Ethnicity

One way ethnicity is represented is through the use of soundtrack. While a foreign antagonist is threatening to shoot someone, a typical slow, violin-based soundtrack is playing to create an escalating amount of tension. What's unusual however, is that backing these violins are authentic, too foreign drum-beats that are extemely strange considering the British context. While we can already see the antagonist is foreign, this music is conforming to a racial stereotype by suggesting he too needs ethnic music, rather than typical music. This is especially noticeable when he fires his gun and kills Danny; suddenly chanting and extreme ethnic music takes its place.

Another use of the micro element sound to represent ethnicity is silence. Throughout ultimately the whole of the scene the protagonist, weakened on the floor, enters through a couragous speech. All the while the antagonist makes absolutely no sound, all the way up until the climax. This suggests that the character is weak and inferior to the protagonist despite being in control of situation, unable to even speak. This is conforming to the racial stereotype, that the asian terrorist is an inferior person.

Finally, one use of sound that is subverting racial stereotypes is diagetic dialogue. The male protagonist who is a hostage, Danny, is black. Despite this he speaks in an extremely thick and clear English accent, speaking very confidently and in control. The reason this is subverting the racial stereotypes because we would expect both a foreign accent as well as a less talented speaker, for example, for him to stutter.

Cinematography is also used to represent ethnicity. One example of this use is the use of close-ups. One specific close-up is when it highlights the antagonist's gun-in-hand as the protagonist is telling his speach. We can quite clearly see the antagonist's hand shaking violently, unable to keep still. This contrasts the composure of the protagonist which close-ups reveal to remain very strong. This again suggests that the stereotypical foreign antagonist is scared of the protagonist, he is weaker, and is conforming to a racial stereotype.

The director also utilises his rule of thirds in the portrayal of the characters. This is most visual when we are shown continuous close ups of both the antagonist and the protagonist. In these shots, the protagonist is shown to be only off-centre slightly and passes through both of the power points of his side, suggesting he is important. However, the antagonist is viewed being pushed off screen, with only the edge of his face visible and only then visible on the right hand side panels. This connotes that the character deserves less screen time than the protagonist, whereas the protagonist's composition connotes he is important. This is both conforming to the ethnical stereotype and subverting it. This is because the foreign antagonist as inferior, conforming, but also subverting because it shows a black male as in control.

Finally, the director uses composition and focus to portray stereotypical ethnicity. There are several shots, specifically at one minute 20 seconds, where it shows both the protagonist and antagonist at the same time. However, in these shots, while the protagonist is quite clearly seen, the antagonist standing behind him is the victim of a heavy blur. This connotes he is less important and does not need to be seen as much. This direct contrast to the protagonist is the same as the previous comment where is conforms racial stereotypes but too opposes them, showing the asian antagonist as less inferior but still showing the black male as more important.

Editing is also used to portray stereotypical ethnicity through long takes. Even when the protagonist is not talking, he clearly dominates the amount of screen time with the protagonist recieving very little screen time. This is conforming to the stereotype because the British special agent is clearly dominating the foreign terrorist.

Fast paced editing is actually used to subvert racial stereotypes in instead showing the British officers looking inferior too, however. At the end of the clip, after Danny has been shot, it shows many fastly cut shots between several white British agents who have been listening to the event from elsewhere. The shots cut from each person very quickly, each showing either tears or extreme distress. This pace connotes a sense of chaos, and a lack of control. By suggesting that the British authoritive figures have a lack of control in comparison to the terrorist is breaking the ethnic stereotype.

Fade-ins are also used to connote power. Near the end of the scene, there is a fade-in from white to the flashback of the shooting. By coming in from white from previously the shot of an agent crying, it shows this flashback is the subject of their focus. This connotes that the antagonist is actually in control. This is subverting the ethnic stereotype by revealing an Asian terrorist to be puppeteering a group of high and powerful British agents.

In terms of mise en scene, the use of costume is used in the representation of power. In this scene, the antagonist is wearing a well kept and expensive-looking suit. This connotes he is powerful and important. This is subverting the stereotypical terrorist/antagonist attire as you would probably expect them to wear something more typically associated with another country.

The production design is used in character portrayal, too. The antagonist is keeping his hostages in a very dim, rough and horrible room with little windows or light. This dreary setting suggests little resources as well as very suspicious intent. This is supporting the ethnic stereotype by suggesting the antagonist has little to select from; he is considerably worse off than the white agents who are surrounded by expensive technical equipment.

Props are used to connote wealth and importance. For instance, one protagonist at the beginning and start of the sequence is shown to be using an expensive-looking phone. As well as this, another British person, a female at the end of the clip, is using a headset and computer. This contrasts the cheap and poor phone that the antagonist is shown to be using and lack of equipment otherwise. This is conforming to the ethnic stereotypes but suggesting that these officers are significantly better off than a foreign terrorist.




As a note, it was horrible trying not to repeat "which suggests he is inferior because he is Asian" over and over, and yet I did. Or something along that line anyway.