class representation through the use of mise-en-scene. The opening represents the tough life that working class people live in through the young daughter doing the house work and chores. The editing is used effectively to show the daughter being a nice angelic daughter who is innocent followed by a shot of her holiding a knife and another cutlery. This contrasting scene shows the representation of working class daughter who has heavy responsibilities on her shoulder at a young age.

The community burning a car and vandalising property show a representation that the working class community have spare time on their hands, choosing to burn property. There is a sympathetic representation here because even through the tough times the community may go through, they manage to have fun and still be cheerful. The vertical pan showing the empty estate to the burning of the car also attempts to create a sympathetic feeling because it shows that the working class here have a close relationship in the community as they all join up to enjoy each others company.

how do the two extracts construct representations of social class?

The first clip from 'outnumbered' presents an establishing shot of a father and, most likely, his son playing on the nintendo wii. The house seems to be well managed and designed. The residents also seem to have a good amount of wealth, which is shown by the dad not being at work during the day and playing on a console which respresents a middle class family. There are a lot of medium, close and long shots of the two playing the console, showing the reltationship between the father and son. The two sons are also teasing their father indicating the relationship between the three are open and representing a middle class family. The relationship between mother and daughter is contrasting to the three males in the house. Whilst the daughter is doing her homework, she complains about the lack of time her mother spends with her, which is a stereotypical aspect of middle class families where the mother is always working and doesnt have time to spend with her family or children.

The second clip which is a clip from eastenders show a general lower representation of class. There is the motorbike scene where the sisters are together indicating a lower class representation. The looks of the characters are also scruffy looking which further indicates their social class, lower. Their accents are also a stereotypical accent of a white lower class status which is commonly used. There are eveidence of unrest between the family which also indicates a lower class representation. The following scenes are of two couples who are represented in a lower middle class social status because of the way they are presented and